In the nineties, I recorded a full CD of original material, and went out there to promote it. I was still young enough and enough of a dreamer to believe I would be a "rock star," or at least a musician who sold records, and got paid enough to live a decent life without a day job. I did it to express myself, and to create. After awhile, I realized I was playing music that sounded "dated," compared to what was breaking on the radio, and that the music business is very crowded with talented people, and that a lot of times, it will bring out the very worst in otherwise decent people.
I "retired," and went on to other things. A few years ago, my wife, who used to tour extensively in the eighties and nineties, playing hair metal covers, decided to "get the old band back together" with some of her friends from around here. I had no desire to do anything like that, but I wanted to support her, and be involved, so I said I would run sound, and keep a mic by me back there, so I could fill in on some backing vocals, and maybe I'd come up onstage for a "guest" lead vocal once in awhile, doing some of my favorite "old school classic rock" songs of the sixties/seventies.
Well, one thing led to another, and I won't bore you with that whole story, but it ended up that I sing lead on about 1/2 of our songs, play bass on about 1/3, and do acoustic, keyboards and harmonica. Because of our guitar player, (and me,) we do a lot of seventies, with some sixties and fifties thrown in, with just a little of her precious hair metal, and some modern as well.
We are a cover band in a small market, competing with plenty of other cover bands. If you look at what I've spent on equipment, it is unlikely I'll so much as break even, unless we play a lot more gigs, and we've had a revolving door of drummers. The guy we have now is the quality of player we need, but how long we will get to keep him is still a question. Our first show with him is New Year's Eve.
There is no real obvious reason to do this. I can make a lot more money doing photography, plus I have a day job as well, with all the benefits that come with it. I'm obviously not in it to meet women, as I am happily married, and never did like groupie types anyway. I'm not in it for fame, or if I am, I will always be very disappointed.
But I'm really into it, you know? I have some reasons, and the biggest one of all is this:
I REALLY REALLY LOVE ROCK AND ROLL.
I'm like a rock historian, in a way. I love the story of Rock and Roll, and the bands who define that story. Many of us have our own versions of that history. I think mine is a pretty classic version; white boys stealing blues music; kids feeling that sexual beat and drive; rebellion; primitive, raw, visceral energy behind it all. Bill Haley and Little Richard and Chuck Berry and Elvis leading to the Beatles and the Stones and the whole British Invasion; the revival of the blues; Psychadelic Rock; Rock and Roll becoming just "Rock," and the whole Vietnam era "music can change the world," feeling.
The Stadium bands that made me go all crazy in the seventies and eighties; incredible musicianship by people like Hendrix, Cream, Zeppelin, Yes, Rush, and great horny bands like Tower of Power, Chicago, and all the Funk and Jazz Fusion; all the forms of music that make us dance, and make love, and just groove; I could go on and on.
I'm PASSIONATE about it, and I defend my set list vigorously, when others tell me how I could be safer, or more modern, or more whatever, because I say this:
Great songs, played well, with CONVICTION are something you can sell to almost any crowd, of any age, and I have yet to be proven wrong. I'm not talking about obscure cuts from B-Sides and Deep Album tracks; I'm talking about a lot of songs that were hits at one time or another, and maybe just a few of those deeper cuts; but not just the obvious ones. And I'm talking about when you DO pick one that people might expect, really NAILING it, and making it happen.
I want to play songs that I feel HAVE TO be played, and I do it for the love of those songs, and those artists. We are like the ultimate tribute act, but we are not a tribute to any ONE band or artist; we are a tribute to each act we cover, except for when we do make a song our own. I do it just as much to be a great entertainer as to try and be a great musician, because both things are immensely satisfying, and every single time I connect with a crowd, or even a person in that crowd, it's a new experience; a chance to share that which means the most to me, and to have fun doing it.
I don't know if that qualifies as "off topic." I guess nothing could be more ON topic; but I have no idea which sub-forum that belongs in.
But that's why I do it, and I hope I've clearly gotten across what it is that I'm trying to convey.
I was a puny, nerdy kid who loved Beethoven and Mozart, and really worshiped the importance of Classical Music, and its effect on the world.
