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Musicwise: What are you up to?

#21
Previous four years I've played casually with orchestras and jazz groups.

But this year I joined a four-piece covers/originals band and have been gigging regularly for good money. Released an EP in July and have done well off that too, followed up by a short stint in and around Los Angeles playing some shows.

In the last few weeks our drummer, myself, and an old mate have started up a rockabilly trio to play around local pubs and have some fun and earn money.
 
#23
Classic rock cover band a couple of times a month. We steadily add new tunes, rehearse once a month max. I play in a praise band at an evangelical AA program once every three weeks.

Current project is a Christmas fund raiser for the city homeless mission in December, so brushing up on a big set of Christmas standards and carols.
 
#24
Keeping kinda busy................

- Fill-ins for a few bands in town on bass. Mostly Rock and Country. Also do fill-ins for churches doing CCM or Gospel on bass.

- Playing guitar and/or running sound for a Reggae band. I'm one of 3 guitarists that they use.

- Some one-off pickup band Blues gigs once in a while when the opportunity arises. Usually playing guitar/slide/vocals/harp on these gigs, but once in a while I get to play the bass.

- Occasional acoustic gigs with a duo. The partner of the duo varies, depending on availability and gig. Last few have been with a sax player.

- I have a startup Punk/Ska/Swing/Funk band with horns in the works. Singing and playing guitar in this band.

- I also have a start-up Dixie Chicks tribute band in the works with. 7 piece band with 3 female singers. Playing guitar/slide/acoustic in this band.

- Playing fretless bass, and sometimes percussion at my home church.

- 3 piece Rock trio that's currently on hiatus.

- Playing percussion with a phenomenal guitarist doing World/Jazz/Fusion.

- Still looking for work. ;)
 
#25
Having fun with music as a hobby, keeping my day job:

Band A: Alt. rock, 5-piece.
Recording our first three-song demo/EP next weekend, first gigs probably to follow after we have it mixed and ready for distribution.

Band B:Indie/hipster/something/rock, currently 3-piece.
5 songs ready, looking for a drummer to get things going.

Project C: The artsy stuff
In the works for fun, personal aesthetics & enjoyment and so-called "lulz". Currently writing material for a concept album/setlist with a guitarist. A mashup of dark ambient/noise rock/post-rock/alt. country/goth rock/doom, mainly instrumental. Storyboard for the concept is complete, rough sketches for three songs out of eight complete. Probably will look for a drummer and a synth player when all the rough versions are complete.

Project D: Learning & g.a.s.
Learning what I can about mixing and recording, synth basics, bass, composing in general. Finding myself addicted to Ibanez basses from '79-'89.
 
#26
Playing in the same wedding/corporate band for the past 7 years. Feeling a little burned out. The money is good, the locations are decent but losing a little of my steam. I'm the last original member of the group (people have moved away, some were let go). I'm responsible for all bookings, finances and accommodations etc.

Plus, while the rest of the band are very talented (one's a music teacher, one has a master's in music) I feel a lot of passion has gone out of the performances. We still receive great compliments at the shows which lead to further booking just sometimes seems mechanical.

Ok, I've whined enough. Call me Debbie Downer! LOL
 
#27
Been doing more or less nothing since moving cities almost 3 years ago. Just jamming in my room to records etc. I've been trying to get things together all this time, and it seems that I may finally be able to jam with some cats. A dude on keys, a drummer and myself. I like the idea of this combo and I'm keen to get into some messed up funky jazz stuff like Bitches Brew and some hip hop grooves. I feel that the cat on keys feels the same.

Hopefully that gets going, although I may be moving to another city at the other end of the country early next year, which would mean that process all over again.
 
#28
jive1 said:
Keeping kinda busy................

- Still looking for work. ;)
Click to expand...
Oh yeah. A good friend of mine was described in recent magazine piece as "a local music legend and icon". When congratulated on the reference in the article he replied, "Even legends and icons are looking for the next gig". So true!

