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Looking For Constructive Criticism

P

pmorlen

Feb 2, 2009
45
0
#1
Hi,
Looking for some comments i.e., what works, what doesn't for my new band. It's tough for me to take a step back and be completely objective when I'm so involved in the details. I'm asking for your time and assitance to provide some much needed feedback.

I'm posting a video of an original song we played at a gig a couple of weeks ago. The recording was done with a Kodak Zi 8 recorder with a Sony Condenser microphone attachment, so forgive the mediocre audio/video quality.

I'm looking for any comments that can help us become a better band.

YouTube - Falling In


Thank you for your time.
 
#3
pmorlen said:
Hi,
Looking for some comments i.e., what works, what doesn't for my new band. It's tough for me to take a step back and be completely objective when I'm so involved in the details. I'm asking for your time and assitance to provide some much needed feedback.

I'm posting a video of an original song we played at a gig a couple of weeks ago. The recording was done with a Kodak Zi 8 recorder with a Sony Condenser microphone attachment, so forgive the mediocre audio/video quality.

I'm looking for any comments that can help us become a better band.

Not bad, Your front lady has potential.

I would be a lot cooler if she took on a tougher rock look.

Your fine on bass, your stage presence is really good. You know your spot and you stay in it.,

You might want your guitarist to loose the baseball hat.

Musically , no problem, cool song.
Click to expand...
 
#4
I'd agree with bluewine on the singer's apparel not quite matching the music and losing the guitarist's baseball hat...at least indoors.

You suffer the same challenge I have...not making any eye contact with the audience. I didn't realize I was locked to our set list for most of the show until I saw the video after. It just makes you (us) look stiff.

Other than that, nicely done. Solid playing.
 
#7
pmorlen said:
Hi,
Looking for some comments i.e., what works, what doesn't for my new band. It's tough for me to take a step back and be completely objective when I'm so involved in the details. I'm asking for your time and assitance to provide some much needed feedback.

I'm posting a video of an original song we played at a gig a couple of weeks ago. The recording was done with a Kodak Zi 8 recorder with a Sony Condenser microphone attachment, so forgive the mediocre audio/video quality.

I'm looking for any comments that can help us become a better band.

YouTube - Falling In


Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...

Definitely has some potential. Singer has a good look, good voice. The music is solid. If I were your manager, I would make these suggestions:
Change the wardrobe. I agree with the earlier post that the singer needs to rock it out a little (or a lot). She looks like she is singing in a lounge act. You guys could stand some color. I know everyone thinks black is cool, but if you weren't wearing a tie you would look like a floating head. +1 to losing the hat.
Musically i think the singer should try reworking the melody line in the chorus. It sounds a little awkward and isn't catchy. I dont think it would need a whole lot of changing to be good. I hate to say this, but i would drop the guitar solo. I thought it really fell apart there. I am not trying to be a jerk, but it sounded like a bad high school band at that point.
Keep posting...You guys will be good
 
#8
newwavefrank said:
Definitely has some potential. Singer has a good look, good voice. The music is solid. If I were your manager, I would make these suggestions:
Change the wardrobe. I agree with the earlier post that the singer needs to rock it out a little (or a lot). She looks like she is singing in a lounge act. You guys could stand some color. I know everyone thinks black is cool, but if you weren't wearing a tie you would look like a floating head. +1 to losing the hat.
Musically i think the singer should try reworking the melody line in the chorus. It sounds a little awkward and isn't catchy. I dont think it would need a whole lot of changing to be good. I hate to say this, but i would drop the guitar solo. I thought it really fell apart there. I am not trying to be a jerk, but it sounded like a bad high school band at that point.
Keep posting...You guys will be good
Click to expand...

I agree, I also thought something went hay wire with the guitar solo.
 
#9
Not sure how it fits in with the rest of your material, based on 1 song, but your singer/front girl is hot - play it up - she's a bit 'stiff', and could use some more rockin' duds.

I agree with the gtr hat comment -

And I have to point out that you (the OP/bassist) pretty much looked at your hand/bass neck the entire time - it takes work, but get more comfortable with the song/ plying in front of a crowd...... and DON'T look at your hand/neck!!! Make eye contact, or at least pretend it - ie, look to someone's immediate left or right.

