Gigging without rehearsals

[Joe Nerve]

You described EXACTLY my experience...
...first gig back will be wobbly has hell.
Good luck!

+ 1 on all he said.

Been in the same situation more than once. The songs are learned in standard key and then everyone tunes down a half step at the gig for the singer. Some bands do their recordings a half step down though and I would absolutely make a list of ones I was unsure of and not hesitate to ask. They don't want you screwing up, and I can't imagine them having a problem with you checking in on a few things. It would seem professional at best and I think it would make them happy that you cared enough to be certain.

If you feel like posting the songs you have to learn I'm sure a lot of us could help you with the ones that are typically played a half step down.

Also, I hate to say this cuz it's subject to flaming but it is just a cover gig. You should always strive to do your best but even if you trainwreck it isn't the end of the world. Unless you act as though it is which I've always seen as more of a trainwreck than the trainwreck. By te second set half the people are drunk enough to not care, and by the third set half those people won't even remember who played when the following day rolls around.

It's a cool challenge, has definitely made me a better player. Do the best you can and have fun, that's way more important than whether you screw up a few times.

 

[plankspanker13]

It never hurts to ask the right questions, if it is understood that your aim is to deliver great performance. Once you get past nailing the first gig or 2, it gets easy.

 

[thumblypeg]

a question to the guys here that have been around the block a lot (somewhat ot)

. . . been thinking about this thread, as it pertains to me a lot. I get internally pissed at my band leader for this kinda stuff - telling me to prep a song and then it's completely different and I get the looks like I'm crazy. though I've played my whole life (and have made my living on music), I'm relatively new to live. the guys I play w/ are really legit musicians - is this the way? am I nuts? is this my inexperience showing through?

Relatively new myself. But from what I've seen so far..yeah this is pretty much the deal. We're bass players. Half the bands I've seen would hire a monkey to do it if they could. It has actually helped me a lot though, made me more flexible.

 

[Joe Nerve]

a question to the guys here that have been around the block a lot (somewhat ot)

. . . been thinking about this thread, as it pertains to me a lot. I get internally pissed at my band leader for this kinda stuff - telling me to prep a song and then it's completely different and I get the looks like I'm crazy. though I've played my whole life (and have made my living on music), I'm relatively new to live. the guys I play w/ are really legit musicians - is this the way? am I nuts? is this my inexperience showing through?

Had that experience too, on stage. :/ I try to get mp3s of the version of songs the band wants me to play. Experience will help you follow along a little better when you've learned different versions of songs... but it's still gonna suck. I clearly remember that happening on stage with Fallout Boy's Dance Dance (several versions of that out), and Semi Charmed Life. If I can't get straight answers (or mp3s) from a band I always try to learn the longest version of the songs so at least I know I'm not missing any parts. That's tougher to recover from than if they drop a part here and there.

 

[MNAirHead]

One of the most fun bands I've been with did this..

All top notch players.. we got together just to gel a groove.. then let it fly.

The key was thinning down charts and not trying to be impressive.. the vocals really were better than average using this method.

 

[MNAirHead]

I do tons of megachurch gigs like this.. we always send out youtube links..

It's almost like music game show.. the winner is the one who can closely follow the leader... or meet them at the next change etc.

normally a talented guitarist.. multi percussionist.. I'll play EUB.. more of the John Tesh type formatting.

 

[jaywa]

1) Make sure there's at least one guy in the band that knows the band's specific "quirks" on the covers vs. how it was on the record, and make sure he knows it's his job to give you any cues and make sure you both are set-up such that you can see each other and/or get to each other quickly if you need to talk something through on the fly. I was on the other side of this recently, we had to have a sub drummer play with us on VERY short notice and we actually had two guys in the band (me and the lead guitarist) feeding him cues depending on which of us had less to do in that particular song.

2) Take any opportunity you can at the gig itself to pick the band's brain and notate your setlist with cues or quirks. For example, a) verbally walk thru the entire set list during or right after you get loaded in and set-up; b) use your soundcheck (if you have one) to work thru 2 or 3 songs that have the most potential landmines; c) use break time between sets to circle on the songs that are coming up in the next set. In other words, maximize your downtime on the gig as much as possible to make up for what you would otherwise get with a rehearsal.

