Not tolerated as a musician

[Ant Illington]

If this is repetitively redundant I apologize... but since this was a rhetorical question why are so many people answering?

I see what you did there. I scanned the first 3 pages before giving up on humanity and then posted similarly the same as you did.

 

[Ellery]

This is strictly a rhetorical question, but what do you do with yourself when involved with musicians who aren't interested in stretching their abilities? I got dressed down tonight for suggesting the drummer withfrain from a 4/4 rock beat over the top of a "yacht rock" ballad. Got downright hateful about it. Of course theres more to the story, and I don't feel like vomiting it all out here tonight...

The only question for me is do I stick to it and play the gigs (they stay booked regularly), or do I go out and have fun playing with guys who work less often but play with passion and spontenaity and have some real fun?

Like I said, rhetorical, but wondering if others hold their nose and collect the steady work?

Had a similar situation with a drummer, after about 3 years of that crap I eventually had to leave. Very glad I did, moved on to work with better people. One thing I learned though, is that I'm not going to change people; if I can't work with what I've got I've got to move on.

 

[CB3UK]

Page 8 and the damn song is still a mystery!!

 

[TonyP-]

This old wisdom still applies to every “should I quit?” thread:

There are three reasons to play a gig: the money, the music, or the comradery.

• If you have all three, stay.
• If you have only one, quit.
• If you have two, your choice

I always say 2 out of the three, unless I'm starving.

 

[shortscalesrule]

Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs.

The short version: sounds like slightly jaded 1970s-80s pop-rock, and smells like a cocaine binge

Somehow I was expecting more Styx, but maybe that's "Power Yacht."

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Page 8 and the damn song is still a mystery!!

I think it’s a sea shanty or something about fishing.

 

[shortscalesrule]

Getting back to OP's post, I understood the complaint to be that the drummer would play the same rock 4/4 pattern regardless of a song's style. I don't think OP was asking the drummer to play in 5/4 or 7/8 or some such. There are plenty of 4-beat patterns that are not 4-on-the-floor (or "Boom-Thwack-Boom-Thwack-Boom-Thwack-Boom-Thwack-CRASH!").

 

[honeyiscool]

Getting back to OP's post, I understood the complaint to be that the drummer would play the same rock 4/4 pattern regardless of a song's style. I don't think OP was asking the drummer to play in 5/4 or 7/8 or some such. There are plenty of 4-beat patterns that are not 4-on-the-floor (or "Boom-Thwack-Boom-Thwack-Boom-Thwack-Boom-Thwack-CRASH!").

Heh, there is one drummer I've worked with, and I always thought of him as somewhat of a boring drummer, but man, when I listened to his tracks soloed, I realized that he was the Zoolander of drummers. It's strange because he's technically pretty good, but if you don't tell him to play something else, he always comes back at you with that one beat. Magnum, Le Tigre, Blue Steel, always the same beat.

 

[Gaolee]

I think it’s always best to identify our priorities, and then do our best to adhere to them. That helps to make decisions a lot easier. Is money the priority? Fun? Growth as a musician?

I also don’t understand why so many people think it has to be this band or that. I’ve always played in multiple bands. It’s entirely doable, even if one of the bands is gigging regularly. Ya might just have to start doing a few things a little differently.

I have a day job that's pretty demanding and still manage to play in multiple bands on bass guitar, upright and drums. They all play different kinds of music, with a different feel, different energy level, and different audience. I kinda suck, but that's beside the point. It's doable if you want to do it. Oh, and a patient spouse is also important.

As far as pushing yourself, there are a couple kinds of pushing yourself that I can think of right off. One is the cover band way - can you do it exactly like the record? Then there's the technical challenge - can you do something that you couldn't do before. Both are a whole lot of fun. I do it for fun.

 

[slobake]

We were rehearsing some songs specifically requested for a wedding, the song in question fell under this category in my mind.

"Yacht rock (originally known as the West Coast Sound or adult-oriented rock) is a broad music style and aesthetic identified with soft rock. Yacht rock was one of the commercially successful genres of its era, existing between the late 1970s and early 1980s."

I guess the question then is "Should you ship out or sail on?"

 

[Basshappi]

Even the best guitar reefs couldn’t anchor them; but then, I never liked the cut of their jib.

That's why ultimately the band unraveled, but it sure makes for a good yarn.

 

[Slevage]

No Steely Dan?

That used to be called “college rock”!

 

[singlemalt]

Probably this one.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Oh wait, so anything in 6/8 automatically becomes a YACHTSMAN song?

Actually anything in 6/8 automatically becomes a jig (not a jib, whatever that is).

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Yacht Rock: Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, Fleetwood Mac, Ambrosia, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Phil Collins, Doobie Brothers, Christopher Cross, Hall and Oates, The Eagles, Genesis, Little River Band, Todd Rundgren, Jefferson Starship.

The key word is smooth.

 

[ahc]

Yacht Rock: The music Gilligan plays on the SS Minnow during a three hour tour.

Footnote: The answer to the next question is "Mary Ann".

 

[Roadstar]

The only "Yacht Rock" song I can think of is The Beach Boys "Sloop John B", not sure if it's a ballad though.

Dwight Yoakam did a kinda cow-punk version of it and it turned out awesome in my opinion.

 

[Jeff Roller]

Wow.

TB delivers, again. Thanks everyone!

My original post was from my phone, so I'm unsure where "withfrain" came from, but I like the word now. Let's all add it to our vocabulary.

8 pages in to what I thought would be a one or two post vent......!

This is on par with the "My Inspired Pose" thread from several years back.

For the record.....

Drummer was laying down a 'Def Leppard Pour Some Sugar On Me" beat during the intro of a ballad, which shall remain nameless because not naming the song seems to be causing intrigue.....

My suggestion that he lightly play some cymbals or high hat during the intro caused his explosive over the top eruption. As I mentioned to the BL today, I have no animosity as I believe something else had to be bothering him because it was so over the top in response to my seemingly benign request.

No, this ain't my first rodeo, far from it. I have over 30 years of dealing with prima donnas and explosive coke heads during practice.

I've also had the utmost privilage of playing with consumate professionals who can both give and receive feedback.

The only appropriate and measured response is to dismiss the behavior during the heat of the moment and go back and address it after cooling off. You can't win an argument with someone who has already exploded inappropriately,
nor will you ever win an argument with anyone acting out in response to something you have no stake in.

Rock on TB, I always enjoy the show!

 

[bdplaid]

This is strictly a rhetorical question, but what do you do with yourself when involved with musicians who aren't interested in stretching their abilities? I got dressed down tonight for suggesting the drummer withfrain from a 4/4 rock beat over the top of a "yacht rock" ballad. Got downright hateful about it. Of course theres more to the story, and I don't feel like vomiting it all out here tonight...

The only question for me is do I stick to it and play the gigs (they stay booked regularly), or do I go out and have fun playing with guys who work less often but play with passion and spontaneity and have some real fun?

Like I said, rhetorical, but wondering if others hold their nose and collect the steady work?

I've been in money situations, and I've been in fun situations. Rarely are they the same. But for me, Fun is like being paid. Especially since I know I'm going to quit that boring-assed money gig sooner than later. And honestly, money gigs are work!

 

[bdplaid]

If the drummer is this guy, I'm all-in. he can do whatever he wants!