When I was doing sound a lot, I will say the country crowds and bands were made of some really good people. Much easier to deal with than the rock crowd.
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Switching to Country?!
- Thread starter Jimmy4string
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- country
I came to play country a round-about way.
I once thought there was NO WAY I would ever play country. All I was interested was classic rock, the music I grew up listening to. Maybe a little southern fried rock was as close as I got.
Then I had the itch to learn upright. This was to play some old timey and bluegrass with friends.
That grew into serious bluegrass immersion. And since I was already root-Five-ing all night, might as well start listening to and playing country.
Along the way I met several people, including our favorite guy BassCliff, and as they say, the rest is history.
I completely agree on many things already said.
1) I prefer the Austin/TX sound to the Nashville sound, every day of the week.
2) but the Nashville Pop-Country is EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH YOUNG WOMEN. The audiences are TALENT FILLED. There, is that enough of a justification?
3) I've played outlaw country, I've played classic country, I've played originals and I've played covers, and there is more variety than would appear on the surface. You will need to learn the Nashville numbering system (which is nowhere near as complicated as some people would lead you to believe) because most of the band will talk that system.
4) less ageism. Except only for the rarest band, I have never seen an ad for a country bass player that sets an age range. All that matters is whether you can play.
5) more upbeat songs. The songs are about things I can relate to, Trucks, Mama, God, 'Murica, drinking beer, having a good time, and usually not a bout "die die die another death" (except those Bluegrass murder ballads, but that's a topic for another time).
Hope it works out for you...it's a big world out there....open your mind and your ears and you just might like what you hear.
I once thought there was NO WAY I would ever play country. All I was interested was classic rock, the music I grew up listening to. Maybe a little southern fried rock was as close as I got.
Then I had the itch to learn upright. This was to play some old timey and bluegrass with friends.
That grew into serious bluegrass immersion. And since I was already root-Five-ing all night, might as well start listening to and playing country.
Along the way I met several people, including our favorite guy BassCliff, and as they say, the rest is history.
I completely agree on many things already said.
1) I prefer the Austin/TX sound to the Nashville sound, every day of the week.
2) but the Nashville Pop-Country is EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH YOUNG WOMEN. The audiences are TALENT FILLED. There, is that enough of a justification?
3) I've played outlaw country, I've played classic country, I've played originals and I've played covers, and there is more variety than would appear on the surface. You will need to learn the Nashville numbering system (which is nowhere near as complicated as some people would lead you to believe) because most of the band will talk that system.
4) less ageism. Except only for the rarest band, I have never seen an ad for a country bass player that sets an age range. All that matters is whether you can play.
5) more upbeat songs. The songs are about things I can relate to, Trucks, Mama, God, 'Murica, drinking beer, having a good time, and usually not a bout "die die die another death" (except those Bluegrass murder ballads, but that's a topic for another time).
Hope it works out for you...it's a big world out there....open your mind and your ears and you just might like what you hear.
oh, and I still play classic rock. I didn't give that up...just added a bunch of Americana and Country
Hi,
OK, I haven't read the whole thread, sorry. But I heard my name and wanted to drop in my two cents. That's about all I have time for right now because I'm woodshedding a few tunes for a big birthday party this weekend. One of them is a Maroon 5 song, "Sunday Morning". (I don't usually mention how much I make but this country gig is paying me $350.)
I started playing clubs when I was 19 years old. I was all Top 40 and rock and roll, Beatles, Frampton, Eagles, Little River Band, Stevie Wonder, Doobie Brothers, whatever was on the radio in the late 70s. When I got out of the Air Force Band in the early 80s I got a call for a country band from a friend of a friend. They were working at least four nights a week and I was making more money playing four nights than working five days a week. I haven't looked back.
