General Music Chat

My singer and I were contacted by some guys we know to do a fill in gig in May. Kinda odd is that I do these kind of things all the time, but our singer ussually isnt interested. In fact when our band actually practices which is once in a blue moon, he ussually doesnt even show up. We just run thru stuff and make sure us as a rythym section are tight.

Anyway last night we got together with these guys and had a practice session. Weve got to put together about 20 songs by mid May, no biggies other than these guys arent on the same playing level as us.

My issue is should I do it or pass. Our singer made it clear that he would do it if I did. So I just came along for the ride so to speak. Plus its a venue on Beale Street that Ive never played in (Hard Rock) during the big annual BBQ festival, which mean thousands of people milling around.

I guess I will wait to hear form our singer and see if he wants to do it or not and if he does I will do it for kicks. We are getting paid what we asked for each. Also we only have to play one long set which is cool cause we ussually do the longer 4 hr gigs.

Playin' at the Hard Rock on Beale St?

If you don't wanna do it, I WILL! LOL

Hell yeah, JW! If your singer gets interested, I'd do it in a heartbeat. If not, I'd find another singer & do it anyway.

It isn't that it's just something to look good on your resume, either, though I'm sure it would. It's gotta be a great place to play. I love the larger stages, myself. The place was made for live music, unlike the joints what just stick the band in a corner, which is where most of us get our bread & butter gigs.

Considering all that info, go for it. Do it.
One long set? Easy schmeasy.

Take advantage of the masses and sell merch.

As they say in Texas "Hell yeah!". You can always wear your wig so no one recognizes you.

I am the wrong person to ask.

I'll play anywhere, anytime, for anything. Getting paid what I ask for to play a big venue? Sh*t man.. play the show!

Yea I guess when I read back what I wrote its a no brainer.

DUH!

Its just sometimes things dont feel right for some reason, wish we could just bring in our drummer and bassist. Would just feel better.

As they say in Texas "Hell yeah!". You can always wear your wig so no one recognizes you.

You are in this for fun anyway, as you have stated many times.

So... have fun! And make a little money.

Even audience members without musical skill can realize...

"Man, the bass player kind of sucks, but the lead guitarist is awesome!"

This can't affect YOU adversely, and you will end up making THEM look better anyway!

WIN-WIN

Thanks guys

Over the last couple of years Ive done a lot of sit in gigs. Some good some bad, but its ussually me. In this situation they wanted our singer to do the gig. He doesnt want to do it without me. So he brought me into it, and I cant decide if he really wants to do it or not. When weve talked hes like you do what you want, if you want to do it I will. Kinda laid it on me to decide.

These guys kinda want us to push our channnels to bring people to the event, my problem is its not Aint Yo Mama, even with 2 members of us on board. Last fall I did a gig and brought another singer in to see what would happen. We had a great gig but it wasnt the same, so we shelved the idea of having another singer sub anymore.

I guess the other side is it shocked me that our singer would take the time to try and whip these guys in shape for a gig like this when we could be doing stuff or rehearsing new tunes ofr our own band. In AYM Im kinda the musical leader and kinda dictate what gets done and when Ive tryed to get him involved he will say I trust whatever you do. Just make it happen.

Just a lot of mixed feelings for me on this. The guys in this band are more of a Grateful Dead/WideSpread Panic type jam group, whereas weve alwasy been in your face and a lot tighter group than I give our band credit for. It just weird cause I do love playing live music as much as anyone I know, to the point its not really about money. But for once I kinda dread getting involved with something cause we only have time for a couple of rehearsals before the gig, and Im just not sure if it will fall in place.

It sounds sorta like your singer may want to try something a little new, but he's afraid to take the plunge by himself.

I've sat in with a lot of acts doing stuff out of my norm, & I did the Dead/Phish stuff for years & love the freedom it gives me to move around on elect/acoustic guitar, bass, or mandolin. It's good to be able to step out of the stiff confines of the box once in awhile, but you lead players get to do that stuff all the time, so maybe it won't affect you the same way it does me, the bass guy.

If you can mesh with these new guys, it'll be fun as heck, & you may even want to try some of that flowing open-ended free-form stuff into your AYM band.

I'd still say go for it, for that if for no other reason.

Well then, it sounds like your singer is BORED, rather than LAZY.

Apparently, when CHALLENGED he rises to the occassion. Maybe he just needs some new challenges for AYM? New types of songs or shows? A little road travelling? Side projects with you? If you guys are as tight as you say, and you have been together so long, often playing the same stuff... It's just not much of a challenge anymore. The excitement is gone. Why do people do drugs like cocaine and meth? Why do people jump dirt hills freeflying 20 feet in the air? Why do people skydive? It gets the heart rate up! It makes you feel alive!

Help your singer feel alive again!

And stop stressing over this gig.

You are a PROFESSIONAL with decades of experience. That doesn't always mean that you are perfectly prepared for EVERY type of gig and band situation... sometimes... it means, that you are skilled enough, and enough of a showman, to pull it out of your ass, and make it work, when there is NO TIME for proper prearation and practices!

The music is suffering a little?

Bring MORE FUN!

Bring MORE SHOW!

Bring MORE ENTHUSIASM ONSTAGE!

Bring MORE CROWD PARTICIPATION!

Make it up, by having even more fun with the crowd, and just putting on a crazy... "SHOW" for them! Maybe you are too much in your comfort zone too? Maybe this is EXACTLY what "both" you and your lead singer need to get the juices really flowing again?

Go with the flow!

FEAR NOTHING!

Post pictures!

John, if you don't do it, call me. I always love fill in gigs, hell I'll do it without ever even meeting the band...just send me a song list...or don't I don't care, I can wing it...You know how I am about that, I made my living on fill in gigs for 3 years. I love it.

If you want my advice, make sure your singer is ready to do his best and go for it. Beale street, Hard rock...no way I'd pass it up, I've wanted to play anywhere on Beale for ages, ever since I found out about it. If it's not considered blues street USA it should be...as long as it pays enough to make the 5 hour trip worthwhile, you couldn't keep me away...

Hey it sounds like another day in Paradise to me !!!!!!!!!!!

Just a follow up.

I dropped out of this gig last night. I hadnt heard from anyone about song choices. Next week my daughter is singing all week in a school pops concert with her middle school choir, so I wouldnt be able to practice with these guys. That would leave one more night to get it together. So I decided to bail so the guys could decide on what they wanted to do.

I havent talked to our singer and see if hes still going to do the show or not.

Kind of a bummer cause I did want to play the Hard Rock.

The other side of this for me leads to discusions weve had on here a million times about song choices. These guys are just a couple of years younger than I am, so we all basically came from the same musical era. Most groups that call me to sit in, when I look at thier song list, I ussually know or are very familiar with half of thier song list. This group was one of those that plays all the b-side songs, you know the unknown songs. Its great if everyone is on board with that, but if a member has to be away and an important gig comes along, it can make it very hard to bring in a replacement player such as myself. I mean I can cover a lot of territory with the right group but in this situation it was going to be almost from scratch.

Anyway everyone have a Great Weekend

Well John perhaps it's for the best. We never know what fate has in store or what circumstance it may save us from.
Have great weekend.
We have another studio session in the morning.
Geez, hope I feel better. Right now only sleep holds interest for me.