Yo, musiciany-type SC.netters -- what news?

[plutonic]

YO,
This is cool thread. Inspiring.

Catching up on this thread since, oh, 2009... Partial Roll Call:
Spec A, you need to 'craigslist ad' your ass. You should have a band together lickity split. You have got some sick chops, yo.

Smax and Chatchka, your gigtasticness inspires me. Why oh why is it that I always have to be the guy booking the gigs for the bands I'm in. If I wasn't that guy, I'd probably play more gigs.

Buttercup: Are you composing in the confuser? What software?

Shmaff: I just caught that you cancelled a recital. LAST FALL. You and I need to catch up.

Mr. Nieland: DRUM! Magazine. IS there an online version of that article?

Secret Journey: I'm checking out Dreamhead as we speak.

Where's Mr. Ramuthra? I'm sure we're about to get some reports of his musiciany type behavior.

Bongo?
Gio?

Myself, I've been playing more music, and I soon hope to be playing more gigs.
The last gig I did was in December, for my 'Jam Class' band, The Seminal Whirlies:
http://dcguitarlessons.blogspot.com/200 ... party.html

I am now in four bands, as opposed to just two:
http://dcguitarlessons.blogspot.com/201 ... y-you.html

My main band, The Grand Candy, is mostly what's been keeping me from the computer:

'The Candy' is an original rock music power trio featuring Jon Babu, a fantastic drummer I've known since our days at NEC. We reconnected through our favorite local classic-rocking lead guitarist, Matt Wise.

To keep to the rule of three, I'm attempting to conjure both bass and rhythm guitar parts simultaneously. I'm playing slide guitar on a Jerry Jones electric through an Electro Harmonix POG split into a Mesa-Boogie 5/50 for guitar sounds and a rented 8 x 10 bass rig for bass. Let me tell you, that is some booty shakin' subsonic slide guitar. I'm having a ball.

I've been writing a lot of tunes for the Candy, and luckily, since I have not put out an album in TEN YEARS, I get to do that whole 'freshman album' thing twice. Like I've been re-virginated or something. I've been saving up tunes for ten years or more in some cases. And some of them are actually good.

My greatest achievement, or the thing I'm most proud of lately, wasn't mine at all: one of my students made the long list for Grammy nominations. Which basically means her tunes got voted on by NARAS voters to get an actual Grammy nomination. Check her out: MargotMacdonald.com

[BongoBoy]

Howdy friends.

As of May 1st I am a full time musician.

Prepare for the musical assault. (once the stress leaves me).

Here I come.

...and yea, SPEC A the chops master !

Love N Rockets.
Bingo Bongo.

[smax]

yeah!!! get on it, BB!!!! all the best and lettuce know how its going for ya..... got facebook/piespace etc?

check out musoswire.com for selling your stuff too, we have:
http://www.pophideous.com/
{ if you go to "buy LARP at musoswire" it'll take you to our (rather poorly constructed) initial page on musoswire, click the Available Discs ("Podged") and it takes you to a page where you can hear stuff and buy the tracks...... a site which we've just found, but they're a good site in terms of mentions and apparent ease of use etc etc ...

"Podged by LARP
IDS003

Price £6.99
FREE Delivery in the UK

Released by Indi(e)scriminate

Information
A dumbed down smart bomb. Musical mercenaries P.Hiddy, Lean, Smax and Bambi are pared down special farces foot soldiers, intent on insurgency. 3 minute warnings, launched at pace, laced with barbs and black humour.
The world’s a pretty place wearing too much make up.
Podged is the second release from LARP, and contains 11 more moments of inspired melodic malcontent and moves the sound on a notch or two."

[conroy]

@ BB

Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!


Can't wait to hear more about this!

[luddite lady]

Way cool, BB! Keep us informed, especially if you do any live shows anywhere so us locals can come out and support you.

And congrats to you, Chatchka. I'm very impressed.

[DirtyMartini]

Bongo bitchin'!!! Details!

Pluto, many congrats on your student's Grammy nomination! Well done all around.

[BongoBoy]

Thanks Pals !

Details pending...

...Ok I'm trying to build up some suspense...like cheap marketing ! (you guys will be the first to hear).

Soon come Mon !

BongosInDaHouse O !

(Stewart said get on the Fucking mic, so I Fucking did Baby !)

[BongoBoy]

My last day today, Willie Nelsons birthday !