One more thing - uh - the drummer's hat is stu-pid......
 
#10
I really appreciate the comments guys. The old saying "the tape doesn't lie" is so true. When I was playing this song, I had no idea how locked I was on the fretboard. It's a humbling experience to watch yourself on video - humbling, but valuable.
 
#11
pmorlen said:
Dr. I'm looking for a general overall impression of our band and the song - what jumps out at you that is working or that needs work.
Click to expand...

I watched the video twice; once without the sound and once with.

Because of the audio/video quality, I wouldn't want to comment on the music much beyond saying I liked the song (catchy enough) and it was well executed.

Generally and overall, you're a handsome group and you look like you fit together. Your singer is hot...obvious and unnecessary.

The thing that jumped out at me in seeking to be critical is that you (on bass) don't look completely comfortable. You don't look flatly uncomfortable, but you don't take your eyes off of your left hand for more than a second or two.
 
#13
The guitar solo...

I'm just listening on el-cheapo desktop speakers but the solo sounded off key (or something) to me. I like the song. Another vote for ditching the ball-cap. I kind of liked the girl's outfit. I think she could make any outfit look hot! I guess I would need to see your setlist before recommending a change for her.

X8

I've grown quite fond of my fretboard over the years, too!
 
#14
I think stage presence is your weakest point, with the melody a close second.

Band members look kinda bored and not paying attention to each other. I don't get the impression the music is very intense visually form the guitar and bass. The audience will take its cue about what is worth paying attention to from band : the best way to get people to look at something is to look at it yourself with visibly great interest. Similarly, The best way to get someone to pay attention to you is to pay attention to them. So look at each other, and look at the audience -and look interested in eachother /the audience.

Only the singer seems to be trying to engage the audience or communicating any kind of intensity. The whole band needs to be throwing out that energy -you don't have to completely fake it/ham it up...just make eye contact and some gestural head nods and body talk at cool parts of the song -with enough exaggeration that it can be seen from the back of the room. People want to see that you are feeling the music before they give themselves permission to do the same.

Singing is pretty good -a few pitchy spots...the melody esp at the chorus kinda takes a dive so maybe some rewriting and massaging will help it feel more like a chorus.
 
#15
pmorlen said:
I really appreciate the comments guys. The old saying "the tape doesn't lie" is so true. When I was playing this song, I had no idea how locked I was on the fretboard. It's a humbling experience to watch yourself on video - humbling, but valuable.
Click to expand...

That is something I struggle with too, especially when singing back up vocals.

If you hear of some techniques to break this bad habit let me know.
 
#17
How much of a positive factor do you think some decent light action would be? I noticed that the lights are static and not changing at all through the entire song. Would some tastefully done flashing lights add some interest? What I mean by tasteful is that they would not flash for the entire song - I wouldn't want someone to have a seizure.
 
#18
Singer: Needs hot pants.

You: Need hipassmofo hat.
HipAssMoFohat.jpg


Guitarist: Needs skateboard.

Otherwise, the band sounds good, looks good. I think your singer's moves are OK. You should work some early Doobie Brothers covers into your repertoire.
 
#19
Overall not a bad sounding band. I thought the song sounded decent a little pushed vocally like she was trying to get all the words in with the music but It was really hard to hear on my PC.
One thing you have going is a good looking lady with a good voice...that helps..trust me. Work on the stage look, dress and song arangements. If you have trouble looking at the crowd,turn slightly and look at the drummer,singer and guitarist. This will help you, lock in,gain eye contact for stage cues and finally start to look into the audience. How long have you all been playing together?
 
#20
bassbully said:
Overall not a bad sounding band. I thought the song sounded decent a little pushed vocally like she was trying to get all the words in with the music but It was really hard to hear on my PC.
One thing you have going is a good looking lady with a good voice...that helps..trust me. Work on the stage look, dress and song arangements. If you have trouble looking at the crowd,turn slightly and look at the drummer,singer and guitarist. This will help you, lock in,gain eye contact for stage cues and finally start to look into the audience. How long have you all been playing together?
Click to expand...

They have been together for about 6 years. I joined the band about 3 months ago. We're a cover band, but we want to pursue writing some original material too.
 

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