Your Dream Band

[LBS-bass]

I'd like a band with competent players who learn or practice their parts at home and come to rehearsals prepared. They don't need a lot of handholding, which means they record what they need to remember in rehearsal and then use those recordings for personal practice.

The band leader in this band understands how to add value and develop a good following. He or she is not pushing me or anyone else to play shows that are likely to be low value, empty rooms, no audience retention situations. Nor are we being pushed to play so often in the same town that the people who do follow us don't come out because they just saw us last week.

Finally, everyone's a nice person and we treat each other with respect. When we do squabble, as is inevitable, we understand that families love each other anyway and no one holds a grudge.

 

[Yogi Bear]

Not harsh IMO to suggest that people read and comprehend a question but it does seem to be an exercise in futility around here. But once again, we want our feelings protected and those of us who prefer succinct speech get attacked for having the audacity to make simple statements of fact when the world really would prefer we hand out participation trophies.

We all make mistakes. It's what we do after we make them that shows who we are.

I actually very much agree with most of what you said. I have enjoyed your posts over the years and regard you as a well respected member of the TB community… however, this is not about feelings being validated or wanting everyone to have a participation trophy.

To paraphrase your original reply - the actions you make after making a mistake is a defining characteristic. Nobody likes to be “attacked”, whether making a simple statement of fact or after admitting to an error they made.

My apologies to the OP. Sorry to derail.

 

[LBS-bass]

however, this is not about feelings being validated or wanting everyone to have a participation trophy.

It is very much about feelings when someone accuses me of being harsh just because I don't, as a rule, sugar-coat my thoughts. This thread and the other one mentioned are full of posts from people who are answering the wrong question.

Anyone who reads most of my posts should know that I'm generally not one to couch my unpopular opinions in flowery prose, and I know that I have my fair share of unpopular opinions.

With full evidence in view, I really didn't expect this to be one them, however. And I certainly didn't intend to create ill-will here for you or anyone else. I apologize if that was the outcome, and once again I'd like to just return us to the topic here. I won't be responding to this again.

 

[Passinwind]

My first time in the Band Management forum...

Over in the Basses forum, there is a thread on "my dream bass." And that got me thinking that I really don't care that much about "dream basses." For me it's really about playing music with other people, and that led to me wondering about my dream band.

So here we go - what would you dream band be?

No set list, few or no vocals, no songs per se, all improv all the time. Telepathic interplay between band members. Audience (if any) sits down and shuts up, and they like it that way. Specific players and instruments immaterial. Hey, I can dream, right?

 

[Matt Dean]

No set list, few or no vocals, no songs per se, all improv all the time. Telepathic interplay between band members. Audience (if any) sits down and shuts up, and they like it that way. Specific players and instruments immaterial. Hey, I can dream, right?

That sounds like my ream band too... in fact, I am playing in a new project playing largely improvisational space electronica band; two guitars (both play synch), bass (that's me and I play synth too) and drums.

 

[Passinwind]

That sounds like my dream band too... in fact, I am playing in a new project playing largely improvisational space electronica band; two guitars (both play synch), bass (that's me and I play synth too) and drums.

Cool. I've actually played in one band that got pretty close to what I described, especially when we palyed in duo format with just drums and myself, but it was pretty tough to ever find just the right third person, much less a fourth one. My nephew came out here to play one very memorable quartet gig with us and if he didn't live on the other side of the country I think me might've been able to make it more or less happen. Fronting that band was always a lot of work though, as I handled bass, guitar, guitar synth, and vocals, and also dealt with sound reinforcement on most of our gigs.

 

[LBS-bass]

No set list, few or no vocals, no songs per se, all improv all the time. Telepathic interplay between band members. Audience (if any) sits down and shuts up, and they like it that way. Specific players and instruments immaterial. Hey, I can dream, right?

Oh, I forgot that in my dream band I get to do an equal share of the lead vocals. A lot of your other stuff I would also go for but, as a singer, I need to stretch those chops more than I get to these days.

 

[Passinwind]

Oh, I forgot that in my dream band I get to do an equal share of the lead vocals. A lot of your other stuff I would also go for but, as a singer, I need to stretch those chops more than I get to these days.

Roger that. In the duo I pretty much had to vocalize, both to fill space and to make things a bit more accessible, but I used a LOT of processing at times, especially when playing guitar while singing the bass line. And if I ever start gigging again I'd really like to double on guitar a substantial amount of the time, for the same reason you'd like to do lead vocals more.

 

[Matt Dean]

Oh, I forgot that in my dream band I get to do an equal share of the lead vocals. A lot of your other stuff I would also go for but, as a singer, I need to stretch those chops more than I get to these days.

