"Rival" bands

[ModulusFan]

Being the most popular band in your area (given the demographic - college crowds) certainly has its perks. It also, unfortunately has some down sides apparently.

We've had a not-so-hot local band, constantly taking shots at us for the past couple years, mainly from one particular member.....the drummer. (they aren't terrible, just dorks....think of a collection of kids who all got beat up at different schools forming a band) They are just dorks, abrasive pricks, and their show is funny...singer constantly yelling "suck it" into the mic.

Our bands formed about the same time about 4 years ago, and since the beginning, they have been super-jealous of us, and have for no apparent reason made US their bitter "competition". They are our bitches pretty much, we headline the bigger gigs around here, and they have been our openers on several ocassions.

We are more popular....their response? Steal 80% of our set list. They've constantly been going out of their way to cause trouble for us. For a couple brief examples, after some trouble my band had with ignorant politics EVERY time we played a common club to them, I'd grown tired of it and vented on a myspace blog. Douchebag band prints said blog off, and takes it up to them....getting us fired. No real loss, I hated the place, and don't feel the need to frequent places owned by cokehead hosers. But, it is the point.....not cool. Another local band was trying to book there, and this bands yoko ran up telling the place not to book them, because they suck...RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM!

They have posted several blogs slamming us hard with unfound, rude, and and untrue attacks. My band is pretty cool headed, and keeps me on a leash for the responses....oh how I would like to unload.

I've tried the adult response of contacting them privately asking them to knock the crap off, since it isn't helping either one of us, to a sarcastic, and rude reply.

Probably doesn't help...their band owns one music store in this town, and members of my band owns the other one.

I guess I have no real question here, just venting. It is ongoing, and if not for the risk of getting my band in hot water at the top area club both bands play, I'd punch his lights out.

 

[SirCanealot]

Put me in charge of PR.

I have superiour English sarcasm, which I'm sure they won't stand a chance against. I also generally don't notice when people are insulting me and just respond with more sarcasm.

The world would be a lot better place if there was more sarcasm.

 

[cheezewiz]

It ain't me! (Tim's band and mine aren't in competition...different demographics entirely!)...plus, I'm good buds with everyone in Tim's band.

There is really no comparison between the two bands. Tim's has nothing to worry about. About 99 percent of the local musicians know who the posers are, and know their mouths are writing checks their butts and their chops cannot cash.

Don't sweat it Tim. They are EARNING their reputation for suck.

 

[MichaelScott]

After reading your post I don't believe that this other band is actually the problem. I guess that from the tone of your post and your attitude I'd just bet money that you are probably responsible for the current situation.

 

[Tired_Thumb]

Put me in charge of PR.

I have superiour English sarcasm, which I'm sure they won't stand a chance against. I also generally don't notice when people are insulting me and just respond with more sarcasm.

The world would be a lot better place if there was more sarcasm.

Heh Heh Heh, +1 brother.



One more thing to OP, you know the drill: no names, no proof.

 

[Spoiled Grape]

After reading your post I don't believe that this other band is actually the problem. I guess that from the tone of your post and your attitude I'd just bet money that you are probably responsible for the current situation.

Eh, I wouldn't say that. Although he flames them a bit, most of what he is saying is factual (at least, I'm taking that for granted) and not opinion. The dork, losers, etc. thing is unwarranted though.

Don't worry, it gets worse with original bands than cover bands. I mean, cover bands really are in direct competition, especially two cover bands that play to the same demographic.

I think sometimes it's important in this business to just suck it up, hold your hand out, and hope they shake it and not slap it.

This holds true, regardless of who is at fault. There is just too much to lose with this stuff. You guys lost a venue. Who cares if the owners are cokeheads. I've played some pretty big (read:famous) spots in the area that had heavy drug use managers/owners/promoters. You just learn to deal and not say anything that can be turned against you.

 

[bassmonkeee]

After reading your post I don't believe that this other band is actually the problem. I guess that from the tone of your post and your attitude I'd just bet money that you are probably responsible for the current situation.

After reading your post, I've come to the conclusion that you jump to conclusions quickly, have difficulty with reading comprehension and form ill conceived ideas as a result.

 

[Bayou_Brawler]

"music is a mission...not a competition"

I have no idea what's really going on...but I would think some band running around bad-mouthing and acting like turds will only be hurting themselves....they may win a few battles but they should lose the war...

I think ignoring them and acting professional would be the best idea.....

 

[Sundogue]

I can relate. I play in a band that is extremely popular in the area and we usually get the choice gigs first.

