Starting a Prog Rock Band

[amusicalperson]

If you're deliberately confusing your audience. and messing them up for your band's (or your own) amusement, you are wanking AFAIC.

And maybe I'm misreading where you're coming from with some of this, but there's a certain tone of superiority being directed towards the uninitiated/non-musician that seems to be a good part of your post. And if that's the case, you've stumbled into the same trap that's largely responsible for torpedoing classic prog rock back in the '70s. Too much ego and arrogance displayed on the part of the players towards their listeners. Maybe Frank Zappa was able to get away with that shtick for most of his career. But not too many other bands have. Just sayin'...

That's how I know what girl to bring home. If she can keep dancing in 9/8 she's a keeper! Oh, wait, there's no girls here.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

If you're deliberately confusing your audience. and messing them up for your band's (or your own) amusement, you are wanking AFAIC.

And maybe I'm misreading where you're coming from with some of this, but there's a certain tone of superiority being directed towards the uninitiated/non-musician that seems to be a good part of your post. And if that's the case, you've stumbled into the same trap that's largely responsible for torpedoing classic prog rock back in the '70s. Too much ego and arrogance displayed on the part of the players towards their listeners. Maybe Frank Zappa was able to get away with that shtick for most of his career. But not too many other bands have. Just sayin'...

We played a lot of odd time signature songs and included a lot of odd time signature fills and parts, pretty standard prog music fare. We never had any intentions to confuse a crowd but I can tell you from tossing out enough odd fills to enough dancing crowds I know what happens, you start to expect it.

As far as my tone of superiority goes, I never intended to come across that way but if that is how you perceive it then so be it. If you do not think progressive music is more advanced than your run of the mill rock music you obviously haven't studied enough of either. I am not saying any one is better than any other but there is more skill involved with different genres of music than others and that is just a fact of life. You'll notice I use quotations around "get" because that is extremely subjective but the average listener is going to expect to hear the same old thing, if you go outside of that box you are more likely to alienate them then encapsulate them.

 

[telecopy]

I don't know how it's done today. But with the bands I was with, composition took two forms. One was long sessions just doing stream of consciousness playing with one or two other musicians, and then analyzing what worked and go from there. Doing it that way usually meant songs took a long time to evolve. Sometimes what you thought might be the nucleus of two or three different songs turned out to be parts of a single one. But those three segments emerged months apart from each other. The other way was what I used to call a "song orgy" where we'd sit down and a half dozen complete songs would almost magically come together in short order. When that happened we usually tried to keep it going for as long as possible before we half collapsed after something like two or three days of non-stop round the clock songwriting and arranging.

Both ways work for me, although the "push it till burnout" path is definitely my preferred way of doing things.

But then, of course, Yes was comprised of out of the ordinary talents. And they must have clicked pretty well when it was good. But, seeing as they had a number of personnel changes, they obviously butted heads a lot. Extraordinary talent + extraordinary egos + free reign to do whatever the heck they wanted to do. Must have been a weird bunch to be associated with.

 

[jamro217]

You realize that this means you'll need to get a Ric.

 

[amusicalperson]

You realize that this means you'll need to get a Ric.

Already got that one covered.

 

[jamro217]

Already got that one covered. View attachment 832110

Great! You even got the right color.

 

[amusicalperson]

Great! You even got the right color.

Indeed, next order of business is to get a cape.

 

[jamro217]

Already got that one covered. View attachment 832110

That is a light colored fingerboard.

 

[jamro217]

Indeed, next order of business is to get a cape. View attachment 832111

As a precaution whenever wearing a cape onstage, be sure to turn your cab slightly to one side, otherwise you might literally get blown away. Works just like a parachute.

 

[amusicalperson]

That is a light colored fingerboard.

I know, I get told that a lot! I guess that shows the inconsistency in Rickenbacker's wood selection. I like it though, it's different.

 

[amusicalperson]

As a precaution whenever wearing a cape onstage, be sure to turn your cab slightly to one side, otherwise you might literally get blown away. Works just like a parachute.

I was going to use that to my advantage. Nothing will put a lasting effect on an audience like the bassist flying into the crowd from his two Marshall Super Lead stacks!

 

[jamro217]

I know, I get told that a lot! I guess that shows the inconsistency in Rickenbacker's wood selection. I like it though, it's different.

Looks about halfway between rosewood and maple. Really unusual. At least they aren't in trouble like Gibson is over wood sources.

 

[amusicalperson]

Looks about halfway between rosewood and maple. Really unusual.

Maybe it grants me a unique Ric tone. You can see the dark streaks in it that are what I would consider "normal" Rosewood color. I'll take an extreme close up when I get a chance for us to further inspect!

 

[jamro217]

I was going to use that to my advantage. Nothing will put a lasting effect on an audience like the bassist flying into the crowd from his two Marshall Super Lead stacks!

Uh huh. Just make sure you take off and land at the right time. The beauty is that you are in control of the flight. Crank up the bass pickup, hit an open low E and hang on.

 

[amusicalperson]

Uh huh. Just make sure you take off and land at the right time. The beauty is that you are in control of the flight. Crank up the bass pickup, hit an open low E and hang on.

Maybe I can get the venue to pay me extra and I can clean their celing while I'm up there!

 

[jamro217]

Maybe I can get the venue to pay me extra and I can clean their celing while I'm up there!

That'll work. Just be careful not to go through it.

 

[amusicalperson]

That'll work. Just be careful not to go through it.

I said two Marshall Super Lead stacks, not two Ampeg SVT stacks.

 

[jamro217]

The idea of a prog band is an intriguing one. The only problem is finding your niche. Some musicians may not want to put the effort in, especially with the work to reward ratio of complex music. It's easy to get musicians to play three chords over and over for a decent night's pay, bit when you expect them to play augmented chords in 7/4 time with sudden starts and stops (even if they aren't wearing capes) without much cash rolling in, it may be tough to keep a lineup intact. You may have to start it off as an original band rather than covers, with the idea in mind that because the market for prog covers may not be very promising, the prospects for a new prog band may be. Best of luck to you.

 

[jamro217]

I said two Marshall Super Lead stacks, not two Ampeg SVT stacks.

Oh, right. If you did have the SVT's you could have the cabs facing each other and when you hit that looowwwww note, watch what happens.

 

[amusicalperson]

The idea of a prog band is an intriguing one. The only problem is finding your niche. Some musicians may not want to put the effort in, especially with the work to reward ratio of complex music. It's easy to get musicians to play three chords over and over for a decent night's pay, bit when you expect them to play augmented chords in 7/4 time with sudden starts and stops (even if they aren't wearing capes) without much cash rolling in, it may be tough to keep a lineup intact. You may have to start it off as an original band rather than covers, with the idea in mind that because the market for prog covers may not be very promising, the prospects for a new prog band may be. Best of luck to you.

It'll definitely be a long road of hardships but I'm just looking at the payoff in the end for inspiration. Atleast I have comfort in knowing I have a VERY dedicated guitarist who is also one of my best friends. I do appreciate all of your support. It means the world to me!