Band is driving me nuts with last minute changes...

[Quinn Roberts]

You took time off work to deal with a set list that had two new tunes on it and was late getting to you to begin with?

Do you see a problem there?

Yeah, he took off work just to learn two songs.
OP needs to come to a reality check. Depending on what music you play (it sounds like a "jam-music" based band). 2 a.m. sets are commonplace. At times, playing songs on a whim can be commonplace also. If that's the music you want to play, you have to prepared for these things. It's not commonplace to play a note-for-note rendition of a song! (In the jam genre)
It also sounds like OP (and maybe another member?) is the only one that wants (needs) to rehearse as a group. If the other guys are fine going on stage unrehearsed why are you different from them? Is everyone practicing from the same chord chart/recording? Is everyone openly listening and adjusting their playing live to suit the other members of the band? Or is everyone just phoning it in assuming what they practiced alone beforehand is gonna cut the cake?
I don't think the group or BL is at fault here as nothing seems out of the ordinary to me; OP just might be a bad fit for this group.

 

[LBS-bass]

There are different schools of thought on this, and much depends on the skills and attitudes of the players. FWIW, the tightest band I was ever in played about a thousand gigs over a 7-year period and during that time had three rehearsals. YMMV.

The tightest bands I was ever in played out three to five nights a week and only rehearsed if they were learning something new, and even then only rarely. Almost all of our learning and polishing took place at home or on stage. That's just how it was back then if you were in a regional working band that traveled to make a living.

Bands that play out once a month or so need to do something else. If everyone is disciplined enough, you can make it work by practicing at home and then coming together either for one rehearsal or actually at the show. But finding players with that level of discipline and professionalism is super rare. Most are more in the jam-band camp.

 

[Balog]

If your personal standards don’t allow you to just wing it, then that’s on you. If it’s a 2am after party jam band show, trying to bring a higher level of preparation to it is likely overkill.

Don’t get a job at McDonalds then complain that you’re not making gourmet food. Accept the gig for what it is or get another one.

 

[Mike N]

Wow.

I did a last minute sub gig for a band like that once at a county fair. No time for a rehearsal, BL send me a set list, I learn it and show up.

Gig starts and set list is ignored..... LG calls out songs from left field and everyone else follows suit..... I had heard most songs before so I dumb the Bass lines down and lock in with the drummer to keep it tight. Made out ok in the end but frazzled my nerves while on stage.

To @glocke1 - if your band is looking for a name, I would like to suggest "Off The Cuff" .....since that seems to be how that band operates.

 

[glocke1]

Yeah, he took off work just to learn two songs.
OP needs to come to a reality check. Depending on what music you play (it sounds like a "jam-music" based band). 2 a.m. sets are commonplace. At times, playing songs on a whim can be commonplace also. If that's the music you want to play, you have to prepared for these things. It's not commonplace to play a note-for-note rendition of a song! (In the jam genre)
It also sounds like OP (and maybe another member?) is the only one that wants (needs) to rehearse as a group. If the other guys are fine going on stage unrehearsed why are you different from them? Is everyone practicing from the same chord chart/recording? Is everyone openly listening and adjusting their playing live to suit the other members of the band? Or is everyone just phoning it in assuming what they practiced alone beforehand is gonna cut the cake?
I don't think the group or BL is at fault here as nothing seems out of the ordinary to me; OP just might be a bad fit for this group.

I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s at all unusual to take a day off work to work on a couple of tunes for that night. While not overly complex, they were tricky. Tunes in question were cats under the stars and Reuben and cherise.

As for the other guys being ok going onstage unprepaed/unrehearsed, I can’t speak for them but all I can is the harder parts of some songs are sometimes left out entirely, in other songs the harder parts are dumbed down, some some just aren’t played correctly at all at times.

I think it comes down to the fact that I want to play these things as correctly as possible. Not note for note but correct in terms of structure. These guys just seem happy jamming thought the tunes.

 

[3Liter]

I

I think it comes down to the fact that I want to play these things as correctly as possible. Not note for note but correct in terms of structure. These guys just seem happy jamming thought the tunes.

