Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

[lucas303]

As someone who has never played in a band, and who doesn't have any business doing so yet, these stories aren't giving me a lot of hope for when I do get enough skills to try playing with a band

(I still look in the Craigslist musicians section, even if I'd hesitate to even call myself a musician at this point.)

 

[oZZma]

These stories make me feel less a piece of crap. I haven't been drinking for months because things were taking a really worrying turn, and now, like an idiot, I'm into heavy drinking again (in fact I'm drinking my 3rd beer today while writing ) . This WE will be my drummer's birthday and I think after that I'll quit forever, because I can't handle it.

 

[thetragichero]

@lucas303

it helps if you're younger and live around a culture rich city (Orlando is about an hour or so away but has a killer, diverse, and open/accepting scene... here on the coast with defense contractors and confederate battle flags not so much). if you've got the equipment to make some noise then find a way to mane some noise... it's amazing how much one will improve playing with others vs playing alone

 

[Jolagh]

Yeah i commute an hour each way for my band, too bad none of you guys were around tulsa a year ago when we were looking. Now i taught my brother bass because there werent any bassists or guitarists who were good people or would stick around into slow heavy music last year.

Edit
but atleast i know hes commited cus id murder him if he ditched me unannounced like two of our old guitarists.

 

[hardtop]

As someone who has never played in a band, and who doesn't have any business doing so yet, these stories aren't giving me a lot of hope for when I do get enough skills to try playing with a band

(I still look in the Craigslist musicians section, even if I'd hesitate to even call myself a musician at this point.)

You'd be surprised. Especially if you're near Denver. There are always bands looking for bassists, so your skill. or lack there of, may not be a huge issue. More often than not, in heavy music, root notes are a fine way just to get started. Learn the basics and then expand from there. Just being a good dude, easy going, and willing to put in the work, goes a long way.
My moderately successful band started through Denver Craigslist, and though I was a pretty poor bassist, the fact that I got a long so well with the guitarist is why we continued. Then we got a singer/rhythm guitarist who couldn't play very well and didn't actually sing... because he was a great dude and was like minded musically. That was 6 years ago. Now he's a shredder and has the best set of pipes around... and I'm a functional bass player

 

[lucas303]

You'd be surprised. Especially if you're near Denver. There are always bands looking for bassists, so your skill. or lack there of, may not be a huge issue. More often than not, in heavy music, root notes are a fine way just to get started. Learn the basics and then expand from there. Just being a good dude, easy going, and willing to put in the work, goes a long way.
My moderately successful band started through Denver Craigslist, and though I was a pretty poor bassist, the fact that I got a long so well with the guitarist is why we continued. Then we got a singer/rhythm guitarist who couldn't play very well and didn't actually sing... because he was a great dude and was like minded musically. That was 6 years ago. Now he's a shredder and has the best set of pipes around... and I'm a functional bass player

I am in/near Denver. What's your band?

 

[rutrho]

These stories make me feel less a piece of crap. I haven't been drinking for months because things were taking a really worrying turn, and now, like an idiot, I'm into heavy drinking again (in fact I'm drinking my 3rd beer today while writing ) . This WE will be my drummer's birthday and I think after that I'll quit forever, because I can't handle it.

If it isn't an issue then I don't see a reason, lol. Mine was out of control for a long time and it took me landing in the hospital against my will for mental health garbage before I started dealing with some other stuff. Oh well!

I can't sing at all but screaming into a mic can be very therapeutic.

You'd be surprised. Especially if you're near Denver. There are always bands looking for bassists, so your skill. or lack there of, may not be a huge issue. More often than not, in heavy music, root notes are a fine way just to get started. Learn the basics and then expand from there. Just being a good dude, easy going, and willing to put in the work, goes a long way.
My moderately successful band started through Denver Craigslist, and though I was a pretty poor bassist, the fact that I got a long so well with the guitarist is why we continued. Then we got a singer/rhythm guitarist who couldn't play very well and didn't actually sing... because he was a great dude and was like minded musically. That was 6 years ago. Now he's a shredder and has the best set of pipes around... and I'm a functional bass player

Very much this. Its like dating but worse. Just getting out and playing will push you to improve a ton and in my experience having a chill group that you can communicate ideas and how to improve yourselves in a constructive way is way more important than perceived chops. There are deffo other factors with group dynamics that can factor into it as well, but generically in my experience musicians tend to be pretty chill.

 

[oZZma]

If it isn't an issue then I don't see a reason, lol. Mine was out of control for a long time and it took me landing in the hospital .

I will end up the same way soon enough if I keep drinking at this pace.
I would have loved to just enjoy a drink now and then in cheerful occasions but I have to admit that lately every time I feel sad or anxious I go straight for alcohol numbing my senses until I can barely walk, including work days. I am already enough of a reject without being a drunkard too. I really think I have come to a point where I have to quit and just stay away from it.

