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What Makes a Band a Band?

B

bluewine

Inactive
Sep 4, 2008
10,296
27
WI
#1
My band played a fest this past weekend and I stuck around ( as usual to watch and support some of the other bands and network).

A 3 peice cover band took the stage, young, nice looking guys with nice medium grade gear.

Guitarist was capable, average drummer and bass player. But I had no sense of " this is a band " while watching their performance.

It was like watching 3 guys up there in their own individual worlds. By the way none of the members had that natural ability to relate to the crowd and handle dialogue.

I have noticed this with other bands. I think it can even come out in photos where you, again don't get the sense this is a band.


Has anyone else observed this?

Why does this happen, how can bands correct this problem? I don't think it merely an experience issue.

Like many issues it might be relative, if the crowd see a band as a band then it's a band.


blue
 
#3
backup said:
this may happen when unprofessional musicians play in a band they dont want to play in. they dont have the right feel so there is no groove which makes them appear as if their individual playing is not related to the concept
Click to expand...

Good point, or it could be that there's a sub up their that throws everything off.

Blue
 
#7
It's really just a big difference between professional-level bands and bands that are made up of some dudes who got together with the intention of playing music at the corner bar. Professional bands are going to have the total package. The later are going to look like some dudes who just got off their shifts driving forklifts at their warehouse day gigs. As a music consumer, I never liked the latter. As a musician, I really don't like the latter. I want to play with musicians who have the "it" factor.
 
#11
I agree with each post here and is it a new gig for these kids and they are so nervous and wanted to get their parts perfect?.?.? They couldn't move. My first show, I was a statue and didn't move a bit. I looked at my neck non-stop. No crowd interaction. I wanted the bass to sound so perfect I had no showmanship at all!

I want my band to make it as a live band. Every time I get to see myself play, I think I need to do so much better!! Get more crowd involvement! Move more!! And I think I am doing this when I'm playing. But when I'm watching the video of the show, I'm not moving as much as I would like.

Yes I have observed this!
 
#12
Have ye learned nothing from deToqueville? Newton? Heisenberg? It's obviously a latent symptom of the Aural Proximity Effect; wherein, the previous band was either dashingly good or lamentably bad and it threw the inertia of the following act out of wack.
I thought I sensed a disturbance in the force...or, it was gas..
 
#13
Beersurgeon said:
I agree with each post here and is it a new gig for these kids and they are so nervous and wanted to get their parts perfect?.?.? They couldn't move. My first show, I was a statue and didn't move a bit. I looked at my neck non-stop. No crowd interaction. I wanted the bass to sound so perfect I had no showmanship at all!

I want my band to make it as a live band. Every time I get to see myself play, I think I need to do so much better!! Get more crowd involvement! Move more!! And I think I am doing this when I'm playing. But when I'm watching the video of the show, I'm not moving as much as I would like.

Yes I have observed this!
Click to expand...

That's a good point. It could be stage fright.
 
#14
Beersurgeon said:
Move more!! And I think I am doing this when I'm playing. But when I'm watching the video of the show, I'm not moving as much as I would like.

Yes I have observed this!
Click to expand...

I agree with you. Especially the part where while playing live one thinks that they're doing the moving real good, but end up not so much on tape! Its probably the adrenaline that makes you feel that way!
 
#18
klokker said:
If they're up on stage, they're a band. Maybe a bad one, but you can't say they aren't a band because the crowd doesn't like them or is indifferent. Or even if they can't play.

I don't get what you're after here.
Click to expand...

I don't know but i'd wager it has something to do with the cover band scene in milwaukee....

It would seem this thread has become "what makes a good band versus a bad band" under the guise of "what is a true band and what resembles a ragtag collection of musical heathens unworthy to bestow upon themselves the glorious title of band"

A band is a collection of dudes (or dudettes) that are in some form creating music and decide that they are a band.
I could get together in my basement and whack cutlery on the metal pipes with my brother and we could be a band. We'd be the puddin tame spoon twanging duet.
 
#19
A band is an entity. So if some people are playing under a name, then it's a band. I don't think you need to be some sort of special <x> in order to be a band. That <x> factor differentiates between good and bad bands, not necessarily what makes a band.
 
#20
On a literal level, any group of musicians playing together is a "band".

But in answer to your question, a "band" is different from a band.

In my estimation you need a few things to make a band.

1. All the players have to have common goals with regards to expectation of finished product, commitment and work ethic, and dedication. The one exception may be the BL who will always have more work than the others.

2. While music style is not important, all of the members should at least have some satisfaction in what is being played, whether it's cover songs or originals. Sure, you're always going to have the songs you hate to do and don't want (We have "Tulsa Time", the bane of my evening), but overall each member should have some appreciation or interest in what's being played.

3. PERSONALITIES. With the amount of time you spend together and how much you rely on each other to come up with finished products, you really have to have good people. Talent is important. Attitude is important. But if you're constantly fighting, it makes the night long and the finished product suffers. It's hard to act (on stage) like you're having fun when you're not, hard to flash a smile when all you want to do is walk off the stage. If you all get along and enjoy each other's company, the product seems to be a lot better. This is not to say that those who don't get along can't put together a good product, after all.....there are TONS of great studio musicians out there and we listen to their work every day on the radio.

4. A good BL. Without this, you're toast. The band somehow gets reduced, or never progresses past, being a jam band.

5. Did I mention common goals?:)
 

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