Best Compliment/None Compliment you've received

[chazsundance]

I was chatting with a former bandmate about things people said to us after a gig (or even during) that were sort of compliments but also not really compliments lol.

Instrumental band - "damn you guys sound good, sort of like a broke ass trans siberian orchestra". That one gets me every time lol

Original rock band - " I love your band, your guitarist, it's like he doesn't know how to play guitar but then plays one more note to show you he does know how". This was the one me and my former guitarist crack up about all the time.

Original metal band - "man you're a great bass player, who wrote your parts? Umm I did, " Oh rad did you just come up with those songs on stage?" ....... YEP lmao

alright your turn let me hear em

 

[NZBassman]

I think I've posted this before in another thread.... but during a break in my old band this guy comes up to me and said my bass sound was 'mint' and really wanted to know if I was playing a Fender Jazz through an Ampeg or Mesa Boogie or something.
The look on his face was priceless when I showed him my Squire modified Jazz bass, going direct into my Rumble 500 (DI to mixing desk) with no pedals or effects whatsoever....

another one that was kind of funny was after a gig, a drunk patron came up to me and said "Man you were awesome on the drums tonight"..... made me chuckle.

Some other comments I've received
"Why is your guitar bigger that his"? (comparing my bass to our guitarists Fender Strat)
"Can you teach me to play bass now"? (during a break as I walked off stage)
"So what do you do in the band"? (a woman asked me this after standing in front of me for almost the entire set)

 

[chazsundance]

I think I've posted this before in another thread.... but during a break in my old band this guy comes up to me and said my bass sound was 'mint' and really wanted to know if I was playing a Fender Jazz through an Ampeg or Mesa Boogie or something.
The look on his face was priceless when I showed him my Squire modified Jazz bass, going direct into my Rumble 500 (DI to mixing desk) with no pedals or effects whatsoever....

another one that was kind of funny was after a gig, a drunk patron came up to me and said "Man you were awesome on the drums tonight"..... made me chuckle.

Some other comments I've received
"Why is your guitar bigger that his"? (comparing my bass to our guitarists Fender Strat)
"Can you teach me to play bass now"? (during a break as I walked off stage)
"So what do you do in the band"? (a woman asked me this after standing in front of me for almost the entire set)

hahaha can you teach me to play bass now, that's a good one.

 

[MuseChaser]

There's a bunch of running non-compliments running around the jazz circles in which I work....

"Man, each note you played was better than the next one!"
"You should really play more...."
"Nothing sounds better than you!"
"Great doesn't begin to describe your soloing!"
"I've worked with a lot of bassists in my life and, man, you are one of them."
"You must really like that sound you're getting."

A drummer friend of mine with an extremely caustic wit once quipped to a flugelhorn player after a ballad, "Why didn't you tell me you hated that tune?" ....extra points to anyone who can guess the drummer....

A reply I'm fond of using when a musician buddy I haven't worked with in a long time asks me on a gig, "Hey, when was the last time we worked together?"...I playfully glare at them and say, "Tonight!"

One of my favorites of all time was used by an absolutely brilliant guitarist, bassist, and drummer at the first gig we played together many years ago. He's kind of a quiet, serious-looking guy, and it was the first time I had met him. After playing the first set together, making eye contact but nary a smile to be had, he approached me during the first break and said, "you know, I'd heard some things about you and your playing through the grapevine, but now that I've heard you play I'm willing to forget all about you."

 

[WI Short Scaler]

I think I've posted this before in another thread.... but during a break in my old band this guy comes up to me and said my bass sound was 'mint' and really wanted to know if I was playing a Fender Jazz through an Ampeg or Mesa Boogie or something.
The look on his face was priceless when I showed him my Squire modified Jazz bass, going direct into my Rumble 500 (DI to mixing desk) with no pedals or effects whatsoever....

Random guy: You're getting some good sound, what kind of pedals and effects do you use?
Me: None, wireless to tuner to amp
Random guy: But, all you've got is a Squier bass.
Me: Yeah........
Random guy: Oh.....walks away mumbling to himself

I guess that was more of a compliment about my parts-bass (avatar) than my playing. That's all I can come up with since he didn't clarify in any way.

 

[40Hz]

(On second break at the Rat. 1978)

Tall, pretty female brunette: (walks up with big smile) Oh hey! Aren’t you in the band?

Me: Yes…I play bass.

Her: Yeah? (walks away)

Me:

——————

Unfortunately for me, half the band saw the whole thing. And making half witty comments about that incident just never got old as far as they were concerned.

 

[gln1955]

Random dude: "Wow, you guys are great! You should open for my band."

Me: Well, where are you playing?

Dude: We don't really have any gigs yet."

Me: OK then...

 

[waver]

In our instrumental trio, I decided to sing on a blues tune.

Afterwards I looked questioningly at our guitarist, who said in a friendly manner, “Well, it wasn’t offensive.”

 

[ELG60]

I get a lot of: "You have great tone" compliments from musicians and non-musicians alike.

 

[TheSeagoats]

From the drummers dad: "Wow, you seem good. How long have you been with the band?" 'Six hours' "No, seriously" *checks phone* "played with them for the first time six and a half hours ago"

 

[Slevage]

For a fill in guy, you don’t stink like their usually bass player.

 

[lermgalieu]

These are called "back-handed compliments," right? Or is that just a regional term?

 

[Rib 13]

To me, the bass player: "I like the way you play the guitar"

 

[Dabndug]

I had just finished my first paid gig on upright, playing jazz standards, and was pleased that I'd managed to pretty much play error-free and maintain decent intonation and feel. A woman walked up and said "I guess you'll do until they can find a bass player"

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Frontmans older sister said "your bass made all my lower insides shake".

 

[NZBassman]

I had just finished my first paid gig on upright, playing jazz standards, and was pleased that I'd managed to pretty much play error-free and maintain decent intonation and feel. A woman walked up and said "I guess you'll do until they can find a bass player"

Ouch!

 

[Slade N]

Bar patron “i like what ya’ll are trying to do”

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Woman I'd seen around at a few gigs but didn't exactly know walks up to me and says "We talk about you." My primary reaction is fear. Who the hell is "We"? I smile and excuse myself. "Gotta check my wireless."

Once in a great while there's be a guy and his wife. She tells me that he has been telling her what a rock-solid bass player I am. I have been to this movie a few times, and it is always a husband and wife team. Hubby is always a former bassist.

 

[Rib 13]

This thread just pulled out an old memory: back in the 00s, I played in a band that did a lot of Electronica, nu RnB, etc.......we were playing a Harley dealership gig and a guy told me "I don't like the bullsh** you guys play but you're making my old lady happy"

 

[HolmeBass]

These are called "back-handed compliments," right? Or is that just a regional term?

Yes, or left-handed compliments.