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

#42
ArtechnikA said:
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...
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Live "real Willie" is quite the trip. (And I don't mean the live TV stuff). He hits the opening verse of those million sellers, the audience cheers, and then its a jam session. Country , jazz and whatever. Most of his players have been with him a long time.
 
#43
ArtechnikA said:
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...
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I would not stay in a situation like that; just not enough potential for being satisfied musically
 
#44
Playbyear said:
Live "real Willie" is quite the trip. ... Country , jazz and whatever. Most of his players have been with him a long time.
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Exactly. Lots of diversity, and more musically challenging than it appears. His fans have been with him a long time too, which adds a level of difficulty to the performance. His fans will know when what we di isn't right - they've been listening to him for decades.
 
#45
KeithPas said:
I would not stay in a situation like that; just not enough potential for being satisfied musically
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So I'm presuming you wouldn't like an orchestral setting either, where you have to play just what's on the page ... ?
( Just giving you a hard time... )
It's OK - it's not for everyone, as evidenced by the difficulty in retaining players.
But from my perspective - Willie's music is a lot harder than it looks. We cover a lot of ground, including 3 straight-up jazz standards, folk, gospel, Top-40, ballads, country, and world-beat. Mostly, it's not my style, so I've had to learn new techniques and approaches.
Finally, I'm a working musician, and I believe it has a lot of commercial potential. When we get it off the ground, it'll be big. It's just not going to be any time soon...
 
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#46
ArtechnikA said:
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...
Click to expand...

I believe John Taylor said pretty much the same thing, about Power Station.
 
#47
About 8 years ago one of the bands I play in had an implosion. The guitarist and singer had a 'handbags at dawn' moment and they refused to play together "ever again"! We were only a 4 piece so that just left me and the drummer and as a result the band hit the buffers.
Well, last year the drummer's daughter wanted her dad's band to play at her wedding. He asked us all how we would feel about it and the intervening years had brought about a mellowing of attitudes between the two antagonists. (Let me point out at this stage that both the drummer and I are in our 70's now so ego was never an issue)
We all met up and started rehearsing again and played the wedding and enjoyed playing together again. We also did a couple of gigs and had some in the diary for 2020. Then Covid 19 hit and all the gigs were cancelled but we have continued to rehearse and look at new material.
So, was it a break up or merely a hiatus?
 
#52
Tough time. I'm trying to use COVID as an opportunity. Just joined a new project - all good and experienced musicians. We know there won't be gigs until spring at best (in New England, so there won't be anything outdoors), so we are using the time to pick a good set list and polish everything - either that, or there's no reason to play.
 
#53
Ostie said:
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.
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It's pretty depressing the way things are now for musicians. Last year I had three fourths of a band with me able to play drums in the recordings but obviously not live, and we were gearing up to record an EP. My guitarist was amazing, a little controlling but he could shred and play heavy riffs like nobody's business. Now he's stuck in Texas and wants to go to grad school, so all I can do now is practice my ass off and write things with the other guitarist and hope that we're able to practice in person with people soon and play live somewhere.
 
#54
ArtechnikA said:
So I'm presuming you wouldn't like an orchestral setting either, where you have to play just what's on the page ... ?
( Just giving you a hard time... )
It's OK - it's not for everyone, as evidenced by the difficulty in retaining players.
But from my perspective - Willie's music is a lot harder than it looks. We cover a lot of ground, including 3 straight-up jazz standards, folk, gospel, Top-40, ballads, country, and world-beat. Mostly, it's not my style, so I've had to learn new techniques and approaches.
Finally, I'm a working musician, and I believe it has a lot of commercial potential. When we get it off the ground, it'll be big. It's just not going to be any time soon...
Click to expand...

My comment had nothing to do with the type of music that you are playing; that is irrelevant if the players (as in the ones that were not dedicated and or ones that left) are not into the material. The revolving door thing just wears me out. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do
 
#55
We played a gig a few weeks ago and a guy that does a Willie Tribute came up wanting to sit in... I thought "oh great, another one of these"... but our BL is pretty liberal with people sitting in.
I was all preparared to do we did Always on my Mind and I was blown away how much he sounded like him. I grew up listening to Willie and every Willie "impersonator" I ever heard, played with, sat in with my band sounded like they stuck a clothes pin on their nose... It was really nice to hear an authentic performer for a change.
Despite being a litte bigger than Willie he did look like him.

I missed getting to open for Willie at a state fair a some years back. I had to leave the group was playing with at the time couple months before.
 
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#57
ArtechnikA said:
Back to chicken and egg: Can't get quality players without paying gigs. Can't get gigs without pro-level players.
Click to expand...
these are especially rough times! hang in, don't panic, be patient, wait it out. you can see this through. don't give up, don't quit! good luck! :thumbsup:


kesslari said:
change the name from Willie Nelson to Won't 'e Nelson... :D
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:wideyed:



:roflmao:
 

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