| Author | Message | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 293 Registered: 9-2002 |
With Jeffs recent post about his ex-band, I just thought I would share one more nutty-dysfunctional band story. The guys I play with on friday nights are really pretty much fried in the brain (they are actually the reason Ive decided to take a break from smoking herb), but are still good player especially when it comes to dead stuff. Ive been playing with them since the summer, and when I first started was given a list of 20-30 tunes to learn, and was told to pick another dozen, all we had to do was get some keys, and maybe a bobby type guy and than we could hit some bars. We found a KB player that can handle the vocals and to make a long story short, every three weeks since than, they have "revised" or basically rewrote the setlist, so that means previously learned tunes are no longer played and are forgotten, and more weeks go by while new tunes are learned. This morning I opened up my email and think I saw the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. Yet ANOTHER setlist, with some of the original tunes on there, and than a whole bunch more. To make matters worse, the new ones are skynard, marshall tucker, etc...Nothing wrong with that stuff, its just not what Im looking to play these days ( I spend three years playing in a southern rock band in MD, and have had more than enough)... Every other band Ive been in that has played out always starting with a fixed list of 30-40 tunes that they had polished, and than along the way added 2-3 new tunes a month. This isnt a proband, we are all dayjobbers... Am I just being anal, or are these guys just cracked? HAs anyone else ever encountered this BS of rewriting a setlist every 3 weeks ? | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 1066 Registered: 7-2003 |
Sounds like somebody else is being anal (the "nothing we decide is good enough" variety). I've been through a couple variations: "We really need to change our focus" -- out with the old setlist (and all the work that went into it); "We need more ____ and/or less ____" -- Out with the old, in with the new. Usually it winds up with people who can't make up their minds and are afraid to play out (for any number of reasons). It can turn into endless woodshedding and changes and turns friends into people who don't especially want to talk to each other. Bring it to a close. Either they go out with what you all committed to or they will yank your chain endlessly. Pardon the rant and the bitterness. I'm just finishing untangling a time-waster like this myself. Good luck. Bill (the other one) | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 953 Registered: 2-2005 |
Sounds to me like you will never get out to play. I've always figured you nail 3 sets to get out playing. This is with full knowledge that some of the songs are less than desirable. Once you are out playing you start to fine tune the list by keeping the songs the audience likes and replacing the clunkers. Keith | ||
| crobbins
Member Username: crobbins Post Number: 96 Registered: 6-2004 |
And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear You shout and no one seems to hear. And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes I'll see you on the dark side of the moon. "I can't think of anything to say except... I think it's marvelous! HaHaHa!" | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1883 Registered: 4-2004 |
i can understand having a setlist and then adding tunes along the way to keep it fresh. i have this problem with the other band i play with- leader picks all the tunes- the plan for my band is to sit down after we finalize the group and pick out tunes to play i am guessing 3 hrs worth eventually and 2 hrs to get off an running- if the group is talented they should be able to wing a lot of a dead stuff anyway my personal feeling- the group has to agree on all tunes-otherwise you wont get maximum efforts when i played in the first band i was with- i dropped out after the lead bitch picked = its in his kiss- to play | ||
| gare
Senior Member Username: gare Post Number: 413 Registered: 11-2003 |
I agree with Jeff..have set lists and add to them as time goes on. Lists changing every 3 weeks ? Band I played in a year ago used to change the lists on a weekly basis..and songs would appear that I've either never played of even heard of. I believe in a polished sound and performance. I left when all the new songs were punk (not the direction I wanted to go). But as Jeff stated, everyone has to head the same direction. Gary | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 426 Registered: 11-2004 |
Tell you what is worse..rehearsing a couple of songs forever and they never get played at the gig. I will not rehearse unless they get played at the gig..if they don't work at either rehearsal or gig then drop them..there are just too many songs out there to keep grinding away at ones which are not played or have been played too much! | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 294 Registered: 9-2002 |
yeah...I understand adding new tunes once you are playing out and an established set is happening, but these guys are just nuts... The only reason Ive put up with it this long is that they are pretty cool to hang with, its a big, isolated farmhouse with lots of room inside, and they actually LIKE it when I play loud, but this friday Im basically telling them that unless they are able to stick to a list of 40 tunes to get polished and than play out, Im leaving....All my free time is getting eaten up by learnng tunes these guys think of to add to a list, only to have newer ones added a few weeks later... | ||
| briant
Member Username: briant Post Number: 70 Registered: 12-2004 |
As others have pointed out these guys appear to have "never leave the woodshed" problems. Without a push they will forever be changing up their setlist and will never gig. "It's not good enough", "We need more songs like <blah>", "We need to practice this more", etc... They need to get out and just play. My cover band has ~60 songs currently in our big list of "stuff we know". We're (generally) always learning some new songs to add to the list based on requests that we get or stuff we just think is going to work. If something doesn't work after three or four shows we'll ditch it and move on - maybe revisit it again later maybe not. | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1884 Registered: 4-2004 |