Start my musical journey...met Gordon Lightfoot on the street yesterday, my guitarist buddy was just talkimg to Toots and the Maytals guitar player...vibes are flowing...buying a Ukelel today...good times.

Look out da way !

BongoOnTheMic O !

[Chatchka]

Damn, Bongo. I leapt to open this thread because I thought you were going to reveal the new plan. Come on, man, more deets, please!

[luddite lady]

Welcome to your new life, BB! It takes some courage to do what you're doing. My uncle worked for your former employer forever. Although he griped about it enough, he seemed to lack the...bongos... to actually break loose from the place the way you have. Bravo!

[English-lion]

Cool Bongoboy coooool

[Spec A!]

YO,

Catching up on this thread since, oh, 2009... Partial Roll Call:
Spec A, you need to 'craigslist ad' your ass. You should have a band together lickity split. You have got some sick chops, yo.

Ok so I finally did- and got tons of responses. Seems most musicians in this area are either:
-Stuper religious and want me for their God Band
-Good 'ol boys that want me for their southern rock hillbilly blues country band
-14 years old
-scary satanic ritualistic blood spewing death metal bands
-any combination of the above

It's been rough trying to find people that share the same musical interests/influences as me, I did answer an ad and auditioned for an all 80's cover band, got the gig but turned it down because I knew I'd ultimately be unhappy playing the music. Nice group of people, good musicians, more travel/distance than I'd like tho too. Would've actually paid decently too...Oh well.

Thought I struck gold after placing my second ad a few months ago. There's a group of guys with roughly the same influences and tastes as me that are super local (like in the same community)- score!They're not bad musicians, one of the guitarists is actually pretty good, but I still feel like I'm a level or 4 above them as a whole. The main vocalist (who also is the good guitarist) is cringeworthy. The Bass player is decent and has tons of experience, is in 3 other bands, and about 20 years older than the rest of us (and more into classic southern rock) semi-ok vocals (think of what your dad would be like playing and singing the songs from his youth and you got the picture). The 2nd guitarist is the one I click with most, has an affinity for good 90's rock (my era), and has a decent "rock" voice. All together they have about 40 or so covers they know, 30% of which I somewhat enjoy playing. They've all voiced that they're doing this with the goal of maybe 1-2 gigs a month, no major commitments and not looking to be the rockstar and make it big. Considering I've been looking for exactly this and also how close they are to me, it seems like it'd be great right? If only... We've played/practiced about 6 or 7 times so far... I'm just not feeling it. Why do my standards have to be so damn high?!

SO I have a dilemma now. Some of the music we play I'm ok with, most of it I'll muddled along with out of democratic reasons (I don't expect to come into an already formed band and have them cowtow to me and my decisions). At this point they want (and sometimes need) to practice once a week which doesn't always work for me. I can literally sit down and blow through their set list with not much preparation other than 1 or 2 listens to anything I'm unfamiliar with. I don't need to practice this stuff every week!

How do I breakup with them without being the douche? If I tell them I feel I'm above this, my musicality, skill, my tastes- I'll look like an asshole snob. They're good guys and I don't want to be a dick to them, intentional or not, but I also don't want to waste myself on stuff I'm not happy playing. My time is precious, and I want to make sure that any music project I'm in is worthy and valuable to me and the time I devote to it. I'm not excited by any of it and I want that. But will I be able to find it? Am I setting the bar too high?

Help me out gang- WWSCD? (actually I already think I know the answer to that, but I appreciate your opinions too, especially those active in the music scene).

[Chatchka]

Spec A, If it helps, I think you are feeling what many of us feel at times. From what I've picked up here, you and I have similar constraints (jobs, kids, homes, etc.) that take considerable time commitment too -- so time for music is scarce and treasured, which amplifies the angst if you feel it is being wasted.

I don't know that there is a polite way to tell them you are playing at a higher level than they are without sounding like a jerk. But, you don't have to say that at all.

One way around it is to be musically engaged elsewhere. Sometimes I have conflicting rehearsal schedules that mean that one band may have to carry on without me for a rehearsal or two. If they are serious about rehearsing/performing, they will make progress without me. Then, when I circle back around a week or two later it goes more smoothly. This takes pressure off me in two ways. One, I'd rather not tell someone they need to do their homework before I'll show up again, so I never say that even if I'm thinking it. I just ramp up the emphasis on the other project for a while. Two, I play with more than one band -- by design -- so that I can grow and so that I don't feel as frustrated if one of the bands is struggling. It just helps me to know that my musical activity isn't linked solely to one effort. Often I find myself quietly singing this song a colleague wrote, "I'm a musical prostitute! I want to play with you and you and you and you."

