Dueling loyalties

[Helix]

If she's threatened by the key guys voice, and is saying she heard he's not a team player and wants him gone.....those are red flags

Problem is she's your wife's client, and if you get rid of her, she might start bad mouthing your wife's work

Your solution by dropping out is probably the best idea.....at least for now

Good luck man, I hope you get things figured out

 

[TWolf]

Pro keyboardist explained it to me. "Chick vocalists are crazy ".

This has been my experience without exception

 

[40Hz]

On a positive note, though, if it is a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, you've already got that Stevie vs. Lindsey dynamic going.

ROFLMAO! Brutal! Spot on the sugar. But brutal!

 

[toprekoms]

Fire the B.

 

[IamGroot]

Oh, btw, have you become her BACKING band yet?

 

[JRA]

not pressing for the keyboardist's involvement (your position) would take the band back to the previous position/condition. in that state = you had a great group of people with a lot of potential.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

She feels threatened by his singing ability... not physically threatened. He sings every but as good as her, if not better. (They're both really good.)

You would think she'd see the advantages of having two great voices in the band. As grandpa always said, "Nobody goes home humming the guitar solos."

Seriously, it is vocal firepower that sets bands on a higher level. (First person to mention Jerry Garcia gets a pie in the face...)

 

[two fingers]

Sounds like symptoms of an insecure control freak. This will manifest itself in every aspect of the band. Yep, nip it in the bud, or leave.

On a positive note, though, if it is a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, you've already got that Stevie vs. Lindsey dynamic going.

You can never go wrong following the wisdom of that great sage Barney Fife!!!!!

 

[two fingers]

Was there any kind of discussion about bringing in the new keys/singer? Did it receive the acceptance or approval of all members beforehand?

It kind of sounds like you brought him in without getting a good feel for what the others think.

Yes, we talked abiut it at great length. I brought it up at a rehearsal. Then I talked to the guitar player and female singer individually on the phone before I brought him to a rehearsal. They knew he was coming and both were pretty excited about it.

 

[two fingers]

perhaps pair off with keyboard player and start 2nd group, preserve all ancillary relationships. Everyone wins. To be fair, perhaps you are trying to send your existing group into a direction it does not want to go. First and foremost, breathe.

Good advice. However, he mostly came in a jumped on stuff we were already doing. (All covers.)

We were doing radio hits.... pop, rock and country. Her forte' is modern girl country. He came in and we nailed a bunch of Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Doobies, backed her up on some Bonnie Raitt we were already doing, etc. He didn't try to take us anywhere we weren't already going. We asked him what he wanted to sing AFTER we had done stuff from our list which he had prepared flawlessly. If I was singing one backup part, he jist jumped on another. If I had been singing a low part, he would say something like "Hey man. I know you like the high stuff. You wanna go high or you want me to go high and you keep doing what you've been doing?"

He was super agreeable. If he suggested a song it's because we asked him to.

 

[two fingers]

I assume your goal is not to replace the female singer. Without knowing whether the others had input in bringing in the keyboardist, it's tough to get a read on them. Why not sit down with the female singer over coffee and explain that she is not being pushed out - that with two lead singers, plus keys, you will be able to do tunes no other band can do (pick some specific examples you have in mind). No matter HOW it shakes out, if the band folds you will have big issues in your life.

Thanks.

That was all actually explained to her up front. I made sure she was cool before I ever brought him around.

 

[two fingers]

Sounds like the female singer just doesn't want any other singers in the band. I bet if your keys player just stuck to keys, this drama would not have unfolded. Not saying the female singer is right, just analyzing the likely cause. I do think having two good singers in a band is an asset and leads can be shared, but apparently your lead doesn't agree.

Can this be salvaged by the keys player not singing(or just backings) and just playing keys? I fully realize it sounds like that ship may have sailed, lol. When keys dude was brought on, did you all set a precedent that he would be singing some leads with her agreement?

Yes. The theory behind bringing him in was for him to be the "guy" lead and her to be the "girl" lead. That was known going in.

In fact, she kept trying to get me to sing more and more lead parts before I brought him in. I do really well at a certain style of vocals. But, I'm comfortable enough in my own skin to admit that he's a better overall lead vocalist than I am. I was thrilled to hand off the main male duties to him and take a back seat for the most part. I would still do three or four smash hits I'm known for in this area, but that's about it for leads.

Apparently, she was fine with having another lead singer until she actually heard him sing.

 

[Deak]

Good advice. However, he mostly came in a jumped on stuff we were already doing. (All covers.)