 

[Jolagh]

I will end up the same way soon enough if I keep drinking at this pace.
I would have loved to just enjoy a drink now and then in cheerful occasions but I have to admit that lately every time I feel sad or anxious I go straight for alcohol numbing my senses until I can barely walk, including work days. I am already enough of a reject without being a drunkard too.

nah man everyone loves the old dude coming in with the whiskey shuffle and half a mug of coffee every morning.

If it isn't an issue then I don't see a reason, lol. Mine was out of control for a long time and it took me landing in the hospital against my will for mental health garbage before I started dealing with some other stuff. Oh well!

I can't sing at all but screaming into a mic can be very therapeutic.

I finally got around to buying the zen of screaming dvds. I would highly recommene it if you havent seen them. Melissa Cross is great. Very detailed

 

[oZZma]

nah man everyone loves the old dude coming in with the whiskey shuffle and half a mug of coffee every morning.

May I hope to become some kind of melancholic and cynical drunk wiseman ala Bukowski if I keep practicing with drinking, cynicism and melancholy?

 

[thetragichero]

I will end up the same way soon enough if I keep drinking at this pace.
I would have loved to just enjoy a drink now and then in cheerful occasions but I have to admit that lately every time I feel sad or anxious I go straight for alcohol numbing my senses until I can barely walk, including work days. I am already enough of a reject without being a drunkard too. I really think I have come to a point where I have to quit and just stay away from it.

i got to a point where there was no more relief in a drink and all the people/situations i could blame for my misery were gone. if you can keep it up, keep it up. far be it from me to keep someone from having a good time
but if it's not fun anymore, there's hope for a way out

 

[Jolagh]

May I hope to become some kind of melancholic and cynical drunk wiseman ala Bukowski if I keep practicing with drinking, cynicism and melancholy?

Only one way to find out. Start jotting down your ideas and drink more see what happens.

 

[rutrho]

Only one way to find out. Start jotting down your ideas and drink more see what happens.

Should add more coffee to this mix. I want to see the results, haha.

 

[cornfarmer]

Cornfarmer prob meshes with people a lot better musically than I do! At least what I've heard of him play. I'm still very inexperienced with playing out with people doing metal stuff which has been a bit of a challenge. Most of my experience is from blues and jazz jams where I'm just hanging out with the drummer playing quarter notes.

I prob could have been a bit more clear, but I was more referencing that the scene for metal, stoner/doom and generally heavy stuff around the Bay Area is either somewhat light. Or at least feels that way.
Or I just don't know how to find it(Also very likely, because people are hard).

I've played with a lot of cheesy dudes/dudettes over the eons, making compromises here and there, with either boring music or bat sh1t crazy people, or shady schemer types, just to keep a boat from sinking. It's never easy, but once you've done it a few times it gets easier. The initial goofy, awkward phase is the worst part for me. Once the music starts rolling then you can tell if things gel or if it's time to eject eject eject. Or eject eject eject somebody else, regroup and move on (which is shady in of itself, so sue me).

The guys I am playing with now are true sweethearts, which is weird for me. It's also not really compelling either, the tunes aren't too dangerous sounding, but at least nobody's a goddamn diva.

I'm tellin' ya ruthro, if you run out of options, the door is open to try out some dual bass and drummer scuzzy jam rock. Just spitballin'

 

[rutrho]

I'm tellin' ya ruthro, if you run out of options, the door is open to try out some dual bass and drummer scuzzy jam rock. Just spitballin'

Hell, even with other options that sounds like it'd be a stupid amount of fun.

 

[JBOWLES]

Why can’t we do something via the interwebs?

Edit: I mean, why can’t we record something and email it back and forth?

 

[Jolagh]

Preamp is complete. It sounds great. It distorts in a really cool way too, going to ve great for running screams through. This and my mohog 1176 clone gonna have some seriously pro sounding vocals lol.

 

[br1qbat]

May I hope to become some kind of melancholic and cynical drunk wiseman ala Bukowski if I keep practicing with drinking, cynicism and melancholy?

Bukowski: “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.”

 

[br1qbat]

Why can’t we do something via the interwebs?

Edit: I mean, why can’t we record something and email it back and forth?

TB doom thread, the band: 12 fuzzy basses and a drum machine. yes, i have a drum machine.

 

[JBOWLES]

TB doom thread: 12 fuzzy basses and a drum machine.

Lmao I know it sounds odd, but I think it would be a neat little project to play our version of that Bassist Alliance album. Just an idea.

On another note, I finally got everything home to adjust and tweak for a bi or tri-amp setup. I figured since I had all that here I might as well pull out the basses for an unashamed glamour shot of my rig. If I ever figure out how I want to run everything it might actually sound good. We’ll see.