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What the %$^#

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 92857
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted member 92857

May 10, 2007
1,136
305
#1
So my band is playing a local club Friday night. In the past, I've had some words with the guitard (carefully chosen word, read on...) about drinking to excess (a bottle of caramel vodka) BEFORE the gig starts, then "calming down" to beer and shots during the rest of the gig. At one gig I thought he was going to throw a tantrum because the club owner asked him to turn down.

So, we're playing a basic 1-4-5 blues tune in G. I'm singing the first verse and after a second or two of wondering why i was having trouble hitting the vocals, I realize he's playing in F#. We've played this song 100 times, and it's stupid simple. I finish the first verse stop singing, and yell G..it's in G. He looks at me and says "you're playing it in F#, all the while still playing it in F#. I yell G... G.. and take my right hand and point to my finger in the third fret position. He yells "you're playing it in F#. I tell the drummer to end it. He then says hit your E string as he hits his. I'm in tune.

I'm not sure if he was that drunk (he didn't appear to be sloppy drunk) and he usually just makes more minor gaffs when he's drunk. I'm thinking he may have deliberately sabotaged a song I sing to make me look bad. I was tempted to pack my gear up and leave, but I have more respect for the other 3 band members.

In spite of him I like this band, we have a great female singer, the keyboardist and drummer are good, and the guitarist has been playing for a long time and has talent. He can be a good musician when he is not drinking, and the band can really hit it on a good night. He's also so ADD that he will talk your arm off about innane crap from his past for hours, and it usually involves how he beat someone's a$$ and everyone cheered. He'll interrupt you when you try to get a word in edgewise. I try to be polite to everyone, but I've had to turn and walk away from the guy after a 15 minute monologe (during teardown at 2:30 in the morning to boot). During setup and breaks often plays his favorite licks and songs over the jukebox music, causing patrons much distress. I'm actually hoping he gets a DUI on the way home in order to knock some sense into him. He'd probably have to go to jail because he couldn't pay the fines and legal bills, due to his underemployment at his day gig. He's a recent transplant to our area from another part of the state, and I suspect that he wore out his welcome there and had to leave. For some unknown reason, the drummer loves the guy. I can't get away from him fast enough. I guess my days in this band are numbered. Oh well...
 
#4
Smokin' Toaster said:
... During setup and breaks often plays his favorite licks and songs over the jukebox music, causing patrons much distress.
Click to expand...
Ugh, that's one of my pet peeves. Yes, you need to check your sound, and horn players need to warm up their lips, but once you've done that, please, no noodling.

And personally, I'd be very concerned about working with someone who drinks as much as you've described.
 
#5
"He can be a good musician when he is not drinking, and the band can really hit it on a good night."

The problem with people like this is that they are almost never not drinking. Nobody can fix a drunk. Cut your losses and tell the rest of the band that if they want to enable him, they can, but you are tired of wasting your time.

It will come to a head sooner or later, save yourself all the aggregation you will experience between now and then.
 
#6
He drinks too much; it diminishes his value to the band. The situation (sadly enough) needs to be addressed.

A little side note; a long time ago, the band I was in picked up a guitar in recovery, and the guy was spectacular. Turns out he was from a regional, major popular band. He had to leave them to get healed.

So, maybe there is hope.
 