I feel no different today about ALL types of music, but especially my precious Rock and Roll, which has brought me such joy, and helped me through some truly rough times, and just made the good times that much more enjoyable.
I "retired," and went on to other things. A few years ago, my wife, who used to tour extensively in the eighties and nineties, playing hair metal covers, decided to "get the old band back together" with some of her friends from around here. I had no desire to do anything like that, but I wanted to support her, and be involved, so I said I would run sound, and keep a mic by me back there, so I could fill in on some backing vocals, and maybe I'd come up onstage for a "guest" lead vocal once in awhile, doing some of my favorite "old school classic rock" songs of the sixties/seventies.
Well, one thing led to another, and I won't bore you with that whole story, but it ended up that I sing lead on about 1/2 of our songs, play bass on about 1/3, and do acoustic, keyboards and harmonica. Because of our guitar player, (and me,) we do a lot of seventies, with some sixties and fifties thrown in, with just a little of her precious hair metal, and some modern as well.
We are a cover band in a small market, competing with plenty of other cover bands. If you look at what I've spent on equipment, it is unlikely I'll so much as break even, unless we play a lot more gigs, and we've had a revolving door of drummers. The guy we have now is the quality of player we need, but how long we will get to keep him is still a question. Our first show with him is New Year's Eve.
There is no real obvious reason to do this. I can make a lot more money doing photography, plus I have a day job as well, with all the benefits that come with it. I'm obviously not in it to meet women, as I am happily married, and never did like groupie types anyway. I'm not in it for fame, or if I am, I will always be very disappointed.
But I'm really into it, you know? I have some reasons, and the biggest one of all is this:
I REALLY REALLY LOVE ROCK AND ROLL.
I'm like a rock historian, in a way. I love the story of Rock and Roll, and the bands who define that story. Many of us have our own versions of that history. I think mine is a pretty classic version; white boys stealing blues music; kids feeling that sexual beat and drive; rebellion; primitive, raw, visceral energy behind it all. Bill Haley and Little Richard and Chuck Berry and Elvis leading to the Beatles and the Stones and the whole British Invasion; the revival of the blues; Psychadelic Rock; Rock and Roll becoming just "Rock," and the whole Vietnam era "music can change the world," feeling.
The Stadium bands that made me go all crazy in the seventies and eighties; incredible musicianship by people like Hendrix, Cream, Zeppelin, Yes, Rush, and great horny bands like Tower of Power, Chicago, and all the Funk and Jazz Fusion; all the forms of music that make us dance, and make love, and just groove; I could go on and on.
I'm PASSIONATE about it, and I defend my set list vigorously, when others tell me how I could be safer, or more modern, or more whatever, because I say this:
Great songs, played well, with CONVICTION are something you can sell to almost any crowd, of any age, and I have yet to be proven wrong. I'm not talking about obscure cuts from B-Sides and Deep Album tracks; I'm talking about a lot of songs that were hits at one time or another, and maybe just a few of those deeper cuts; but not just the obvious ones. And I'm talking about when you DO pick one that people might expect, really NAILING it, and making it happen.
I want to play songs that I feel HAVE TO be played, and I do it for the love of those songs, and those artists. We are like the ultimate tribute act, but we are not a tribute to any ONE band or artist; we are a tribute to each act we cover, except for when we do make a song our own. I do it just as much to be a great entertainer as to try and be a great musician, because both things are immensely satisfying, and every single time I connect with a crowd, or even a person in that crowd, it's a new experience; a chance to share that which means the most to me, and to have fun doing it.
I don't know if that qualifies as "off topic." I guess nothing could be more ON topic; but I have no idea which sub-forum that belongs in.
But that's why I do it, and I hope I've clearly gotten across what it is that I'm trying to convey.
I was a puny, nerdy kid who loved Beethoven and Mozart, and really worshiped the importance of Classical Music, and its effect on the world.
I feel no different today about ALL types of music, but especially my precious Rock and Roll, which has brought me such joy, and helped me through some truly rough times, and just made the good times that much more enjoyable.
