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Black Sheep on the Gig Lineup

Should we play?

  • Total voters
    86
Dougflores

Dougflores

Supporting Member
Jan 18, 2017
151
265
31
#1
Hey all! Wanted to get some input.

So my band landed a gig in Hollywood. The thing is, we will DEFINITELY stick out compared to the other bands. As in we will not fit in. We play mellow indie rock (think Tame Impala) and are on the same bill as a grunge band with guttering vocals, a tech death band that probably plays 8 string guitars, a punk band (although they said they're playing an "acoustic" performance), and a metalcore band. There are like 2 artists that I'm not sure of the genre, and a stand up comedian. Should we just suck it up and play? Or do we pull out to avoid any potential negativity or unwelcoming crowds?
 
#2
Not sure if I would consider consider Tame Impala mellow Indie. Those first two or three albums are cranked tubes and real rock n roll. Maybe you mean the newest album? Anyway, I don't have a good sense of your sound. But either way I say who cares? Just do you and do you the best you can. I've played many very mixed bills and they've mostly gone very well. Many of the bands I play in get put with metal acts because we are very loud but really really aren't metal at all. I find people are more open minded than we expect and we still get appreciated regardless of mixed genres. Go for it.
 
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#4
HawldieMPB said:
Not sure if I would consider consider Tame Impala mellow Indie. Those first two or three albums are cranked tubes and real rock n roll. Maybe you mean the newest album? Anyway, I don't have a good sense of your sound. But either way I say who cares? Just do you and do you the best you can. I've played many very mixed bills and they've mostly gone very well. Many of the bands I play in get put with metal acts because we are very loud but really really aren't metal at all. I find people are more open minded than we expect and we still get appreciated regardless of mixed genres. Go for it.
Click to expand...
Yeah maybe mellow wasn't the best word. I just always have a hard time describing our sound. I'm also banking on the idea that people now a days have a more open mind with music.
 
#13
Dougflores said:
Hey all! Wanted to get some input.

So my band landed a gig in Hollywood. The thing is, we will DEFINITELY stick out compared to the other bands. As in we will not fit in. We play mellow indie rock (think Tame Impala) and are on the same bill as a grunge band with guttering vocals, a tech death band that probably plays 8 string guitars, a punk band (although they said they're playing an "acoustic" performance), and a metalcore band. There are like 2 artists that I'm not sure of the genre, and a stand up comedian. Should we just suck it up and play? Or do we pull out to avoid any potential negativity or unwelcoming crowds?
Click to expand...
Throw in a comedy duo schtick between songs.
Drummer is the straight man, you drop the punch line, drummer does a rim shot that leads into your next song.
No one will even remember the other bands. :thumbsup:
 
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#14
Dougflores said:
Hey all! Wanted to get some input.

So my band landed a gig in Hollywood. The thing is, we will DEFINITELY stick out compared to the other bands. As in we will not fit in. We play mellow indie rock (think Tame Impala) and are on the same bill as a grunge band with guttering vocals, a tech death band that probably plays 8 string guitars, a punk band (although they said they're playing an "acoustic" performance), and a metalcore band. There are like 2 artists that I'm not sure of the genre, and a stand up comedian. Should we just suck it up and play? Or do we pull out to avoid any potential negativity or unwelcoming crowds?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't bail on the gig for the reasons you mentioned, i would have simply not accepted it because these stacked "showcase" sort of shows are generally a waste of time. You are right though, why would anyone organize a gig with such polarizing elements and hodge podge of stuff? I've seen friends groups be suckered into this sort of shows to get entry level exposure, but they just end up playing to their established friends and family members.
 
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#15
Be more so what you are to accentuate the difference. Even if you "bomb", laugh about it, enjoy the night, pick up a starlet (or whatever) be proud of whatever you do because you may be the last band standing of the lot and the only one that sells.
 
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#16
I'd do it. My only worry would be the promoter...

Generally metal guys are pretty chill - I'd imagine the tech death guys barely leave their bedrooms if they're good at playing, that's some high level shizzle.

Networking is good - and watching bands that don't play your genre is good, you never know where you'll pick up tips. Even if the gig sucks, it's still a learning experience.
 
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#17
If you're good at what you play, playing something different from everyone else will make you stand out even more.

Sometimes a venue like this needs to give people a break from the "noise/energy" just to keep the crowd in control. Not much different than a cover band setting up a setlist.
 
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#18
Played a gig a few weeks ago. The opener was a solo artist...on banjo. All originals...
The dude rocked it.
We play post-hc, and very clean and loud.
Line-up was dude with banjo, stoner rock, techno rockish, and us.
What's the problem?
It's Hollywood baby, throw down and rock it.
...IMO.
I am pretty certain there are weirder things out there than your gig line-up...
Good luck.
 
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#20
errrrrrm.

A comedian, a grunge band, a punk band playing an acoustic set, a death metal band and a metalcore band.

I can totally see that this is the universal lineup for concert evenings around the world and there's no way to play anything resembling indie here.
This would totally throw off the delicate equilibrium of genres.

Maybe If you asked the punk band to play electric and the comedian brought a Kazoo.


(seriously):
Unless it is some pay-to-play thing, go there and play.
What's the worst that could happen? You're playing an empty hall because the metalheads don't dig your tunes.
But as it is with exposure, maybe there are a few people in the crowd that like what you do and will show up on your next show.
 

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