How do you fit your extra effort together with their jam through it approach. Something has to squeeze out sideways, no? Its frustrating cause the hard parts are what make it "good" often.

 

[gln1955]

I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s at all unusual to take a day off work to work on a couple of tunes for that night. While not overly complex, they were tricky. Tunes in question were cats under the stars and Reuben and cherise.

As for the other guys being ok going onstage unprepaed/unrehearsed, I can’t speak for them but all I can is the harder parts of some songs are sometimes left out entirely, in other songs the harder parts are dumbed down, some some just aren’t played correctly at all at times.

I think it comes down to the fact that I want to play these things as correctly as possible. Not note for note but correct in terms of structure. These guys just seem happy jamming thought the tunes.

This the thing about people who say it's jam band, just go with the flow. More often than not the flow sucks. They half-ass their way through songs and are then impressed with themselves for being able to play gigs without rehearsal.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

I think it comes down to the fact that I want to play these things as correctly as possible. Not note for note but correct in terms of structure. These guys just seem happy jamming thought the tunes.

You can lead a horse to water...

This the thing about people who say it's jam band, just go with the flow. More often than not the flow sucks. They half-ass their way through songs and are then impressed with themselves for being able to play gigs without rehearsal.

I will agree with this; it does take a certain caliber of musician to pull this off.
Most fans of the jam scene aren't of this caliber...

 

[Balog]

This the thing about people who say it's jam band, just go with the flow. More often than not the flow sucks. They half-ass their way through songs and are then impressed with themselves for being able to play gigs without rehearsal.

You get what you pay for. I really doubt the crowd at a 2am after show party are sober or discerning enough to notice or care. It seems like OP is the only person who’s bothered by the arrangement. Which is a totally fine and legitimate way for him to feel. It’s fine to only want to go to upscale cocktail bars. But don’t go to a dive bar then complain they don’t make craft cocktails.

 

[two fingers]

Vent...

I generally try not to create a lot of drama (or any drama) for that matter..It's generally pointless and is non-productive, but this current band Im in is putting me on the short train to nutsville.

B/L books us for an afterparty for a concert. I just assumed it would be a start time around 11 or midnight..Nope..It's a multi band event and we were given a 2 am to 4 am time slot lol. A couple of us complained and the B/L reluctantly got us moved to the midnight slot. The show is in a sketchy part of town also (basically an all night warehouse party)

The setlist for this show was mailed out on tuesday of this week, I asked for it by last weekend as during the week I just simply have very little time to go over anything new they want to play and lo and behold, there were a couple of new tunes in the list, so I took today off from my day job to work on them. Just now finished working on them and the B/L decides he wants to switch them with something different...

I love playing, but between the "we don't need to rehearse" mentality present in this band, booking sketchy gigs like this and throwing tunes out at the last minute its driving me crazy.

A lot of that is on me I realize, I generally like to do tunes well, and bring them in memorized if possible. These guys are more or less jammers and will just jam through tunes with the chord charts in front of them.

I'm going to have to say something, and I suspect it won't go over well..

sigh...

Um..... you took off from work???? To learn two songs for a gig?????

No way. No how.

First, you lay down that one rule and it will make your life easier. You don't play any songs live that you weren't aware of at least TWO WEEKS in advance. Period.

The rest can sort itself out. How often does a 2 a.m. gig even come up realistically? Sketchy parts of town? That's where some of the best gigs are. Snooty people suck to play for. All other aspects of the gig being equal (pay, travel, setlist, etc.) I would MUCH rather play for some wrong-side-of-the-tracks knuckleheads than for some Vineyard Vines argyle sweater wearing suburbanite D bags any day. Give me some guys in Steelers jerseys or Red Sox hats missing some teeth and some ladies in bluejeans and a Mountain Dew T shirt (and boots) and I'll have as much fun as they do. And I won't have some preppy little ballerina come up and ask why we don't play any Ariana Grande.

