News or the same old same old

8) :shock: :? :( :shock: :cry: :cry: :| :?:

Well, it saves me a bunch of typing, and I did stay on topic. Some issues have multiple responses, or one following the other kind of thing.

:?: :?: :?:

Sorry, I wasn't done. I am now. Back to big-boy words.

So, now, um, yeah.....um, jeez...... OK, so I understand the whole have two years into it thing and all that, but I cannot imagine .... I'm speechless. I think I have to revert back to my run comment a few days ago. It's not meant with any disrespect towards you at all. This whole episode sounds like a great reason to not ever let your hobby cross the line from hobby to a work scenario.

The next thing I'm gonna hear is that Yoko's BFF knows and invites an incontinent keyboard player who, unbeknownst to her, had a 6-year experiment with her boyfriend(your drummer) back when she(the keyboard player) was a dude, but after he/she quit the crack and goat-bondage thing. sorry, I don't mean to be poking fun, but if I can make you smirk or even crack the slightest grin, I've done my job. Heck, even if you end up being madder at me than you are at them, I've still done good.

So, the one problem that is probably is most excusable on a human level is also the most dangerous to your band's rep, should you ever follow through with a gig. The Bass Player. Is there a contingency plan for a bass player's absense. I know, I know, I'm not in a band and have no clue about a great many things. I don't know, so I ask. Could you guys somehow manage to play a subset of your songs without the bass? Is there any way that two guitars and a drummer could collectively fill the void in that range, or is it something that is never, ever done? (even the Doors had the kyboard bass and eventually added a real bass player to the unofficial line-up) Maybe this is a more general question than applies to this conversation, but I thought it related enough to ask.

Dude, whatever happens, I wish it gets solved really fast for you. I mean really, really quick. I'm feeling quite fortunate that all's I have right now is a seemingly un-cureable mystery ear/head injury. That's not a joke.

Roy no way you can get me mad and this isn't making me mad it's frustrating the heck out of me. maybe I should just do other things and fit this in when I want that way maybe it wouldn't bother me that much.

We have no back up other than cancelling.

Here's the deal I'm not a super organized guy but if I need to be I can and since I've gotten involved with trying to get a band together it seems like I'm way more organized than all the others, not bragging it's just the way it is. I like practices to be that a practice where we work out the songs etc. It's not a time to have friends/girlfriends etc hanging around they can come to shows if they want.

I don''t want to be the guy that says it's my way or the highway but it's coming to that to some degree otherwise we aren't going anywhere. I know this wont go over big with the drummer and will cause a argument but at this point I don't think I care. The othere guys haven't said much. We have the bass player with his issues, the singer who I think would be closer to my way of thinking but I'm not sure and the new guy who's the drummer's friend and already brought his nephew without asking so I doubt he's going to be on board with me.

So maybe it is time to say my way or the highway.

I'm afraid you're probably right. I wish it weren't so, but sometimes you just gotta know when to cut your losses.

One thought. Perhaps your bass playing friend does not need the hassle either, given the d-word that can come out with whatever trigger happens, happens. Splitting up with little drummer boy, Yoko and the babysitter while retaining your bass playing friend as a "band-mate" could be spun off as a sort of mental break thing. You can tell 2-1/2 men that you're leaving for personal reasons, maybe citing a brain-break or a sort of self-impossed hiatus. At the same time, maybe convince your bass playing friend to jump ship as well, and for the same public purpose of taking a breather.

Those three go off to their own world, regroup and call themselves that stupid band name and live happily ever after. You and bassist continue to play together and slowly start adding piece by piece as you see fit, maybe even get back to your playing live goal if he gets "over" his depression. This type of split is much more amiable than a big, public brought to facebook argument.

Also to be considered on all this is that a "my-way-or-the-highway" after it hasn't been that way is pretty much a new first-step to disbandoning any group of people. It could be competetive basket-weaving. It doesn't matter. The human dynamics are the same. One or more parties swallow their ego, pride and maybe dignity and then fume about it. Gentle hugs normally don't ensue.

Just a funny thought: Wouldn't it be too funny if the tension in the room was s*ctsual in nature and Yoko submits to primal instincts with the babysitter in a moment of weakness? Why do I think like this? Oh yeah. Nevermind. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

It may end up, too, that the bassist wants to hang out with the yokos for whatever reason. At the very worst, you end up with a self impossed mental holiday. Given certain, um, situations, how bad can that be?

