General Music Chat

We've been having some nice low-volume rehearsals. Finally we can hear each other crystal clear, the way music was meant to be played. The dynamics are way cool. We've got some awesome versions of Hey Joe, Roadhouse Blues, Kansas City and of course the more obscure covers and originals sound great. Going as a three piece this time. Keeping it simple. 2012 will be a good year for us, even if the world comes to an end...

I've never worn a three piece. I hope they don't bury me in one, should the world end.

This is the only way we write, although we like to rehearse full volume so long that the drums are there. You play like you practice, after all.

I'm kinda with both of you. When learning new material we like to keep the volumes down. But when rehearsing for a show we like to play at the same levels as we would live. There is a difference between practice and learning and rehearsals and gigs.

Ive shared this before, but when my band practices at our bassist studio we use preamps and wire in the board and use headphones.

If you have the means to do this it will tighten you up, cause you cant get away with slurring thru things like you can with volume.

I actually practice at home alone at a higher volume than I do at gigs, of course we do pump things thru the pa, but volume management, dynamics is one of the key ingredients in my book on being a better band.

When we practice at my house I set up a small pa with our 4 monitor speakers and we make sure the vocals are clear and legible, to me the vocals are the most important part of the songs in what we do, sure I love blasting guitar, but if our singer is struggling to hear himself cause Im blasting away it only takes away from our overall sound.

When I was younger the singers would always tell me to turn down, these days more often than not, our singer tells me to turn up some.

Bob Im with you on the 3 piece, its just a lot easier, and if you get paid its a bigger cut.

Good Luck in 2012!

Keep on Rockin, or Bluesin!

2012 should prove interesting on a lot of fronts.

Band meeting held last Wednesday was revealing.

I had no idea how close to folding up and selling off we were.

Restructure reorganization and possibly even a new name / image are in store for January.

Ray feels that if the band is still where we are sonically and to the numbers and quality of the shows by the end of 2012 it will be the end of NKF.

I'm hopeful that we are able to make the changes needed to move to the next level.
If not Eric, Steve, Jax, & myself will carry on on our own as our commitment to each other and the project is such that we have no intent of stopping.

First and foremost is a refocus on our leader.
Prayer to open and close each " rehearsal " will be resumed.

Second a renewed commitment to " practice " ( woodshed ) by all members is expected and failure to show effect and improvement. will lead to dismissal.

Third a written structure for rehearsal by deciding our portfolio into four sections A set; B set; C set; unfinished works; and developing works;
We have already gone through and sh*t canned some songs we feel just were not suitable.
A start time an end time and scheduled breaks will also be a part of the rehearsal format as well as reinstating the RPG ( rhythm & percussion group ) rehearsals on Mondays as a separate entity from Wednesdays full band rehearsal.

Those of you of a mind to say a prayer for us, it would be greatly appreciated.

Dynamics just one piece to the puzzle
of musical texture. Don't forget pitch
combinations, and rhythmic patterns,
density, register, range, timbre, and
doublings.
Wile I know you all are much better
musicians than me, these are some
of the things you need to know to play
proffesionally around here.

There is not a 3 piece band playing anywhere
in Branson ( and probably Bakersfield and Gatlinburg),
right now. You can't hardly argue with
there success.

I pray daily and Crip has been in my
prayers regularly, as will NKF be, I
want to see you guys succeed.

Thank you.

I will be thinking of you George, I cant remember is Ray the bass player?

Anyway, even if you lose someone, you can probably carry on if the rest of you want too.

Lynard I should have put up another thread but you mentioned Crip and I saw on facebook where he was starting to play the acoustic again, I found it to be real encouraging to see a picture of him with his acoustic playing again, I know he has a long road back but hes a rocker, and rockers dont quit!

I will be thinking of you George, I cant remember is Ray the bass player?

Anyway, even if you lose someone, you can probably carry on if the rest of you want too.

Lynard I should have put up another thread but you mentioned Crip and I saw on facebook where he was starting to play the acoustic again, I found it to be real encouraging to see a picture of him with his acoustic playing again, I know he has a long road back but hes a rocker, and rockers dont quit!

Thanks JW.

Ray is our front man and the originator of probably 90 percent of our music / lyrics.
I can't be upset with him because in my heart I know he is right.
We ( I ) had lost focus, and have for many reasons stagnated.
We work too hard meeting weekly for five years and spend too much money for 6-10 hit or miss gigs a year.

Some change is in order.

George I think its good for a band to sit down and discuss where you are at any given time.

We only do about 6-10 gigs a year these days, but we hardly ever practice, we just do them, but we did have a discusion at our last gig of getting into our bassist studio and laying down some cover tunes and there was even interest at doing some new originals, so hopefully we will follow thru with that.

As for my guys we all seem content to just keep doing what we are doing, after close to 25 years thats nice to hear, one of our biggest fans that comes to almost every gig has made the comment that Aint Yo Mama will keep on rocking til one of the 4 of us dies, I thought it was funny but being we are alll on the cusp of being 50 years old it is something to think about.

Good Luck with Ray, I hope he decides to hang with you, I know its tough with all the investment in time and money you have been thru.

Thanks again.

The basic structure for our "revival " has been laid out for 2012.

It includes a possible name / image change and one member in particular who has questionable commitment will be observed closely.


We shall see ...


Bob has brought an important aspect of band participation to the forefront.

Thanks Bob.

Sorry I jacked your thread.

Lot on my mind today.

A job I had 'nailed' feel through just before going to reheasal after a week of not doing so.

I took my Tele because the strat was on the DL. needed some height adjustment on the middle pickup - scratching the D string.

Amp blew while tuning up. We tried all sorts of jury rigs but no dice. I've got a Marshal; at home but it's been nice not lugging it around.

when I got home I was too bummed to even drink.

But I got up the next day, fixed the strat and starting addressing the amp problem.

One very good days we play music that actually sounds like something and we're glad we put the time into it.

One just keeps spinning the wheel until Somebody hits the 'smite' button.


Talbot

Smite button .... I like that.