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Band so good that they were boring

#41
May be wayyyyyyy off topic... But i saw Rodger Waters a few weeks ago.. and even in the 400 level boxes... Visually... WOW.. Thats a show for the ages.. Even though i felt like i was being made fun of simply by watching it, it still loved it. I couldnt get over how they built the wall while playing... Guitar solo from the top of it... Just amazing... Sounded good too :P
 
#42
In theory, being good should never make you more boring. I mean, you can always play what you would play if you were worse, it just takes less effort when you're good, right? Then you can put the "spare effort" into jumping around, waving your arms more etc. Sure that won't be appropriate at these kinds of restaurant gigs, but there it's the gig that makes the band boring, not the skill.

Now, some people will acquire a ton of skill and then choose to use it to perform boring music, but they probably like boring music, or are afraid that they won't be respected as artists if they play anything that's too enjoyable. It's their fault that they're using their skills for evil instead of good.
 
#43
sonic assassin said:
bAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

id have never thought to call it that. really hope i never have to play those gigs. as it stands im all tied up in the thrash, hardcore and prog markets. i love some jazz, but i dont think id want to play cocktail parties.
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The fact is most people couldn't do them if they wanted to.
:D

I don't have to and it's about as far from boring as you can get. When was the last time you played an improvised thrash set?


Besides, $300 for one fun set where you're constantly on your toes, playing off of other accomplished musicians is still $300.
:D
 
#44
pklima said:
In theory, being good should never make you more boring. I mean, you can always play what you would play if you were worse, it just takes less effort when you're good, right? Then you can put the "spare effort" into jumping around, waving your arms more etc. Sure that won't be appropriate at these kinds of restaurant gigs, but there it's the gig that makes the band boring, not the skill.

Now, some people will acquire a ton of skill and then choose to use it to perform boring music, but they probably like boring music, or are afraid that they won't be respected as artists if they play anything that's too enjoyable. It's their fault that they're using their skills for evil instead of good.
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Being good won't make you boring... being boring makes you boring. I get just as bored by musicians faking anguish over every note. It's corny as heck.

IME it's really not that hard to keep an audience's attention. You just have to be competent and try to connect with them.
 
#45
NOAH_FX said:
May be wayyyyyyy off topic... But i saw Rodger Waters a few weeks ago.. and even in the 400 level boxes... Visually... WOW.. Thats a show for the ages.. Even though i felt like i was being made fun of simply by watching it, it still loved it. I couldnt get over how they built the wall while playing... Guitar solo from the top of it... Just amazing... Sounded good too :P
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I saw Waters at the Xcel here in MN.
What an awesome performance that was. :bassist:
 
#46
troy mcclure said:
Sat nite I was off, so I headed out to an upscale rest/bar that everyone tells me my band needs to play..a rich cougar bar.

I get there before the band starts and wait to get a table..the place is packed. The band had a very small space and set up very well for a 5 piece, with a guitarist doubling on keys as well as some other string instruments. All their extra equipment was neatly packed away from sight. The guys were dressed well, had excellent equipment...I was thoroughly impressed. Consumate Pro's... They start playing a very low volume and they do some Tom Petty, The Stones, All Right Now... They sound great..actually perfect.
I stayed for 2 and 1/2 sets and they were excellent musicians but nothing was exciting. Guitar solos note for note but just kinda sitting in the mix. Great Bass player, drummer singer..nothing at all wrong yet I was bored.

Is it possible they were too polished?
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Never experienced that. Could be in your case the band members you were watching, were phoning it in. I think the band can be so good, but also not phone it in.
 
#49
NOAH_FX said:
May be wayyyyyyy off topic... But i saw Rodger Waters a few weeks ago.. and even in the 400 level boxes... Visually... WOW.. Thats a show for the ages.. Even though i felt like i was being made fun of simply by watching it, it still loved it. I couldnt get over how they built the wall while playing... Guitar solo from the top of it... Just amazing... Sounded good too :P
Click to expand...

You should have seen PF do it back in '80 - - They played LA for a week, so I saw the show twice (once in an... eh... highly altered state). It was pretty much a religious experience, Dave Gilmour playing the solo for comfortably numb from the top of the wall...
 