Good luck! Not an ideal situation but if you are good enough and stay on the ball and get a little help from the band I'm sure you can pull it off.

 

[Lazylion]

One of my bands is a Grateful Dead cover band, and...

It never ceases to amaze me how many people play a given song "just like the record", but get them together and they all seem to have a different version of the record.

Its also funny how some will play or hear a song with another chord in it then the original song has It's like ...what the ??

This is the case on almost every song!
For non-Dead bands, try playing Lee Greenwood's "Proud To Be An American" some time! The bass does not always play the root or 5, and boy does that throw some people off!

...then when we got together found out "oh, we play this differently than the original"...

LOL Been there about a million times!

...my band leader... telling me to prep a song and then it's completely different and I get the looks like I'm crazy. ...is this the way? am I nuts?

You're not nuts, this is often the way. Bt don't worry. Those who are giving you "the looks" are admitting that bass is the most important instrument. Think of it as a compliment.

...I always try to learn the longest version of the songs so at least I know I'm not missing any parts. That's tougher to recover from than if they drop a part here and there.

Absolutely right, and a great idea. Can be tough in a Grateful Dead band, though... "longest" is kinda open-ended...

It's almost like music game show.. the winner is the one who can closely follow the leader... or meet them at the next change etc.

"We didn't trainwreck! WE WIN!!!" Dingdingding!

 

[tZer]

+ 1 on all Joe Nerve said too.

It's a cool challenge, has definitely made me a better player. Do the best you can and have fun, that's way more important than whether you screw up a few times.

Especially this. If you at least know the 'spirit' of the song, a few missed notes go by pretty much unnoticed. As long as you have the groove solid and have ears that can put you back on track quickly and you have a great time (and show it) - 99% of the mistakes or off stuff will disappear.

Now your fellow band mates may hear your off moments - but as long as their not jerks and don't get too uptight or even better, can laugh with you when you hiccup - it'll all work out in the end.

Bottom line, if you don't dig it - don't do it. You need to enjoy the live, seat of your pants nature of this situation and look at it like an extreme sport where the thrill is in the challenge.

 

[steveksux]

Especially this. If you at least know the 'spirit' of the song, a few missed notes go by pretty much unnoticed. As long as you have the groove solid and have ears that can put you back on track quickly and you have a great time (and show it) - 99% of the mistakes or off stuff will disappear.

Now your fellow band mates may hear your off moments - but as long as their not jerks and don't get too uptight or even better, can laugh with you when you hiccup - it'll all work out in the end.

Bottom line, if you don't dig it - don't do it. You need to enjoy the live, seat of your pants nature of this situation and look at it like an extreme sport where the thrill is in the challenge.

Pretty much nails it.

You have to stay sharp, pay attention, have a good ear. Its a wild ride, and lots of fun to pull off.

Jazz guys do it all the time with much harder material. They play standards that everyone pretty much knows, and are good enough, have good enough ears to fake the rest, recognize the common patterns and fit right in.

So why can't we do it? Our material is much easier. We have our own standards, stuff nearly all the cover bands do. As long as you've heard songs, you have a basic idea how they go, if your ear is good, should be good to go. Groove your ass off and have a ball.

Its a LOT easier when you are the only fill in, then you know the rest of the band is tight, and you never have to wonder which one to follow when 2 other guys veer off in different directions...

My current band has pulled songs out of thin air, we did Any Way You Want It (Journey) and Summer of 69 because the singer had the words and everyone had heard the songs a million times.

Crowd loved it. I was laughing so hard on the Journey tune, the bouncer asked what was so funny (Stage by front door). I said we've never played that song before, he couldn't believe it.. Summer of 69 almost trainwrecked at the bridge, it changes keys... Everybody suddenly remembered that part as we were approaching it, but from the nervous looks I don't think anyone really remembered how it went.... Suddenly Kevin yells "F" (the letter, not the Fbomb...) Right! Everyone just needed the first note to figure out the bridge, disaster averted... Sounded like we'd rehearsed it for weeks.

Randy

 

[Depth_Charge]

Hey thanks for the replies guys.