Yeah grow some.... uh..... *cough* .... "courage" ..... and tell that band leader you can't take off work to learn songs because he's not grown up yet.

 

[murph7489]

well, I didn't realize you were in a dead band..okay the jam aspect now makes more sense...although I will say this; it takes a lot of studying first music in general, then of course the Grateful Dead and whatever instrument you are covering ie; if you are playing Jerry's part, you had better know and study what Jerry was doing..I went to over 100 shows back in the day..part of was the fun but a big part of it for me was I wanted to know, how they were doing it..I was studying what they were doing..I was in the phil zone for a lot of shows just keying on Phil's style..watching how he played, his technique..I was having fun at the shows make no mistake about it..but I was also learning something..there is or was so much to learn..how they transitioned into different songs, the jams within the songs then coming back into a song etc..I could go on and on..

Then there is the Jerry Garcia band..on bass you have John Kahn..well he was a different animal completely than Phil...I never did really catch on to his style..its difficult and unique. If you have ever listened to his playing you know what I'm talking about...he was not your average player. Love his Steiny.

I have a high bar for the Dead's music and people where I live are always asking me. why don't you start a dead band...my answer is always the same..first there are enough of them around and even if I wanted to do it, I don't know enough high caliber musicians that can pull it off to the degree I would demand...

good luck with your band..love cats and Rueben too...rock on brother..

 

[oldrocker]

I’m sorry but I don’t think it’s at all unusual to take a day off work to work on a couple of tunes for that night. While not overly complex, they were tricky. Tunes in question were cats under the stars and Reuben and cherise.

As for the other guys being ok going onstage unprepaed/unrehearsed, I can’t speak for them but all I can is the harder parts of some songs are sometimes left out entirely, in other songs the harder parts are dumbed down, some some just aren’t played correctly at all at times.

I think it comes down to the fact that I want to play these things as correctly as possible. Not note for note but correct in terms of structure. These guys just seem happy jamming thought the tunes.

I'm with you in wanting to get the structure correct. Luckily for me my drummer feels the same way so the lead instruments can be a little looser but the rhythm section will keep the song going forward. You will probably be in a tough situation if you don't have at least one other guy in the band who wants to learn the songs.

 

[JRA]

I'm going to have to say something, and I suspect it won't go over well.

be as 'diplomatic' as you are want to do, but be honest no matter what. forthright communication is key. good luck!

 

[crucislancer]

OP - Put your foot down and tell them what you want. If they don't like it, move on. It's really as simple as that. I've had to do this plenty of times, for one reason or another. Some people can just wing it all night and not be bothered by it, others need to have a bit more structure. Either is fine, IMHO, but everyone has to be on the same page, or someone is going to get left out or the song is going to sound like poopie. If you enjoy playing in the band, and like your band mates, then it's worth the effort to work on it. If not, start looking for something else.

 

[nomaj]

This is a curious thread - the OP complaining about lack of rehearsal for a loosey-goosey late night rave on the "wrong side of tracks," as he put it - which is exactly what the Grateful Dead started out doing.

Why does he even want to be in this band? Or, more to the point, why do they want him in the band, with this retentive attitude?

I'll play corpies and weddings because they pay well - but that is the ONLY reason I play corpies and weddings - otherwise, I agree completely with the posters who have stated that the "wrong side of the tracks" is where the fun is to be had.

 

[Evil Funk]

what? your band is going to play songs that you never even rehearsed together before? ..that would not fly with me...you have to work out endings sometimes when a song fades out. Not to mention just playing them together to make sure everyone is on the same page..No way would I ever do that..

Our band does that a bit. We typically play 3-4 hours a gig, and will often play a few songs each night that only the singer knows (he chooses what song we play right on the spot -depending on how he reads the crowd- from our song pool of about 150 songs. we don't use a steady set list). However we're sort of old pro's in a sense. Each of us have 30+ years of playing, we all play multiple instruments/sing, and can improv over anything easily. Our singer is excellent at signaling and conducting us if we don't know the tune or he if changes the song/adds a verse, etc.

