General Music Chat

Back in the day, I jammed, rehearsed, gigged, toured, went to college, ate, drank and slept MUSIC! It finally got to the point when I was getting ready for a tour in San Juan for over a month, I just backed out last minute! It didn't feel right anymore...Was a ton of work and I was newly married. I didn't have that enthusiasm anymore...it was not fun and I had to pull out and change my life big time. Got a real job, put the axes and amps in storage (sold them all years later) and was fine with what I accomplished.

Well... started getting that same crappy feeling again in the pit of my stomach a few weeks ago. I'm tired and worn out with all the other personal difficulties that are arising in my life at the moment. My present wife bought me an Epi Les Paul and a little 30 watt amp a little over 5 years ago on Christmas... I remember having that week off and first starting to go over all my scales, arpeggios, excercises, etc... on my old acoustic and then learning songs on my new electric. It was freakin' awesome and didn't take too long to get my chops back up...within about 3 months, I put an ad out for musicians and provided the rehearsal space! Started gigging out like crazy and purchasing many guitars and equipment! I was estatic and got so into it that nothing else mattered... That feeling is all gone....I can still gig, I can change bands within 2 weeks and change the style of music I play...but I don't want to... I'm burnt out... I don't want to practice anymore and find myself cringing on gig night because I'd rather be doing something else with my wife or something

I quit my band yesterday... They're not thrilled in the least but I feel like this big weight is taken off my shoulder. Now I can practice or not whenever the hell I feel like and not have to go over the 60+ songs day in and day out. The last 5 years, I didn't go ONE damn day without practicing due to having to compete constantly out there for gigs. Funny, I remember this same feeling long ago... I'm gonna hang out and see if I can get back that urge and love of playing again.. I guess I went on to the scene real fast and was in waaayy too many bands within the past 5 years and got into some serious, nasty fights with band members up to the point of some of them threatening my life!

The club scene ain't anywhere it used to be... and every single fukkin band I've been in has been filled with drama one way or the other. I've made more damn Musician enemies than I care to mention. I really, really am looking forward to this break starting today but this time I will pick up the axes now and then instead of just abandoning the whole thing...but it's gonna be at my leisure...on my terms..

AAAHHHHH.... I'm looking forward to going home and tinkering around with my bike, go to the stores, ya know, every day stuff and come back home and hang with my family without the remorse and guilt I always got if I missed practicing or didn't attack that new song I was supposed to learn before the next gig!

When I feel like I need a break I try to do something completely different, like solo acoustic or a cover band. In your case, maybe concentrate on writing and recording and forget the bar scene for a while?

I think you hit it right on the head. I first want to step back for a few and then maybe try and get back into writing my own stuff....we'll see...but for now, I'm gonna take a long needed rest!

Crip I understand exactly where you are coming from

After getting back in my old band a few years ago, I think around the time you were getting back in I was so gung ho nothing could get in my way. I was in the middle of a divorce and some tough business sh*t and it was either hit the bottle or hit the scales, so I did both! LOL

We've only done a couple of gigs this year, and you know what? I dont miss it a bit, theres no drama with my band mates, but just the grind of trying to be the best at what I do wears you out. Its not other musicians, its just dealing with the business of running a band day in day out, all the promoting and stuff of that nature. Now we have our price as a band we agreed on and do have some things in the fall, but unless we get what we want we just dont worry about it anymore.

Good Luck on your break, when the feeling strikes again, then do it again!

I have a `70 challenger that i`m really into,car meets,junkyards,engine rebuilding.the same thing with my bike,it`s a cruiser.i got my wife into my hobbies so that helps out alot.you see crip if all i did was music i would probably burn out but my hobbies allow me to step back,kind of like an escape.i`ve had my share with bad unfriendly musicians also.what we did this time around was to place a friendly attitude up there with playing ability.this time,no arguments or problems.i won`t say if you do come back but rather when you do come back i hope you stay for good.

Well C'MON over I'll help you record some of your music. I don't know which ones were yours but I liked em. Some times it just takes a different perspective, and some updating.

Funny listening to little bits of LADY GAGA seems I'm hearing form that is actually going back to a time when musicians were musicians.

You know 5kv thinks he is a metal head. I think that he has a unique way of putting together what I would call musical heavy. Very updated even from the likes of Van Halen. Chaeya and Cisco have some heavy music going on that reminds me of Hendrix. Very updated music I can appreciate. I don't like metal or scremo or whatever else you want to call it.

Any way it might be worth it to try updating some of your music and at the same time expand the way that I approach recording a song. That's the cool thing about music, one change in input can make something work really well.

this glen guy is good

Glen guy -- ha ha ha

I feel ya, Crip. I know last year when I decided to get a band together, part of me was going, aw sh*t, not this bullshit again.

I think you just need to find the right people to hang with. I love my band now because they're mature, they know what they want, they know what's involved with being in an original band. It does suck having to deal with the business where you have to be your own manager, agent, publicist and so on, but you get used to it.

Take a break, but find a band doing music you really feel proud to do.

Chaeya

I love my band of brothers like , well ... brothers

Sure, it's only been three years. A mere trifle to what many of you have been doing.

But I pray today it NEVER ends.

Amen!

Crip

You talk like an old lady. Must be drinking or something? you need a break you're supposed to quit your square job!

Geeze, kids nowdays...

Talbot

ps How I long to be the guy i used to be - I could write that without the smilies at one time. Now I'm just a bitch. Owned...

When I feel like I need a break I try to do something completely different, like solo acoustic or a cover band. In your case, maybe concentrate on writing and recording and forget the bar scene for a while?

Couldn't agree more Jimmy. Crip, take time off, whenever you get the urge to do something creative.original, just do it at your own pace. I believe concentrating on originality from here on out is the best medicine. It's been that way with me...

Good for you bro. Slow it down and just do it for the love. Art shouldn't be like work, ya know what I mean? Good luck to you.

LOL..Thanx guys....believe it or not the day after I quit my band, I got an offer from a member of Dokken...yup.. no lie... but, I'm in no way, shape or form to go touring. He's starting a new band and first show is on the other side of the country. I had to turn him down but he told me he'll be back and resides here in August! He's coming back with a certain vocalist and wants me to be lead axe.... so.... I better keep my chops up!