Play a bunch of songs designed for guitar players to noodle over all in a blues format?.......This sounds like the most unfun band situation I've heard about in awhile....congrats for surviving that for 17 years....I wouldn't have lasted 17 minutes
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Can this Band be Saved / Changed?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
Hows it working out ? Insanity...Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results
Do you have any videos of your band to share?
not learning the signature licks and only playing I-IV-V sounds like a boring band to watch. The next progression is not strumming chords to the rhythm of the original song.
I would look for a new band while playing with the current. Sad to leave a band and not have anyone to play with.
not learning the signature licks and only playing I-IV-V sounds like a boring band to watch. The next progression is not strumming chords to the rhythm of the original song.
I would look for a new band while playing with the current. Sad to leave a band and not have anyone to play with.
Bands first problem with keeping butts in seats is that you take set breaks at all. Dump the set breaks and your core audience will grow throughout the night rather than plateau and drop off. Everybody on the dance floor that is bar hopping says to the others they came with "Wanna leave at the next set break?" The answer is always yes. Don't give them one. This solves the problem of set break music completely and sells more booze and food.
At the end of the day though...this band has been doing the same thing for almost 2 decades. It sounds to me like they are more of a Linus blanket than they are something that is fun and interesting for you anymore. The jeans T-shirt thing was cool because it was counter culture to the Aquanet and spandex spectacle of the 70's and 80's. Now its just lazy and irrelevant and also puts the subconscious idea in peoples heads that even the musicians dont value or respect the show...why should the audiences?
Walk away and start something you want to do. Life is way too short. These are all just symptoms that you have grown to a different place. Don't bother trying to impart your changes (which are super good by the way) on to people that haven't grown in the same direction you have. Let them be who they are and leave amicably. If you stay...just let the stuff you have problems with go and try to just accept what it is for what it is. But definitely start something new with like minded people. At this point...you definitely should have the connections built up to make that happen and you will be happier.
At the end of the day though...this band has been doing the same thing for almost 2 decades. It sounds to me like they are more of a Linus blanket than they are something that is fun and interesting for you anymore. The jeans T-shirt thing was cool because it was counter culture to the Aquanet and spandex spectacle of the 70's and 80's. Now its just lazy and irrelevant and also puts the subconscious idea in peoples heads that even the musicians dont value or respect the show...why should the audiences?
Walk away and start something you want to do. Life is way too short. These are all just symptoms that you have grown to a different place. Don't bother trying to impart your changes (which are super good by the way) on to people that haven't grown in the same direction you have. Let them be who they are and leave amicably. If you stay...just let the stuff you have problems with go and try to just accept what it is for what it is. But definitely start something new with like minded people. At this point...you definitely should have the connections built up to make that happen and you will be happier.
Or:
4. Start your own group and assume the band leader role. You set the standard. Be wary that you don't set the bar so high, everyone else can easily go under it. And remember, it's a fine line between what you want to play and hear, verses what actually works. As much of an "artiste'" as you may like to think of yourself as, at the end of the day you're there to push sales of whatever the venue is selling, Usually that would be alcohol. And if the drunk girl with puke breath wants to hear Brown Eyed Girl; if you don't play it the next band will and will probably be asked back.
Having said all that, I'm right there with you. One band's motto that I was in was "everyone gets a ride (solo)", to fill time and avoid having to learn new material. Ugh. Make my ride a cab, cause I'm out of there. Same band, having tired of slogging through yet another I, IV, V song with endless solos, I suggested Riviera Sunset by SRV. It's blues, it's an instrumental with nothing but solos and FFS, it's SRV! But it's not standard blues and was deemed to difficult. But that band worked consistently and for great money. It evolved over the years and did attempt to learn anything I was willing to sing. Although after C-19 and a few other issues, it's now down to a two piece coffee house/brewery band. Frankly, I can keep that up and still do #4 above. As soon as profitable gigging is available again.
After 17 years, you can’t expect the entire band to make changes that only you feel are necessary, not that you aren’t right in my opinion, but I doubt they will be open to your suggestions. Sounds like the BL has already shot down some of your creative input.
If what you crave is more creative input, start a new project with musicians willing to do what you want to do and how you want to do it and start phasing yourself out of the “All Blues, all the time” band.
If what you crave is more creative input, start a new project with musicians willing to do what you want to do and how you want to do it and start phasing yourself out of the “All Blues, all the time” band.
If it was MY band I'd be driving the tractor onstage and using the tractor's bucket like a spotlight -- lifting the guitar soloist, singer, or whoever up to help the audience focus their attention.
That'll solve probably 90% of your problems unless your band is having problems cutting through the tractor's roar or one of the other members wants to get a little uppity and drive the tractor instead.
Knowing your place in a band and staying there is so important to keeping it all together especially when doubt starts corroding into the group. I would agree that nobody can stop change but my tractor suggestion has great potential to mitigate unwanted earth-moving changes...
That'll solve probably 90% of your problems unless your band is having problems cutting through the tractor's roar or one of the other members wants to get a little uppity and drive the tractor instead.
Knowing your place in a band and staying there is so important to keeping it all together especially when doubt starts corroding into the group. I would agree that nobody can stop change but my tractor suggestion has great potential to mitigate unwanted earth-moving changes...
Blues, for many players, is an improvisational genre. If I remember correctly from my thread about N4N, the OP is kind of a stickler for detail, so I can see why this would be a mismatch.
I don't think that you're going to be able to change the way they view this music or how it should be played. They're probably in the hardcore improvisational camp and that's what makes it fun for them. It isn't making it fun for you, though, so you might want to think about adding another band to your life that you'll find more satisfying.
I don't think that you're going to be able to change the way they view this music or how it should be played. They're probably in the hardcore improvisational camp and that's what makes it fun for them. It isn't making it fun for you, though, so you might want to think about adding another band to your life that you'll find more satisfying.
It totally depends. In the States...Sometimes a specific musician has a strong vision for what they want to do and need people who can execute and also improvise. There's something to be said about having "too many cooks in the kitchen". This is usually the person handling all the booking, the writing, the recording costs and all the promo stuff. You basically show up and play with very little risk. Sweet gigs sometimes if the personalities are awesome.
Sometimes the bands are functioning democracies with each player investing equally...but in the real world this rarely happens. Hard to get 2 people in the same room with the exact same vision let alone 3 to 5. It's definitely a thing here in the States..and the bands that can do this usually do really, really well for themselves. Power struggles can be a thing though after a while.
The worst kind of band is a democracy without a clear vision though. Ever seen the Biffy at the end of a two day music festival? Yeah, this is the musical equivalent.
Damn! I didn't make the link to the OP's previous post. Totally agree, time to move on. Failing that, learn to live with it, but wishing things were different and ranting here isn't changing anything. If we're reading another post complaining about this band in another 6 months, you're doing yourself no good at all.
Good points. I for one would be interested in getting some club owners' opinions about the band.
Yeah, I had forgotten about that previous thread, and yeah, this probably is (only) a rant. THIS thread was spurred by one particular night in which all of those things became much more apparent, with the crowd basically all leaving after our second set. But, as much as it may sound like it, it's not really eating me up, either. I just think we are capable of doing better and it's frustrating that we don't.
To me the bass part in Tennessee Whiskey needs to be there, but the guitar parts do, too.
I agree. I won't quit until or unless something better comes up.
Apparently we are one club owner's favorite band, and yet we have few bookings at his place, and the bookings we get are like the weekend after Fourth of July weekend or the weekend before Memorial Day. At another place we were the St. Patrick's Day band for years. Then we lost favor with them and never played there again. They have since changed hands and finally closed down due to Covid.