Odd one out is singer. Heck, odd one out might even be you. Is that so bad? (see brain break comments. we all need them from time to time.) But the singer may not like the yokos, may not like your side or may not even want to stick it out with the sinking ship. If you like him, invite him to join you and the bassist in your little relaxing format for a while.

Oh, and during this "hiatus", you will be separated from the current scene by time. Time away from a scene has a way of clarifying one's thought processes. Your next effort, should you decide to pursue, will be done with the benefit of experience on your side. How cool is that, right?

So, tell me. How does Yoko look in a tank-top? Oh, never mind on that, too. I'm shutting up now. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

You don't want to know. I don't have a problem with Yoko personally just don't like her being at practice and I know she is filling the drummer's ears with nonsense but it's his girl so to him everything she says is right. What gets me mad about this is I always had this rule and I used to get mad at the old bass player for doing it so I don't know why the drummer thinks it's OK for him.

The problem is the drummer I realize that cuz if I even mention I want a band meeting with no outsiders I know he's going to get mad right from go and it's going to be hard to talk rationally after that, the other way which I think I'm going to have to do is just bring it up at the next practice whether she's there or not,

I will probably be out on a limb by myself as people usually don't like to have uncomfortable conversations in front of a group.

I will probably be out on a limb by myself as people usually don't like to have uncomfortable conversations in front of a group.
ugh! I hate that. That, and a sharp, 7 foot downhill putt. Both do nothing more than point out ones aloneness in the universe. There's nothing like the post-meeting attaboys from people after you needed their support. "I just wanted to let you know that I agreed with you while you were getting verbally accosted by the mean, scary people." Thanks a lot. :evil: One hasn't truly experienced all of life's possible emotions until one has heard that from their own boss.

Of course, that's also the same time you find out that you can use the f-bomb at will against your boss without fear of reprimand. Not a total loss.

Things sure are complicated for you guys cnev.

What is the band scene like where you live? If things did go pear shaped and your band split up, are there enough bands around that you could audition as a guitarist for an already established band that are already gigging?

Yea Al they sure are. There are a million bands around and I could put myseelf on Craigslist and give it a go. It's the starting from scratch that isn't that appealing.

Will see how the next couple of practices go I'm sure I'll have some good stories.

News flash update: Ha nothing that exciting we did have practice yesterday and everyone showed up. In an effort to try and organize this a bit I had made a list of the songs we have done with the new guitar player and waht we still have left. We banged out 21 songs and I rated each one. None got an A there were a bunch of B's and two D's. I gave those songs bad marks mainly because we din't end them well or didn't really have an ending or they were songs we should have done better.

I know it's arbitrary but I needed to start quantifying what we were doing so we can go back and spend time where we need to.

We put together 3 sets of music for whenever we get out there. Some songs may change like (Dreams - doesnt fit with what we are doing) but most if not all will stay. there are couple new ones I will need to learn myself.

Back In The USSR Beatles
Good Better than Ezra
Jailbreak Thin Lizzy
Just What I Needed Cars
Cumbersome Seven Mary Three
We're An American Band Grand Funk
Keep Away Godsmack
Another Thing Coming Judas Priest
Born To Be Wild Steppenwolf
Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz
First I Look At The Purse J. Geils Band
Lonely Boy Black Keys
Crossroads Cream

Shimmer Fuel
Kryptonite 3 Doors Down
Play That Funky Music Wild Cherry
Plush Stone Temple Pilots
You Can't Do That Beatles
White Room Cream
Roadhouse Blues Doors
Paralyzer Finger 11
Day of the Eagle Robin Trower
Double Vision Foriegner
Beer Drinkers ZZ Top
Mustang Sally Wilson Pickett

Use Somebody Kins of Leon
Lump Presidents of the USA
White Wedding Billy Idol
Get Back Beatles
Jumpin Jack Flash Rolling Stones
Hashpipe Weezer
Dreams I'll Never See Molley Hatchet
Funk 49 Joe Walsh
Machinehead Bush
Sex Type Thing Stone Temple Pilots
Blue On Black Kenny Wayne Shepard
Too Rolling Stoned Robin Trower

I dont think they will stay in this order but maybe. What I'm thinking and please chime in if you think this doesn't make sense is to start with the older stuff and then by the 3rd set be playing the more modern songs 1990's - present. My rationale is that as the night goes on most of the older crowd is going to leave anyway and it will only be the younger people there if any :shock:

But the singer made a good point and said if there are younger people int he crowd and they hear only this old classic rock they might leave early.

