Switching to Country?!

[Remyd]

Country crowds are the most fun of any style - doesn’t matter the exact sub genre, people are there to have a good time. Also, I have a special place in my heart for a genre where I’ve been told more than once...

And none of that fancy stuff!

 

[Remyd]

Why do you have to mind your timing more?

Solid bass players who are very, very good at big, fat, long notes are de rigeur. It’s way harder than I thought.

 

[stringthrough]

I’ve been in many bands over the years, mostly rock cover, a fusion band and an original song band... I recently joined a modern country band and its been a blast - interesting basslines, cute/ clever, if corny lyrics, high production values, etc.

 

[zon6c-f]

Rock n Roll cover band singer here.
Have any of you gone over to the country music scene from another genre?! I am not much much into bro country -just a bit. More like old Buck Owens, The "Possum" and even some Robert Earl.
I deal with these drunk club guys and managers and loud amps. I am just thinking putting on a hat and singing about beer and trucks might be nice for a change. Any of you make the transition? Also what are those country crowds like? Just thinkin out loud here...
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I went into country from bring a progger
based on a dare. Brought my rock rig Ric n pick w rounds.
Used treble tone snd over played while never looking at anyone

They fired their bass player then and there astounded that bass could be played that way. I was in shock

I digress....I had steady paying gigs for years afterward

We could play over 400 songs And yes we paid taxes ! In general our Musicianship was poor for most part; unacceptable for rock covers standards covers but audiences loved us

Although I channeled Lee Sklar as I had to play more fills than “ real country” to make up for our guitarists “ skills” I became a pretty good country bassist

Downside is that long term country covers impedes your rock/pop sensibilities when you go back to rock

Now I consider myself a musician who plays bass and in any genre I choose

Also paying gigs make it awkward to play for free Ever Again

Audiences danced more ; were more loyal , more tolerant This was when you could still smoke cigs in public. Thought I’d die from lung cancer Used to come home in wee hours ; put clothes in a bag outside and shower as I felt as though I had been swimming in an ashtray for hours

 

[Helix]

You had me at comedy!

We just wrote a song called " A Girl Named Kevin".....but you have inspired me to come up with a song called "A Bassist Named Spidey2112"

We'll dedicate it to you my friend

 

[klejst]

Point is, do and play what you like and want. What I noticed is country music usually brings a lot of good looking women !

 

[Blaze Barlow]

Farris is great.

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats are doing similar stuff.

sounds pretty good....but nowhere near the range of vocals that Mike Farris can achieve..

 

[MoeTown1986]

I'm actually in 2 bands currently. One is a top 40 cover band and the other is a classic country band. Old school country is super fun to play!

 

[Burwabit]

 

[zon6c-f]

I’ve been in many bands over the years, mostly rock cover, a fusion band and an original song band... I recently joined a modern country band and its been a blast - interesting basslines, cute/ clever, if corny lyrics, high production values, etc.

I call it “ aw shucks” Lyrics

I find that modern contemporary country sounds more pop with a touch of hip hop rap influence or sometimes 70s rock with ocassional pedal steel n fiddles

I like more classic and outlaw genres however I am amazed at the Jazz arrangements on some tunes like Patsy Cline and even Willy Nelson

Dolly Patton’s hit I Will Always Love You crossed over thanks to Whitney Houston and Ray Charles had country tunes and Nat King Cole as well

Country is an interesting genre and you can’t argue shsint the numbers

Also my ears Never rang after a rehearsal of performance while playing country

Was a drag sometimes where low - lower volume was typically mandatory

 

[GBBSbassist]

Could always write songs like Wheeler Walker Jr.. Write fun and raunchy songs while still being country.

 

[CapnSev]

I sruggle with country SO bad, but that’s far and away where the biggest bang for your buck is at. Easier gigs, friendlier folks, more dancing and mingling, good pay, etc.

I’d like to skip the country step and go straight bluegrass. I refuse to do either until I get an upright.

 

[Bander]

Solid bass players who are very, very good at big, fat, long notes are de rigeur. It’s way harder than I thought.

Correct! It sounds simple, but hard to not anticipate, synocopate and do the lead-in thing if you are programmed to most rock bass styles. Its actually hard to just stay dead on the beat, and move gracefully from change to change if you aren't used to it. The deal is, you and the drummer are creating this vicious pulse that forces folks to feel and move. The singer and the lead instruments do the syncopation and the anticipated feel. You have to have the beat, the off-beat, and then everything else. That's country.

I don't know that you have to switch, as much as just add country to your set list. I haven't really played that many crowds that weren't just generic. Most gigs I've played, its a mix. Some folks dress like they are at the beach, some are wearing black dresses, some might have biker gear on stepping in from a ride, some plaid, and so on. I guess a lot of bands don't get that folks will listen to anything that's good. I see bands mix Bruno Mars, Eric Church, Allman Bros, Monkees, Jason Aldean, Prince, Hank Williams, Styx, Black Crowes, Manhattans with success. And the crowd doesn't really notice that its not all country, all rock, all R&B, etc. And folks want to dance, but they won't if you don't play dance music. They want to sing (after a few beers), but they won't if you don't do something familiar. I think the rock vs country vs pop is more important to the band members and their identity, than to the crowds.

And ditto on the volume thing. Country is LOUD, but not brain squashing loud. Rock doesn't have to be offensively loud, but unfortunately, a lot of unrestrained folks with Marshalls have paved the way to the conventional rock band what runs everyone off midway thru the first set. "I gotta get my sound, dude" or "rock is loud, man. If its too loud...".

 

[Jimmy4string]

This Country thang is sounding exciting! We will see how my next gig does on how I am planning to jump.

 

[Mark_70]

Bad, because they don't stay late and don't drink as much as the younger folks. Good because they don't stay late and don't drink as much as the younger folks.

 

[lowplaces]

sounds pretty good....but nowhere near the range of vocals that Mike Farris can achieve..

Oh no, he has nowhere near the voice of Farris.

I meant how they draw on the old school R&B and Soul vibe.

 

[Holdsg]

I don't like his music nearly as much as I like the playing of Tully Kennedy, his bass player.




Love his fills, especially in the outro.

 

[Spidey2112]

We just wrote a song called " A Girl Named Kevin".....but you have inspired me to come up with a song called "A Bassist Named Spidey2112"

We'll dedicate it to you my friend

I'll sign on, under the the condition of 10% royalties... and I get to appear in the music video, in full Spidey regalia.

.

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

One of the bands I work for has a Classic Country format... Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Ernest Tubb, Webb Pierce, Buck & Merle, etc. And it's too much fun. We all wear Nudie style western shirts and the crowd reciprocates. We're all near 60, so we had a chance to hear it growing up.
But if the BL wanted to switch to BroCountry.... I'd have to ride off into the sunset.

 

[stevecaronna]

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

Thanks BC, We actually spoke just after your trip here last year. It is great to be in this situation. Our drummer actually owns the band and really takes care of everything. She and I are the only original members, sometimes it takes time to get things right you know. We have been together since early 2014, just after my last top 40's rock band split. I knew at that time I was going back to country rock. We are very busy between LA and MS and starting to play more casinos and festivals than ever. Those are the most fun with the best benefits for sure. I am hoping to retire from my day job in 2 years and hoping my country band is still going strong so we can kick it up a notch and hit the road for days or weeks at a time. That is our goal.
Good to hear from you again.
Steve