Posted by mudbug on Monday, June 15, 2009
Well, I've been trying to put a band together for a couple of months now. Noooo! Not on fiddle, nobody would pay to hear me play that.
I've got a drummer that I've played guitar with in the past, who is great and easy to get along with/ play with. Some people you just gell with and it seems effortless. I decided that it would probably be easier to find a good guitarist than a good bassist ( one could debate this, but there's deffinitely more of them out there). So I'm playing bass in this band, which I love to play by the way. I have a frettless Fender Jazz that I love. Actually, I love to play, no matter which instrument I happen to be playing.
So, anytime you try to put something together, you have to weed through the unacceptable humans. First, it's the ones who don't show up. Then, it's the one's who can play well, but not in the style that you are looking for. Have you ever seen the movie "The Commitments", about the Irish soul band, when they're having auditions? Everybody from heavy metal shredders to accordian players show up. It's hilarious in the movie, because every musician can relate. Then there's the ones who can play but don't have a steady _____ . Pick one--- ride, job, place to sleep, instrument, gear that works. Then there's the people who you know right off the bat that you won't be able to get along with. Life is too short, you''re going to be spending a lot of time together, why bother. It turned into a 2 month process, but we finally found the guitarist that we were looking for.
I really like working as a 3 piece. The pay is usually the best, and everyone has to pull their weight, and pay attention. You can't hide in a 3 piece. Plus, it is a true democracy. Either a decision is unanamous, or it's 2 against 1.
So, for the past two weeks, we've been throwing songs out, to see what works. Some songs don't work for a 3 piece, others do. So, it's been a whirlwind of learning new songs, refreshing old songs, memorising lyrics and learning new bass parts, to get a workable set together. I'm still getting my fiddle practice in, so it seems that I'm doing nothing but thinking about and playing music, morning and evening. With day job in between. It helps, not to have a t.v.
To get a flavor of what the band will be like, check out my new music posting that I recorded with my band in Austin, Tx last year. Warning Will Robinson!! No fiddle content / No appologies.
6 comments on “Busy, Busy, Busy”
bj Says:
Monday, June 15, 2009 @7:53:01 PM
Geez, you WANT a band and have to really WORK to put one together. I don't want one and end up as &^%$# Leader of the Absolutely String Band.
The Big Kahuna is in Heaven laughing like crazy right about now . . .
mudbug Says:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @2:19:42 AM
Yeah, sometimes life can be funny! But I've found that if you are real selective in the beginning stages, you're less likely to be dissappoited down the road. Especially when you want to gig a lot.
bj Says:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @5:41:38 AM
You WANT to gig a lot, we get gigs we DON'T want!
Well, at least the selection process (none) in my case could not possibly have gone better. I love my jammers, they're a great bunch.
mudbug Says:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 @10:01:32 AM
Congradulations, BJ. I'm glad it went so easy for you. Sometimes it's like that. Other times..................not so easy.
But now that you're "Leader of the Pack", just remember what Jerry Seinfeld said about why he didn't want any responsibility. Whenever anything goes wrong, the first thing someone yells is "who's responsible?"
Humbled by this instrument Says:
Thursday, June 18, 2009 @1:42:46 PM
I'm playing with two groups looking to form a "solid" band. We've gone through many, many guitarists. Some are too loud, won't tone it down when the mando plays; some are too notey, one guy playing to a beat only he could hear--even with the flippin' mando CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK'n in his ear. What's so tough about simply playing a few chords in time and delivering a Scruggs dun da lun dun I ask? Apparently a whole lot, I'm finding. I'd certainly strap on the guitar and simply play, but I've been bitten by the fiddle bug and there ain't a cure, mudbug. You say you're playing bass, but you won't be able to control it. You tell yourself, "Well, I'm just going to practice my fiddle for this length of time," but it'll increase. Soon you'll be sneaking in more time to practice, bowing by yourself. Whereas you were able to limit yourself to one pack (of strings), soon you'll be buying two, etc. It's a habit devilishly hard to break!
mudbug Says:
Thursday, June 18, 2009 @2:23:33 PM
Humbled, I'm glad someone else has experienced what I've just gone through. The question "Is it too much to ask", takes on special meaning when trying to fing the right musician to fill a slot!
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
Newest Posts
'Hearing Protection' 7 hrs
'Have you tried...' 1 day
'Coda Luma Violin Bow' 2 days
'Coda Luma Violin Bow' 3 days
'Child busking' 3 days
