Post-Covid Band Plans?

[The Bass Clef]

We’ve tried our best to use this this down time to our advantage so we concentrated on writing a new album, which we’ve now started to record. We lost our drummer about halfway into the pandemic (he left the band, he didn’t die or anything) and we were lucky enough to have found a new drummer who is working out quite well. On one hand it kind of sucks for him because in normal times, he would’ve already played several gigs with us. But on the other hand, he has had a lot of time to really get to know the 5 or 6 hours worth of material we play, so when we do come back, we will be hitting it hard and better than ever!

The band took the first 2 months off when covid first hit (when everyone was freaked out and no one really knew what to expect) but that was mainly because my wife and I had our 2nd child in March right before the poop hit the fan. But ever since May, we’ve been doing our regular weekly practice. Even when we didn’t have a drummer for a couple months, we still continued to get together and write. We even played 3 outdoor shows back in the summer, but no gigs since then. I cannot wait to play live again.

 

[bassbully]

Looking to hit the local road again. This time just a blues and oldies band. My country days are over.

 

[LBS-bass]

I was in a pretty good band pre-COVID, but there were multiple personnel problems and it was starting to get pretty stressful trying to hold everyone together and keep them from strangling one another. I listened to some old live recordings the other day; they sounded good. We were really just getting things tightened up when COVID hit and we've barely kept in touch. One of us has moved to a town several hours north of here and I'm not sure I have the drive to replace him; he was an exceptionally good player, but a deeply flawed person and even if he were living in town I still might not want to do this anymore, but he'll be really hard to replace. So that's probably over.

During the summer I continued to rehearse weekly with the blues band but, honestly, my drive to do that music just isn't strong and I haven't done much real practicing, so my chops are not so great at this point. I will try to hang in with them because they've been good to me, but beyond there I am going to hang it up unless someone comes looking for me with a great idea.

I had plans for several projects other than those two things, and at this point I'm just not inclined to make the effort. Covid has made me lazy, and helped me to appreciate spending time at home in retirement, and writing and producing my own music, so that's what I'll likely continue to do.

 

[Naturekev]

Our band met on Friday at an outdoor dining area to discuss our plans going forward. Our lead guitarist is also our songwriter and recording engineer, so he already had the rough tracks recorded for our next album. We have started to record our individual parts as we have time. We haven't rehearsed as a group since March. Although things have been opening up around here, none of us are looking to gig any time soon. The focus for now will be on recording, then back to regular rehearsals when everyone is comfortable with it.

 

[dlb1001]

Like others, our band took a few months off then the BL had a new song that she wanted to record. So, we got together in late July and ran through it, until we had it tightened up. In early September, we laid down the bass, rhythm guitar and drum tracks in one session then the vocals got were eventually added a month later.
Now, the BL is starting to think about doing 6 song CD so she is working on the songs for it...may add a cover or two, depending if the new material sounds good or not.

 

[marmadaddy]

I play in a few bands so it’s kind of E. All of the above.

• My main cover band, a 7 piece horn/dance band is planning on going back to what we were doing but giving the set list an overhaul.
• A corporate/events band I play with has a couple of dates booked in the summer, but it’s looking slow.
• A classic rock band I was in previously that was in the process of reforming is going under.
• A different classic rock band I did a couple of gigs with when everything went to hell is booking some amazing gigs for the spring/summer.
• Most amazing: my original band is about to sign a record deal. Like a real deal, with a good record company, with an advance and promotional support.

 

[3Liter]

I started a new job during covid. I have two teenage kids. I realize how stressed out I was trying to be on the scene and keep my chops up and managing the band. We still jam/rehearse but I'm not making an effort to chase bookings. If the other guys want to, I will show up, but I'm not going to chase it.

I'll reconsider as the job stabilizes it just wait till the kids are out of the house.

 

[Astronaut]

I was in a pretty good band pre-COVID, but there were multiple personnel problems and it was starting to get pretty stressful trying to hold everyone together and keep them from strangling one another. I listened to some old live recordings the other day; they sounded good. We were really just getting things tightened up when COVID hit and we've barely kept in touch. One of us has moved to a town several hours north of here and I'm not sure I have the drive to replace him; he was an exceptionally good player, but a deeply flawed person and even if he were living in town I still might not want to do this anymore, but he'll be really hard to replace. So that's probably over.

That happened just like that to me too.
Courage!

 

[Crazy_Jake]

Honestly I will have to re- assess the whole live music situation when it opens up again. There will be a lot of venues that are now closed for good. For my band we were playing every weekend a full schedule- the reality is there simply may not be enough venues to support the band so we may have to redevelop / redesign the band to fit the "New Normal" live music scene

 

[RustyAxe]

I’m done. Time to sell off gear. Had a very good 10 year run with the band, and several other good projects. Maybe do some solo stuff on acoustic guitar ... fool on a stool stuff.

 

[74hc]

I have no idea what will go on.

Our diocese seems very adverse to paying musicians unless it's a church with a school. Even then, it's only one or two musicians, but those have been employees already before independent contract musicians were outlawed in this state.

Right now, they say that collections is down as the reason. I do suspect we're in a trial run without the top talented musicians.

Our top paid pianoist is sitting at home this whole time even though we are partially back with limited attendance. She is far more talented than the rest of us. Too much so that it seems criminal to not pay her.

My wife says that musicians that are willing to play for free are part of the problem, not really a solution. I need to look in the mirror as we've all been playing for free last year and so far into this year.

In the meantime, our diocese's chapter of Catholic Charities spends 76% of the donations on salaries, and only 8% to causes.

 

[Wissen]

This past year was the most productive year of my life from a creativity standpoint. My band is finishing up our second record, and my singer and I have the entire third record sketched out with overflow ideas that are going to be pushed out to album 4. We should be back in the studio this summer and have the third record ready by the end of the year.

Plus I wrote an entire album's worth of musical material for an entirely different project we will be working on. 2020 was supposed to be MY year. But 2021 and 2022 are shaping up to be even better.

 

[Marc valero]

Multi band benefit tomorrow then 10 gigs this month in Florida.

 

[2saddleslab]

I got gigs! Our BL just informed us he's set up outdoor monthly gigs starting at the end of May. What a difference it makes to know there are shows set in the future.

 

[rtslinger]

Looking forward to getting back to it. My guitarist had a hand operation recently so on the back burner still, but the rest of the band is gun ho to get back to gigging. I haven't stopped practicing since the last gig back in March last year, so I am ready from the word go