People/musicians are so strange...

[GeorgesEric]

Which means what, exactly? That you are not a Squeeze fan?
And So?
I wouldn't start a tribute band either, but I have always been a fan.
And they are still touring, and are a really great live band.

Plus, try to do what they do. they are a unique band with a long career, finely crafted pop songs with deceptive nuances. As the OP stated, it has to be done just right. And they are very good musicians, with some off the more clever lyrics in pop.

My comment was not meant to be negative nor ill-intended. I know a bunch of music from that era, heard the name of the band, I was surprised to find out that I did not even recognize one song. I am sure they were a great band. If they are still playing and touring nowadays, more power to them.

 

[GregT]

My comment was not meant to be negative nor ill-intended. I know a bunch of music from that era, heard the name of the band, I was surprised to find out that I did not even recognize one song. I am sure they were a great band. If they are still playing and touring nowadays, more power to them.

I don't mean to be negative either, but I've never even heard of them. But then there's probably a lot of music I'm not familiar with. I'm 65, so I'm not sure what timeframe they fit into.

 

[LBS-bass]

My comment was not meant to be negative nor ill-intended. I know a bunch of music from that era, heard the name of the band, I was surprised to find out that I did not even recognize one song. I am sure they were a great band. If they are still playing and touring nowadays, more power to them.

I'd be willing to bet there is more than one song on that list you would recognize if you heard it. Black Coffee in Bed and Tempted were huge hits.

 

[GeorgesEric]

Thanks - “Tempted” (after a quick reminiscing trip on YouTube), I know that one, excellent song, well-crafted.

 

[LBS-bass]

Thanks - “Tempted” (after a quick reminiscing trip on YouTube), I know that one, excellent song, well-crafted.

I agree. I think I need to resurrect that one, now that I have a second guitarist. It was a little sparse with the power trio treatment

 

[red_rhino]

I’d even settle for a guitar player that doesn’t need a ride everywhere.

Easy. Just make sure he has a girlfriend. (Preferably one that is not also an aspiring singer/songwriter. Otherwise, we all know how that will turn out.)

 

[Geogio]

I'm just saying....

because a lot of people don't realize or make this connection but if you read music you can play with anybody. It doesn't matter the genré everybody needs a bassist. Up the offering and maybe hang out with a slightly more experienced bunch.

All the best.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

If you have a circle of people to play music with and they are mentally stable/balanced individuals without a lot of drama, count yourself fortunate.

As much as love playing bass, it is just a huge struggle for me to find people to jam with that have a reasonable set of expectations in terms of music.

Local guy I know from H.S. reached out to me and said he's interested in doing some playing. We exchanged a couple of texts back and forth and I made it clear I am open to do some playing/jamming but don't have the bandwidth to commit to anything that would eat up large amounts of my time and I went onto ask what he'd be interested in playing.

His answer was " Squeeze!"

Nothing wrong with that band, and I am aware of their more popular hits but after listening to a bunch of their tunes, it's stuff that requires more of time commitment than I'd be willing to put in to play well. The tunes aren't overly hard, but I heard enough nuances in the ones I listened to and realized its just not stuff I'd want to put the time required to get them accurate.

I replied back stating all of that, and mentioned its probably a bit more realistic for me to play stuff that doesn't require that much of a time commitment such as blues, classic rock, improv based riff jamming, etc..

The reply I got back was basically just this deranged response about how the blues sucks, he's had it with classic rock, and has this undying desire to play squeeze and hopes he finds someone to play that music with that won't feel like they have to spend time on it... I didn't even respond as his reply was so off the wall and if I am honest sort of disrespectful to me.

For perspective, we are both in our 50s...I have a day job and other responsibilities, so need to be realistic in terms of things I say yes to. This guy doesn't have all that. In any case instead of being realistic about whats possible with older/busy adults, he's effectively lost a contact that he could do some playing with on an informal basis by being so inflexible. The guy is always posting on FB about not having people to play with and this is why I suppose.

There are lots of things I'd like to focus on exclusively, but I know that finding others that want to focus ONLY on those things just simply isn't going to happen at this point and I've realized if I want to do any playing at all, I have to be flexible and accommodating to others.

Its unfortunate as the guy is a competent player and is like 15 minutes from my house...

Right now I am very lucky to be playing with competent, reliable, reasonable adults. It feels like dream.

But this is a very rare case. In fact crazy musician sh*t is what wrecked every band I ever played in, to the point where I gave up even trying to join or form a band for a lot of years.

 

[LBS-bass]

Right now I am very lucky to be playing with competent, reliable, reasonable adults. It feels like dream.

But this is a very rare case. In fact crazy musician sh*t is what wrecked every band I ever played in, to the point where I gave up even trying to join or form a band for a lot of years.

I developed a habit of joining multiple bands once I realized that 90% of them will turn out to be unsustainable for one reason or another. It's like tossing a whole bunch of spaghetti against the wall to find the one or two strands that will stick.

