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Do you play in multiple bands?

dmac1961

dmac1961

Feb 7, 2012
1,427
1,791
South Cackalacky
#1
So, I've always been a one band at a time kind of guy. I often see on these forums, people talking about their multiple bands that they work with. And then it hit me today, apparently I'm now one of those guys too. I'm playing with three working bands concurrently. Oddly, all three of these groups are original bands, but different genres.

Band #1 is a three piece rock band. I've played with these guys, on and off, for close to 30 years. Great songs and great players. The drummer is the new guy, he's only been with us for 20 years! We're all close to the same age.

Band #2 is a four piece Americana group fronted by a female singer/ songwriter. She does the solo/duo thing full time year round and the band stuff is during festival season, which is getting ready to crank up. Her husband is a hotshot guitarist, also full time, and the drummer is the same from Band #1. The husband/wife team are in their early 30's.

Band #3 is a four piece pop/rock group. Nice, catchy tunes written and sung by the rhythm guitarist. A female drummer that also does great harmonies. The lead guitarist is a buddy I work with. I'm the old man, yet newest member of this group.

I get along great with all of these cats. We have a working relationship, but we are also all friends.

So, what about you guys that do multiple groups? Original or cover? Are all your bands playing out? Do you get along with everyone?
 
#3
im in 2 bands, same members in both minus 1 guy. we started the 2nd group to play without the 1 guy as hes a douche and has been banned from all of the local venues but 2. wouldnt surprise me if the the incarnation with him dies this year

both are cover bands
 
#6
I'll play in 6 bands if it means I get the chance to learn and get better.

It's mostly cover bands for me, the originals bands where I am are mostly Country / folk stuff which isn't my speed. If a good punk or new rock (whatever that means nowadays) band gave me a shot I'd be all over it like a bass player in shorts...

I think I just crossed a line there, didn't I...
 
#7
I play with one band that gigs at least once a week, one that plays 6 or 8 times a year, and sub regularly with a third. My busy band is my priority. If there is a conflict with band two I sub out band two. I only take sub gigs with #3 when I'm not gigging with #1 or #2.
 
#10
3. 20 piece big band (Ellington, Basie...), jazz quintet (west coast jazz mostly), 4 piece boogie rock band. My wife commutes to NYC from Chicago all week and my kids are college/post-college so it provides quite a bit of free time for rehearsal. Had a few gig conflicts but it's been good. I've learned so much from playing different styles and of course I get along with them all...I'm the bass player =).
 
#11
I'm in 6 bands currently where I'm first call for bass - pretty normal for me. Fortunately, none of them work so much that conflicts arise often. ...though they do. I always encourage a back-up, and that usually works OK for all concerned. Everyone knows that once I'm booked for a date, I won't blow it off for another gig, regardless of relative pay levels. As for getting along, that's person by person, not dependent on the band. I generally don't call the shots on stage and try to get along with everyone on a gig as a matter of professionalism, regardless of personal feelings.
 
#13
I'm in 3 bands.

In band #1 I've been with the drummer and guitarist/singer for 25 years. We added a keyboard player 5 years ago. We cover stuff all over the map...Elton John, Deep Purple, U2, Billy Joel, Blue Rodeo, SRV, kd lang, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Springsteen, Dire Straits, etc.

I've been with band #2 for about 2 years. 2 guitars, bass, drums, singer, plus 1 female back up vocal. They are mostly "novices" and we play every clichéd rock song in existence: Taking Care of Business, Mustang Sally, Play That Funky Music, Louie Louie, etc. The band's strength is the vocals. One of the guitar players can also song lead and the other guitarist sings background. We do songs that have 4 people singing at the same time.

I've been in band #3 for a month. 2 guitars, bass, drums. Both guitarists sing but neither one is very good. However, they are all very good musicians and one of the guitar players has about 60 original songs. They rarely gig due to the lack of a good vocalist, so we just get together to jam every so often. I jammed with these guys last night and we played for 5 hours and only played 2 or 3 songs that I've heard before. It was mostly originals and a few obscure covers. I love it because it keeps me on my toes.
 
#14
Up until a few months ago, I was a couch noodler that occasionally jammed with friends. Since then I've joined an originals band (I hate the music but whatever) and my buddies cover band that plays monthly bar gigs. The cover bands bass player flaked out of rehearsal one too many times so I got the call. He's been playing for 20 years. I've been playing for 4. He sings harmony and I don't.....but I show up. I suppose that's enough for now.
 
#16
I've been in my band (classic rock and dance covers) for 7 years and not gigging allot right now and I wanted to play more.

Started looking on CL for gigs about 8 weeks ago and picked up a gig doing a benefit concert to raise money to help less fortunate kids buy equipment to play sports. Made some new friends/contacts and had fun.

Also have started playing with some guys playing some high energy dance music and top 40 tunes that may turn into a regular gig.

Playing some new music styles has been very inspiring. Evan playing some country that I'm not a fan of, but It's helping me become a more valuable go to guy.
 
#19
I'm currently in 3 bands.

1) A cover/originals band where band members drop in and out - just for fun really
2) An experimental duo with me and another multi-instrumentalist like myself where we are working on some songs for an EP, all of which aren't really the same genre.
3) The band for the local show (This year is Our House by Madness) where we play for the live show which comes around every year. Usually play 3-5 shows with this locally to around 1000-3000 people over the week we play.

All this on top of revision for my high school tests coming up :) yay
 
#20
4001 said:
Last band I was in had 4 of 5 guys in multiple bands and it did more harm to the band than good as practices and some gigs were lost.

More than not, jobbers make me ill.
Click to expand...

I promise I'm not trying to make you or anyone else ill:)

Honestly I had to look up the word jobber...I'm not highly educated.
I thought long and hard about this before getting involved in any other projects. If I see any conflicts coming down the road I'll slow down.

So far I've helped others, having fun, learning more music and getting better. We have a shortage of bassist in my state.
 

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