Drums and Bass only songs

[TeamTrejo]

Our drummer scheduled as gig early next month. It turns out the two guitarist won't be able to make it to the pub until about an hour after the gig is supposed to start. As we are e-mailing each other the drummer jokingly says, "Well, it looks like the first hour is just drums and bass." I know he was kinda kidding but can it be done? Should it be done? We cover classic rock. The drummer is also the lead singer and he is quite good. I sing backup.

I'm game to try it for a short set just for fun.

Any thoughts on a few songs?

 

[puddin tame]

It's most certainly possible, but it won't sound much like classic rock



check out these videos of larry bright/wooten jamming, each one is quite different (youll find the rest in the side bar thingy)

 

[s_mcsleazy]

2 bands i can think of

death from above 1979 and el ten eleven

 

[sikamikanico]

It's most certainly possible, but it won't sound much like classic rock

+1

you could actually play some of your regular songs, but with this arrangement... and I'd add some effects into the chain, to spice it up if/when necessary...

you could prerecord some stuff as well...

or invite some other musicians for the first hour...

 

[MadDogM]

You could try the Osaka Jam by Muse XP

 

[MisterFabulous]

There are a lot of reggae songs with just drums, bass and vocal. "Who Colt The Game" by Bob Marley comes to mind.

 

[snyderz]

Some Kind of Wonderful.

 

[WhoSeyes]

Most AC/DC songs can be done with a good overdriven bass, voice and drums.

The White Stripes can be faked too without using a guitar, even the Pixies. Yeah, not so "classic" rock, maybe...

 

[RadioMasterDude]

The Awakening by Les Claypool

 

[BassesForTheWin]

You could try the Osaka Jam by Muse XP

This, OR Death From Above 1979 has a ton of songs for Bass/drum set-up, just use disortion

 

[BillW87]

It can be done, but its going to take a lot of preparation to put together a drum and bass set that can entertain an audience for an hour. My advice is to talk the situation over with the pub owner/booking agent so that they know what the situation is and maybe plan on starting late with a 15-20 minute drum and bass set. Most venues would much rather have a show start late than have two guys go up and mess around with an under-rehearsed set for an hour and drive customers out the door. Rather than jeopardize the gig and possibly future gigs for your band go with a shorter time frame for the experiment so that if it bombs after the first song you can pack it up for 10 minutes, grab a drink at the bar, and then get back on stage when the rest of your band gets there.

 

[bassgod94]

Moby Dick by Led Zep would be fine without the guitar riffs, I've jammed with a great drummer around here, just so long as the drummer's good enough

 

[pklima]

Maybe bust out a few bass-and-voice classics like "Fever" and "King Of The Road"?

 

[QORC]

Big Bottom, spinal tap?

 

[Tampabass]

Morphine (but w/o the bari sax) -

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Our drummer scheduled as gig early next month. It turns out the two guitarist won't be able to make it to the pub until about an hour after the gig is supposed to start. As we are e-mailing each other the drummer jokingly says, "Well, it looks like the first hour is just drums and bass." I know he was kinda kidding but can it be done? Should it be done? We cover classic rock. The drummer is also the lead singer and he is quite good. I sing backup.

I'm game to try it for a short set just for fun.

Any thoughts on a few songs?

If you can do it WELL, then it should be done. Otherwise, if it is gonna sound like a$$ due to the material being too much of a stretch or due to preparation, then I'd just as soon gracefully downplay the suggestion and forget it, or find a sub on guitar or piano that you can support as an "opening act" or to have that person play with you on some songs that you already do, which that person would know.

 

[mysteryclock]

JPJ and Diamanda Galás did it for most of The Sporting Life, although the subject matter of that particular album may cause people to run screaming from the bar or call the cops on you.

 

[Tampabass]

You could always put on a dress and play along to tracks, like that Korean dude with all the vids.

 

[TRichardsbass]

Two songs that immediately come to mind are "White Lines" by the Sugar Hill gang and "Peaches" by the Stranglers. ]

If you can sing you can also pull off "London Calling" with only bass and drums.

 

[phatbass]

No matter how good you are, at a pub gig you're only gonna be annoying people.

Wouldn't matter if it was Wooten and, errr.., that drum guy who's really good; in a pub they want stuff they know and can recognise within 3 seconds of the song starting.