What Makes a Band a Band?

[Syco_bass]

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?

+1

 

[bluewine]

Having good equipment makes a band,,,

It certainly doesn't hurt. I would consider having decent gear a part of the puzzle of " What Makes A Band A Band".

Then again, "good equipment" might be relative to some.

Here is what I am curently bringing to shows. I thinks it's good gear, to some it probably isn't.

blue

 

[BayStateBass]

One of our guitarists drove 1 1/2 hours out of his way to pick up my phone that I forgot at a small show we did in Maine a couple weeks ago because he was still in Maine and I was back in Massachusetts.

Now tell me that isn't a bandmate........

I love the guys I'm working with. There is a feeling of cohesiveness and co-operation and we have a great time.

 

[wilberthenry]

This is interesting. I went to a festival a few weeks ago where the Everyone Orchestra was a headliner. They are an extremely high level pick-up band with one guy "conducting" with dry erase boards. The version I saw had George Porter Jr. on bass, Jimmie Herring on lead guitar, Jeff Sipe, and the guy from Lettuce (name excapes me right now) on drums along with 4 of 5 other VERY talented players. The lineup changes every time they play. They blew the crowd away, but I don't know if I consider that a band.

I play in several recurring jam sessions and don't consider them bands either. To me that doesn't make the music less good or legitimate than music from an official band, but I know they will never reach the heights a great band can.

 

[bluewine]

One of our guitarists drove 1 1/2 hours out of his way to pick up my phone that I forgot at a small show we did in Maine a couple weeks ago because he was still in Maine and I was back in Massachusetts.

Now tell me that isn't a bandmate........

I love the guys I'm working with. There is a feeling of cohesiveness and co-operation and we have a great time.

Thats a good example and exactly what I'm trying to get to.

I think the audience feels that cohesiveness & co-operation.

blue

 

[bluewine]

This is interesting. I went to a festival a few weeks ago where the Everyone Orchestra was a headliner. They are an extremely high level pick-up band with one guy "conducting" with dry erase boards. The version I saw had George Porter Jr. on bass, Jimmie Herring on lead guitar, Jeff Sipe, and the guy from Lettuce (name excapes me right now) on drums along with 4 of 5 other VERY talented players. The lineup changes every time they play. They blew the crowd away, but I don't know if I consider that a band.

I play in several recurring jam sessions and don't consider them bands either. To me that doesn't make the music less good or legitimate than music from an official band, but I know they will never reach the heights a great band can.

Yeah, very good point and again, this is another example of what I'm getting at.

Here is another example, Steeley Dan great music and top notch musicianship, but I don't know if I consider them a band.

blue

 

[Dymond-]

Matching shirts. Definately Matching shirts

I definitely think clothing has something to with it. It's a lot easier to catch that "band" feeling when everyone dresses in somewhat the same style. Its hard to describe.

 

[bluewine]

I definitely think clothing has something to with it. It's a lot easier to catch that "band" feeling when everyone dresses in somewhat the same style. Its hard to describe.

I am pretty sure I agree,

Part of the " What Makes A Band A Band" thing includes having a "look".

blue

 

[bluewine]

Here are 4 movies that to me help define " What Makes A band A Band"

• A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles

• Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones

• Anvil, Anvil

• This Is Spinal Tap, Spinal Tap

blue

 

[GreggBummer]

In my view, musical skill includes being able to create the "band" image onstage, and connect with the audience, in whatever way is appropriate for the genre and situation.

I agree with this in principle. However I don't think that this falls in the "musical" skill set. I believe it is a "performance" skill. A Venn diagram of the two skill sets would have obvious overlap.

Performance is part of being in a band. For example, one could argue that David Lee Roth is a mediocre singer and songwriter, but he is a master showman. He MADE Van Halen as much Eddie, Alex, and Michael MADE Roth.

Another example is the Grateful Dead. Those guys "locked in" with each other musically and they were each great performers... knowing when to solo, how to improvise... they may not be your cup of tea, but that band kicked ass because they knew music and knew how to put on a show.