We were doing radio hits.... pop, rock and country. Her forte' is modern girl country. He came in and we nailed a bunch of Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum, Doobies, backed her up on some Bonnie Raitt we were already doing, etc. He didn't try to take us anywhere we weren't already going. We asked him what he wanted to sing AFTER we had done stuff from our list which he had prepared flawlessly. If I was singing one backup part, he jist jumped on another. If I had been singing a low part, he would say something like "Hey man. I know you like the high stuff. You wanna go high or you want me to go high and you keep doing what you've been doing?"

He was super agreeable. If he suggested a song it's because we asked him to.

It sounds like there is so much potential here that some groups could only wish for. I hope she realizes this and jumps into positive mode.

I'd like to hear a clip if it does!

 

[sean_on_bass]

Yes. The theory behind bringing him in was for him to be the "guy" lead and her to be the "girl" lead. That was known going in.

In fact, she kept trying to get me to sing more and more lead parts before I brought him in. I do really well at a certain style of vocals. But, I'm comfortable enough in my own skin to admit that he's a better overall lead vocalist than I am. I was thrilled to hand off the main male duties to him and take a back seat for the most part. I would still do three or four smash hits I'm known for in this area, but that's about it for leads.

Apparently, she was fine with having another lead singer until she actually heard him sing.

Gotchya. Interestingly enough my last main band folded in part due to a male lead vs female lead battle. They ended up being like oil and water over time and she got to the point where she couldn't emotionally handle working with him. He ended up kinda being pushed out to keep the band afloat. She recruited a couple more singers to share leads and sing harmonies which just didn't pan out. The original male singer was an awesome front man and had a true gift for stage banter and creating a fun atmosphere. Once the band hit an unrelated impasse, i bailed since the group lost all energy it previously had with the original lineup and sounded just plain anemic.

 

[Stumbo]

Fire the female singer.. For sure she doesn't expect that.

Seriously talking now :

I think that her reaction towards the "new guy" is normal until a certain pont. I was reluctant towards our new drummer... (long history which I won't tell here) but after a while I accepted him

IMO the situation in her mind is :

"This guy sings better than me so I won't be the center of attention anymore" or in the worse case "these guys want to replace me so I will talk s**t or make drama to make them fire this guy"

It's up to her how to deal his her insecurities... (we all have insecurities in one or several areas in our lifes).. but maybe the band could make her see that there's no threat at all..

Why is she insecure? Ask her that. No one is talking about kicking her out.

 

[electracoyote]

Yes, we talked abiut it at great length. I brought it up at a rehearsal. Then I talked to the guitar player and female singer individually on the phone before I brought him to a rehearsal. They knew he was coming and both were pretty excited about it.

In that case, your frustration is perfectly understandable.

To echo a couple of other comments, a cover band that features both good female and male lead vocals can approach their playlist without fear. Sky's the limit of what pop/rock/cross-over country tunes you can cover. And with the supplemental singers and someone who knows how to arrange harmonies, you could become a powerhouse vocal band. Those kinds of cover bands in my neighborhood get the best gigs (public venues and private events) and stay as busy as they want.

If that's a goal for you and the band, your next job is talking this female lead singer down and making her see the potential and accept the new addition. If you sense she's going to continue to be a liability, you'll need to re-tool or move on.

Good luck with it.

 

[Spidey2112]

If it works out, you have effectively fire the singer, without her feeling fired.

This thread wouldn't have existed if she had played drums...

 

[two fingers]

In that case, your frustration is perfectly understandable.

To echo a couple of other comments, a cover band that features both good female and male lead vocals can approach their playlist without fear. Sky's the limit of what pop/rock/cross-over country tunes you can cover. And with the supplemental singers and someone who knows how to arrange harmonies, you could become a powerhouse vocal band. Those kinds of cover bands in my neighborhood get the best gigs (public venues and private events) and stay as busy as they want.

If that's a goal for you and the band, your next job is talking this female lead singer down and making her see the potential and accept the new addition. If you sense she's going to continue to be a liability, you'll need to re-tool or move on.

Good luck with it.

Your middle paragraph is spot on.... and also why this situation is so frustrating. This project has/had the potential to be exactly what you described.

 

[Spidey2112]

Your middle paragraph is spot on.... and also why this situation is so frustrating. This project has/had the potential to be exactly what you described.

Maybe work that into the band meeting...?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Thanks.

That was all actually explained to her up front. I made sure she was cool before I ever brought him around.

How do I put this nicely? Sometimes lead vocalists, both male and female, tend to be flaky and defensive. Remind her of all the great tunes you can do - Stop Dragging My Heart Around, Motown duets, etc. Think of how much fun they can have on stage together. Never mind a keyboard more than doubles the possible songs you can do.

I have played in a band with this setup, and while it is one more mouth to feed, it can be great.