my old group needs a bassist cut the top 2 strings off and leave your creativity home that should work out fine.... | ||
| briant
Member Username: briant Post Number: 77 Registered: 12-2004 |
:-) brilliant! I'll take the cheap P bass copy that I've beat the ever living hell out of and beat it some more. then remove the D and G strings and apply for that band. :-) | ||
| 5stringho
Advanced Member Username: 5stringho Post Number: 203 Registered: 11-2006 |
Problems keeping cohesive setlists? My main complaint with the most recent ensambles I've been gigging with has been playing the same old setlists with the same old tunes for months on end! Our loyal followers can pretty well tell you which songs go where; like, "Hey, that set was supposed to end with Stranglehold, Duuude!" Anyone else have this problem, Or is that a new can of worms for another thread??? | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 296 Registered: 9-2002 |
I think thats another thread Mike.... We have not had one gig yet, not a single one, and my guys have written new setlists once every two weeks to three weeks.....each one different from the other.The kicker is I joined these guys because they played a bunch of Dead tunes, but the most recent list of songs they sent out has little Dead, and a ton of Skynard....I dont mind driving two hours to play dead tunes, but Im not driving two hours to play skynard. My other band, which is a bunch of college kids half my age that writes their own tunes, does the exact opposite and is doing much better. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 427 Registered: 11-2004 |
Glocke..they will never play a gig at that rate, I mean how on earth are they going to fine tune the songs and maybe add their own mark on them..you know drop the volume dynamically at certain sections, bring it up, add some other tonal colours, okay keep the song close to the original but bring it to life. And it is totally selfish of them or anyone to give up their leisure time if they have no intent of getting out there and gigging. If that is the case why have they bothered to learn to play at all. | ||
| grateful
Advanced Member Username: grateful Post Number: 264 Registered: 12-2004 |
42? | ||
| paulman
Advanced Member Username: paulman Post Number: 273 Registered: 2-2005 |
Heh we all know what that is like. We keep an excel spreadsheet of "Songs we know". We know far more than we coud play at a gig so we rotate the songs in and out of the list fairly regularly. However they all do get get played throughout the year, and it keeps it fresh for everyone. Maybe you could make a suggestion like the above, but IMHO if this is holding the band back it's hard to say "stay". There is nothing liek playing live in front of a roomful/fieldful of people. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1709 Registered: 2-2006 |
"42?".....different "LEVEL"'s I presume.  | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 2906 Registered: 7-2004 |
How many setlists does it take to make a band? After reading the above, I think maybe the question should be "How many setlists does it take to break a band (up)". As for playing out vs. rehearsal, I have for many years offered these words of wisdom to any aspiring musician that would listen: When it comes to evolving as a musician the following formulas apply: Ten hours practicing by yourself is the equivalent of one hour practice with other musicians Ten hours practicing with other musicians is the equivalent of one hour on stage. Bill, tgo | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 1710 Registered: 2-2006 |
Amen to that Bill. | ||
| ivartshiva
Junior Username: ivartshiva Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2007 |
Gentlemen and ladies: Here's my two cents: at age 50 I'm starting to realize that most relationship problems boil down to a) communication issues and b) selfishness. Add drugs or alcohol and you have no chance of getting by these issues. Bands, like marriages, are partnerships, and the individual interest has to be secondary to the common interest. There are psychological models for how groups reach a consensus - look at how decisions are being made and see if there is an action you could take to change that, if you want, or to leave it behind, and move on. Not everyone is devoid of relationship skills. You can find cooler dudes who are down. To the extent me and my bandmates are responsible adults, we have a meeting of minds, a plan, and mutual respect. Since bands are typically composed of anarchic sensitive artist types, no-one wants to play democracy, let alone autocracy. There's always a tension between what I want and what they want, and the resolution is knowing when to take and communicate a position (i.e., have an opinion) and when to let something go. I overprepare, I learn every song that gets mentioned at practice, and I'm not wedded to any particular song. But I wouldn't play Skynrd either! Lead by example, be the coolest dude in the band, realize your contribution is invaluable. You're irreplaceable and you have total choice over who you make music with. Don't settle for less than chill coolsome irie vibes, heart to heart, music with brothers and sisters - it does show to the listeners, the dancers - they love to see you loving your music and your band. So love 'em or leave 'em. Michael | ||
| glocke
Advanced Member Username: glocke Post Number: 300 Registered: 9-2002 |
Well said both Michael and Bill....Im hoping I can get these guys to see the sense in just working on a 40 tune set list to start with (hopefully the 40 that we have already spent the past 4 months working on) booking some gigs , and than start adding more tunes later on..... | ||
| flaxattack
Senior Member Username: flaxattack Post Number: 1887 Registered: 4-2004 |
today i feel like a true alembician i did an audition last night man that bass is bright- can you cut some of the highs... heres a felt pick,, | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 428 Registered: 11-2004 |
I guess if you own a PA system then you may have the upper hand and be totally tyrannical!!! |
