Did the bassguitarist not even have a mute on… so it was just full compressed sustaining notes?
EXACTLY. And a mute device isn't even necessary with decent palm muting technique.
Wait wait...
Most of these swing bands are entirely unamplified? I find this shocking!
The first things swing ensembles did as the 1950s were unfolding was get mics and PAs.
Granted this was extremely underpowered and rudimentary amplification..
But even Mingus used a bass mic once the technology presented the possibilities!
Most of the bands that play at this venue (a swing dance event that usually has live swing bands a couple times a month) are almost totally unamplified, vocals being the exception. Some bands do have a guitarist with a low volume amplifier and/or a bassist with the same. One time there was a band with an upright bassist whose amp was set too loud during the first set, it had unnaturally sounding low end and it was compressed, and it made everything sound off. But he dialed it in by the second set and it sounded much better.
Remember, you are a musician. I doubt 99.3% of those there were are detail oriented, and noticed. There are very few bands around now that play that kind of music, because it's almost impossible to book these kind of gigs the other 364 days a year (having played jazz the past decade-plus, I'm quite aware how difficult it is to get gigs that pay decent, other than dinner music and some low paying trio gigs). Also a LOT fewer people playing upright.
My guess it was a group of musicians who play some jazz, and realizing the potential for NYE, put this together for this gig. You want jazz with an upright, find a jazz club, or your local university. Otherwise, relax and go with the flow.
This is actually a band that specializes in this type of music; they play regularly in the region and when I've seen them previously (and in any video I've seen of them), there has been an upright bassist. Like a lot of these bands in the region, they do have a revolving/rotating lineup, with the leader being the permanent core of the band. This venue/event is a regular thing catering to the swing crowd, with bands usually of the swing jazz variety but sometimes western swing or rockabilly, and the bands usually sound great (even when the occasional bass guitar has been used).
Was the guitarist using a non-cutaway archtop with a low wattage tube amp?
As someone who plays that style of music it's always a bit of give and take when it comes to being period accurate with instrumentation. Personally I would never take an electric bass to a gig like that but I can think of many reasons why someone would. I'd also add that this is one of those niches where the audience actually does often notice the difference whether they consciously realize it or not. Having an upright onstage really does kind of set the mood for what the audience should expect.
Usually the bands that play at this event that have guitarists play hollowbodies with quiet amplifiers. But I'm not a gear snob; whatever gets good results is fine with me. I will admit to being a results snob
Yes, having an upright present onstage does add a lot to the vibe, but the sound is what really matters, and a passable sound
can be obtained from things other than an acoustic double bass.
Well, you made a choice to leave, which is entirely your right.
It also sounds like are also very sensitive to having things the way you want them. That must be difficult most of the time.
I just don't enjoy subjecting myself to unpleasant things, unless for very specific reasons where it might provide some sort of benefit in the long run, that's all. Usually, when this even transitions from the DJed music to the live band, the overall sound of the music improves or at least stays the same. But in this case, it was a noticeable drop in sound quality. The music was basically devoid of the pulse that is vital to it.
OP, I believe the problem was in YOUR world, not anyone else's. I will admit that I have acted similar to this at other shows, however, I have learned that you need to give bands a chance. Take a band for how they sound that night or you will rarely find something that meets your expectations. Your current attitude will make it hard to enjoy things in life; please don't do that to yourself.
I did give them a chance, as I do for all bands. I've also seen them before when they had upright bass and they were wonderful. Sometimes things don't meet our expectations, and that's OK. Disappointment is part of life, and it's OK to share our disappointments and voice our lamentations, and perhaps sympathise and cheer one another up.
So why not confront the person directly and even if it turns out crappy you could have motivated them to actually do something to improve their sound. But instead you come here and share it with a whole load of people who will make no direct difference to that musicians sound. I want to refrain from sharing my personal feelings as to what I feel about people who feel the need to bash others sound as a form of low key ego massage. Im sure that person went home not giving a hoot about it, and the astute mind which could have helped him lacked the courage to communicate his insight.
Nooo, it would have been out of my place to criticize. If there was a technical issue with the sound that no one was addressing, i might have brought it to the attention of the person responsible so that they could fix it. My purpose for sharing my experience here wasn't to make any sort of difference to the particular bassists or band's sound. It was just for the sake of sharing with those who might find it amusing or something they might understand or resonate with, that's all.
But why would one think one has any business "confronting" somebody about this at all? What do you think "confrontation" would accomplish? The gig is already happening, what's the player going to do, go out and buy an upright on the spot? And who says the player wants, needs, or would even welcome your "help"?
IMO there was nothing wrong with what the OP did: gave the performance a shot, wasn't into it, and took off. OP had no obligation to do anything else, nor was there really anything else worth doing.
EXACTLY, thank you!
Hey, it was New Years Eve.
The band's A, B, and C bass players were probably working somewhere else for better money.
That was one of my thoughts last night as well! Or maybe the guy's usual upright bass was in the shop, or maybe he had a physical/medical issue.
So, the sound of the bass guitar ruined your night? Were there no other redeeming qualities of the band? Did they play too loud? Did they have a sound tech or were they doing it from the stage? Did they at least demonstrate competent musicianship? Or was it the sound of the whole band?
I get it, it wasn't your thing. But, you didn't really describe what was wrong other than saying it sounded bad, hinting strongly that the bass and drums weren't sync'd up.
My impression is you wanted to see that double bass, and your disappointment clouded your mood and ruined your night.
I was only slightly disappointed to not see a double bass at the start, as it does give a good visual vibe, and is almost guaranteed to provide a proper sound...But I was still hopeful that it would sound OK with the bass guitar, as I know it
can be done... but it just didn't. It didn't ruin my whole night, just part of it. I didn't ask for my money back. Still, my budget was gone for the evening, so I couldn't head to one of the alternate events featuring similar music that were occurring in the area. But I did get to attend a bunch of wonderful events featuring similar music over the past several weeks, so it's not like I was starving for this particular band/event. I was just looking forward to this one for weeks because I had seen this band before and they were great.
So all you said is the bass sounded like caca and you didn't like it. Is that the extent of your critique and analysis? I'm curious what it did sound like.
Like open, unmuted, compressed sustained notes played on a solidbody bass guitar through a bass amp. Which might be ideal for many types of music, but not in this particular context.
Go to see a somewhat obscure genre band at a VFW, leave because bassist doesn't fit "my tone" definition. Probably weren't going to have fun in any circumstance. Happy New Years!!
I have attended a ton of events over the past several years featuring similar bands at similar venues (large dance studios, VFW halls, club lodges, etc) including some amazing NYE gigs and have enjoyed almost all of them. This one was an exception. And it has nothing to do with a "my tone" definition, it has to do with a tone that sounds at least passable for this type of band playing this type of music.
And how does an EUB fit in the equation? Something like a BSX that looks like a really slim upright? Is that a compromise people would accept?
Anything would be acceptable if it sounded good and blended with the rest of the band without sounding out of place.
What was so bad about it?? Was it the player? Was their tone too bright? No feel? An experienced musician would know to turn the treble off and either use thumb and palm mute tech and/or stuff some foam under the strings for this type of gig.
I think really all that would have been necessary last night to make it passable was
any kind of effective muting (there was none employed), and taking a minute to dial in the amp settings to get as natural a tone as possible at a volume level that fits in right with the rest of the band. The bass is really the king of the rhythm for swing music, it needs to provide an essential pulse for the music, and it wasn't doing that last night. That's all.