A final example of a great performer... sharpen your blades... Lady Gaga. She may not have the largest music skill set, but she is an incredible performer.

YES: A metal head used David Lee Roth, The Grateful Dead and Lady GaGa in the same post.

 

[hover]

It's probably been said already, but what makes a band a "band" is when the music coming off the stage is not the sound of the respective members individually playing their parts to the same song, but instead becomes one cohesive, unified sound.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Here is another example, Steeley Dan great music and top notch musicianship, but I don't know if I consider them a band.

blue

I've always thought of Steely Dan as a "project" headed by Becker and Fagen. They're definitely not a band in the traditional sense of the word. Although in the very early years, they were a band in the more traditional sense.

Man, this thread is really getting post-modern.

 

[richntiff]

I believe musiciansmanship has VERY little to do with it. It's the ability to go on a fun somewhat unpredictable trip - and bring the audience along with you- that makes a good band.

 

[bluewine]

I believe musiciansmanship has VERY little to do with it. It's the ability to go on a fun somewhat unpredictable trip - and bring the audience along with you- that makes a good band.

The Monkees were not great muscians by any stretch, however they were definately a band.

blue

 

[MegaSwing]

Having good equipment makes a band,,,

Ideas make a band. The day when a band asserts its identity with equipment is long past.

 

[MegaSwing]

The Monkees were not great muscians by any stretch, however they were definately a band.

blue

But were they a GREAT band?

 

[bluewine]

But were they a GREAT band?

To some of us they were. They were innocent, fun and they had great song writers.

 

[KTFunkAlive]

Absence of music stands.

If everyone's got their head buried in a chart, that is definitely NOT a BAND. It may be a bunch of really good musicians playing together on a job/gig but it's not a band.

 

[BayStateBass]

I believe musiciansmanship has VERY little to do with it. It's the ability to go on a fun somewhat unpredictable trip - and bring the audience along with you- that makes a good band.

The primary goal of our band is to provide a fun, entertaining show for the audience and ensure that they have a real good time (not to mention keep the bartenders/waitstaff busy ).

We are not exceptional musicians. Actually, we'd settle for "wow you guys didn't suck" (ha ha...actually we're not terrible....).

I am the newest addition to the band, replacing their old bassist of about 2 years. When I auditioned for the part, they knew I had no experience playing Country music, I was a blues/rocker, but also knew that I had been fairly well trained.

They explained to me that there were "rules" to being in the band.

1. The goal is to provide a fun show for the crowd. Put your personal musical taste aside when performing. If they want to hear "Friends In Low Places" again, we play it....again. And a third time if they demand it. If you have to play E-E-E-E-E-E for ten minutes because that's what has to be done, we'd like you to be okay with that (which I was).

2. No attitudes. None of us are perfect. If you can help someone else, do it. Treat each other like you're family, respect each other, and agree to work together because this is not a group of individuals, as GRB we are, essentially, an entity.

3. Have fun. If you're not having fun, say something. Don't sit and stew with disappointment or resentment. Enjoy this opportunity we have been fortunate enough to have been given. COMMUNICATE with each other.

* Dave Navarro has a small sticker on his pedal board that says "You get to do this". I read that once. It always stuck with me, all of us are truly lucky and fortunate that we have the opportunity to "do this" as well.

4. Respect each other. That means a lot, including preparation for practice or shows. Respect your fellow bandmates by putting in the effort you should be, this shows them that you not only respect yourself, but you respect them as well.

5. Did I mention we're supposed to have fun?

 

[Clef_de_fa]

To me it is just a bunch of player together ...

we can read a lot of people playing in 2 or 3 band here... but they never reharse together, no, the only moment they happen to be together is when they have a gig ... no band reharsal no practice alone ... but I imagine that when every band you've been part of share the same set list ... you don't need that, you only need to be there.

where do I go with that ???

I think it may be a band that only play once a month together and never reharsed because ... you know ... the same set list, who need a band reharsal in that situation ...

Of course they do the songs perfecly but , how can anything nice happen in that situation.