There is another band in the area that is pretty good, but they feel they are in competition with my band. Before I joined my current band, I used to play with this ultra-competitive band. What happened was, they hired their original bass player back and fired me (via e-mail no less). After only a few months, the guy decided he really didn't want to play bass with them anymore, he quit them and moved to another state.

So what do they do? They steal the bass player from the band I'm in now. After many unsuccessful attempts at securing a bass player to replace the one my former band stole, my current band hires me. Then my former band's stolen bass player (the one I replaced in my new band) ends up missing because he got hooked on vicoden and ends up in rehab in another state.

By simply being ********, my old band lost three bass players by firing me. The guy they got back quit, the guy they stole ended up in rehab, and me? I'm playing in the most popular band in the area all because they fired me and stole my current band's bass player.

But that's not all. My band has another new area band that never tires of telling us how they are going to steal all the choice gigs from us. I've heard them play. I'm not concerned. The only talent they have is for stealing our set list, thereby making us look all the better by comparison.

Whenever that band's bass player confronts me and tells me how good they are and that they are going to take all the good gigs away from us, I simply reply by saying..."Well, good for you. I wish you the best of luck", and then I hold my hand out to shake his. He just stands there with a blank look on his face like he wasn't expecting me to be nice, and doesn't know what to do...except stammer to himself as he walks away.

My point? What goes around, comes around. Karma is a beautiful thing. My advice is...the best revenge is a well lived life. Do what you do as well as you can, and enjoy it. You can't control other's actions, but you can control yours.

 

[invader3k]

Yeah...if everything the original poster says is true, the other band is simply going to get a bad rep around town, and end up fading away eventually.

I think you would be well served to keep your head above the sewage. Ignore the garbage they're pulling, keep playing your gigs well and building your rep. It's going to be apparent who the better band is in the long run.

 

[Phalex]

Jeez!

My band is friendly with all of the other "popular" bands in my area. I've sat in with several of them when either the bass player died unexpectedly, or they had deaths in the family. My Drummer has played a few gigs with other bands for similar reasons too. I genuinely enjoy seeing these other bands play, and like to see the guys when they come out to see us. We'll help them out if they need it, and I'm sure they would all do the same for us.

One of them did try to steal our drumer once, but I can't blame them, he rocks!

 

[tZer]

Tim, how about if you simply ignore them?

It take two to tango and if you remove your participation from the dance, then you effectively neuter them and their antics. By reacting to them, you give them credibility.

Don't ya think?

 

[ModulusFan]

After reading your post I don't believe that this other band is actually the problem. I guess that from the tone of your post and your attitude I'd just bet money that you are probably responsible for the current situation.

I was wondered how long it would take someone to post this. Yeah, my attitude sucks about it....a couple years of this crap will do that to you. I feel better now, just needed to vent.

 

[ModulusFan]

Agreed on all points posted, and for the record we get along well with EVERY other area band, and help each other out whenever we can. They don't say anything directly to us, just constant slagging on the internet, and to others behind our backs. A recent example of such was discovered shortly before my post here, hence the anger involved. All is well.

 

[TrooperFarva]

There's only one solution for this.

RUMBLE
Link Removed

 

[Lazylion]

^^ that guy on the right, in the gold shirt and bracelet... is that William Shatner???

 

[Obese Chess]

I've been in a similar situation, but we were the smartasses.

The difference is, everyone in the other band was in on the joke.
EXCEPT the vocalist and the bass player. The drummer and both guitarists were good friends of ours.

We still make fun of each other, because the bass player got over it and the vocalist got kicked out for being a little girl like that.

That faded away eventually.
Just like this will.
I'd love to type more on the subject but I have an essay to write!

 

[cheezewiz]

After reading your post I don't believe that this other band is actually the problem. I guess that from the tone of your post and your attitude I'd just bet money that you are probably responsible for the current situation.

I know everyone involved, and you could not possibly be more wrong.

 

[MichaelScott]

Maybe some of you have a relationship with Tim but I really don’t know him from Adam- I don’t know his band- and I don’t know the band he is talking about. The only thing I have to go on in this whole situation is the original vent post. And while I’d love to support a brother TBer his original post really rubbed me the wrong way because it came off like a 16 year old throwing a temper tantrum. I am a natural skeptic and it caused me to punch holes in his post and doubt the truth of his view of the situation. Here was my break down for those of you who might think that I

jump to conclusions quickly, have difficulty with reading comprehension and form ill conceived ideas as a result.

Being the most popular band in your area (given the demographic - college crowds) certainly has its perks. It also, unfortunately has some down sides apparently.