For the record, I am considered neither a legend nor an icon ... ;)
 
#29
Playing in a Classic Rock band (8+ years). We play out approximately once a month. Actually starting to look for a side gig with another band, and/or sub as needed. Not wanting to play every weekend, but a little more than I have been. Still having fun with my current band, we get along well, musically it's a great fit. We occasionally surprise ourselves by pulling something off that we've never even rehearsed, when the situation calls for it. No complaints here....

Link Removed
 
#31
Medford Bassman said:
Playing in the same wedding/corporate band for the past 7 years. Feeling a little burned out. The money is good, the locations are decent but losing a little of my steam. I'm the last original member of the group (people have moved away, some were let go). I'm responsible for all bookings, finances and accommodations etc.
Click to expand...

similar here. not burned out exactly but i definitely spend more time on business than music... that's a little dissatisfying.
 
#32
Been the bass guy in Acoustic highway for... what... six years now???? Fun group. We center around harmonies and vocals and all sing both lead and backing VOX. We've been a three piece, then a four piece, then a six piece, then a four piece, then a five piece, and now a four piece band again! Thing is, since we do originals and covers, and the styles cover folk, rock, gypsy blues and country jazz, we have tons of flexibility to do what we want. But we're pretty laid back and only gig a few times a month.

Then I have the Taylor-Martin project. It's a folk duo. CSN, Simon and Garfunkelesque stuff. Play guitar and bass. I also get to play the mandolin every once in a while. This is the project that allowed me to learn guitar. At first I was only plucking the bass bits on my Taylor (which people though sounded cool / different) but now as my skills improve I play chords and strum on a good number of songs. But I don't consider myself a "guitardist" yet.

Open mics, as myself! Since I'm a beginner on guitar, frankly, I started doing then before I should have really. But I'm getting better, and working through the weirdness of playing alone and not having anyone elses playing cover up your dumb mistakes! That is the hardest thing to get used to.

And finally..... YES! The Police Tribute Band Synchrnicity 3 is back on!!!!! Our first practice in a year is on Friday! :bassist:

After 4 fail attempts to get this from inception to actually going on stage, I just want to perform live just once and open for someone! Get this damned curse off our backs!!!!
 
#33
Still playing in the originals alt-country band. After an incredibly busy summer we currently have one gig left on the books and then we'll start working on the next recording. I'm currently enjoying a two week break from rehearsals and working on redoing my kitchen.

I'm also looking into the possibility of playing upright in a klezmer band on the side. I'm not well-versed in the music but I absolutely love the Crakow Klezmer Band, now known as the Bester Quartet. It would be a lot of fun if I can make the time for it and it would be an excellent way to get my upright chops worked up a little bit.
 
#34
I'm busier than when I was on the road...

Have an adult contemporary band...... sideman in an other

Backing an outlaw/traditional country guy (a ton)

Music director at a church.

Recording a CCM record with guy from South Africa

On track to play 225x this year.... adding to baby's education fund.
 
#35
All fill-ins all the time. And I LOVE it. I play when I want to. There are hardly any bassists in Eastern NC so my phone rings a lot. I have stuck around and usually pull off some degree of professionalism so even bands passing through will get my number from a friend and off I go. Last week I played with a reggae/blues/Dead guy out of Philly in a little club on the coast. This week I am playing with an up-and-comer singer out of Nashville (Emily Minor) passing through town. Next week I am doing a weekend with a soul/funk/party band that I actually co-founded years ago (and since moved on). I love getting hit with what I call "pop quiz" songs. Nothing keeps you on your toes like a guitar player you met a hour ago starting a song you never talked about and you fall in like you wrote it! That's fun stuff. I get the best of both worlds. I travel very little, get to play all kinds of music, get to meet all kinds of great musicians, and come home every night to an amazing wife and two great little girls. Life is good my friend.
 

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