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Tired of Rock ?

O

onionpuzzle

Aug 28, 2010
320
2
Sacramento, CA
#1
Anyone else so incredibly sick and tired of playing Rock music, or even worse, Blues ?

I am past "marketable age" (I am ~40) and now only play in Instrumental Jazz, JazzRock, and Experimental bands --- I have never enjoyed playing music more than I do now, where I get to be creative.
 
#4
Nope. I love playing rock and roll. I love listening to it, I'm constantly discovering something new.

I also LOVE blues: listening to it, playing it...love it all.

Oddly, can't stomach jazz, jazz-rock, or that sort of stuff. But that's just my personal tastes (which is what we're talking about here, right?)

I'm pleased that you've found an outlet for your creative juices. Rock on (no pun intended)
 
#5
A little clarification -- I do like to ROCK, but do it in a more instrumental setting, and more as an accent to the "jazzness".

It's really my disdain for rock singers that started me moving out of that direction, and then it led to me getting bored with playing the (suitable !) rudimentary parts.

Yes, indeed......personal tastes do apply ! Thanks !

I guess it's WFYB
(whatever floats your boat)
 
#8
BigOldHarry said:
lord yes. Alas, it is what so many of the people want, particularly from guys our age - UNLESS you are fully competent at real-book work.

But blues? I have no patience for playing blues anymore.
Click to expand...

It was very liberating, but a little scary knowing that my new band(s) have little to no commercial appeal.

But then, once I made the leap I gave up caring so much, knowing that the audience that likes this kind of music is pretty loyal and sincere. Plus, I'm a hobbyist with a day job anyway.
 
#9
So here's the question: The "book" for bar/dance bands has, for a very long time, been a minor variation on the same set of tunes - "Sweet Home", "Brick House", "play that funky...", "Heartbreaker", etc...

Just how long will it take before some of those '70s "fall off" of the list and are replaced??? I don't know about you, but every time I play sweet home in a new band I die a little bit...
 
#10
How many on here really, really play blues at gigs?
Most guys I know that say "I play blues" really play blues rock.
I've been wondering because blues is what we mostly play. We all switch and lead different songs (on lead and bass).
Sweet Home--Play that Funky Music--Proud Mary--Free Bird--My Girl--Mustang Sally, and the like....Have never been and will never be played by our band...go down the street if you wanna hear that.

Saturday List

19 years old
Everyday I have the blues
Nice and Warm
Killin' Floor (Wolf version)
How Blue Can You Get
Too Late
Out of my Mind
Red House
Matchbox Blues
I Don't Need No Doctor
Stormy Monday (T-Bone version)
Trouble No More (Allman version)
Dirty Dishes
If Trouble Was Money
Cold, Cold Feeling
Don't Answer the Door
Sky is Crying
Tin Pan Alley
4 Original blues

I play lead on 90% of these so it doesn't get boring...now my limited 'lick library' on the other hand...:ninja:
 
#13
Not tired of playing rock at all. Don't think I ever will be...I'm inclined to believe that my ultimate calling is in some kind of rock. But studying blues/jazz/funk/pop/reggae/alternative/motown/hiphop/metal/bluegrass/classical music along the way never hurt anyone, right?
 
#15
We play some blues in our band, (maybe 4 blues songs in a 3 hour set) but as you said we do mostly blues based rock. I dunno that I'd want to be in a pure blues band because for all intents and purposes, every song is nearly exactly the same. I think I'd kill myself after the first gig. I think that's why so many blues guys drank so much (j/k)

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, I went down to the bar where we play sometimes because the owner asked me to drop in. He had some other band in there that was pure blues. After the 5th song, I couldn't wait to get outta there, it just drove me nuts. I love blues rock though...
 
#17
Oh, chill out. I'm just saying I prefer the real thing. Sure, a few guys have given it justice. But the Allman bros were more than blues. Buchanan added country and Stevie blended it with pop rock. (And both he and Johnny used Tommy Shannon -- the best around).

But in general, it's boring to hear and more boring to play. It's what guys who don't know any songs play.

I'm also sick of every guitar wanker in the world trying to show how soulful he is by playing the blues. Yeah, I can play pretty good blues guitar too. But who is really bringing anything to the table these days?

As a bassist, your role in a blues band is to be simple and solid. I get it. I just don't care to do it.
 
#19
My hats off to you OP. I'm 52 and I also was sick to death of playing the same set of classic rock songs for the last 30 years. I took the plunge too and hooked up with a band that does mostly acoustic music that ranges from the 40's to present day stuff. There is some electric guitar here and there. There is no drummer, percussion is covered between one guitarist who plays electronic drum pads with his feet, and our singer who adds hand percussion. They have stunning 3-part harmonies, many good, solid orginal compositions that I enjoy playing, and what cover tunes we do all get a reworking until they become our own. You can check us out here Link Removed
 
#20
If by rock you mean playing the tonic of guitar written songs often blues based or other familiar pop progressions when only the words/arrangement are actually original (marginally)...never have been able to stand it.
If by rock you mean music with a straight rock beat but can be anything musically and uses some improvisation, anytime!

That's why there are rocks bands that bore me and rock bands that keep my interest.
Bands like Gang of 4 or Tortoise hold my interest over a span of many years. Bands like ZZTop or Black Crows where there is nothing original except the clothing, hair and personality, none of which can hold my interest over a few minutes, it's a waste of my time.
 

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