General Music Chat

Band changes abound.

Recently placed a member on a months suspension.
Has been over the last year he seemed to really not show any interest outside of rehearsal nights. And on those evenings being negative, always making excuses about why he can't as well as making comments like " we might as well just go home" when something did not work out.
Dearly love him as a brother but I feel if he were honest with us and himself that his heart just is no longer in it.
Just showing up because you feel an obligation to your family of friends is not enough.
If he does not want to or cannot return at the end of suspension on fire he will be cut from the roster and we will move on.

Last night we did our first "cover show" of P&W music.
We only rehearsed one night and the songs ... many I have never heard before in my life.
Some went well others not so. Crowd participation was great, far exceeding my expectations.

Now ... to get the new guy to spontaneously NOT go off into a song the rest of us cannot even recognize.
Much less play.

We go back to the same venue tonight for a second show.
I really enjoyed it. Again outside of my expectation.

BUT ... it REALLY pisses me off when old people tell us were too loud when the youth, we are there for are digging it.

I'm like damn it man ... go outside or turn your hearing aid off ... it's not about YOU.

I'm like damn it man ... go outside or turn your hearing aid off ... it's not about YOU.

I dunno... IF a band hurts an old salt's ears, maybe they're not kidding...

As fer the young folk, If the Emacular degeneration form staring at XBOX all day dont take em down, the numbing deafdness from over loud bands will.. Just saying...

Guys please...Its a mark of honor to have squares whine about volume. I doubt that George's outfit is playing at 140db. Some people just like to bitch.

Haven't we all had parents, neighbors, wives et al telling us to 'turn that damn noise down!' It particularly sucks for them when we are practicing scales or finger exercises. But as they say in the Mexican Marine Corps, "El Tougho Shitto."

Talbot

We could jam in Joe's garage and his
mother would holler turn it down.

Seriously we were about 1/3 the usual volume we play.
And yes ... I fully understand that we are doing something outside our normal Godrock routine.

I think my point of contention was not really the volume nor the complaints.

It's that when your doing something for your "youth" you should consider them first.

Really think of it this way ... if grandparents are doing a birthday party for their teenage daughter but insist on only Dean Martin or Bing Crosby crooning ... whom are they being in consideration of ?

The gig tonight went very well. We played well, we sounded good, we had them singing and up on their feet moving to the music.
Ray, free of his guitar & pedal board restraints was very animated pouring tons of personality into his performance.

I hesitate to use the term "magical" because I don't believe in " magic ".
But that is how many of you might relate to what transpired this evening.

The Spirit was with us at the show and after when we had our business meeting in the local DENNY'S over food and coffee.

Great energy and great progress this week alone.

Guys please...Its a mark of honor to have squares whine about volume. I doubt that George's outfit is playing at 140db. Some people just like to bitch.

Haven't we all had parents, neighbors, wives et al telling us to 'turn that damn noise down!' It particularly sucks for them when we are practicing scales or finger exercises. But as they say in the Mexican Marine Corps, "El Tougho Shitto."

Talbot

In Russia , they say "tough Shitsky"

Know what they say in Southern Russia?

"Tough Shitzky, y'all..."

Really think of it this way ... if grandparents are doing a birthday party for their teenage daughter but insist on only Dean Martin or Bing Crosby crooning ... whom are they being in consideration of ?

Sans, that is an excellent analogy and i totally agree..

George Ive done these types of gigs myself, in fact have been seriously thinking of getting back involved with the church again.

Its very different, volume wise, and for us that play instruments, I feel that gospel music in praise and worship should be centered on the vocals anyway. Im learning that it doesnt take huge volume to have good tone, or to be powerful.

Man have fun with it

Good Luck

Good for you Sans. Playing worship music for youth groups a great way to serve the church and is pretty rewarding. Several players in J7 play worship regularly with other groups of musicians.

RE: sound level, every church wrestles with this and it is important to have standards that everyone can agree on and abide by. This separates the grumpy old guy from the desire to protect kids from hearing loss pretty quickly. Most agree that sustained music above 100db can and will cause hearing damage so as musicians our first job is to do no harm. We have found that music below 90 db doesn't move the audience much. Get a sound meter in the back of the room and find out where you are.

In our church we have 4 different volume levels for different types of worship:

The Edge: Guitar driven rock worship- 98db
Soul Celebration: Jazz based worship with gospel choir- 95 db
The Main- Contemporary Christian worship with full band- 93db
Acoustic Cafe- Acoustic based worship- 90db

By maintaining these standards we protect the hearing of church members while still allowing bands to create a serious rock vibe during worship. If a grumpy old guy thinks the music is too loud but it measures within standards we suggest he might be more comfortable in Acoustic Cafe.

These are the standards we developed over time and they may or may not work for your church. Having "A standard" prevents arguments between well meaning members, grumpy old guys and musicians.

Thanks for the tips my friends.

I'll be investing in a meter probably next week after I have a few moments to research.

We went into last weekends gig not as NKF but as fellow musicians whom agreed to help out a friend whom had made a commitment and lost his back up.

We came out of this with a whole new perspective and attitude.
Ever since our " Come to Jesus" meeting last month things have really been booming and blooming.

Even the pending name change to reflect a renewal of mission is on the horizon.
The prospect have me very excited

Next Wednesdays meeting will likely see the end of NKF and the beginning of a a whole new era.


I'll let you guys know how the votes turn out.

The top names in running at present are:
JERICHO MARCH
Darkness Fades
Psalm95

Read the verse and you will understand why I prefer Psalm95.
Besides I think it just sounds better.

Ladies and Gentlemen ... presenting PSALM95

Yep, I like Psalm 95.

Here is some reference info that we used to develop our standards. I hope it proves useful:
http://www.hearnet.com/at_risk/risk_aboutloss.shtml

Book marked for reference and to share with the band.

Thanks.

I appreciate advice and opinions, but reference material is hard to beat.

Dumbest thing I've ever said (and that is something) was in a church based gig where I played bass with some folks at a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church in Idaho.

It was a good gig - we did two hymn type numbers but a bit more up tempo and wrapped up all up in Beethovan's Ode to Joy. The piano player was outstanding!

But afterwards I admitted to the pastor that I was a little nervous, "Never played with Jesus in the audiance before..."

He looked at me like I was an asshole and I said, "Uh..nevermind..."

Talbot

"Rock of our salvation," nice.

I still like Jericho March.

Dumbest thing I've ever said (and that is something) was in a church based gig where I played bass with some folks at a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran Church in Idaho.

It was a good gig - we did two hymn type numbers but a bit more up tempo and wrapped up all up in Beethovan's Ode to Joy. The piano player was outstanding!

But afterwards I admitted to the pastor that I was a little nervous, "Never played with Jesus in the audiance before..."

He looked at me like I was an asshole and I said, "Uh..nevermind..."

Talbot

LOL ... no sense of humor.