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Our Band is doing everything wrong. Should I try to fix it or just quit?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
I've been in quite a few blues bands since I came back to the scene in 2017. Here's what I can tell you about the blues:
It's a dying form of entertainment. Pure blues had its followers but you've got to book in clubs that are known for the blues vibe and you can't play there more than once every few months because that audience doesn't want to see your band every night, they want to see different blues bands every night.
Of the three blues bands I've played with, the one that always keeps the crowd happy does these things right: 1) books the right room to build an audience and 2) brings in good improvisational players who keep the repertoire lively and fresh on stage and 3) tosses in a smattering of other songs that are simple, relatable and fun, but move away from the standard I-IV-V formula.
The band that's been struggling is over-rehearsed and most of the players aren't capable of simple improvisational stuff like trading eights without a roadmap. It's more like work. Blues crowds don't want to see an over-rehearsed bunch of secondary players. They want to see people up there playing with feel.
The first blues band I joined here I was backing a pretty well-known player who has since gone on to join a ridiculously successful "blues" artist whose music, I would argue, borrows. more from other forms that are rooted in the blues. She succeeds because she offers something a little more interesting than the norm, but she is known enough in blues circles that she still gets airplay on all the local (and international) blues stations and netcasts. IMO, that's what you need if you're going to be successful in blues. Bands who can half-heartedly play I-IV-V changes are literally everywhere.
It's a dying form of entertainment. Pure blues had its followers but you've got to book in clubs that are known for the blues vibe and you can't play there more than once every few months because that audience doesn't want to see your band every night, they want to see different blues bands every night.
Of the three blues bands I've played with, the one that always keeps the crowd happy does these things right: 1) books the right room to build an audience and 2) brings in good improvisational players who keep the repertoire lively and fresh on stage and 3) tosses in a smattering of other songs that are simple, relatable and fun, but move away from the standard I-IV-V formula.
The band that's been struggling is over-rehearsed and most of the players aren't capable of simple improvisational stuff like trading eights without a roadmap. It's more like work. Blues crowds don't want to see an over-rehearsed bunch of secondary players. They want to see people up there playing with feel.
The first blues band I joined here I was backing a pretty well-known player who has since gone on to join a ridiculously successful "blues" artist whose music, I would argue, borrows. more from other forms that are rooted in the blues. She succeeds because she offers something a little more interesting than the norm, but she is known enough in blues circles that she still gets airplay on all the local (and international) blues stations and netcasts. IMO, that's what you need if you're going to be successful in blues. Bands who can half-heartedly play I-IV-V changes are literally everywhere.
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Another thing; IIRC this isn't the first thread the OP has posted about this situation. He's already done a lot of the things people are suggesting - particularly trying to freshen up the song list with different kinds of music. It doesn't sound like the other people in the band see the problems or want anything to change, so blaming the OP with comments like "you're part of the problem if you've been with them that long" probably isn't helpful. I think the OP has been trying to figure this out with little cooperation from the others in the band, for a while now.
I can't say that you should quit, OP, but I'd certainly be looking for other opportunities if I were you. This sounds like complacency on the part of your other bandmates and they're not going to be too keen on fixing this if they don't perceive that it's broken.
I can't say that you should quit, OP, but I'd certainly be looking for other opportunities if I were you. This sounds like complacency on the part of your other bandmates and they're not going to be too keen on fixing this if they don't perceive that it's broken.
The one thing I didn't see, is that over concern for the future of the band. Are you happy playing with this group, and just concerned about the downward spiral. 18 years is a long time. One thing I have to do with the guys I play with is to reel them in on occasion when they want to add songs to the set just because "they like them". If they aren't really going to go over well with a mixed audience, then they get a whenever status (meaning if we have a space where we can fit it in). People like songs they know, that's a fact, and once you've got a few years in the game the age demographics tend to change (our crowd ranges from 12 - 70). So you've got to keep things on the fresh side, unless... you've got a core audience that will show up regularly.
COVID threw a curve at most live entertainment and it's barely in recovery now (and bracing for the next wave). Bars really took a hit and they need to book guaranteed revenue. If Karaoke fills the seats you can bet it's going to win over loyalty to former live act.
There's a wide variety of music out there, new and old that you can put your own spin to, as long as it's recognizable to the audience. So two questions to the OP. One: are you happy playing in this band? Two: Does the band want to keep working?
One thing you didn't mention, which if bookings are waning is probably not relevant. I was going to ask are you counting on the income from this gig? That would add a little more urgency to your position.
Hope things work out...
COVID threw a curve at most live entertainment and it's barely in recovery now (and bracing for the next wave). Bars really took a hit and they need to book guaranteed revenue. If Karaoke fills the seats you can bet it's going to win over loyalty to former live act.
There's a wide variety of music out there, new and old that you can put your own spin to, as long as it's recognizable to the audience. So two questions to the OP. One: are you happy playing in this band? Two: Does the band want to keep working?
One thing you didn't mention, which if bookings are waning is probably not relevant. I was going to ask are you counting on the income from this gig? That would add a little more urgency to your position.
Hope things work out...
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Obviously, the word is out about the band. You're not getting gigs. In a professional way, voice your concern that if they want to have a following and actually get bookings again, they have to change their repitoire. If they don't sound like they are conducive to that, I think you should respectfully let them know you will be leaving the band and thank them for all the memories, and all the fish lol
Based on your band description, you guys are old. How many local bars are filled at night with people your age? How often do you hang out in bars at night when you're not gigging? Times have changed and left your band behind. Time to get a new gig or have your gig changes its tunes. I can predict which is easier....
If everyone else is wrong and only you are right… That might be a huge red flag.
