Well, this is indeed just a rant, I don't really expect any advice, so... here goes.
Been in a band with friends for the past 6-7 months. Originals mostly, with some covers thrown in to fill a playlist for gigs. Their former singer and the bassist left and we (me and new singer) were tagged. All good, at the beginning. Some drama but nothing we couldn't really solve.
Fast forward to so many months later, lead guitarist's ego issues flare up again. Everybody's on the brink of firing him but we give him another chance since we have some gigs scheduled and don't wanna go through the process of a hasty replacement.
Thing is, dude has issues with me, mostly. I'm the oldest and most experienced in the band and people tend to listen to my suggestions. Thing is, what I suggest is mostly logical, nothing more, nothing less.
LG is a shy, introverted, half-damaged and ego-driven jealous child, at this point. Used to having his way (why the former band members left) and can't take the fact that the rest of band started going another way (mine).
In any case, apart from that, I tend to play more than roots. Which was clear to them from the get-go. I don't overplay but I'm more on the melodic side and don't like to shadow the guitars and just boom-boom away on the root notes all day. Everyone seemed to be ok with it. Moving forward... but not so much.
Suddenly, it's "oh Gothic you're kinda overplaying". First it was "playful" but I always detected a lot of truth (in their minds) in there.
Things flare up at some point while recording a single, where everyone was ok with what I played. It wasn't excessive, it was tasteful, according to everyone. When the time comes for the final mix, all I hear is mud from the bass. You really couldn't discern the notes. It was mostly just there to push air through the subwoofers. I protested and brought forth examples (mostly old time rock and metal) where the bass was audible. I got pushback.
They insist on restricting themselves by trying to fit into a very specific music/genre mold they call "modern" and refuse to understand that, the stuff they wanna sound like have bass players that shadow the guitars. And are, of course, buried in the mix. I do NOT want to be that guy. I made it clear. No progress after that.
And fast forward to today. I just gave up. I resigned. The hang's ok, they're friends after all and I like hanging out with them, but I outright told them that I'm there just for the beer and the hang. I'm of course staying for the connections and "air time", "circulation", if you will, as well.
They just want someone to fill some low frequencies. I resigned to playing the simplest version of whatever we're playing. I mean, dead boring root pumping and nothing more. Nobody noticed.
I know where I stand with them, and sadly, this has been the case with most every band I've ever been in. And also, the reason I'd resigned from getting into bands some years ago. It's just sad, and what's even sadder is that, trying to get something of my own together, finding band members that share the same vision is just plain impossible over here. Small country, smallish town and whatever else that entails.
Anyway, that's my rant. However made it to the end, kudos!
Been in a band with friends for the past 6-7 months. Originals mostly, with some covers thrown in to fill a playlist for gigs. Their former singer and the bassist left and we (me and new singer) were tagged. All good, at the beginning. Some drama but nothing we couldn't really solve.
Fast forward to so many months later, lead guitarist's ego issues flare up again. Everybody's on the brink of firing him but we give him another chance since we have some gigs scheduled and don't wanna go through the process of a hasty replacement.
Thing is, dude has issues with me, mostly. I'm the oldest and most experienced in the band and people tend to listen to my suggestions. Thing is, what I suggest is mostly logical, nothing more, nothing less.
LG is a shy, introverted, half-damaged and ego-driven jealous child, at this point. Used to having his way (why the former band members left) and can't take the fact that the rest of band started going another way (mine).
In any case, apart from that, I tend to play more than roots. Which was clear to them from the get-go. I don't overplay but I'm more on the melodic side and don't like to shadow the guitars and just boom-boom away on the root notes all day. Everyone seemed to be ok with it. Moving forward... but not so much.
Suddenly, it's "oh Gothic you're kinda overplaying". First it was "playful" but I always detected a lot of truth (in their minds) in there.
Things flare up at some point while recording a single, where everyone was ok with what I played. It wasn't excessive, it was tasteful, according to everyone. When the time comes for the final mix, all I hear is mud from the bass. You really couldn't discern the notes. It was mostly just there to push air through the subwoofers. I protested and brought forth examples (mostly old time rock and metal) where the bass was audible. I got pushback.
They insist on restricting themselves by trying to fit into a very specific music/genre mold they call "modern" and refuse to understand that, the stuff they wanna sound like have bass players that shadow the guitars. And are, of course, buried in the mix. I do NOT want to be that guy. I made it clear. No progress after that.
And fast forward to today. I just gave up. I resigned. The hang's ok, they're friends after all and I like hanging out with them, but I outright told them that I'm there just for the beer and the hang. I'm of course staying for the connections and "air time", "circulation", if you will, as well.
They just want someone to fill some low frequencies. I resigned to playing the simplest version of whatever we're playing. I mean, dead boring root pumping and nothing more. Nobody noticed.
I know where I stand with them, and sadly, this has been the case with most every band I've ever been in. And also, the reason I'd resigned from getting into bands some years ago. It's just sad, and what's even sadder is that, trying to get something of my own together, finding band members that share the same vision is just plain impossible over here. Small country, smallish town and whatever else that entails.
Anyway, that's my rant. However made it to the end, kudos!
Makes no sense to me.
Also, I understand that finding new guys to play with can be tough in a small place. Any other small towns around that you could "poke" for fresh musicians?