The thing about country music and country music crowds is that "country" can cover a wide variety of musical styles, plus country music fans usually like a bit of other genres. On some gigs we'll play everything from Hal Ketchum to Stevie Ray Vaughn. On other gigs I've played Alabama to The O'Jays to Bruno Mars to Justin Timberlake, but mostly country. Depending on the crowd we might concentrate on the classic country, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, etc. For other crowds they might like the newer stuff, Lady A, Chris Stapleton, Midland, Miranda Lambert, etc. But most stuff works for most crowds. It's just hard to miss if your band is tight and has a good repertoire. You can't pretend, you can't schlock your way through the tunes.
It's easy to see the kinds of gigs I've been playing since I've joined this forum. Just search the "Gig Story" section for "BassCliff" in the titles.
I post most of my gigs. I'll work a minimum of 6 to 8 gigs a month up to 12 or 15. Not bad for a weekend warrior. We play enough of a variety that I can get my jazz itch scratched, my funk itch scratched, my rock itch scratched, etc. And the country crowd loves it all, as long as we play mostly country, just spice it up a little.
Plus, I'm flying to Austin the first weekend of June to play in my Willie tribute band. That band's a real hoot. We do a lot of fly dates. My regular country band plays a lot at Gilley's in Las Vegas, a lot of golf clubs in Palm Springs, local casinos, Disneyland, along with the hip little nightclubs from San Diego, to Orange County, to lovely downtown Lancaster.
Try it! You'll like it!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
OK, I haven't read the whole thread, sorry. But I heard my name and wanted to drop in my two cents. That's about all I have time for right now because I'm woodshedding a few tunes for a big birthday party this weekend. One of them is a Maroon 5 song, "Sunday Morning". (I don't usually mention how much I make but this country gig is paying me $350.)
I started playing clubs when I was 19 years old. I was all Top 40 and rock and roll, Beatles, Frampton, Eagles, Little River Band, Stevie Wonder, Doobie Brothers, whatever was on the radio in the late 70s. When I got out of the Air Force Band in the early 80s I got a call for a country band from a friend of a friend. They were working at least four nights a week and I was making more money playing four nights than working five days a week. I haven't looked back.
The thing about country music and country music crowds is that "country" can cover a wide variety of musical styles, plus country music fans usually like a bit of other genres. On some gigs we'll play everything from Hal Ketchum to Stevie Ray Vaughn. On other gigs I've played Alabama to The O'Jays to Bruno Mars to Justin Timberlake, but mostly country. Depending on the crowd we might concentrate on the classic country, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, etc. For other crowds they might like the newer stuff, Lady A, Chris Stapleton, Midland, Miranda Lambert, etc. But most stuff works for most crowds. It's just hard to miss if your band is tight and has a good repertoire. You can't pretend, you can't schlock your way through the tunes.
It's easy to see the kinds of gigs I've been playing since I've joined this forum. Just search the "Gig Story" section for "BassCliff" in the titles.
I post most of my gigs. I'll work a minimum of 6 to 8 gigs a month up to 12 or 15. Not bad for a weekend warrior. We play enough of a variety that I can get my jazz itch scratched, my funk itch scratched, my rock itch scratched, etc. And the country crowd loves it all, as long as we play mostly country, just spice it up a little.
Plus, I'm flying to Austin the first weekend of June to play in my Willie tribute band. That band's a real hoot. We do a lot of fly dates. My regular country band plays a lot at Gilley's in Las Vegas, a lot of golf clubs in Palm Springs, local casinos, Disneyland, along with the hip little nightclubs from San Diego, to Orange County, to lovely downtown Lancaster.
Try it! You'll like it!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Last edited:
Hi,
Oh yes! Let's not forget the line dancers!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Oh yes! Let's not forget the line dancers!
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Hi,
Very nice promo! It's great to see good country rockin' music in my home state. I was in New Orleans around last Easter with my True Willie tribute band. I was born in Shreveport and I kinda miss it sometimes. Country music has been very, very good to me.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Very nice promo! It's great to see good country rockin' music in my home state. I was in New Orleans around last Easter with my True Willie tribute band. I was born in Shreveport and I kinda miss it sometimes. Country music has been very, very good to me.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
its certainly different in Nashville..now its mostly original rock..rhythm & blues..and motown..
