Recently thought I'd expand my horizons and tryout for a country/rock/western band. Responded to a CL ad out of the Los Angeles area. Vocalist sent me links to his website. Really nice site, the guy is shown in black cowboy hat. Absolutely fantastic mp3's of him singing some current new country songs and some originals, all good. He sends me over set list and I am encouraged; some country, Johnny Cash, Black Crowes, Ray Charles, etc. I ask at what volume they will be playing at so I can bring the appropriate amp. He assures me they are acoustic/electric and play softly. Cool, I'll bring my little Fender BXR 60, basically a practice/small venue amp. I spend the next few days wood shedding my butt off. I wanna nail this and confidently. I show up to the audition. Turns out to be the drummers garage on a dead end street. I arrive 15mins early and nobody is there. I knock, look around and only hear crickets. Hmmm, do I have the right day?
I sit in my car and now it is 15mins past rehearsal downbeat. Suddenly a bright red Mustang comes barreling down the street, wheels into the driveway and a guy with a black hat gets out. He has a Budweiser in one hand and a cigarette in the other. We meet up and he opens the garage. While we are waiting for the rest of the band to straggle in he downs 2 more beers. Finally, an hour past start time everyone arrives. The drummer has one of those over sized kits with huge drums, The lead guitarist plugs into a Marshall stack, The singer plugs his "Acoustic" guitar into a PA big enough to power the Vans Warped tour and I feebly turn on my 12" speaker Fender amp. I still have hopes that the amps are overkill but if everyone plays at a decent level we can get a lot accomplished. Singer calls out the song and everyone instantly turn their amps up to 11, drummer counts it off and nearly throws me off balance from the loudness once song starts. Vocalist is now on beer number 6 and proceeds to scream the vocals. Drummer and guitarist play in the genre of country-metal. Now I angry I left my Hearo earplugs at home. 5 songs later and with vocalist on beer number 9, my ears are ringing and I haven't heard a single note I have played. I just played the songs from memory. 3 more songs and the set is over. Drummer was super sloppy, guitarist was out of tune and out of time. Singer was hoarse from screaming and plain drunk. I tell them I have to quickly leave as I have family matters to attend to.
He calls me the next day to tell me what a great bass player I am. How he could tell, I don't know. I tell him I am passing on joining because at that volume for rehearsal you'll never get anything done except ear damage and I am not really a metal player.
Follow up: a week later I see an ad for bass player needed by the same band and noting that cry babies that can't rock or play at a high volume need not apply.
Follow up 2: Apparently I am on their band distribution list for upcoming events. They are playing out all the time and now have a new CD....go figure
I sit in my car and now it is 15mins past rehearsal downbeat. Suddenly a bright red Mustang comes barreling down the street, wheels into the driveway and a guy with a black hat gets out. He has a Budweiser in one hand and a cigarette in the other. We meet up and he opens the garage. While we are waiting for the rest of the band to straggle in he downs 2 more beers. Finally, an hour past start time everyone arrives. The drummer has one of those over sized kits with huge drums, The lead guitarist plugs into a Marshall stack, The singer plugs his "Acoustic" guitar into a PA big enough to power the Vans Warped tour and I feebly turn on my 12" speaker Fender amp. I still have hopes that the amps are overkill but if everyone plays at a decent level we can get a lot accomplished. Singer calls out the song and everyone instantly turn their amps up to 11, drummer counts it off and nearly throws me off balance from the loudness once song starts. Vocalist is now on beer number 6 and proceeds to scream the vocals. Drummer and guitarist play in the genre of country-metal. Now I angry I left my Hearo earplugs at home. 5 songs later and with vocalist on beer number 9, my ears are ringing and I haven't heard a single note I have played. I just played the songs from memory. 3 more songs and the set is over. Drummer was super sloppy, guitarist was out of tune and out of time. Singer was hoarse from screaming and plain drunk. I tell them I have to quickly leave as I have family matters to attend to.
He calls me the next day to tell me what a great bass player I am. How he could tell, I don't know. I tell him I am passing on joining because at that volume for rehearsal you'll never get anything done except ear damage and I am not really a metal player.
Follow up: a week later I see an ad for bass player needed by the same band and noting that cry babies that can't rock or play at a high volume need not apply.
Follow up 2: Apparently I am on their band distribution list for upcoming events. They are playing out all the time and now have a new CD....go figure
