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Playing with older musicians

#62
I'm 58. I've got a friend who's son is 23, plays guitar and writes his own songs. Good stuff! About a year ago he was jamming with a drummer but no bass player because they couldn't find one at the time. One day when I was over he was complaining about this and my friends wife said "have Mike come over to jam with you guys one day." You should have seen the look on his face! A combination of someone who bit into a lemon while slamming his toe into the wall! I could almost hear it: "do I have to jam with....gramps?"

I wasn't offended. When I was his age my reaction probably would have been the same.
 
#63
Us older cats can be hell to play with ... or the best experience you'll have ever have. Depends entirely on the individuals. I'm 57, and the youngest in the band (no sh!t). No, we don't do metal, hell, we hardly get out of the 50's and 60's. But ... if the crowd wants to hear classic country and hillbilly rock and roll, we're the guys who can give to 'em. We play to 100-200 sized rooms three times a month, and rock the hell out the place.

Until a recent replacement (he went back to New Brunswick), our drummer was a 25 year old French-Canadian man, a killer on the skins, and we all got along just fine. He brought a bunch of talent to the table, and liked playing with us because we could play just about anything, and were all pros. As a family guy, he also liked that we didn't practice ... ever. If he was out playing, he was making money. We all know our stuff, and so did he.
 
#64
Mike M. said:
I'm 58. I've got a friend who's son is 23, plays guitar and writes his own songs. Good stuff! About a year ago he was jamming with a drummer but no bass player because they couldn't find one at the time. One day when I was over he was complaining about this and my friends wife said "have Mike come over to jam with you guys one day." You should have seen the look on his face! A combination of someone who bit into a lemon while slamming his toe into the wall! I could almost hear it: "do I have to jam with....gramps?"

I wasn't offended. When I was his age my reaction probably would have been the same.
Click to expand...

I'm 58, been playing with younger talented musicians for years. I play the people game not the age game.

I get the feeling you were offended.

Somebody made a good point a few posts back. I bet if some one approached the 23 year old and the drummer and said. Eric Clapton is looking for a young guitarist and a drummer for a tour and he is interested in you two.

Bet age would not be an issue. And I beleive Eric is around 67.
 
#65
bluewine said:
I'm 58, been playing with younger talenred musicians for years. I play the people game not the age game.

I get the feeling you were offended.

Somebody made a good point a few posts back. I bet if some one approached the 23 year old and the drummer and said. Eric Clapton is looking for a young guitarist and a drummer for a tour and he is interested in you two.

Bet age would not be an issue. And I beleive Eric is around 67.
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Truthfully, I wasn't offended because you would have to have known the way this kid was. (Actually, this was about two years ago now that I think about it). While he made amazing progress very quickly on guitar he was also a real snot about things, very sarcastic and rather narcisistic. Seemed to take a delight in laughing at people which to me was nothing more than a cover up for his own fears. If he wasn't such a brat at the time and asked me if I wanted to jam with them once...sure, why not? Would have been fun and we probably could have taught each other a thing or two. Offended? By a brat? Not me.

That was two years ago and I must say he has matured quite a bit since then. I think he's realized it's a big, big world out there and that maybe he's not as good as he thinks he was. I actually once told him "no matter how good you are there's always someone who can do it all a bit better." I think he's finally realized that.
 
#66
Mike M. said:
Truthfully, I wasn't offended because you would have to have known the way this kid was. (Actually, this was about two years ago now that I think about it). While he made amazing progress very quickly on guitar he was also a real snot about things, very sarcastic and rather narcisistic. Seemed to take a delight in laughing at people which to me was nothing more than a cover up for his own fears. If he wasn't such a brat at the time and asked me if I wanted to jam with them once...sure, why not? Would have been fun and we probably could have taught each other a thing or two. Offended? By a brat? Not me.

That was two years ago and I must say he has matured quite a bit since then. I think he's realized it's a big, big world out there and that maybe he's not as good as he thinks he was. I actually once told him "no matter how good you are there's always someone who can do it all a bit better." I think he's finally realized that.
Click to expand...

I guess I was the one offended by it.

BTW it's more like thousands that can do it better.
 
#68
Mike M. said:
I'll tell ya...I hear it more and more on You Tube these days. It's down right scary when you hear the amount of talent that's out there. Talent from years ago as well as new talent.
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You bet there is, I am not the best, or maybe even not that good. However, I know what I am doing every second of my stage perfrmance.

Me and a younger player, Shank Hall (from the movie Spinal Tap) You can see the Stonehenge figure on the back curtain
 
#69
It is all about musical chemistry,
I'm 23, and in a 6 piece band with age ranges (besides me) from 30's to 50's
I mean, you know what your looking for.
I'm really tired with the self indulgence of people in my age group, but especially with the musicians I was playing with.
You should def jam, and if it clicks it clicks.