It's not exactly hard to look at each other with that raised-eyebrow-and-a-nod to know the song is about to end. Or someone yells "chorus" to know to play the chorus again when your current part ends. People who do open mics/jams have this skill down. That's all i did throughout high school. jam jam jam.

i can't count how many times my singer has turned to me and said...

Him: "do you know "xxx"?
Me: "no."
Him: "Just give me a walking bass line in G and watch for changes."

That's it. And we pull it off fine. We don't do band practices either. when i first joined the band he gave me a list of 150 songs and told me to learn them in 2 months, and be ready to play them in different keys and be adaptable in case he has added solos and verses in some of them. just be ready for anything he said. and i was.

turns out that's what he told our drummer and pedal steel player. hell, i hadn't even met the drummer until my first gig with them.

at first, i whined like a little baby who wanted everything perfect in my band, then i stopped complaining when i saw how much better it made me as a musician. i told all this to a friend who was a session player for hire. he said that's a normal work day for him.

however, we do play at least 3 or 4 times a month. so that's sort of our "practice" isn't it?

 

[glocke1]

This is a curious thread - the OP complaining about lack of rehearsal for a loosey-goosey late night rave on the "wrong side of tracks," as he put it - which is exactly what the Grateful Dead started out doing.

Why does he even want to be in this band? Or, more to the point, why do they want him in the band, with this retentive attitude?

I'll play corpies and weddings because they pay well - but that is the ONLY reason I play corpies and weddings - otherwise, I agree completely with the posters who have stated that the "wrong side of the tracks" is where the fun is to be had.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but many GD tunes have some parts in them that while not overly difficult, can be tricky to nail, and the GD were not exactly as "looser/goosey" as most people think.

Why do I care? Maybe I take pride in what I do and want things to come off sounding tighter than the other bands in the area and maybe part of me realizes this band could be playing a lot better than we are if we put the time in to rehearse and work things out a little better (harmonies/tempos/changes, etc..etc...). Lots of GD bands in the area and it would be nice to shine brighter than the other ones by putting the time into it.

As for the "wrong side of the tracks"...fun..once you are safely in the building and not outside in the ghetto, but on a serious note, the place was a fire trap.

 

[Balog]

Why do I care? Maybe I take pride in what I do and want things to come off sounding tighter than the other bands in the area and maybe part of me realizes this band could be playing a lot better than we are if we put the time in to rehearse and work things out a little better (harmonies/tempos/changes, etc..etc...). Lots of GD bands in the area and it would be nice to shine brighter than the other ones by putting the time into it.

There's nothing wrong with an athlete wanting to train hard, be the best, and make the Olympics. But if that athlete joins a co-rec beer league softball team, it IS unreasonable for them to expect the mid 30's dads on the team to try to live up to their standards.

There's nothing inherently wrong with what you want. But what you want seems to be a serious mismatch with what you're actually doing, and that is on you. Accept the band for what it is or move on.

 

[nomaj]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but many GD tunes have some parts in them that while not overly difficult, can be tricky to nail, and the GD were not exactly as "looser/goosey" as most people think.

Why do I care? Maybe I take pride in what I do and want things to come off sounding tighter than the other bands in the area and maybe part of me realizes this band could be playing a lot better than we are if we put the time in to rehearse and work things out a little better (harmonies/tempos/changes, etc..etc...). Lots of GD bands in the area and it would be nice to shine brighter than the other ones by putting the time into it.

As for the "wrong side of the tracks"...fun..once you are safely in the building and not outside in the ghetto, but on a serious note, the place was a fire trap.

You're not bursting my bubble at all, but this gig is a 2AM rave - the saucer-eyed party people won't notice, nor will they care, if your band plays faithful renditions of Touch of Grey or Eyes of the World, or not. Your bandmates seem to know this already, while you don't. Or you sure that you want to jeopardize your standing with the rest of the band over your insistence on practicing for a rave?

People will be high. You can jam on Dark Star or Drums>Space for an hour and the revelers will be happiest listening to the tones vibrating in their head and gut - use a bass heavy mix and give it to them.