#51
Brad Johnson said:
Note for note is usually boring as hell. Put some "you" into if (unless "you" are boring as hell) and take some chances....
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While I agree with you from a personal taste point of view, there does exist club owners AND patrons who get really pissy with cover bands taking "liberties" with the sacred music of their past... I've long been a fan of "punking", "Lounging" and even "Metallifying" songs to be amusing, but man - do that to the wrong song in front of the wrong person (or even crowd) and you are rather hosed.

Some gigs just want you to fill the void - I like the term "Sonic Wallpaper" - -you play, they pay, you go home with cash in pocket. Kinda like a day job.
 
#52
I felt this way when I saw Victor Wooten and his family members perform a few years ago at House of Blues in Chicago. It was really cool for about 20 minutes...and I had been in a SERIOUS Bela Fleck & The Flecktones kick around this time. Pretty much obsessed with them.

Maybe it was my own frustration/jealousy of not ever being able to play that good, but when he started passing a bass around to audience members during a jam and unknown people in the crowd were double thumping from the general admission area, I was like, "Jeez, I gotta get outta here. This is just ridiculous" :rollno:
 
#54
BigOldHarry said:
... I've long been a fan of "punking", "Lounging" and even "Metallifying" songs to be amusing, but man - do that to the wrong song in front of the wrong person (or even crowd) and you are rather hosed.
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F**K 'em. I’d rather be, and watch, a musician over an imitator any day. Interpreting a cover should be for more than amusement. It’s what every person who’s serious about music should be striving for.

If people’s panties get in a bunch because they don’t like the way you do some classic rock cover song you need a new crowd. IMO, YMMV,…
 
#55
BigOldHarry said:
You should have seen PF do it back in '80 - - They played LA for a week, so I saw the show twice (once in an... eh... highly altered state). It was pretty much a religious experience, Dave Gilmour playing the solo for comfortably numb from the top of the wall...
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If I had been alive, i assure you i would have lol. My mother was a little aggrieved i didn't invite her but comon... Really Mom, sigh?
 
#56
Spinal Tapper said:
I felt this way when I saw Victor Wooten and his family members perform a few years ago at House of Blues in Chicago. It was really cool for about 20 minutes...and I had been in a SERIOUS Bela Fleck & The Flecktones kick around this time. Pretty much obsessed with them.

Maybe it was my own frustration/jealousy of not ever being able to play that good, but when he started passing a bass around to audience members during a jam and unknown people in the crowd were double thumping from the general admission area, I was like, "Jeez, I gotta get outta here. This is just ridiculous" :rollno:
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You know, I saw a Bela Fleck & crew a few years back and something has *changed* - they had a bunch of Jam Band kids on stage, wanking at GREAT lengths... I used to LOVE seeing their shows, where there was tons of playfullness and skill afoot... now... I dunno. Perhaps they've started taking themselves seriously?

And I while I love how Wooten plays, I'm not wild about him "solo". Heck, most bass players in a "solo" format are dull, at least to me. Marcus Miller's best work is a sideman/collaborator, if you ask me...

but this is rather another thread, yes?
 
#57
dvh said:
F**K 'em. I’d rather be, and watch, a musician over an imitator any day. Interpreting a cover should be for more than amusement. It’s what every person who’s serious about music should be striving for.

If people’s panties get in a bunch because they don’t like the way you do some classic rock cover song you need a new crowd. IMO, YMMV,…
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The problem with that perspective is - and this is key - you will not get a return gig. If you're just out playing for fun, that's okay... but if you're trying to make a buck, you have to suck it up and play what the man pays you for. Like it's a job.
 
#58
In 1983 I used to go see a band called Dynasty at the old Howard Johnsons in Piscataway, NJ. All of the band were consumate pros, mostly people who played in wedding bands and orchestras but wanted to do more current and fun music. I wouldn't say it was boring, but clearly the lounge/restaurant of a HoJo does not and will never have the appeal of say the Stone Pony or the Saint or back then a small crud hole called The Schoolhouse on Stelton Road in Pisthataway.

Dynasty played every Friday nite and they packed the place. All the young chicks went too, and man the dance floor was a local meat market. It was fun to dance and pick up the ladies, but it was never nearly as fun or exciting as seeing the Good Rats at the Schoolhouse. Now THAT was a party!

Let's face it, if the rest/bar is a Cougartown, then now you know how to play and what to play to get the cougars to come see you.

However, if you are playing like that in the local dive, the cougars you attract may not have all their teeth and may still have lady mullets...
 

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