Age is Irrelevant,
There is only this moment.
do what you got to do to improve it.
 
#70
hearnow said:
It is all about musical chemistry,
I'm 23, and in a 6 piece band with age ranges (besides me) from 30's to 50's
I mean, you know what your looking for.
I'm really tired with the self indulgence of people in my age group, but especially with the musicians I was playing with.
You should def jam, and if it clicks it clicks.

Age is Irrelevant,
There is only this moment.
do what you got to do to improve it.
Click to expand...

You make a good point. I was going to say there are older guys that are still self indulged. But really there can't be that many that still take themselves all that seriously at my age.
 
#72
THORRR said:
I'm old enough to be everybody-in-my-band's father.
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I actually played in a band with my father (who has a fantastic classic rock voice) and it was the best 6 months ever. We got along super during this period. Unfortunately we were the only good thing about the whole band (aside from an awesome drummer who saw the writing on the wall sooner than we did and quit early on).

I have been trying to get him out of retirement and back in action for ages now, but nothing I do or suggest seems to get him excited enough. Shame because there are few things so rewarding as playing music you love alongside your father.
 
#73
The first band I ever played had a core of two guitarists, 35 and 37. I was 18 then. We also at one point had this chick drummer play with us for a couple gigs; she was 30, and the very best drummer I've ever played with.

If older guys are actively trying to play with you, jump on that as soon as you can. It's rare for such a situation to not teach you something in the long run.
 
#74
LowEnd88 said:
Have an opportunity sitting in front of me right now and I wanted to get some talkbass wisdom...

I've been getting frustrated as of lately with the current musicians I've been working with. The kind where endless hours can be wasted in a practice where none of the fine details in a song ever seem to get worked out. Just very unfocused in general.

So I decided to look in the wanted adds for musicians. And find more musicians who are serious about playing music, gigging, and not wasting time...

I answered a craigslist add from an 'experienced and mature guitarist and drummer' seeking R&B/Soul musicians for a cover band. This sounds great! I'd love to play those genres with serious musicians more than anything!

I get a reply, and all the details sound great, from desired practice/gigging frequency to the specific artists they are covering. However he mentions that they are both 40+

... and I'm 22

Anybody have experience with 20 year age gaps in bands? Can the music overcome the generational gaps?
Click to expand...

I've not read all the previous posts as life is too short for some things !!!!

A few of years ago we were having trouble with our keys player, booking holidays when he knew we had gigs was the final straw but he was an unconfirmed alcoholic which was getting embarrassing.

I was 56 at the time , our guitarist and drummer were late 40s. We got a stand in keys player for a couple of gigs, he was 21 and the best keys player I have ever played with. We offered him the gig and he would have taken it but for the fact that he was accepted into the music corps of the British Army playing clarinet. He was also a very proficient drummer and guitarist.

If these guys have got their act together as far as rehearsing and don't waste time noddling around and use the time constructively then I wouldn't hesitate to give it a shot. The age difference will evaporate if you click with them.
 
#76
EddiePlaysBass said:
I actually played in a band with my father (who has a fantastic classic rock voice) and it was the best 6 months ever. We got along super during this period. Unfortunately we were the only good thing about the whole band (aside from an awesome drummer who saw the writing on the wall sooner than we did and quit early on).

I have been trying to get him out of retirement and back in action for ages now, but nothing I do or suggest seems to get him excited enough. Shame because there are few things so rewarding as playing music you love alongside your father.
Click to expand...

That is cool, you played in a band with your Dad singing. Most guys your age would have never done that.
 
#78
Don't judge people because of their age. So they're older than you. So, what? Try it and judge them on their actual personalities and musicianship, not their age.

I played in a band a few years ago where I was just over 40 and the other 4 guys were all 20-something. It was fine. There were no issues because of age.
 
#79
I'm 61. The leader of one band I'm in is older. We have a 20-something trumpet player, 30-something sax player, 20-something chick singer, 61-year-old guitar player (not me, another guy), 50-something drummer, 40-something keys. I've never noticed an age difference. No probs. It's a variety cover band.

I know, I know, it would be weird for granpa to be in a metal band playing at the most popular "young" hangout. But, then again it just might be wayyy cool.

A classic rock band I had for awhile was a bunch of old guys like me. The young crowd loved us and would go nuts when I untied my long hair to play Woodstock. Heh, heh. That really made me feel good.

Something everyone forgets is that us old players DON'T FEEL OLD.
 

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