#8
DUDE - this same thing happened to me two years ago. I worked my ass off to get the act to where it needed to be, (arranging for as well as paying half of the Studio time to record a demo, keyboardist paid the other 1/2) and low and behold the drummer and Guitard are locked in a 69. Heads up each others ass. Interrupting when you speak, can't get a work in edgewise, the final straw for me at our last gig (my last gig with them anyways) the guitard was way too loud, I couldn't hear my wedge monitors, lost my voice trying to yell over him. Hence when it was my turn to sing I couldn't. It was futile. The FOH guys were giving him the "Thumbs Down" signaling he was way too loud, and had his faders totally zeroed in the mix. My ears rang for three days after that gig. When I tried to talk to him and the rest of the band into purchasing IEM's, (I own an older set of Shure E5's, but didn't use them because the board we were using didn't have an extra AUX send for my use) he said the REAL problem with the show is that I change basses too much. Only reason I change basses besides going from 4 to 5 when needed is because the guitard learned a bunch of tunes in alternate tunings from the standard a440 or a semitone down for vocals. He stated that I need to relearn all the songs in the same keys as he plays them, and that if I needed help HE would teach me. I told him to F off and quit on the spot. To this date they haven't played live since. What a bunch of idiots. I know I am not going to risk going deaf playing crap clubs for the likes of 150.00 bucks a night.

You're better off without that guy, and if the drummer is locked in with him, and you like the rest of the act, it's just a matter of how much you can stomach. I said "adios" and good riddance. Good luck man.
 
#12
two fingers said:
I guess there is a MAJOR shortage of guitar players in "LA". Otherwise I am assuming your idiot would be looking for a gig.
Click to expand...

Notice the post above yours. The drummer is a nice guy, but for some reason he is all tight with this guitard. Actually, The Smokin' Toasters are getting back together, and the ST guitarist is more competent and does not drink to excess. I was planning on continuing with both bands, but I'm thinking that may not be the best option.

There are plenty of very good guitar players in the real LA.
 
#13
I had this exact same thing happen with me and my guitarist a couple years ago. I walked over to him in mid-song, turned my back to the audience and mouthed to him "Its in G!" as he played away in F#. Then, on my way back to my amp, I said to my drummer in frustration, "It's always been in G!"

That has become a reoccurring tag line and source of humor for us. "It's always been in G!" has become a rallying cry of sorts and has provided many a laugh in the years since that embarassing moment.

Give it time. You may find it funny in a couple months. In the interim, maybe you and your bandmates could have an open conversation with your guitarist about professionalism and drinking before a gig?
 
#14
funkytoe said:
In the interim, maybe you and your bandmates could have an open conversation with your guitarist about professionalism and drinking before a gig?
Click to expand...

Have you ever tried to talk to an alcoholic? I tried to tell him how irritating his noodling over the jukebox was, and he assured me that it was cool and nobody minded, in fact, they liked it. And when I've tried to address drinking to excess, he replies with his perception of my shortcomings as a bassist. And he assures me that he loves everyone and everyone loves him, and I'm being unreasonable. I guess even all the people who's a$$ he supposedly whipped love him too. Probably the last band that fired him and the last employer that fired him loved him too. I guess there's just something wrong with me, since I don't love him much at all.
 
#15
This is one of the reasons (among a list of others) I just quit my band! Professionalism goes right out the door when folks get drunk! And it's happened way too many times! Dude even yells on the mic for someone to buy him a G**D**n drink! Swearing as well. Not the kind of band I want to be associated with. Bad thing is...the band had so much potential to be a force in the area! Band is a joke now!
 
#17
Hi,

Perhaps an "intervention" is called for. If for nothing else, you can try and save the guy's life.

I got a DUI driving home from a gig about 15 years ago and it was a real wake up call. I was driving over 100 mph and passed a CHP! I was drinking pretty heavily back in those days and a couple of us had stayed after hours and partied with the bartenders and waitresses. I could have killed myself and others, several times over.

All you can do is talk to the guy and hope he hears you. If he continues then let's pray he hits rock bottom without hurting anyone. I had to hit rock bottom before I pulled myself up and got better. Thankfully my wife and friends were very supportive. There's more than music at stake here. Best of luck to you.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
#19
IME people who develop those sorts of bad habits and are allowed to get away with them will never change their habits. Guitar players especially with not change no matter how often the rest of the band asks. The drummer is an enabler; he will always have someone to excuse his faults and cover for him. Your only choices are to put up with it or get out. Don't bother trying to "save" him (at least not without a lot of help) it's a waste of your time.
 

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