So I'm not sure if there is a right or wrong way. I think the most important thing will be if we are tight as a band if we aren't it won't really matter.

Chris, your tenacity impresses and amazes me.

I'd have definitely blown a gasket and offended most of them with some pithy descriptions of their shortcomings by now. :cry: I guess that's why I'm not in a band though. I would like the rest of the group to do as they were asked - or at the every least be consistent enough to carry through on their own suggestions or promises. I guess I'm a despot at heart though, and my easy-going exterior is just a thin veneer. :wink:

Some of Roy's suggestions do sound good to me though. It's not uncommon to have a foot in more than one camp, so being also involved in a smaller unit could work too. It's not uncommon now for even performing bands to have additional material on computers, and it just gets added to the mix as required. That could be anything from a few effects to entire individual backing tracks. Perhaps you could work through some of your preferred set list and either re-arrange the music for a much smaller group, or find some backing tracks (or make your own) so that you could have a smaller group that was made up of like minded people?

I have a friend who has been a pro for 40 years and he tells me that for 'local' work bands aren't often viable now - because why would they pay for a whole band if they can get a solo act, or maybe duo or trio, and not need to pay as much? So he often works solo or as a duo. Even on 'band' gigs he'll just use whatever musicians he can put together at the time. I saw him the other night with just him (guitar) a bass player and a sax. The usual drummer wasn't available that night so he got the sax guy instead. He'd never played with them before, but plays in jazz bands so he's used to listening and improvising. They were superb - you wouldn't pick they hadn't gigged together before (or even practiced). My friend was suppose to call out the key to the sax player before each song, but when he forgot the guy would turn from the mic, quietly blow a couple of test notes and then turn back and play. Fantastic stuff.

So maybe you could get a duo or trio going for the real enjoyment, and keep the bigger band going without it needing to deliver the goods quite as much? Or maybe just take a chainsaw to the next band practice...

Good luck with it all.

Chris

Well not sure about tenacity just to stupid to walk away from it. I'd rather be playing with old friends not strangers that we put together to form a band but that didn't really work out either.

I learned awhile ago to not let it bother me to much dispite how it might come across in my posts.

We are getting so close to getting out there I'm really doing it for that reason, kind of like a bucket list item...Play out at least once before you die...technically I've already played out at open mics but I'd like to do it with the band.

Dont really have many years to do this or want to the way this has gone but maybe someday I'll find the right people with the same attitude.

I dont see myself as much of a solo duo guy I'm more rock n roll, loud band kind of guy. If we get our act together there are enough places to play as much as I would want which would be a couple times a month.

I like the set list. We play some of the same things.

I'd split the difference on the song list. First set 75% classic rock, the second set 50-50, and the third set 75% newer stuff. For each set, check that your first song as a good intro, and your last song has a strong outro. For our band, we also have to balance the singers, alternating between male and female, fast and slow.

Do you record your practices? We started to do that and it's been a big help, especially for vocals.

That's an impressive set list or three there Chris. I like it. You guys do Finger Eleven? Wasn't sure how far south of the Canadian border that stuff carried. Had to take my wife to see them at a club last year in Ottawa. Sounds like you are on your way!

Dan good idea that makes sense I'm going to have to take some time and see how they all line out and rearrange if needed.

Terry yea I like it too, the only thing I wish we were doing were some Foo Fighter stuff been into them lately and I know a bunch of their songs. I haven't learned Paralyzer yet but prob this week it actually has a funky little guitar groove going on.

We'll see I'm not rocking the boat it's fragile enough as it is now.

Nothing new on my end but the other guitar player that our drummer somehow kicked out of the band just posted a little demo of a couple of their songs, good stuff I really really wish we didn't lose him. I was lucky enough to get to play with him and I think I could have learned alot from him but oh well.

Here's a link to his demo the band is Kings Highway:

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_songs/1705978

Hey, they're pretty good!