Go for it man. Depending on how far back you want to go, good steel players will be something you will need to cultivate a depth chart on.
That said, this is what is packing the local/regional road houses and honky tonks in these parts these days. This is a local band and this is something of a demo with several song snippets strung together. More cow punk than classic, but plenty of feces kicking cred, yet all the shots in this vid in front of the giant flag were done in the iconic local college indie/alt/younameit live music venue where they enjoy a large rabid following when they are booked in there.
This is also a local act, but they are more in the bro/pop country slot, but make no mistake, they work all they want. Pretty impressive considering Nashvegas is just a few hours up I65 and the two local modern live listening rooms feature touring acts out of the cradle of country music in their weekly rotation, but in the frat houses and bigass bars with plenty of room for line dancing, acts like this are working their country butts off.
That said, this is what is packing the local/regional road houses and honky tonks in these parts these days. This is a local band and this is something of a demo with several song snippets strung together. More cow punk than classic, but plenty of feces kicking cred, yet all the shots in this vid in front of the giant flag were done in the iconic local college indie/alt/younameit live music venue where they enjoy a large rabid following when they are booked in there.
This is also a local act, but they are more in the bro/pop country slot, but make no mistake, they work all they want. Pretty impressive considering Nashvegas is just a few hours up I65 and the two local modern live listening rooms feature touring acts out of the cradle of country music in their weekly rotation, but in the frat houses and bigass bars with plenty of room for line dancing, acts like this are working their country butts off.
Yeah..I like your post..I base out of the Nashville area and it sure has changed a lot over the years..but I do play a lot out of town..on the road.. mostly only bigger venues.."its good to be the king"..original rock is big in Nash..and so is rhythm and blues and motown which is making a BIG comeback (associated with great talented vocalists)..more people are dressing for success on stage..the "street" look is on its way out..but you still see it at the dives..even popped up gospel and spirituals are doing well..and people like Mike Farris are tearing the house down with awesome vocals and tons of emotion.....if you want to be blown away..check out this video.....
Farris is great.
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats are doing similar stuff.
Wow! You really know how to paint a picture here. It sounds appetizing, for lack of a better term.
My main band plays everything from George jones, metallica, lady gaga, green day, skinnard,......everything. On my own time, I play acoustic guitar and love singing old Hank, George, Buck and a couple of younger guys like Luke Bell and Corb Lund. That's what I really love these days. A lot of folks seem to like it but, it isn't the same crowd that my band draws. Just know your crowd. Man, look up Luke Bell. That young guy can sing and his songs are awesome! Im 41 and he makes me envious of how great his voice is at such a young age.
Yes, and I love it....I went from Metal / Hard Rock to a Comedy Country Rock band
The crowds are great, a lot of dancing and booty shakin', just a real fun scene
It was a big change for me, but I'm really glad I decided to give it a try....its really a lot of fun
Give it a try, the worst that can happen is that you don't like it.....but you'll probably end up loving it
You had me at comedy!
Could lead to watchin nascar racin....just saying.
My favorite band is protest the hero and I've been watching nascar for over 25 years.
Although i wouldn't call myself a "Country Music" fan....I would join a classic country group in a heartbeat. Buck Owens, Waylon, Lefty, etc.....great music, fun to play and from a rock players perspective, not as easy to transition to as many think.
I started playing country when I joined my current band - 4 years ago now. I came from the hard rock / heavy metal musical background - think Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica etc. Now that I am playing country my gig schedule is full - (60 so far for this year) and my musicianship has grown simply by exposing myself to another musical style. We have no issues getting gigs and it's always a fun time. I say give it a go.
Canada has a long history of having a strong country scene, most of the acts never get exposure in the USA but one of the earliest sure did...Hank Snow.
