Band imploded. Or maybe we're just on hiatus...

[ArtechnikA]

Generalised rant, not seeking advice...

Probably another covid casualty. Or maybe just clash of personalities, circumstances, and differing expectations...

Background: Willie Nelson spent fall and winter of 2019 settling on a lineup and rehearsing the show. We put on a free "shakedown cruise" show mid-February to an enthusiastic reception. Then the world shut down and we've drifted from one uncertainty to another.

Keys player was the first to bail. Well - he kinda fired himself when he admitted that he didn't want to learn the material and just wing it. Had a bunch of attitude besides so everybody was relieved to see him go. Then the harp player decided the world was too scary and retired from playing. Leaving us two players down with technically one show still booked.

Replaced keys guy with a guitar player who said "I've always wanted to play keys..." He's still not up to speed. Got a new harp player. He didn't want to learn the material either and decided the infrequent rehearsals didn't work with his day job schedule. Bailed.

Rhythm guitar guy was kinda just along for the ride and found many excuses to avoid rehearsal.

Finally Drummer Guy quit. Says band isn't progressing to his standards. We're just kinda in a holding pattern, trying to recruit players and get keys guy up to speed. Nobody is very motivated because it's clear nothing is happening before summer. Even 'Willie' is burned out on the project since it's 2 years of frustration for him and he thinks he'd just like to step back and write his own music.

Back to chicken and egg: Can't get quality players without paying gigs. Can't get gigs without pro-level players.

Gonna be a long dark winter...

 

[FunkHead]

Generalised rant, not seeking advice...

Probably another covid casualty. Or maybe just clash of personalities, circumstances, and differing expectations...

Background: Willie Nelson spent fall and winter of 2019 settling on a lineup and rehearsing the show. We put on a free "shakedown cruise" show mid-February to an enthusiastic reception. Then the world shut down and we've drifted from one uncertainty to another.

Keys player was the first to bail. Well - he kinda fired himself when he admitted that he didn't want to learn the material and just wing it. Had a bunch of attitude besides so everybody was relieved to see him go. Then the harp player decided the world was too scary and retired from playing. Leaving us two players down with technically one show still booked.

Replaced keys guy with a guitar player who said "I've always wanted to play keys..." He's still not up to speed. Got a new harp player. He didn't want to learn the material either and decided the infrequent rehearsals didn't work with his day job schedule. Bailed.

Rhythm guitar guy was kinda just along for the ride and found many excuses to avoid rehearsal.

Finally Drummer Guy quit. Says band isn't progressing to his standards. We're just kinda in a holding pattern, trying to recruit players and get keys guy up to speed. Nobody is very motivated because it's clear nothing is happening before summer. Even 'Willie' is burned out on the project since it's 2 years of frustration for him and he thinks he'd just like to step back and write his own music.

Back to chicken and egg: Can't get quality players without paying gigs. Can't get gigs without pro-level players.

Gonna be a long dark winter...

So it’s just you and Willie now?

 

[ArtechnikA]

So it’s just you and Willie now?

It's hard to say ;-)...

Rhythm guitar guy hasn't quit, he's just quit showing for rehearsals and not responding to band group texts. That's 'quit' in my book, but it's not my book...
He's an intermediate player at best. Solid but nothing special, although there are opportunities for special.
Keys guy hasn't quit, but he's a long way from gigworthy and not showing much initiative. Doesn't much want to play the signature parts. I think we could do better, but none of the players I know who could do it are interested...
Harp guys around here are either just blues jammers or covid-panicked.
I know a drummer who could step in for a paying gig.
I haven't quit, because there is nothing to gain by doing so, and he might snag a solo gig where I could drag out the EUB.
He wants to be in charge of everything, but he doesn't have much band experience and has shown little initiative to act in a leadership position.
I'm not practicing the setlist much, and I am definitely not spending any money on the project.

 

[lfmn16]

Generalised rant, not seeking advice...

Probably another covid casualty. Or maybe just clash of personalities, circumstances, and differing expectations...

Background: Willie Nelson spent fall and winter of 2019 settling on a lineup and rehearsing the show. We put on a free "shakedown cruise" show mid-February to an enthusiastic reception. Then the world shut down and we've drifted from one uncertainty to another.

Keys player was the first to bail. Well - he kinda fired himself when he admitted that he didn't want to learn the material and just wing it. Had a bunch of attitude besides so everybody was relieved to see him go. Then the harp player decided the world was too scary and retired from playing. Leaving us two players down with technically one show still booked.

Replaced keys guy with a guitar player who said "I've always wanted to play keys..." He's still not up to speed. Got a new harp player. He didn't want to learn the material either and decided the infrequent rehearsals didn't work with his day job schedule. Bailed.

Rhythm guitar guy was kinda just along for the ride and found many excuses to avoid rehearsal.

Finally Drummer Guy quit. Says band isn't progressing to his standards. We're just kinda in a holding pattern, trying to recruit players and get keys guy up to speed. Nobody is very motivated because it's clear nothing is happening before summer. Even 'Willie' is burned out on the project since it's 2 years of frustration for him and he thinks he'd just like to step back and write his own music.

Back to chicken and egg: Can't get quality players without paying gigs. Can't get gigs without pro-level players.

Gonna be a long dark winter...

Doesn't sound like there's a band. You've got a keyboard player that's can't play keyboards; a harp player that won't learn the songs; a rhythm guitar player that won't rehearse; and the drummer quit. It doesn't sound like there is a band.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Doesn't sound like there's a band. You've got a keyboard player that's can't play keyboards; a harp player that won't learn the songs; a rhythm guitar player that won't rehearse; and the drummer quit. It doesn't sound like there is a band.

