Funny thoughts that go through your head when playing

[BtaylorTheRogue]

We play this song, it's basically The Joker by Steve Miller Band. We play it every show.

It's kind of a slightly groovier Joker that turns into a short medley of lyrics over the Joker's music.

I'm feeling annoyed and just generally off, and I'm in an "I'm gonna do what I want" kinda mood.

I'm not justifying this as a musician, and I'd have fired me from my last bands. However, we play 2 shows a week 52 weeks a year and draw crowds every night, so whatever. I'm getting paid. The crowd is asking for party rock, not jazz or some kind of absolute precision, or some musical experience so sterile that it's been cleaned out with a soapbar. (is that all of em?) Our vocalist has been roofied, I smoke a ton of cigarettes out back between sets, people have gotten too drunk to play, You know what happens when the band gets too drunk to play? The band hangs with the crowd and the crowd buys more booze and the bar is ecstatic. I know. I'm way out of my comfort zone, but my point is, it's working solidly for us.​

So I'm annoyed. Girlfriend and I just had a big fight, the weather still sucks, I hate everyone and everything. And I think, you know what? This note has a dot on it now. Sounds funkier.

I felt about 20 alcohol-hazed 40 year old women just kinda turned at looked at us confusedly, and from somewhere deep inside me, a little inner voice said the most amazing thing.

I am altering the rhythm. Pray I do not alter it any further.

 

[filmtex]

This from the Firesign theater:

What he thinks about starts at about 1:44!

 

[Richland123]

This from the Firesign theater:

What he thinks about starts at about 1:44!

That is actually “Mr. Rogers #1” by The National Lampoon appears on their album, That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick.

This Mr. Rogers interview with “Billy Bob the Bassist” features Bill Murray as a burned-out musician who’s had some trouble with the band.

 

[dalkowski]

Me, except I'm holding a bass guitar:

 

[BtaylorTheRogue]

Oh that video. I was laughing, but also...

"little candies, fresh little candies"

Sw-... Sweetwater San?

 

[Goatrope]

I am altering the rhythm. Pray I do not alter it any further.

YES

We are of the same mind, just different songs.

“Mary Jane’s Last Dance”
“My Love is Alive”

Ive done some “altering” of rhythm myself.

I annoy the band leader by calling out numbers, like ordering Chinese food, when these songs are called.
All in good fun.

 

[JRA]

https://www.talkbass.com/members/filmtex.194257/ : hilarious!





Funny thoughts that go through your head when playing
- "...i hope she doesn't dance her way over to my side and shake whatever that is...."
- "...i can't believe the drummer is winking at that...."
- "...10 minutes to beer time! ...oh here she comes again..."
- "...was that me?"
- "...is this the bridge coming up?"
- "...damn, it was the coda! oh well, tomorrow night...maybe..."
- "...it's time for a cold modelo!"

 

[ToP fan]

Having seen some of our gig footage, I used to worry (obsess?) about how stupid I looked when I started grooving out to a great tune..............now I don't care and I'm constantly telling myself to just be in the moment and cherish every second of how cool it is to be playing this fabulous instrument.

Dave

 

[two fingers]

"Girl, if you wink at me one more time, my wife is gonna cut you. And I can't stop her. She's literally right beside you on the dance floor. You have no idea how much your life is in danger right now."


(For the record, my wife has never cut anyone. The jury couldn't convict.)

 

[WI Short Scaler]

My mind says "stand still, you know that your moves are about bear a striking resemblance to a salmon stranded on the beach."

But I move anyway.

 

[juancaminos]

I'm singing the next song. Hope I remember the words and that the stupid guitar player gets the stops right this time. Crap I'm out of beer and I always take a sip before I sing a song. This is going to be a train wreck. OMG.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

For me, the danger sign is when I think about how Brian Eno thought the danger sign was when he was thinking about his laundry when playing live with Roxy Music, and then reflect on me thinking that.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I might have to steal this.



Wonderful news!
View attachment 4180668

Is that 'Don van Vliet meets singer of Marillion?'

 

[NortyFiner]

Trying to telepathically beam "Less Lars Ulrich, more Ringo Starr" at the drummer who's racing 10+ BPM ahead of schedule.

 

[edencab]

That is actually “Mr. Rogers #1” by The National Lampoon appears on their album, That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick.

This Mr. Rogers interview with “Billy Bob the Bassist” features Bill Murray as a burned-out musician who’s had some trouble with the band.

I've heard this many times over the years...did not know it was Bill Murray!...thought it was a Ceech and Chong bit....cool piece of trivia

 

[RichardW]

Sometimes I'll think to myself "hey, I'm playing this song really well"...and that's when I hit a clam.

 

[Killing Floor]

I think about how sneaky I am that nobody notices me playing an open and swigging a beer. Really subtle, I'm sure.

 

[Killing Floor]

Sometimes I'll think to myself "hey, I'm playing this song really well"...and that's when I hit a clam.

You mean "that's when I play this highbrow atonal fill".

 

[JW56789]

Back when I did six- and seven-nights a week, of course you play your catalog over and over and over, and for the life of me, the customers always requested . . . . the songs I like the least. After months of this, I'd get just a little brain-dead from the rote repitition of the 100-odd songs, and I'll only say that I used to think up really vile and nasty and rude new lyrics to those chestnuts . . . . . . which never went out over the mains or we'd have had a LOT of time off, suddenly.

 

[Gearhead17]

1. Hmmm, I wonder what part is coming next? (After the change,a few notes off, but quickly recovered). There is another verse here? (even though I have played it a thousand times).
2. Those women are leaving their purses along the edge of the stage! I better stay near them so no creepers come by and steal them.
3. What are those three dudes doing? Is that dancing?
4. Who's playing the wrong notes? It can't be me. Oh crap!
5. Why is my guitarist skipping a tune on the set list?
6. I didn't know you could dance to Black Sabbath's "Electric Funeral".
7. OOoohhh man! I am on tonight!
8. My bass got knocked down, again.