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Second audition??

augdog

augdog

Nov 12, 2009
185
32
Chalfont PA
#1
I recently auditioned for cover band. Premise was to choose 5 songs from their list that I know and audition on them. (40min away).

When I get there, they say that they play Eb standard. Ok, I detune my bass with extra light strings which make the frets buzz a bit. I don't mind that sound so I don't think about it. I play with a punchy mid tone.

They get back to me and say I play percussive and choppy but will re-audition me on 7 more songs that they choose. They are worried that most of my recent experience has been jazz and maybe my style won't fit. They are a bar cover band. 80's 90's rock

If I adjust my EQ, pan my pickups, adjust the relief and pluck further from the bridge...problem solved.

Is this normal? Do I re-audition or look elsewhere? Thanks!!
 
#2
Excellent question. What do you think of them? Are they people you would want to work with or people you'll be happy to say goodbye to? Are their gigs well enough paid ($ and intangibles) for you to make the drive for rehearsals on a regular basis? Once you answer these questions you'll have your answer.

Good luck. I'm pretty sure you have all the skill you need for the job.
 
#5
I think its a red flag for them to say they are concerned with you being a jazz player since jazz players are the most versitile guys out there.
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+1 That sounds like the "highly opinionated, but terribly ignorant" variety of bandmates. If I felt the other factors made it worth going back, I'd be really blunt about how I am the final word on my instrument (everyone's input is welcome, but they are junior partners in the enterprise) and if they really aren't sure they like my playing, please say so and save us all some time.
 
#6
Maybe, since you're a jazz player, they want to see if you can play the same thing twice.

(j/k) :D

The red flag is that if they constantly think you need to change your playing style, sound, gear, and and whatnot, then playing with the band might get old in a hurry.
 
#7
No offense intended here, but it looks like instead of learning the songs, you applied your own "personality" to them. Learning the songs means learning the parts just like the original recordings, including the original tone, because the tone is often crucial to a song's success (not to mention proper frequency slotting across the band's instruments, which you probably disrupted). In other words, if you were to re-record the originals of all those songs with your bass work replacing the original artists' work, no one would know it wasn't the original mixdown. A cover band player should never bring "his style" to the table. He should bring an ability to duplicate each studio player's style for each song he'll be responsible for. It's all about flexibility.
 
#8
Let's see ... they don't tell you they use a dropped tuning. They criticize your playing. And ask you back? I'd be wondering what their motive is. Maybe just to have a bass player (any bass player) there for the next rehearsal? Ask them how many other bass players they've auditioned. Ask 'em how many they've asked back for second audition. My guess is none.

And I would agree with craig.p ... IF I was in a tribute band. But a bar room cover band with note for note and tone for tone adherence to some version done by the original band? Nah.
 
#10
They criticise your playing but was theirs even close to the record, I bet it wasn't.

I have yet to hear a cover band guitarist that can be bothered to sit down and work out what the original guitarist was playing. They usually play a very simplified version.

(Our 2 guitarists are lucky if they actually play all the correct chords and riffs, I love pulling them up over it. :bassist: )
 
#11
craig.p said:
A cover band player should never bring "his style" to the table. He should bring an ability to duplicate each studio player's style for each song he'll be responsible for.
Click to expand...

I appreciate what you are saying, but disagree completely. It is very rare that I'd ever want to do a straight cover of any song. Creativity is a good thing with a cover, and any good group of musicians should be able to have their own vision based on a tune, and the tune should hold up. Even a tribute band should have some room.
 
#12
First of all, thank you! A lot of quick responses on this that I appreciate and value.

I see a continuum with the cover band as far as sounding like the original recording or sounding like a unique band. I guess it depends on if the audience is coming to the shows to hear certain songs or hear the that particular live band. Nothing wrong with either of them. If a song has a certain bass sound (p-bass or modern) I usually change my settings a bit to get close to it.

I'm leaning toward cancelling the second audition. In most of the songs they sent the bass is just doubling the guitar chords. No actual bass line. Just an extension of the guitar chord. That's okay, I guess, but maybe not worth the drive and time. The songs I chose were more interesting:/
 
#15
augdog said:
...I'm leaning toward cancelling the second audition. In most of the songs they sent the bass is just doubling the guitar chords. No actual bass line. Just an extension of the guitar chord. That's okay, I guess, but maybe not worth the drive and time. The songs I chose were more interesting:/
Click to expand...

Can you give us an idea of what the 1st 5 and the second set of songs are?
 
#16
1st audition - my selected songs off their list
Centerfold
Killing in the Name of
The Wall
Jenny
Magic Carpet Ride
All Over You -Live

2nd Audition - Their choice
Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
China Grove (good song)
Everlong - Foo Fighters
Sweet Home Alabama
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Like About You - Romantics
 
#17
I have seen this many times- they don't want a "real" player, they just want something to fill out the low freqs, and be seen but not "heard." and not have an opinion on anything.

Don't waste your time, Personally, I play some covers note-for note (when its a good original bass line) but also ALWAYS throw in my own fills and some of my own personality on the rest (which honestly most newer rock is not great bass playing).

For instance we do "Hey Jealousy" which is a boring eighth note fest on three chords (other than the pre chorus). I throw in tasteful fills every 4-8 bars throughout the song. You can add your own "tasteful" touches to even the most mundane line and have fun with it! (and if they don't like it, TOUGH) so long as what you add is tasteful. (NOT stepping on all the other instruments or overpowering them)

These guys basically said they don't like your playing AND your tone, and it isn't a fit, so don't waste your time (or theirs), let them find out the hard WAY that there aren't as many bassist out there as they think. Some douche-bags in ATL have had the same stupid ad up here for 3 years!!! Still haven't found the "ONE" to play there "Original" hard rock. (for pay supposedly even)
 

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