Roger that. In the duo I pretty much had to vocalize, both to fill space and to make things a bit more accessible, but I used a LOT of processing at times, especially when playing guitar while singing the bass line. And if I ever start gigging again I'd really like to double on guitar a substantial amount of the time, for the same reason you'd like to do lead vocals more.

I’m also working on words and vocals… I’m doing a lot of live looping on both bass and synth, so words/vocals are my next challenge.

Fortunately I live somewhat near S.F. where this kind of music is appreciated .

 

[Marko 1]

Can I change my age to be much younger?

No?

Okay then...

Four old retired farts doing 60s-90s covers.

 

[jshinal]

Since local joints and acts are all lowballing on pay, I am thinking about keys, two horns and me. No PA or lights. Songwriters' best stuff from 40s swings through 60s-70s best jazz and pops and a few modern ragers. Our past experiments convinced me you can give an audience a new favorite they've never heard if it's hot enough. So why not give them an overdose ?

 

[DaveParker39]

It sounds like you aren't asking about a supergroup, you are asking "What would your dream band be like"

We would play classic metal-inspired rock/metal, write some original songs with flavors of Priest/Maiden/Deep Purple/Scorpions,etc. Groove, get the people moving. It would have the classic metal atmosphere but without the hesitance to try new things. Dynamic lead vocals, dual guitars, big bass, great drummer.

Some of our songs would be on the short side with some great hooks so that we could draw people in.

That's what I Would love to do.

 

[Pocket Dave]

My dream band would be some of the same guys I work with on my weekly deal, especially the drummer and keyboardist, who were both in another band with me 4 years ago. Truly awesome players.

Though with a high-level guitarist/vocalist/bassist with whom I could trade off bass, guitar and lead vocals duties, preferably someone who could hit the higher notes.

 

[lokikallas]

I’m pretty close now. Keys/lead vox, guitar/vox, me on bass/ vox, and a good drummer. No drama, fresh material rotated in regularly, and fun gigs.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

This is my Dream Band. If only I could sing in Creole!

 

[scott sinner]

My dream band would be

• Me singing and playing keys
• Les Claypool - bass
• Brad Wilk or Matt Cameron- drums
• Marc Ribot - guitar

I wouldn't play keys all the time, in part that would just be the extra rhythm instrument since Ribot and Claypool can do such epic leads. It would be synths and samples too because I love that stuff.

I am not knocking Claypools singing at all really. He has a great voice. I am perhaps knocking being silly all the time.

Wilk or Cameron on drums, odd choices? Frankly, it is another choice towards anti-silliness. I think they could lock into a groove with Claypool that would be other worldly in terms of the perfection of swing. Claypool gets a lot of love for his over the top stuff, but his nuance is really something too and I'd say that as well about those drummers.

 

[Nedmundo]

I generally prefer playing originals, and a dream band would involve original rock with some groove and punch, and a wide stylistic range with a healthy experimental streak. Think something like classic Sonic Youth, but a little tighter, or Radiohead with a heavy groove. Or maybe just think 1970s Bowie. During 2005-2007 I played in a band vaguely like this, and for awhile it was awesome.

For a cover band, I've thought about forming a hard-rocking, sometimes danceable party band focused on the 1980s, when I was in high school and college. So it would be all about m-m-m-my g-g-generation, and would play stuff like:

INXS
U2
AC/DC
Talking Heads
Duran Duran
Judas Priest
The Cure
Def Leppard
R.E.M.
Prince
The Police
Bowie
The Cult
Billy Idol
The Clash
Assorted MTV one-hit wonders, hair metal power ballads, and the like.

 

[The Owl]

If money were no object, a live version of my studio project


Instrumentation:

Guitar
Bass
Drums
Keyboardist who could double on some guitar or horn of some type
Hilarious and charismatic lead singer who can play an instrument or two

Due to health/mobility issues live gigging is out of the question for me.

Listen to the tunes and figure out you own description.

 

[May Cassidy]

I quite like the band I'm in now, but it would be nice to be able to do more exploratory stuff (alternate guitar tunings, time signature changes, etc.) with more ease. I did a project with a drummer friend of mine that was just the two of us doing drums/ bass/ occasional guitar/ vocals a while ago, maybe that with an added guitar player to make for a Primus-style three piece would be what I'm looking for. Who knows though; I'm so nitpicky it might just make more sense to get a looper pedal and a doubleneck.

 

[Parzival]

Just give me a band where there are no slow songs/ballads, country, or boring old stale blues and I’ll be plenty happy.