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Getting frustrated with half the band

HailCorduroy

HailCorduroy

Mar 23, 2009
674
174
Nashville, TN
#1
Been in a cover band for about a year and a half now. I originally answered the ad because the guy posting it (guitarist #1) was in a city right next to mine, so practice is about 8 miles from my house. A drummer who answered the ad lives over an hour away. But we hit it off and he could sing. Original 2nd guitarist didn't work out and we kept looking. Finally, a friend of the drummer (guitarist #2), who also lives an hour away, became available. That has been the line up for the past year. Everyone gets along well enough. All 4 of us sing lead, depending on the song.

Some of the issues we are having...
  • Drummer and guitarist #2 don't do enough "homework." We've all agreed that our practice time is for rehearsing the song together. Everyone is expected to know it coming in. Guitarist #1 and I both end up walking the others through the song. Drummer is usually able to "wing it", but he often misses breaks and transitions because he doesn't know the song.
  • Last minute practice cancelling. We knew we had some personal things and travel scheduled over the last month and the next few weeks. We had 2 practices scheduled in 6 weeks. Both have been cancelled for vague medical reasons, 1st by drummer, 2nd (yesterday) by guitarist #2. I was packed and about to head to my car when I got the text that he wouldn't make it.
  • Complaining about song selection. This is all on guitarist #2. His background is heavy metal and we are a bar band. We play classic rock and country. If girls like dancing to it, we want to play it. Girls don't dance to Judas Priest. Whenever we throw out poppier stuff like Matchbox 20 or INXS, he complains and doesn't want to play it. We originally said that each member selects a song to add and anyone can veto. We are talking about changing this to requiring 2 vetoes or a damn good reason (better than "it's gay").
  • Wanting to regularly move practice. We have occasionally gone to drummer/guitarist #2's area when our normal space is booked. Maybe it's selfish on mine and guitarist #1's part, but they answered the ad for a band that was an hour away. I wouldn't have. They keep floating the idea to alternate every other practice.

These seem pretty minor compared to most of the problems I see posted on here. Just needed to vent a little. Spoke with guitarist #1 last night and the 2 of us are not opposed to doing a little moonlighting if we can find some people in our immediate area. The problem is, it's the same old crazy people and dreamers posting on craigslist.

This is my first working cover band and I'd love any advice that you guys may have. We've had pretty regular gigs since last summer, but are struggling to book anything right now. With us missing 6 weeks of practice, that's just going to set us that much further back.
 
#2
Tough spot to be in. I'm not sure what advice I can offer, but I feel your pain. I even had my keyboardist cancel for a gig the day before.
If there's a drummer and another guitarist available, move on. If not, at least you're off the ground and playing, even if they are flaky
 
#3
Well, to begin with #2 all ways smells like S%^t.....even when it is a second guitarist.

I have experienced all of the above points. We have band meetings once as month and call it open mic night. During this time we do not touch our instruments, but create open communication between band members. This is the time to talk about these issues. We have had to address all of your above issues at one time or another. Sometimes it really helped the situation and brought the issues to the guilty persons attention and it fixed it, but we have had to also part ways with band members because of this. I really feel that lack of communication is the driving factor in most bands and the issues.
 
#4
Guitar #2 is a problem set him straight or replace him. His attitude with the music and practice will not get better. In coverbands members need to get it or not with the music. You are there to entertain the crowd get them to dance ,buy drinks ...not headbang. The Drummer needs to do his homework but is not as big of a problem.
 
#8
I never get the "I don't like it, so I don't want to play it" attitude.

No one asked your opinion on the songs, because no one cares if you like it. The audience likes it and that's what matters if you're a working band. Play the song and pretend you're having a good time. You're an entertainer, not the standard bearer of all musical taste.
 
#11
tbplayer59 said:
I never get the "I don't like it, so I don't want to play it" attitude.

No one asked your opinion on the songs, because no one cares if you like it. The audience likes it and that's what matters if you're a working band. Play the song and pretend you're having a good time. You're an entertainer, not the standard bearer of all musical taste.
Click to expand...

Preach it. There are some songs we play that I don't really care for, but I play them with a smile on my face. There are a few songs I said up front that I'd really not like to play, but they aren't any that we've ever had requested or anything.
 
#12
You sure the drummer and the 2nd guitarist are not in another band? With flimsy excuses and not too many gigs, they may be playing you guys.

If you stay together, how about meeting half-way for rehearsal?

On the 2nd guitard's attitude, either he wants to be in a cover band and shut up about his other music or leave.