If you're not happy being in the band, you're not doing yourself or the band any favors by staying.
It's hard to leave a project where you have no problems with the personnel. I few years ago I did just that. They are friends who I've worked with for a long time. But what we were doing no longer interested me. Tell them you need to bow out and move on. Gracefully bow out. There is no shame in it. If you have gigs booked in the immediate future, give them a couple of weeks notice so they can find a new bass player.
It's hard to leave a project where you have no problems with the personnel. I few years ago I did just that. They are friends who I've worked with for a long time. But what we were doing no longer interested me. Tell them you need to bow out and move on. Gracefully bow out. There is no shame in it. If you have gigs booked in the immediate future, give them a couple of weeks notice so they can find a new bass player.
My $0.02...
The blues is still alive and well, and seems to having another resurgence thanks to the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Gary Clark Jr., etc.
It sounds to me like the 18 years of band "marriage" has gotten stale, and the thrill is gone. Time to have a heart-to-heart band discussion about it; maybe along the lines of "We've gotten lazy and let ourselves go. What can we do to tighten things up, dust things off, reinvigorate the act? How can we challenge ourselves, and have some spontaneity, without being sloppy and careless? Do we still want to be excellent, or do we want to settle for mediocrity?" If the consensus is for mediocrity, then there's your answer about staying on as bassist.
On the other hand, I've experienced (a couple of times) leaving a band that I was part of for a long time, and finding that they replaced me fairly easily and continued on, while I was left bandless. It can be an eye opener to see one's former band, now as a mere audience member, and realize that it was actually a pretty good thing, all things considered, but now you're on the outside.
The blues is still alive and well, and seems to having another resurgence thanks to the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Gary Clark Jr., etc.
It sounds to me like the 18 years of band "marriage" has gotten stale, and the thrill is gone. Time to have a heart-to-heart band discussion about it; maybe along the lines of "We've gotten lazy and let ourselves go. What can we do to tighten things up, dust things off, reinvigorate the act? How can we challenge ourselves, and have some spontaneity, without being sloppy and careless? Do we still want to be excellent, or do we want to settle for mediocrity?" If the consensus is for mediocrity, then there's your answer about staying on as bassist.
On the other hand, I've experienced (a couple of times) leaving a band that I was part of for a long time, and finding that they replaced me fairly easily and continued on, while I was left bandless. It can be an eye opener to see one's former band, now as a mere audience member, and realize that it was actually a pretty good thing, all things considered, but now you're on the outside.
Do you play lead guitar in a Blues band , over 55yrs old and still play all the same songs you did when you were 25. just trying to understand your post
I say try to revamp your set by bringing in blues and other tunes by successful “blues” artists like Gary Clark Jr., Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Marcus King Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and other stuff like that.
You get some fresh new takes on the blues, songs popular on festival stages today, and still plenty of guitar solos to go around. The question is do you have the vocal chops to pull off these kinds of covers?
You get some fresh new takes on the blues, songs popular on festival stages today, and still plenty of guitar solos to go around. The question is do you have the vocal chops to pull off these kinds of covers?
I think being in a blues band is a lot like being in a jazz band...you have to have a group of incredibly strong improvisers in order to retain the audience's interest.
It is certainly fixable, but you can’t fix it in your own. If no one else in the band even sees that there’s a problem, it is very unlikely.
If you enjoy the music and hangin’ either the rest of the band, why not? The fewer gigs you have with them, the more time you have for other projects that you find more promising.
You mean you haven’t?? Communication is everyone’s responsibility. At a minimum, a conversation about the bands “identity” is in order. Is it more important to be a 2000s era blues band, or to get more gigs. I have musician friends who would come down on either side of that. If everyone but you is up for a proud, slow, decay, then I think you need a new band.
But please note that I said “a new band”, not “to quit”. If you quit without another project, you’ll be getting even FEWER gigs for the foreseeable future.
Gotta dig deep to keep a blues band successful these days.
8 bars , blues ballads ( they exist ) , funky blues ( Albert Collins anyone? ) , SWING tunes, ( let me repeat, SWING tunes ) , maybe some soul and R&B. Rhumba anyone?
Last band I was in played At Last as an instrumental, with the guitarist playing the melody line. ALWAYS went over big.
A band I was with about 12 years ago had 2 guitars and harmonica. After about 2 months, our mantra became , " MORE SONGS, LESS SOLOS!"
Also- More B.B. , less SRV.
O.P.- You're band could reinvent itself, IF the guitarists were willing to do the work. It doesn't sound to me like they want to work at having a blues band that isn't one dimensional.
8 bars , blues ballads ( they exist ) , funky blues ( Albert Collins anyone? ) , SWING tunes, ( let me repeat, SWING tunes ) , maybe some soul and R&B. Rhumba anyone?
Last band I was in played At Last as an instrumental, with the guitarist playing the melody line. ALWAYS went over big.
A band I was with about 12 years ago had 2 guitars and harmonica. After about 2 months, our mantra became , " MORE SONGS, LESS SOLOS!"
Also- More B.B. , less SRV.
O.P.- You're band could reinvent itself, IF the guitarists were willing to do the work. It doesn't sound to me like they want to work at having a blues band that isn't one dimensional.
Wow, just wow. This is why I never waste my time trying out for "blues" bands. Because this is the majority of what you will get. "Hey man, hold down the changes so I can play another solo."
Sorry dude, unless you are Stevie Ray re-incarnated there is little to no market for the average "dad" guitar wanker.
Same old boring blues............ 
All 145 or close offshoots, all fun to play , none sound the same.
All 145 or close offshoots, all fun to play , none sound the same.
