General Music Chat

Been working real hard trying to find a working band to occupy my time and its been a real frustrating month and a half . I thought a group from the mix here called me up and sent me a list of about 50 songs to learn and scheduled a practice. I had no problems picking up the tunes on bass as I had probably forgotten most of them at least 2 or 3 times over the last 25 years. We had a real productive first practice together. I was really impressesd with the 2 vocalist, 1 male, 1 female. By the time we got to the second practice a lot changed. The lead guitarist decided we wanted to play more than he was able to commit to and the set list changed dramatically with another 20 or 30 songs that Ive forgotten 20 years ago. No problem , just got in the groove and did my best as they already had a show booked for 8/21. Like wow 5 weeks is cutting it short to put a 4 set list together. After the second practice the male vocalist resigned, I guess because the list changed so much , and a new guitar player and singer were introduced. No problem, I had committed to their project and was completely happy with the thought of getting out to do some old covers for a change. But after the 4th practice after getting a good portion of what were working on pretty tight the leader folds things up and says he cant take carrying a band on his shoulders anymore and gave us reasons for folding that had already supposedly dealt with before starting this new group . I can understand that sometrimes things dont go as well as you want at the beginning of a project, and the guy has a real sick wife who might not make it much longer . But my problem with this whole deal has been if I commit to a project , I do my best to finish it, especially if I start it. I have a feeling the new project wasnt as new as he wanted and backed out before the drama started to unfold. By the last time we practiced the whole band was the same band from last year with me as the new bass player. My point to this whole rant is if you wanted to start a new project why would you quit or piss everyone off by acting like its their fault you cant complete your commitment. Im really disapointed things didnt work out and I have the same band I played with for 25 years to fall back on. But I seriously think everyone today is too involved in their own messes to do what it takes to play in a band or is so stuck in what they will and wont do, they cant find enough things in common to even get a cover band together. Ive played with a couple of great cover bands and the original group I play and write with has gotten real tight over the past few months , but no one cares about what their doing tommorrow. Im sorry Im just sick of the garage band thing, I think Ill move north and hook up with some like minded musicians . If there are any out there. If not I will invest in a loop station.



And ita another day in Paradise !!!!

I feel your pain!~

I was totally on board until I hit the sick wife that might not make it much longer..

Dude, sometimes when things are going all wrong, people just need to do things to get away from it all, and it probably hit the guy that he needs to be focusing on his wife, not a cover project. I'm guessing he might have had the best of intentions, and was just kidding himself, and unfortunately, you guys also, by proxy? Maybe he is just a giant douchebag.. you would know better than us.

But when the dying wife thing comes into play, what can you do or say? Best to just suck that one up.

So, can the rest of the project be salvaged? Can someone else take over the leadership role and bring it back to life? Does it have to / need to die?

I've learned a lot of songs for auditions that never happend, so I kind of feel the pain on some of that, but then again, I always appreciated having more songs in my repertoire

Ive run into a lot of people thru the years that never actually get out of the garage. I know some guys like that right now, in fact I go and jam with them sometimes just to get some playing in with different people.

I guess one of the first questions Ive learned to ask is how many gigs have you done in the last year and where did you play? I dont care how many you did when you were 16. How many in the past yr, past 2 yrs, past 3 yrs.

In my area the folks that play regularly can tell you this. If theres a big pause or soemone makes statements about making a bunch of money playing the local clubs, I immediately know they are full of it.

Good Luck sorry you went thru this, but this is very common.

Running a band is like running a business and there needs to be good communication between members to make it fly.

Sorry to hear that the project didn't work out. I think you hit the nail right on the head when you said people are to involved in their own messes to do what it takes to play in a band. I hope you find what you are looking for sooner than later it sounds like you would be a valueable member to any succesful band.

How many of us, with best intentions, overcommit in our daily lives?
I know I have, many times.
I gaurd against doing that again to the point of seeming like a stick in the mud.
I have been asked again recently to teach. (Martila Arts)
All I could say is, I will think about it.

My point being perhaps the band leader was overcommited.
Yes, it's not right to drag others into your situation.
And I would be upset about a simular situation.
Yet if the guy is up front about it, not trying to bullshirt you because he dosent have the moxy to carry through. Seek some forgivness for him in your heart so you can move on, clear of the bad energy.

All it takes to get a band together is about six hours a week, one or two rehearsals (1-3 hours each) and a few hours practicing on your own. Any competent player should be able to set aside that amount of time. It's a matter or prioritizing. Some people just don't have the will to prioritize. Last time I checked there are 168 hours in a week. You mean to tell me somebody can't find a measly six hours a week to devote to music? What's even worse is I've tried to get bands together with people who hand me a CD of tunes they say they know, I learn them, then we get together and they don't know how to play any of them. They may know OF the songs but they don't KNOW the songs. Most of what we play is NOT rocket science. If somebody doesn't have enough sh*t together to learn anything and prioritize a definite rehearsal time each week then they shouldn't even bother trying to get into a band...

Jeez... I'm so used to it... I don't even know what to say when asked what the name of my band is anymore... but I'm still gigging one or twice a month with one band or another... right now I'm in: Rat Salad.... Terror Garden and my newest and most intricate project Mugsy ( I'm Baby Face Finster):




"Mugsy The Whole Gang ( including our latest addition Kerry *aka Baby Face Finster)"

I realize everyone has other things in there life thet can distract them from everything else . And I dont begrudge a man wanting to take care of a sick family member, I would have made the same decision. I guess what really bothers me about this episode was we had actually discussed this and several other issues before I gave my commitment to the project I was led to beleive that no matter what it took we were going to do this thing. But after a couple of the new members bowed out ,he decides for every one else thats it . But life goes on and the other guys I play with want to play the art shack again on the 21st. But Im at the point Im tired of doing it half assed and think Ill just back away from that deal. I was actually contacted by that other group from a craigs list ad, so maybe Ill try there again. How many guys do you know that likes to play anything from country to punk ? Thats Me!

And its another day in Paradise !!!

Give me rock, or rock me to death.

I hope you find a suitable situation. Nobody likes a moody musician.

#1, after reading the post again it sounds like there were some underlying issues with this group before you came along and that you kind of came along just as the issues were coming to a head? sorry it worked out that way!

That really sucks & blows worse than a harmonica player, #1!!!!

Better luck next time!