What concern's me most is that they are not really learning the material on their own. I mean, what do they do with their time? Seems like another reason to think they are in another band together.

Just sayin....
 
#13
Stumbo said:
You sure the drummer and the 2nd guitarist are not in another band? With flimsy excuses and not too many gigs, they may be playing you guys.

If you stay together, how about meeting half-way for rehearsal?
Click to expand...

I'm positive they are not. I work with the drummer as well. And I didn't mean to imply they don't do any homework. Just not enough. Guitar #2 will bring chord sheets in and pretty much plays leads as improv. He rarely gets the signature licks down, so Guitar #1 just learns those. And he never seems to wean himself from the chord sheets.

On meeting halfway, there are at least 2 issues. #1, we have a great practice spot for a great price. #2, there's nothing in between our 2 locations. We could try to find somewhere in Nashville, which isn't centrally located, but about the same distance for each group. But, we would spend twice as much for rent and be limited on time.
 
#14
HailCorduroy said:
I'm positive they are not. I work with the drummer as well. And I didn't mean to imply they don't do any homework. Just not enough. Guitar #2 will bring chord sheets in and pretty much plays leads as improv. He rarely gets the signature licks down, so Guitar #1 just learns those. And he never seems to wean himself from the chord sheets.
Click to expand...

Please tell me those chord sheets don't come on stage with him for your gigs.
 
#16
I hate it when drummers don't know or don't play the song. There's more to it than you can play drums. Just like we all have parts, there is a drum part too. I have always had good work habits away from bands or the gig. If I show up and someone has to learn the song there, It's break time for me. And when it's quitting time, it's quitting time. Not going over for someone else's lack of preparation.
 
#17
Are you sure you don't have my ex lead guitarist?

There is no excuse for not knowing the material. I myself have been tragically lax with this kind of thing to the point where my band kind of mired itself in quicksand for over 18 months. I finally realized that we were taking an average of 8-15 months to get a new song into the rotation, and that the flurry of "disasters" and "unscheduled absences" and general madness was just distracting me from the fact that he wasn't doing jack **** and had no intention of doing jack ****. I'm a busy guy and we are not pros, and we do not make money, so it's not like I was hot and heavy to gig, but gradually the level of dedication went from just tolerable to complete ********.

Fire the guitarist. Don't hesitate, because to him this is just a ****-around time and he has no commitment to carrying his weight. If you keep playing along with him, he will keep re-arranging the band to suit his lazy ass. He's using you.

I'd kind of leave a breath after you guys fire him, and kind of turn and look at the drummer and make sure he's got the picture real clear.

I'm 43, and I just have decided I don't have time for poseurs. And I define anyone as a poseur who claims to but never actually plays a musical instrument.
 
#18
maxgrant said:
Are you sure you don't have my ex lead guitarist?

There is no excuse for not knowing the material. I myself have been tragically lax with this kind of thing to the point where my band kind of mired itself in quicksand for over 18 months. I finally realized that we were taking an average of 8-15 months to get a new song into the rotation, and that the flurry of "disasters" and "unscheduled absences" and general madness was just distracting me from the fact that he wasn't doing jack **** and had no intention of doing jack ****. I'm a busy guy and we are not pros, and we do not make money, so it's not like I was hot and heavy to gig, but gradually the level of dedication went from just tolerable to complete ********.

Fire the guitarist. Don't hesitate, because to him this is just a ****-around time and he has no commitment to carrying his weight. If you keep playing along with him, he will keep re-arranging the band to suit his lazy ass. He's using you.

I'd kind of leave a breath after you guys fire him, and kind of turn and look at the drummer and make sure he's got the picture real clear.

I'm 43, and I just have decided I don't have time for poseurs. And I define anyone as a poseur who claims to but never actually plays a musical instrument.
Click to expand...

What's sad is that he is a very good guitarist. When he likes what he's playing, he does an amazing job. And he's the one in the band who is underemployed and has the most to gain by gigging. The rest of us have full time jobs and only gig for the fun of it and to cover our expenses for practice space. And he's the oldest of the group. I'm the baby at 40.

BTW, love the Ric in your profile pic.
 
#19
And he's the oldest of the group. I'm the baby at 40.
Click to expand...

Whoa. Reading the OP I would have thought that guitarist #2 and the drummer were maybe 20 at the most. I guess age doesn't necessarily guarantee professionalism, huh?

As others have pointed out, Gtr #2 is the weak link and will put a ceiling on how good the band is able to become. But here's the deal... if he and the drummer are tight, bouncing him could cost you the drummer as well. Just be prepared for that.
 

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