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Fill in drummer - would rather not play than use this guy again....
- Thread starter Justice
- Start date
Naturally, I'm wondering what the band policy is regarding microphone control. I have played in bands that didn't have a standard and policy, and this is usually the result (people talking when they shouldn't, saying things they shouldn't, singing things they shouldn't, bad timing, poor choices). My band only gives a microphone to those who have a distinct need and pertinent, rehearsed parts. We would never give a microphone to an unrehearsed sub unless it was the lead singer's sub.
Also, timing and tempo issues are automatic deal breakers for me, even in a sub situation. If I were in OP's band I would definitely vote to cancel the gig before I played with a mouthy wonky-tempo hack.
Also, timing and tempo issues are automatic deal breakers for me, even in a sub situation. If I were in OP's band I would definitely vote to cancel the gig before I played with a mouthy wonky-tempo hack.
I would love too. He is really good, even when is being completely over the top. Good tempo and all that.
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
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I will say this much. I have found that guitarists that are easy to work with really aren't that hard to find. Drummers on the other hand... Well the only good drummer I have ever played with sold off his kit and went entirely to guitar...
There are a LOT of guys I have seen locally that are wannabe drummers, but for some reason I can fart with better, more controlled tempo than most of these guys... Unless you have a KNOWN good fitting sub I would much rather either drop in a drum machine, or cancel the gig.
Considering the extreme weather issues, I am a bit shocked you were able to get anyone to a gig on Saturday...
There are a LOT of guys I have seen locally that are wannabe drummers, but for some reason I can fart with better, more controlled tempo than most of these guys... Unless you have a KNOWN good fitting sub I would much rather either drop in a drum machine, or cancel the gig.
Considering the extreme weather issues, I am a bit shocked you were able to get anyone to a gig on Saturday...
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
A bit over the top, and overplays for the song being played, but I bet he could pull it back a bit and actually do a good job...
Any one of those repeat issues would be enough to say 'I'm not working with that guy again'.
It happens once, OK, maybe he was having an off night.
It happens consistently, then he's out of a sub job permanently.
He not only embarrasses himself, but he puts out a really amateur impression of your band, and no one who has spent some time building a reputation can afford that.
It's just bad business, as well as personally embarrassing, not to mention insulting!
It happens once, OK, maybe he was having an off night.
It happens consistently, then he's out of a sub job permanently.
He not only embarrasses himself, but he puts out a really amateur impression of your band, and no one who has spent some time building a reputation can afford that.
It's just bad business, as well as personally embarrassing, not to mention insulting!
Surprisingly, we had a really good crowd for most of the night. Even with the bad weather.
I had a drummer once who was a real trip. He practiced with us, kept time, remembered intros/outros, signaled changes, on and on.....at rehearsal. At the gigs he was a different story...his tempo moved, forgot songs, played the cymbals too much,(when he hit them it always reminded me of ponies jumping thru hoops of fire at the circus), and was almost always late for the 2nd and 3rd sets cuz he was stuffin the muffin of some audience member.
Cocaine is a hellava drug.
Cocaine is a hellava drug.
In a kind of warped way this guy was very good. Yeah, he was definitely at the wrong gig. He's a better player than the bass player or guitarist. He was spot on, played great pushes and accents, and all the while he KEPT TIME.
I kind of suspect that he was playing over the top as a joke or something. But the guy does have technique.
As for your sub? Thank the gods the gig is over. Remind the band that next time your drummer can't make it buy some drum tracks online....
Sometime in the past we had a drummer fill in for our drummer who was sick. Seemed to be a nice guy but during the gig his tempo was spotty and he overplayed. He also jumped in on lead vox unannounced more than once.
Fast forward to Saturday night, we are playing the Halloween party at one of the clubs we play regularly. I arrive and start unloading and only one of the guitar players is there, and he asks me if I knew that our drummer was not going to be there (flooded in because of all the rain, cannot get out of his neighborhood) and that we were going to have a fill in drummer. (I was hoping it was not the guy from before) It was the guy from before
Oh well, I'll just make the best of it. Yeah, uh huh...
So he gets finished setting up, and decides to play along with the juke box (loudly). Luckily for just one song, then he wanders off. We get ready to start and the guitar/singer starts the first song (setting the tempo) and in comes the drummer rushing the tempo so now we are playing too fast but during the song he continuously slows down so that by the time we finish the song we are now going too slow. This would continue over the course of the night where we would either have the tempo start fine and then slow down, or it would start slow and stay there. I tried to get him to pick up the tempo several times to no avail. And again with the overplaying, missing cues, coming in wrong and taking over lead vox when he felt like it.
After the first set I told both guitarists that if we ever had the situation again where it was either call this drummer to make a gig, or cancel, I would rather cancel.
Other times during the night he would just break into the between song banter and talk about how he got the call at 4pm that day to come out and play with us, or talk about his son who is playing football in college? really? One song he came in so off that I was getting ready to stop but instead the guitarists and I kinda paused for a bit and he got back to a spot where we picked it up again. Then after botching the intro to Brown Eyed Girl, when we get to the bass solo (which I play like the record, only twice through) he starts telling the story about getting the call at 4pm to come out and play with us. Really? during the song? During the bass solo? (everybody talks during the bass solo) and of course the story is going to be longer then the solo. I shot him a couple of "shut up" looks during the solo which went unnoticed so I just cut him off by going back into the third verse the way I normally do. This kinda shut him up because he was quieter the rest of the night.
Then at the end of the night, we call the last song and play it and when we are done he wants to play another song. He's like "lets play some Cheap Trick. Surrender!" (we don't play Surrender) So one of the guitar players suggest I want You to Want Me instead. Drummer says OK and starts the song, badly. Then proceeds to play the wrong beat throughout the song until it comes to the drum break near the end, which he plays correctly, and then finishes the song with the wrong beat again. Then he wants to play another song and gets mad when the guitarist tells him "no, we're done"
He wanders off while the rest of us start tearing down our gear and loading out. Then he comes back in and starts tearing down, and as he is just about done he's like "Where's Doug!? (guitar player) I'm like "he is around here somewhere" and he is all "He better be! I better get my money or you'll be getting the ass whoopin!" and I'm thinking "seriously? This is how you are going to act now?" I go back into the bar to use the restroom and as I am coming out he is coming in and is like "Where the hell is Doug?!?!" and I point at Doug over at the bar getting our pay and then take the last of my gear out. He gets payed and leaves.
So yeah, I don't want to play that guy again.
Y'all should play Surrender.
I'd love to. If you watch the longer version of this, Wikipedia it or read the comments you'll realize this band does this as a joke, mid set.
It's part of their act. The drummer is supposed to be absurdly over the top. He's pretending to be a gonzo drummer.
It's honestly a pretty good example of well executed showmanship. It's all very intentional.
Sorry for the derail but I thought the story behind that was common knowledge by now.
Was he running the sound? Ya know every board I have touched has a mute button.any videos?
that is the million dollar question...
I'm w/ you OP, I would rather not have him hurt the hirability of your band, by his lack of musical ability & obnoxiousness. Was he drinking? Why did he think he could "take over" the mic?
Whoever hired him, should have discussed his "role" in all of this. It obviously affects the role of the "regulars" in this, so they should have had a say in his role, no?
I would have probably used diplomatic authority & told him to: "STFU!" when he started singing, & or started his "storytelling". Tell him to save it for romperoom...
I swear this guy was subbing for a band in Mesa a few weeks ago. You described him to a T. Even the banter and lead vocals. Nothing worse than drummer singing lead.
That was my thought. Why the hell is that? Do the drums attract the d-bags or the other way around?
