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Sometimes you're the windshield...........

2saddleslab

2saddleslab

Supporting Member
May 30, 2003
9,412
36,102
Kentucky
#1
......sometimes you're the bug. I sucked last night. Missed cues, brain farts, lack of concentration added up to a less than inspiring performance.

Sometimes we attempt the equivalent of walking a tightrope w/out a net by writing a song live. Did that a couple weeks ago and my BL said loved, loved, loved what you [and the drummer] did with that groove! I replied that I didn't even remember the tune, much less the groove. Hope it comes back as easy as it appeared. It didn't.

At the end of the gig I asked my bandmates who much I owed them. They laughed and were very gracious pointing out their own deficiencies, which paled in comparison to mine.

Just as a great performance will have me walking a foot off the ground for a couple days a show like last night hangs over my head like a dark cloud. Going over some tunes while in bed like a pitcher reliving that pitch that gave up the winning home run.

I guess you need to experience the lows to realize how great the highs can be. But over 30 years in it still hurts. There's always the next gig for another swing at the bat.
 
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#4
2saddleslab said:
......sometimes you're the bug. I sucked last night. Missed cues, brain farts, lack of concentration added up to a less than inspiring performance.

Sometimes we attempt the equivalent of walking a tightrope w/out a net by writing a song live. Did that a couple weeks ago and my BL said loved, loved, loved what you [and the drummer] did with that groove! I replied that I didn't even remember the tune, much less the groove. Hope it comes back as easy as it appeared. It didn't.

At the end of the gig I asked my bandmates who much I owed them. They laughed and were very gracious pointing out their own deficiencies, which paled in comparison to mine.

Just as a great performance will have me walking a foot off the ground for a couple days a show like last night hangs over my head like a dark cloud. Going over some tunes while in bed like a pitcher reliving that pitch that gave up the winning home run.

I guess you need to experience the lows to realize how great the highs can be. But over 30 years in it still hurts. There's always the next gig for another swing at the bat.
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We're always toughest on ourselves. I walk away from almost every gig wishing I did better (no lack of prep - all mental mistakes) and even apologized to the band a couple times for my clam bake. They just laugh and say "You were great - we all made our share too!" It's true that we all had our share, but I'm only responsible for mine and hate making stupid mistakes. Unless you keep making the same mistakes, let it go and try to learn something from them.

And it sounds like you're doing some improve groove building - some days you just don't have that skill in your bag and it's tough being creative when you're just not inspired. I never like clams, but live is not such a big deal - the errors go away as quickly as they happened. Recording sessions are when I really want to be on my game.
 
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#5
2saddleslab said:
Sometimes we attempt the equivalent of walking a tightrope w/out a net by writing a song live. Did that a couple weeks ago and my BL said loved, loved, loved what you [and the drummer] did with that groove! I replied that I didn't even remember the tune, much less the groove. Hope it comes back as easy as it appeared. It didn't.
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This is one important reason why you should record all gigs and rehearsals: There's no telling when something will happen that you'll want to remember afterwards.
 
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#7
Lobster11 said:
This is one important reason why you should record all gigs and rehearsals: There's no telling when something will happen that you'll want to remember afterwards.
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Usually works, but once we were working on a tune and I played a riff that I thought was perfect for the song. So we go to do it again and I can't remember the riff I'd just played. So I asked the guy who was working the recorder to please rewind it so I could get it back in my head. "Sorry, Dave, I was changing tapes." :banghead:
 
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#8
Have been there, particularly embarrassing when it is a well played show, and you still screw up! It’s just mental drift with me.

I know sometimes I am so into the moment that I forget if this is the first or second A section which is particularly nasty in an AABA format song.
 
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#10
StyleOverShow said:
Have been there, particularly embarrassing when it is a well played show, and you still screw up! It’s just mental drift with me.

I know sometimes I am so into the moment that I forget if this is the first or second A section which is particularly nasty in an AABA format song.
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Those songs that you know so well that you think you could play them in your sleep? Turns out you can't.
 
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#13
2saddleslab said:
......sometimes you're the bug. I sucked last night. Missed cues, brain farts, lack of concentration added up to a less than inspiring performance.

Sometimes we attempt the equivalent of walking a tightrope w/out a net by writing a song live. Did that a couple weeks ago and my BL said loved, loved, loved what you [and the drummer] did with that groove! I replied that I didn't even remember the tune, much less the groove. Hope it comes back as easy as it appeared. It didn't.

At the end of the gig I asked my bandmates who much I owed them. They laughed and were very gracious pointing out their own deficiencies, which paled in comparison to mine.

Just as a great performance will have me walking a foot off the ground for a couple days a show like last night hangs over my head like a dark cloud. Going over some tunes while in bed like a pitcher reliving that pitch that gave up the winning home run.

I guess you need to experience the lows to realize how great the highs can be. But over 30 years in it still hurts. There's always the next gig for another swing at the bat.
Click to expand...
Lets see a video ,, we will decide if you suck. ;)
 
#16
Wow, that kind of stuff never happens to me.

Losing sleep over flubbs?












LOL... Thanks for assuring me I'm not alone on that :).

In jam situations, I know that whenever a really great one happens, the next one is going to suck. Letting go of my expectations with that has helped lots.
 

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