Sometimes (a lot lately) I suck it up and rehearse things that I feel I have nailed with people who really do need my help to rehearse. It isn't that I don't value my time or that I have ample time to share. This time investment may not make me a better singer, but it might make me a better band leader or musical director. It used to bother me, but then I thought, "Fuck it. These people need help. I have it to give. Why not?!" I just consider this rehearsal time a karmic investment or repayment. There are many better musicians who coach me and many in need of coaching with whom I spend time.

When I started out singing I had NO experience. Better, more experienced musicians took me under their wings, shoved me toward the mic, rehearsed with me when they didn't need to, just to help me get better. I've been really lucky to work with some super generous people, so I just try to pay it back as much as I can. That isn't to say that I'm totally ZEN about it all. I certainly have my private bitch sessions with Mr. Chatchka and my musical mentor.

Advice nuggets:

1. I'd suggest that you be really clear about your goals. Know exactly how you want to spend your time and what you hope to accomplish. That will make prioritizing your musical activities very clear.
2. Be a musical prostitute. Find out where the "good" musicians hang out and network like crazy. Play with as many people as you can -- takes the pressure off. Maybe a regular high quality jam session is what you need, rather than a band. (High skill, high performance, minimal rehearsal.)
3. In my experience, nothing improves the efficiency and effectiveness of rehearsals like an impending gig. (And nothing makes more obvious the likely success of a band like a performance. You'll know before the first set is over.) One way or another, getting this band into gig ready shape should free you up to add a project.
4. If you just can't stand to stay with this band, help them find a replacement. Sounds like you'll know better than they will which drummer will be a good match for them. Plus, you'll get a good rep as a generous musician.
5. Own your mind set. If you are cognizant of when you are making a karmic investment, it makes it seem to suck less.

That is long, but I hope it helps! Whatever you do, keep playing!
Chatchka

[Spec A!]

Wow, awesome advice!
Part of me feels that karmic duty to help, or "stick it out" till things click better/I enjoy it more. But I find I ask myself "for how long?" especially when I am NOT enjoying much of the music being played. As far as multiple projects, that would be awesome, but I feel like this one band's weekly practice commitments is almost too as it is.

Another issue- I live in a northern suburb of Houston (music central ). In order to network or find better options, I'd be spending hours in travel time alone that I just don't want to commit to. Having these guys so local has been perfect as a convenience factor. Most of the other local musicians seem to be more country/metal, basically anything but what I'd be remotely interested in playing. If this were Austin I'd no doubt be inviting you all to see my band at SXSW or ACL by now but unfortunately that's not the case- I'm in a dead zone of musicians and any appreciable local talent. At least, any that blows me away and that I know I'd want to play with. Even my wife rolls her eyes in disgust on the few occasions we've been able to go out and happen to catch a band or two. Yes it is that lame. Going to the local bars around here has gotten depressing to see what kinds of acts get gigs- omg it's embarrassing and boring! And then knowing what I know and of what past experiences I've had it's just so frustrating that I can't find what I'm looking for. This is a damn big city. Are my standards so high that I'm setting myself up for failure? Or do I soldier on?

Funny you should mention the impending gig- we have one in June, which I just learned is at a biker bar. Which means the set list will be tailored even more towards the kind of music I loathe. Finding this out has energized the rest but has me feeling even more detached from this band. I don't want to even bother with this anymore- playing Sweet Home Alabama and Tush at some dive bar is exactly what I DON'T want to be spending my time doing. Yes it's a gig, and a paying one at that. I just know I'm gonna feel dirty afterwards!!

Man do I sound like a little musical primadonna bitch or what? If only STEWART would chime in....

[smax]

specA, i feel your pain....... you dont wanna bail out/be the arsehole/have no band.... but gigs playing "sweethome" will leave you hollow..... i like chatchka's advice about finding them someone else before bailing OR say fuck it, take the guitarist who is ok and find others to form an outfit you feel stretched in and proud of...... but reading your post i couldn't help remember the advice about playing with people who are better than you which, excuse me while i blow smoke up your arse, might be hard....but you've gotta like this sentence: "If you are cognizant of when you are making a karmic investment, it makes it seem to suck less."