I'd ask if you can have just a quick get-together with him to sort out any tuning questions and run through the stuff quickly; not whole tunes, just intro's and endings and transitions.

Where are you gigging in Perth?

Yeah I will bug him and ask about his approach to some of the alternate tuned songs, just to be sure we're on the same page

And more country than city based work - we have 3 nights in Kalgoolie in April and again in May. The band also play places such as the Carlisle Hotel, Castle in York, Busselton, Bunbury, Peel etc etc.

Won't you have to do a setup on your bass to compensate for the flat tuning? Not that it's hard to do, but it does take time for adjustments to settle in. That would be enough for me to say, "No thanks."

I'm just thinking out loud.

X8

My Jaguar is finicky about the low tuning. It handles the Eb OK, but Drop Db it doesn't like so much. I will probably use my ESP LTD F-104 on this gig as it tunes down better. Could be a good excuse to restring the LTD BEAD as well

+ 1 on all he said.

If you feel like posting the songs you have to learn I'm sure a lot of us could help you with the ones that are typically played a half step down.

All THe SMall Things, Dammit - Blink 182
Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
Summer of 69 - Bryan Adams
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
When I Come Around - Greenday
Knockin on Heavens Door (GnR version Eb)
What I Like About You - The Kinks
Fat Bottomed Girl (Drop D) - Queen
(Baby Ive Got You) On My Mind - Powderfinger
Song2 (Eb) - Blur
Stuck In THe Middle - Steelers Wheels
Enter Sandman - MetallicA
TNT - ACDC
Tomorrow - Silverchair
Freak (Drop D) - Silverchair
Walking by Myself - Gary Moore
Killing In THe Name Of (Drop D) - RATM
Blister In The Sun - Violent Femmes
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
She Hates Me (Eb) - Puddle of Mudd
La Grange, Tush - ZZ Top
Fly Away (I slap it ok, but any ideas on nailing that scoop tone, I have an ME50B FX board haha) - Lenny Kravitz
Bad Moon Rising - CCR
See Your Face Again - Angels
War Pigs - Black Sabbath
Hitchin A Ride - Green Day
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolfe
Rock N Roll - Led Zeppelin
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynrd Skynrd
American Idiot - Green Day
Dumb Things - Paul Kelly
All Over You (Eb) - Live
I Alone (Eb) - Live
Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
The Middle (Drop D) - Jimmy Eat World
Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
Hard Act To Follow - Grinspoon
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
Black Night - Deep Purple
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Iron Man - Black Sabbath
Long Way To The Top - ACDC
Like Wow! Wipeout - Hoodoo Gurus
Better - Screaming Jets
Should I Stay or Should I Go - THe Clash

Phew, what a list

 

[tZer]

...My current band has pulled songs out of thin air, we did Any Way You Want It (Journey) and Summer of 69 because the singer had the words and everyone had heard the songs a million times.

Crowd loved it....

As you said, pretty much nails it. (too)

This is one aspect of being in a cover band I think should be mandatory - asking the crowd for suggestions (I prefer calling them that over 'requests' - it's more informal and easier to say no if the suggestion really blows) but getting some input from the crowd and pulling songs out of mid-air and going for it brings the crowd into the show and gives them a vested interest in what you're doing. They know you're doing it unrehearsed and they pay more attention since they asked for it. If you do it even half-way OK, you've scored.

You don't even have to finish the song - just go for it - hit the highlights and go ahead and let it fall apart if it has to. As long as you hit the hooks the crowd will love it.

- But all in all, it's a confidence thing (presuming you all play reasonably well and have enough solid material to fill the night. Don't over think it - don't under think it either. Do you homework and realize that once you're on stage there's nothing more you can do to prepare so you might as well enjoy the ride, right?

 

[Lazylion]

...you never have to wonder which one to follow when 2 other guys veer off in different directions...

That's when it gets interesting!

 

[troy mcclure]

Easy enough song list to learn. I have played gigs like this. I always suggest if we don't have an ending worked out " If in doubt, 4 and out" repeat the riff, pattern etc 4x to end on the 1 chord.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Maybe its me but sometimes I get the strong impression that when a band / bandleader dismisses the idea of rehearsal(s) or arrangement pow-wows, they're secretly hoping for a "fail" or to at least humiliate other band members. I, for the life of me, can't figure out what satisfaction they would derive from this philosophy but remain quite positive that it does occur.