That's fair.
It's a placeholder for a band.
The only essential element is Willie - everybody else is interchangeable.
We have a harp player who I think would step in for the right compensation; he's got the talent but doesn't want to commit to fulltime status.
I know keys players who could do it in their sleep, once they feel 'safe' again, for the right price.
I know my drummer could do it.
If the right gig opportunity materialized, I think we could assemble a team of players and make it happen.
The show is all about Willie - we're all just backing players anyway.

 

[Oddly]

Is this the actual, real, living legend Willie Nelson we're talking about here?

If so, you've got my respect. I posted before about trying to play his tunes, and being badly thrown by his rather free-form approach to timing.

 

[DirtDog]

The right compensation.

I think this is the crux. If it’s a Willie tribute band then it’s all about the Willie right? He’s the one who should be able to carry it off. The rest of you along for the ride (well, maybe not you)? No gigs, no tribute, no motivation, no band.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Is this the actual, real, living legend Willie Nelson we're talking about here?
If so, you've got my respect. I posted before about trying to play his tunes, and being badly thrown by his rather free-form approach to timing.

It's a Tribute (check my sig...)
Yes, Willie's famous for his rubato, and "my Willie" gets that down...
Which means, unlike every other vocal-based band in the world*, you _must not_ adjust your timing to match the singer !
You better be able to keep your own time and ignore the vocals - Willie will meet you on the 1 and you better be there... But maybe not the next 1, some 1 eventually...
_____________________
*Possible exception of Julio Iglesias...

 

[ArtechnikA]

The right compensation.
I think this is the crux.

That's a lot of it.
Right now, PA venues are restricted to somewhere between 10(!) and 50% capacity.
There are a few venues with classic rock bands but I don't think anybody is actually making much money.
And those are outdoor shows. I doubt there will be much of anything before next summer.
So the compensation is a vague concept when there are no paying shows.
And some of the players I've talked to are not available at any price "during the pandemic..."

 

[bound'n'blocked]

I could have written this post and changed out some of the positions. It's the way of the world right now I guess. Have had a singer who says he can never rehearse, but I see him talking about other gigs and projects he's working on.

The guitar player I play with has been with me for about 17 years now. We've been in three different bands together, one for about 13 of those years, and a couple going on at the same time. In our first band together,, we were in the same situation you seem to be. We knew the material front and back and worked on pretty much "the show" at every rehearsal. The singer lived a few hours away, and we got together about once every two weeks to tighten things up. When she stopped showing interest, we would just jam on tunes to make getting together worth the effort. Before we knew it, we had a set worth of material worked up. Then another. Before long. weh had a show. We found a singer and that band hung tight for almost 15 years.

Hang in there, who knows what will come of it.

BnB

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I decided not to post most of what I was typing. There is no band, I'd look elsewhere.

 

[ArtechnikA]

I decided not to post most of what I was typing. There is no band, I'd look elsewhere.

I never stopped looking elsewhere; this band was never going to play enough to be my only project.
But there is virtually nothing happening...

 

[Johnny Crab]

It's a Tribute (check my sig...)
Yes, Willie's famous for his rubato, and "my Willie" gets that down...
Which means, unlike every other vocal-based band in the world*, you _must not_ adjust your timing to match the singer !
You better be able to keep your own time and ignore the vocals - Willie will meet you on the 1 and you better be there... But maybe not the next 1, some 1 eventually...
_____________________
*Possible exception of Julio Iglesias...

EXACTLY!
You HAVE to have performed Willie songs with either WILLIE or someone who does him very good to know the above. And sometimes the songs have a feel and flow all their own.

@ArtechnikA your situation seems like limbo but worth keeping in case things ever go back to semi-normal. Tributes, esp. very good ones, do quite well in almost any setting.

 

[Killing Floor]

Drummers, am I right?
Guitarists, am I right?
Keyboardists, am I right?
Singers, yeah?

Basically any band is just a solid bass player trying to hold together a bunch of flaky pieces.

 

[Pings Bass]

willie nelson tribute duo, more money and less hassle

 

[awakefie]

Basically any band is just a solid bass player trying to hold together a bunch of flaky pieces.

Sig-worthy there!

 

[ArtechnikA]

willie nelson tribute duo, more money and less hassle

I agree with 'Less Hassle.'
He already does a solo show with backing tracks, so I'm guessing a duo would have to make twice what he gets for that to be a better deal for him.
Our market research told us a full-stage-show Willie performance should bring in $1500-2000 and 1/6 of that is more than I think we'd net as a duo.
But what we get from players is "I don't want to work hard enough to be in a big-name production - I'm happier playing for $50 in a weekend bar band."
Donno how we get past that, even once the scene opens up, whenever that will be.

 

[kesslari]

Maybe just change the name from Willie Nelson to Won't 'e Nelson...

 

[Ostie]

My band is in limbo right now as well. It’s a long story but TLDR, Guitar player is grounded by his family. I don’t think it’s fair but I’m not the one who has to live with them. Forget gigs, we can’t even rehearse together with distancing. Part of me says screw it, the other part says don’t be a quitter. Damn ‘Rona.

 

[Carl Hillman]

I don't think there are going to be too many gig opportunities, for anyone, happening anytime soon...unless you can make one for yourself.

If you've got the gift of persuasion, t's possible you could talk some guys into taking care of the promo side of things...band photos, audio/video demos, etc. That way, when the work comes back, you'd be ready to go on that end of things.

As a sideman, I do have to say that it does seem pointless to spend the time working up a show for bookings that don't exist.