 

[scott sinner]

I love this thread as it reminds me I am absolutely the weird one. Shrug. I am blessed that I have always been able to find normies that put up with me.

lets see, what have I texted my bandmates recently regarding recordings we are working on:
-“so [in the video with the BeeGee Barbies] would it be cool with the xenomorph shows up part way thru? Can anyone sing like the BeeGees meets xenomorph?”
“Anyone have a bag of small bones for this song? Or a large bone?”
“Ya, there is a lot of fret rattle on that, I lowered the action because there wasnt enough at first.”
“No, Im done tracking…my bass part on that first chorus is a just a rest.”

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I developed a habit of joining multiple bands once I realized that 90% of them will turn out to be unsustainable for one reason or another. It's like tossing a whole bunch of spaghetti against the wall to find the one or two strands that will stick.

A wise approach, I’d say!

 

[Savage_Dreams]

For perspective, we are both in our 50s...I have a day job and other responsibilities, so need to be realistic in terms of things I say yes to. This guy doesn't have all that. In any case instead of being realistic about whats possible with older/busy adults, he's effectively lost a contact that he could do some playing with on an informal basis by being so inflexible. The guy is always posting on FB about not having people to play with and this is why I suppose.

There are lots of things I'd like to focus on exclusively, but I know that finding others that want to focus ONLY on those things just simply isn't going to happen at this point and I've realized if I want to do any playing at all, I have to be flexible and accommodating to others.

This whole section amuses me. You do realize you are being just as inflexible as him and everything you said applies to you, right? His response may have been a bit more than needed, but dont make him out to be so wrong and should change when you dont want to. You have different lives. why act like he's so unreasonable when you dont want to bend either. you want different things. move on. end of story

 

[lexington125]

'The singer in my cover band is pushing 60 and is still recording originals on the side. I'm not sure why. And I don't have the heart to tell him his tunes aren't good. At least we don't have to play them live.'

'I don't get this response at all. You're not sure why?? Maybe he likes making original music; how can there be anything wrong with that, regardless of your age? As long as you're not desperate to 'make it', creating original music is what it's all about, for me.'

I didn't know cover bands were still a thing (other than at unfortunate weddings....) Don't know anyone (anyone!) who does that stuff.

 

[Bonafide]

The singer in my cover band is pushing 60 and is still recording originals on the side. I'm not sure why. And I don't have the heart to tell him his tunes aren't good. At least we don't have to play them live.

It's life affirming being inspired by music for any god given reason at any age that it is flowing through you.

"People may say I can't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing"... Florence Foster Jenkins -

 

[two fingers]

Oh, I know all about it, I was the guy behind the counter selling the records to the kids. But I knew Motley Crue fans who looked down their noses at them as bandwagon jumping posers.

Yeah I was born in '71, amd hit my teen years right in the hair band era. I will admit I like 'em both....briefly. 5 years later O rolled my eyes at both. I had made a turn into more Allman Brothers tryp stuff (which was also a brief period).

 

[friskinator]

'The singer in my cover band is pushing 60 and is still recording originals on the side. I'm not sure why. And I don't have the heart to tell him his tunes aren't good. At least we don't have to play them live.'

'I don't get this response at all. You're not sure why?? Maybe he likes making original music; how can there be anything wrong with that, regardless of your age? As long as you're not desperate to 'make it', creating original music is what it's all about, for me.'

I didn't know cover bands were still a thing (other than at unfortunate weddings....) Don't know anyone (anyone!) who does that stuff.

You seriously didn’t know cover bands were still a thing?

 

[pepj]

I developed a habit of joining multiple bands once I realized that 90% of them will turn out to be unsustainable for one reason or another. It's like tossing a whole bunch of spaghetti against the wall to find the one or two strands that will stick.

There aren't enough good bands to want to join so best to start your own. Its quite easy to pick musical compatibility...and you don't consider anyone weird or not recommended.

My latest idea is a kicking bar band doing country blues type stuff, ...Houston, Austin etc.
I'll approach the other players...i know which type...once the singer frees up some time.

 

[Nashrakh]

In LA, in the 90’s, there was a guy wanting to get a Van Der Graaf Generator tribute band going. I was wondering what ten other people(if that many)besides me would show up.
John Goodsall was playing around town at the time(the Fire Merchants), and only about ten people would show up at many of his gigs.

I'd join a Van der Graaf Generator tribute in a heartbeat, no kidding.

God knows I've done worse.

 

[gln1955]

'The singer in my cover band is pushing 60 and is still recording originals on the side. I'm not sure why. And I don't have the heart to tell him his tunes aren't good. At least we don't have to play them live.'

'I don't get this response at all. You're not sure why?? Maybe he likes making original music; how can there be anything wrong with that, regardless of your age? As long as you're not desperate to 'make it', creating original music is what it's all about, for me.'

I didn't know cover bands were still a thing (other than at unfortunate weddings....) Don't know anyone (anyone!) who does that stuff.

Seriously? Are you in an alternate universe or something?

 

[crazyBassClown]

But I knew Motley Crue fans who looked down their noses at them as bandwagon jumping posers.

Pretty sure the metallica/thrash scene fans were looking down their noses at all the hair metal fans as bandwagon jumping posers. Crue, poison, the lot.