Riis

 

[nic salsus]

This is not good. I just rewatched monks documentary and how even coletrane etc hated going on stage without proper preparation. It seems a recipe for disaster regardless of talented how musicians are.

Then there's Eddie Gomez talking about playing with Bill Evans for 11 years and never rehearsing. Because I came up doing pickup gigs where there was almost never a rehearsal I developed the "if I've heard it I can play it" attitude. Once your ears open up to playing on the edge it gets more comfortable and you listen for and are able to react to endings, chord changes, rhythmic figures and stops....the singer adding a beat.

Sure unrehearsed gigs are gonna be loose but it doesn't mean you won't have fun or the audience won't buy it.
Far from it.

 

[singlemalt]

The E flat thing: you'll get used to it. We do it for a couple reasons: one, its easier on the vocalist. The other is so the guitarist can use heavy strings without so much tension, a pretty common blues trick. Our keyboardist just hits a button and he's down a half step.

At first it was weird and I'd go back and forth from dropped to standard, after a while I started to really like the more slinky feel. Now standard feels stiff. Set up is nothing more than a quarter turn on the truss rod either way, its not like you are changing strings. For learning the tune by ear, just move up half a step so it sounds right and get friendly with the new patterns. Lots of times they are going to call the tune in another key anyway.

Ask for a set list with keys noted by the song. (Good luck). Learn the list, expect surprises.

Playing in survival mode: Keep your music stand with all your notes clothes pinned on to the stand in an unobtrusive spot. Try to stand next to some one who can play and talk, so if you need help they can tell you what's going on. Keyboard players are good for this. Listen for the vocals to help keep your place. Sing along, it makes you look happy and engaged. Keep the big smile in place. Try to look like you are having fun. Lock up with the drummer and make the girls wiggle.

Get paid, up front if possible.

Whatever you do, don't stare at your left hand and look very very concerned. Connect with the other players and the crowd as much as you can.

Do as much prep work as you can, it'll pay off, but remember they were too busy to work you up, so they get what they get. If I need to prep for a sub gig, I put every song on a single page, written large, in a three ring binder, in order by the set list. Its a lot of work, but its there the next time when they call again six months later when some one is sick or quits. I look at it as an investment that has a low initial return but may yield a nice gain in the future.

So you spent hours and hours learning music and charting it out, then only did the one gig? Oh well, it could be worse. Hopefully you'll play some of the songs with other bands, and you didn't just learn 15 not very original originals.

Remember that you get to show what you got to the band and anybody in the crowd who might care. Your next gig could walk out of the crowd and say "hi" if you nail it or make them think you nailed it.

Okay, too much coffee. But I'm in exactly the same position, except I get to audition tomorrow for the spot.
Just giving my self a little pep talk.

 

[tZer]

Maybe its me but sometimes I get the strong impression that when a band / bandleader dismisses the idea of rehearsal(s) or arrangement pow-wows, they're secretly hoping for a "fail" or to at least humiliate other band members. I, for the life of me, can't figure out what satisfaction they would derive from this philosophy but remain quite positive that it does occur.

Riis

Could be - but my experience has been that the band is gigging every weekend - Friday and Saturday nights - and adding another 'away from the family' night in the middle of the week is a big problem.

If you're playing frequently, you really don't need rehearsals. True, rehearsals do make for better shows - but again, when you're gigging a lot the need to rehearse drops significantly.

 

[jnuts1]

the E flat thing will definitly come with some time. my band give me tunes & i learn them but i know they are going to change the key, not just go a 1/2 step down but full on changes. & then they give me 30 seconds to think of some position changes & then bam we are off & running. at first this was very daunting but now it is a breeze.

as for no rehearsals i only take bluesy classic rock gigs if i am not going to get at least one rehearsal. i take that back, i will do improv funk dance gigs with no rehearsal too.

 

[BobWestbrook]

Yesterday I responded to a guitarist's Craigslist ad in my town, looking for a blues bassist. But when I suggested we get together, he replied he didn't want to rehearse, that we should just try things out at an open mike night. Uh.... no thanks, buddy.