Nerves and playing with someone really great!

[rapidfirerob]

September 22, 2012

Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton of the Southern Rock Band Invalid Link Removed.

They were headlining a show where we are the houseband. They asked us to back them on five numbers that were big hits for them back in the '70's (Covered by Clapton and Allman).

Fortunately, we had time to learn the tunes, since their songs have pretty complex chord progressions and timing.

It went great, but you DON'T want to screw up playing behind such legends, since it is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

They were very laid back and very professional. Sound check consisted of about 30 minutes of trying out the intro's and the tempo they wanted. Tommy said "sounds good, y'all will do fine".

It went without a hitch and is a gig I'll remember forever!

Was I nervous? Not really, but I was all business that night!

I loved that band back in the day and saw them open for Gregg Allman on the 74 tour, I believe it was. I read a few days ago that Scott is not doing well physically. My thoughts are with him. Tommy is a fine guitar player. Patch and Pain Killer is an amazing song. Thanks for sharing.
I had an opportunity to get on stage with Elvin Bishop during grad school days at a local club. He showed up after a gig. I was too nervous to do it. I wish I had. In a different arena, I went to see Andy West (Dregs) play with Joaquin Lievano (Ponty). I talked to Andy on a break. He gave me his phone number to take a lesson with him, and was living in Marin County with friends at the time. I had very little money and didn't spring for the $40 for the lesson, which, again, I wish I had. He said I could record it.

 

[Raymeous]

Not the same but this post sort of reminded me of it....

The Story.

Back around the time when Carvin announced the Sekou Bunch SB line of basses, I happened to be in the factory show room and an SB4000 had just been brought out to the floor. So of course I picked it up and took it into the bass room and started noodling around. After 5 to 10 minutes, and starting to fall in love with the bass, I packed up and brought the bass back out to the main room, and who just so happened to be standing there? Sekou. Or course he would be.

I was thinking "Oh crap! He heard that?!"

...but as I approached he said something like "You're pretty good man. So what did you think of the bass?" We then proceeded to chat for a few, but he had to split to go meet with Mark (Kiesel. Carvin owner/family)

Now generally speaking I don't have any nerves when talking to the "Stars", but that one kind of threw me. I'm a middle aged white guy that grew up playing metal, and guitar at that, so getting a compliment on my bass playing, by someone at that level felt pretty good. He was probably just being nice, but still. i was very happy that I didn't know he was there until after the fact, otherwise I might have been fumbling around a bit more than normal.

One thing I can say is that through Carvin I have been able to meet and talk to several of there artists and everyone of them has been very gracious, and willing to chat about whatever.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[B String]

I've been fortunate enough to have worked with a number of "major" names. Most of them have been great guys. They play music because of the same love most of us share.

One night after playing a show out on the road with a Grammy winning artist that I had respected for years, I asked him why he had me in the band. I was obviously not as ridiculously good as the other guys. His answer was that in all of his years as a player, he had never know two musicians who were exactly the same or in the exact same place on their musical journey. He said my playing was certainly good enough for his band and all he wanted from his musicians was to give everything they could every time we played and to play from their hearts. He said I did that, so how could he NOT be happy with me? I was speechless and happy.

You don't have to be as good as these other players, you just have to love it as much as them. Unless they're total jerks they're going to respect you and you'll both have fun.
This is my experience.