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Opening with a slow instrumental?
- Thread starter Alexis Duntov
- Start date
I'm amazed you've lasted 3 years playing that as an opening tune!
I'll admit it just sounds like background music to me ( and that's my failing not the tunes) but it surely doesn't suggest a fun night ahead...
I'll admit it just sounds like background music to me ( and that's my failing not the tunes) but it surely doesn't suggest a fun night ahead...
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I could see one verse of this - every soloist gets 4 bars, but then hit something up-tempo. You have to get the audience into it.
Another vote against a slow opener. You need to get the audience's attention...wake 'em up. (Especially if you're in a bar and the crowd's half-drunk and thus half-asleep. 
) You're putting on a show! Open with a bang! Of course, I'm in an originals band, so we have no choice but to musically kick the audience in the flippin' heads with something QUICK, QUICK, QUICK, so I may be coming from a different philosophy here.
Actually, I have a similar question: The aforementioned originals band I'm in has a couple of at-least-three-set gigs coming up (in short, we've got the whole night to ourselves
). It was proposed that the first set could be an acoustic set, then we could ramp it up to fully electric from the second set onwards. Is this a good idea? Or should the acoustic set go in the middle, as happens with many bands? I don't want to steal the topic from the OP, but I don't want to repeat the idea in a different thread, either.
) You're putting on a show! Open with a bang! Of course, I'm in an originals band, so we have no choice but to musically kick the audience in the flippin' heads with something QUICK, QUICK, QUICK, so I may be coming from a different philosophy here.Actually, I have a similar question: The aforementioned originals band I'm in has a couple of at-least-three-set gigs coming up (in short, we've got the whole night to ourselves
). It was proposed that the first set could be an acoustic set, then we could ramp it up to fully electric from the second set onwards. Is this a good idea? Or should the acoustic set go in the middle, as happens with many bands? I don't want to steal the topic from the OP, but I don't want to repeat the idea in a different thread, either.
Actually, I have a similar question: The aforementioned originals band I'm in has a couple of at-least-three-set gigs coming up (in short, we've got the whole night to ourselves
First, it helps to know who it was who proposed this.
Second, what's the ebb and flow of the venue? What's the crowd size and temperament during the first set, second set, etc.? That's how I'd judge whether that's a good idea or not.
While that song is a great cut, I have always preferred to open with an up-tempo, familiar song.
We did this for quite a while in my old band, same tune, at the guitarist's insistence. Eventually it got bumped to open the second set which I think is a better spot.
That may not be your warm up tune of choice, but it is perfectly OK to open with. The night is young , people are talking and getting settled. No one is listening intently yet. Just ***do it well***. There is plenty time for energy and faster tempos during the night. I would be pleased to hear this as an opener rather than be assaulted from the start. Its Ok. You will not live and die by that one tune. Play it well, then balance the ambiance as the night progresses. Enjoy the contrasts.
I usually do FOH sound from the stage so we open up with a slower number that allows me to hear all the instruments coming in one at a time.
It usually starts with the acoustic rhythm guitar and drum, bass then comes in, then lead acoustic and then the vocals.
There's enough times in the song with space where I can play an open whole note which allows me to make some FOH or foldback adjustments on the fly.
By the end of the song i'm usually pretty happy with the stage sound and have had a chance to get in front and listen to the FOH.
It usually starts with the acoustic rhythm guitar and drum, bass then comes in, then lead acoustic and then the vocals.
There's enough times in the song with space where I can play an open whole note which allows me to make some FOH or foldback adjustments on the fly.
By the end of the song i'm usually pretty happy with the stage sound and have had a chance to get in front and listen to the FOH.
So I think we have a consensus! To answer a question that came up a few times, we are a dance band. I know. I don't know why the BL wants to open with this but it's an energy suck. We move through an R&B set with Staxx/Motown/Muscle Shoals stuff along with some newer stuff. And we have other slow numbers in the set that can facilitate necking and drink refills. Time to discuss with the boss. Thanks all.
Back in the day I saw Mr. Bungle open their set with Alan Parsons' "Time" played at about 75 bpm, and exaggerated at that tempo to sound as sludgy as possible.
It was awesome. I will never forget it.
That said, OP, your band could/should probably go more uptempo for the open.
It was awesome. I will never forget it.
That said, OP, your band could/should probably go more uptempo for the open.
if my band played dance/motown/newer stuff, i would never consider opening with that number. that being said, if your band or the club had a themed noir or '40s sort of setup, it might be a decent tune to open with.
I've had great success opening with Since We've Ended As Lovers
One another note, I used to have a gig with a high profile cat - plenty of kids coming out to his gigs, and this guy was getting older and just wanted to get home to bed. (BTW he is an amazing musician too!!) He was making money off the door, not the bar - and he got to a certain point - usually around 1 AM - and he'd play a ballad like Blueberry Hill or something. It would clear out the show. Mission accomplished!
One another note, I used to have a gig with a high profile cat - plenty of kids coming out to his gigs, and this guy was getting older and just wanted to get home to bed. (BTW he is an amazing musician too!!) He was making money off the door, not the bar - and he got to a certain point - usually around 1 AM - and he'd play a ballad like Blueberry Hill or something. It would clear out the show. Mission accomplished!
If you are set up in a dining room and people are still eating, it MIGHT be ok, but up tempo and light would be better.
If the band is hire to do a gig of that nature, the musicianship is probably there to play any song at any volume or tempo, so avoid the slow stuff for the first song.
Cherokee as a ballad can be done successfully (but why?), save it for later in the night when you can let it rip and pick a medium tempo tune for the first song.
If the band is hire to do a gig of that nature, the musicianship is probably there to play any song at any volume or tempo, so avoid the slow stuff for the first song.
Cherokee as a ballad can be done successfully (but why?), save it for later in the night when you can let it rip and pick a medium tempo tune for the first song.
