Tired of Rock ?

[SanDiegoHarry]

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 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 coverd between one guitarist who play electronic drum pads with his feet, and another 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

I think it's flat-out strange that "Classic rock" appears to be stuck in amber - They were calling Skynard/Petty/Benetar "Classic Rock" twenty years ago!

Where's the "new" classic rock? Was it that music from the '80s/'90s was *so bad* that it really hasn't taken? I have a hard time buying that...

 

[GL797]

Dickie Betts gives some insight at the beginning that is in a way related to this thread.

no better than this, be it black, white, yellow...or purple:

 

[jnuts1]

OH MY GOD YES! when my blues rock band told me they were going with my sub, the p-bass player w/ flats like they always dreamed about, i told them THANK THE LORD! i play an MTD w/ rounds so they did not like my "sound" even though they said it was amazing in the mix. they just didn't like it alone. which matters nothing. & the 20 minute Have you Ever Loved a Woman so they guitarist can burn hard is mind numingly boring.

now i have a gig coming up where in 2 sets i am playing R&B, funk, rock, easy listening, reggae, dance, whatever phish is called, a zappa tune, & a bunch of originals. & it feels amazing!

 

[Chef]

Moderator Insert:
make your points politely, remembering Rule #1 is mutual respect, and keeping in mind that profanity is not allowed here.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I suspect some folks are missing the point - Liking a tune and liking to play a tune OVER AND OVER are two different things; If you dig old rock, well fine - but that being in a paid bar band means you *must* play those particular "standards"... Well, it just seems that some newer music would displace some of that older stuff...

Now, that link to the Lonny Mack tune is a interesting example - That's blues performed about as good as it gets - So when's the last time you did a blues jam in a bar with a player of that level? I'll tell you - NEVER. It's always well-meaning mediocre hacks playing Stormy Monday over... and over... and over...

 

[klejst]

I myself am pretty open to trying new styles and genres, however my roots will always be rock n' roll.

 

[mcm]

for me, its the only thing to play. i can play a 12 bar blues all day with the RIGHT musicians

 

[superbassman2000]

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.

I came to the same realization last year. I am currently in between bands, but I just had had enough with the classic rock/blues scene. All my life I have listened to the blues, and I hear the new generations playing the same song over and over and I am tired of hearing it. I used to have long debates (not in anger) with my dad regarding the blues--he always told me that if you ever want to make money with a band, you've got to play the classics. Well, I finally got a promotion in my day job that I make enough to cover my daily expenses, so now my music, while it'd be nice to make some money on it, is strictly self-expression, and the creative outlet I need to get rid of stress from work. I may never make a dime with music for the rest of my life, but I'll be happy doing what I am doing

 

[Pacman]

This belongs in Miscellaneous - since it's not technique related.

moved.

 

[onionpuzzle]

Thanks Mods -- wasn't sure what category, and I guess I missed some deleted comments when I went out to lunch.

thanks to both the sympathizers and the folks who like it where it's at.

 

[eSmith]

I have to agree with the poster who said he is sick of Rock "Singers" This also is a big reason I swore off most rock.

There are some good songs out there that they then handed to a drunk guy to make up words for. I seriously think if you like that stupid song where the singer just keeps repeating the line "The next Button to Button" over and over for the whole song, then you have not made it through puberty successfully.

In fact there are many good tunes that should have just been released instrumental but NOOOOOOOOO, some jerk wants to tell his dumb little story and therefor sings about ABSOLUTLY NOTHING IMPORTANT that anyone but themselves care about...

Anyway, most songs would be twice as good if they simply turned off the singers mic.....

-eSmith.

 

[lucas vigor]

I like your style, eSmith!

 

[MarkMcCombs]

I guess If you feel you've mastered it all, and there's no better rock bassist, then you can be bored. I learn something from any song I've ever played. I would guess jazz cats could say the same things as you about Autumn Leaves.

 

[fdeck]

I love rock music, but don't enjoy many of the issues with playing in rock bands such as the volume levels, mountains of gear, endless rehearsals, and (often) second class status of the bassist.

 

[oldbassplayergu]

what ever you play its just like anything else you can't eat steak everyday. I'm in a classic rock cover band that pays the bills. Yes it gets boring sometimes, but its a good bunch of guys and we have alot of fun. We try to keep it fresh and not practice too much. I also do a 70's-80's punk cover thing. Sometimes we do a jam trio in the vain of clutch, atomic bitch wax, queens of the stone age, and the like. It keeps you musically in shape. Anyway its better than country & western!

 

[jbalou02]

I'm old, 42. Been in and out of traditional blues and classic rock bands for a good long while. Regardless of the tunes, its fun for me if the hunnys are shakin it!

In my main band, we have a female lead singer with a huge range, so it makes for a bit different mix than typical bar rock, we can get away with blondie, heart, jefferson airplane, janice just as well as zeppelin, skynard...plus we pull from a big time span, so there's some change up from the usual "classic rock" suspects.

I've been really enjoying a new project with my guitar player and drummer/singer from another band, playing much harder stuff...Metallica, Seether, Velvet Revolver, 5 finger Death Punch, Black Label, etc. - now that is fun stuff!

My third gig is strictly a pickup thing, with average joe hobby guys, a quick paycheck at the dive bar thats not too much effort...but OH SO PAINFUL! I cringe every time we play Brown Eyed Girl, Mustang Sally and other such ilk. I feel downright dirty after, just a basshoe...but the $$$, the damn $$$! Oh well, hows that song go?...I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed, there aint nothing in this world for free...

 

[Pacman]

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.

At North Texas, Lynn Seaton and a group of us were discussing "Girl From Ipanema" and one kid said it was a weak song, because everyone plays it. Lynn said something that applies here as well. "If it's boring, you should be looking at your playing - great musicians have been drawn to that tune (or the blues) for years - and have made GREAT music with it."

If you're bored playing blues, chances are you're boring playing the blues.

 

[Infidelity]

At North Texas, Lynn Seaton and a group of us were discussing "Girl From Ipanema" and one kid said it was a weak song, because everyone plays it. Lynn said something that applies here as well. "If it's boring, you should be looking at your playing - great musicians have been drawn to that tune (or the blues) for years - and have made GREAT music with it."

If you're bored playing blues, chances are you're boring playing the blues.

+1 Very straight forward Pacman!

 

[nervous]

A very interesting topic and quite timely for me. I have been wrestling the past few months with this very question with no resolution just yet. We have been playing the usual (and some unusual)variety of rock & dance music for 17 years in my current gig. But, now in my late 40's leaves me feeling a little silly at times and I am looking for the road to transition my playing into the next 17 years while maintaining some dignity. Still not sure exactly what that means but will enjoy reading the continued responses that might just trigger something.

 

[bombpop14]

This hits really close to home...

I've been playing in a touring "punk & roll" band for over fifteen years, and finally started my own "acid porno jazz instrumental" band.

It's not that I don't like the genre anymore, I just got tired of the lack of creative energy. I guess I started a band without a vocalist for (I suspect) similar reasons.

I find that I'm happier writing my own material even though it is not going to be as lucrative as the Rock. It's also a bad look to be my age (45) and trying to look like a "rocker" unless your in a legendary band of some kind.

I'm with ya brother...here's a link to my new band, love to hear what yours sounds like.


Link Removed