The following story doesn’t work unless we believe that Tim is in the “most popular band in his area”. If he wasn’t in the most popular band then there would be no reason for the other band to be jealous. It could be that he is in the most popular band in his area but it’s a pretty arrogant thing to say about your band- and it is completely a matter of the opinion of Tim. I, for example, could say that I am the best bass player in my city. Which you can’t prove or disprove since you don’t know me or (probably) anyone in my town. I’m sure EVERY band thinks that they are the best band in their area. Starting a story with “I’m the best” is pretty juvenile.

We've had a not-so-hot local band, constantly taking shots at us for the past couple years, mainly from one particular member.....the drummer. (they aren't terrible, just dorks....think of a collection of kids who all got beat up at different schools forming a band) They are just dorks, abrasive pricks, and their show is funny...singer constantly yelling "suck it" into the mic.

Time layers so many insults, personal cuts, and slaps at this band that I just have trouble believing that this is just “music” related. If anything, it seems that Tim has it out for them more then they do for him. We’ve had countless 12 year olds come to these forums with their band drama and they all sound exactly like the first two paragraphs of Tim’s post.

Our bands formed about the same time about 4 years ago, and since the beginning, they have been super-jealous of us, and have for no apparent reason made US their bitter "competition". They are our bitches pretty much, we headline the bigger gigs around here, and they have been our openers on several ocassions.

So I have to assume that Tim is right- and the band is only jealous because Tim’s band is better. But I have trouble making that assumption because: A) Tim seems to have a major bone to pick with these guys with his insults (see above) and B) I again have to trust that Tim’s band is actually better and that the other band is jealous ONLY because of that reason. Since I already think that Tim might be pulling my leg with the “We are the best band in the area” I also have problems believing that the other band is really jealous of them. I also think Tim is between 12 and 16 years old.

We are more popular....their response? Steal 80% of our set list.

Is Tim in a cover band? How can they “Steal” your set list? I don’t get it.

They've constantly been going out of their way to cause trouble for us. For a couple brief examples, after some trouble my band had with ignorant politics EVERY time we played a common club to them, I'd grown tired of it and vented on a myspace blog. Douchebag band prints said blog off, and takes it up to them....getting us fired. No real loss, I hated the place, and don't feel the need to frequent places owned by cokehead hosers.

Tim’s example doesn’t really do it for me. The only example he lists of this other band going out of their way to “cause trouble” was when Tim wrote something stupid on his blog and the other band showed it to the venue. I’ll fill in the blanks here and assume that Tim probably slammed the venue somewhere in his blog and that’s why they got kicked off. After all, if he is in the “Most popular band in his area” a venue would NEVER want to kick them off the venue…. Unless the band trashed said venue. My assumption seems to be upheld further when Tim writes: “No real loss, I hated the place, and don't feel the need to frequent places owned by cokehead hosers.”

They have posted several blogs slamming us hard with unfound, rude, and and untrue attacks.

And Tim has never done that…. Well except for here on TB…. And on his Blog…. And probably to his friends… And probably to other venues.

My band is pretty cool headed, and keeps me on a leash for the responses....oh how I would like to unload.

I don’t think Tim actually read what he wrote previously.

Probably doesn't help...their band owns one music store in this town, and members of my band owns the other one.

Ahhh… I think this is probably closer to the real issue the two groups don’t get along. Of course, saying that the fight is about money is a lot less sexy then saying it is about jealousy because “our band is so much more talented”.

I'd punch his lights out.

That seems like a bad idea. And again it doesn’t help me think that Tim is an upstanding, honest, reasonable, and caring individual whom I should believe despite the fact that he wrote a tantrum post with very little logic and tons of poo flinging.

Now a post like this:

Agreed on all points posted, and for the record we get along well with EVERY other area band, and help each other out whenever we can. They don't say anything directly to us, just constant slagging on the internet, and to others behind our backs. A recent example of such was discovered shortly before my post here, hence the anger involved. All is well.

Makes me think I misjudged Tim- and he comes across as someone who is 32 and has some common sense. But if the only thing I had to go on was the original post I pretty much conclude that he’s probably full of it- and most of the problems are probably coming with his band’s lack of maturity.

 

[Bassist_Ben]

I have the same thing happening to my band. We get knocked by a band thats completly full of losers. They always split up and come back, with a different name. They dont have any original songs NOR covers!!

Yet they still think they're better!
Dude, the thing is, just i duno....challenge em =P
Nahhhh i dont have a solution just do better than em!