One Direction...

[friskinator]

I’m way past the “glad to just be playing” stage. Been there, done that. At this stage in life, I’m not down with playing whatever just to be doing it. If it means I don’t play at all, that’s cool with me.

 

[prndltech]

Is it for work? Or fun? If it’s for fun, pass and try another band you like. If it’s for work… well, we all gotta do stuff we don’t like sometimes, no matter what job it is.

 

[dbflats]

I should point out that in my example above, it was but one sucky tune in a really nice kinda gritty overall setlist. Think old Kool and the Gang, Franky Beverly, Motown bits.

I been doing what I want the whole time.

 

[DCErik]

Yeah, so I've totally got a day job in the IT mines, and a passion project that's crunchy AF, and a 2nd one with guys I like a lot who are good players, but it's a longish drive and the project lacks a clear direction. So I'm checking these guys out at their invitation via Bandmix. Lots of people talk about making covers their own, but it sounds like they actually do it. Grown-up me is more interested in a coherent sound than my favorite sound, and I'm excited to meet them.

 

[DCErik]

Update

Met the guys over the holidays to audition 10 songs, and I'm glad I took your advice and told 8th grade me to shut the hell up while the grownup bass players are practicing boy band pop songs. These guys come to play.

Frontman/mastermind is also a wizard at the mixing desk and has a basement rehearsal studio setup that honestly made me want to cry. It's tight for 5, but well thought out with networked IEM controllers and a sick Roland e-kit.

Synth wiz / co-mastermind also knows his way around the studio and then some. I haven't played with keys since my gap-year band back in '86, and my PTSD was immediately cured.

And the drummer... Omnomnom! Seems to have no idea how good he is, but 8 bars into the first song I wanted to hand wash his car.

I know we don't really have much to say about ****ar players here, but ours seems to do the little bendy strings thing exceptionally well, has all the toys, and knows how to use them. Plus he'll give the ladies something to look at.

And everybody is so nice and fun to be around! Almost unnerving until you get used to it.

Definitely felt like a 14th century peasant with a mouth full of pop rocks and gummi bears, and almost fell over when I was offered the gig on my way to the car with my gear. Looks like I'll be in a position to take the sage advice to play with guys who are better than I am! Been obsessively replaying the rehearsal recordings (!) and cringing at my flubs. Ought to start a seafood stand... Met up again last weekend and added 4 more songs, maybe lost a step to chocolate and cheese during the break, but made progress, too.

Thanks, 1D!! (and the TalkBass crew!)

 

[darev]

Hell yes. Right on