General Music Chat

Okay. It's my turn to rant.

Remember that drunk guitar player I've been bitchin' about, but then decided to work with again?

We have a gig coming up this Sat. We haven't played since Nov. We hadn't practiced since Nov, cuz I told Dddonie that I was through with the little waste of time. We had this gig set up since last summer, & haven't found a replacement, so Dddonie asked me to please try him out again so we could fulfill our contract, & I finally said okay.

So last week we practiced, but I was the only one who recalled the arrangements. The drunk guy said he had a new gf, so he had to cut the practice short "to keep the peace," I suppose. We rehearsed a mere 2 hours.

This week, practice was set up on Tue nite. Drunk guy says he's gonna meet us there after his dentist appointment. We got there on time. I tuned up & warmed up. Sat there for 2 hours & guess what? NO SHOW FROM THE DRUNK. No call either.

Yep. I was right. Shoulda cancelled this show. We have a new drummer that doesn't know the stuff that well. I have this feeling that we're gonna be less than average at this one.

I am seriously pissed. I hope the drunk enjoys his new teeth while he can, cuz if he makes one foolish remark, or tries to give me one little excuse for his failures, he just might lose them.

AAAAAAAAAAARRRGH!

Why am I such an idjit? I just wanna play music dammit. This is the 4th time in as many years that he's flooked us up. I wanted him out 2 yrs ago, but let myself get talked into doing another show again & again with him.

I'm putting this down in stone - NEVER AGAIN will I waste my time, talent, or energy on someone who lets me down - EVER!

I wanna charge him for my wasted time - at my day rate of $25/hr. I figure he owes me over $75, between waiting for him & driving time. I'll discuss this with the guys & see if we can't stiff him at the end of this gig. I think it's only fair.

Probably won't happen, but it's fun to think about.

I think that in the future, any band I'm in WILL charge ppl for screwing up stuff for the rest of the band. It'll go into the band's account. Fine the lil bass-turds!

I may be out of place here, but it should take a max of 2 practices for these 'new guys' to learn (most of) the material, arrangements included. The big BUT in that statement is that they have to practice on their own time and come to 'rehearsal' prepared.

anyways, that sucks. Always trust your own logic on these decisions. I'd offer to fill in, but.... you are a bit far away for me

Yea, dump his ass on the floor and get ANY replacement for the time being.

Kramer, I've given the drummer tapes of our stuff...he knows it all, sorta, but it's tough to have it down well enough to recognize the cues as the arrangements change up on the fly, which happens nearly every time we play out. (It's the drunk guy I'm more worried about, though, to be honest.)

That's why I wanted to practice at least one more time before the show.

Plus, I wanted to work out a new tune that I would sing, & to tighten up the arrangements a bit to help Dddonnie remember them.

This drummer is the consumate professional. It's a pleasure & a priveledge to work with such a fine example of a committed musician. We don't always see eye to eye, but we get along extremely well, even when we disagree. He learns the songs on his own whenever he can, asks for what we'd like from him, yet still has the gutses to make executive decisions when it's called for, while not being afraid to make coherent, doable & critically helpful suggestions. Love 'im to death. He's also a pretty damned good drummer, which helps a lot.

He says he might be able to get us a guitar player. I sure hope so! Anyone he called in would be a seasoned pro, without all the extraneous crapola that comes along with so many "musicians."

boy this is a tired story! same sh*t here...met a bassist...came over learned 6 song's in an eve...called me 2 days later to practice...didnt show didnt call...week later i call...he has great excuse plans to come practice...didnt show didnt call...got a big gig called him...had a great excuse said "hell yeah"...didnt show didnt call...gonna twist his jaw for him if he ever even speaks to me! trust only the man in the mirror in music my friend!!! if you need a guitarist, find 3........

Why would anyone put up with a drunk? Aren't you trying to gig? Do you show up to your day job (if you have one) drunk? People think being in a band is time to do whatever they want, especially getting drunk. I simply don't put up with drunks or pot-heads. Years ago some idiot showed up for an audition carrying a six pack. Within thirty seconds he was in his car heading home (or probably to some bar). This is WORK. If you don't call and tell me you can't make rehearsal and we're sitting around waiting for your lame ass YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK. IF YOU SHOW UP DRUNK YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK. F*CK UP YOUR OWN DAMN TIME, NOT MINE. PERIOD.

well I'm no tea toddler so I wont down anyone just for getting high. I'll admit that I do some of my best creating comes while I'm stoned , or with a beer buzz. thats understandable considering your prospective is widened. Show me any one of the Great Artist's and I'll show you an addict or a drunk! some guy's suck till they get their third beer down. then their great. but as far as preparation goes... those same guys are usually a pain in the ass! you cant get sh*t done w/a buzz! Its just not gonna happen. what should have taken you 3 month's will take 15 or more. Go home get a buzz and write some great stuff, just dont bring the buzz when its time to work!

Damn I wish you weren't 1000 miles away...I've been dying to find a band around here for 3 years, nothing going on. The only guy that called after I joined my last [mediocre] band I answered the phone and he says " so what do you play?"

DUDE...If you read the flyer I made up, the first line, in half inch tall letters said EXPERIENCED GUITAR PLAYER...he sounded like he was wasted to boot so I told him the truth, I'd just joined a band, which turned out to be a bum deal, keyboard player was an alcoholic. Not a drunk, 123% can't function without whiskey alcoholic. I ended up slamming his drunk, obnoxious ass against the wall one night after a bad gig and threatening to pound his head through the damn wall...He was also the one who ran straight for my truck first thing every gig while I tried to unload and tried to bum a joint, which I always told him I didn't bring to gigs, (also true, I have a play now party later rule for myself and have for 15 years) he never gave up. Never carried a thing in or out except his half pint, couldn't play past halfway through the 2nd set, stumbled all over the place and fell all over the PA a dozen times, knocked mic stands over, spilled booze all over the keyboard he didn't own and knocked it over a couple of times...basically useless, bass player/band leader wouldn't fire the idiot.

He had gotten pissed that night and called me a lying bastard when I told him no doobie, the next night he brought in a drunk buddy to "sit in" with no notice to anyone in the band, the guy took over, played leads on top of me, never even conside3red letting the band decide who played lead when, even started playing after I started in on leads then got snotty about it when I finally got pissed, although I hadn't said a word, just looked really pissed and his girlfriend tried to steal my strat when they left. Keyboard player left with them and all of a sudden with no warning we're a 3 piece...best we ever sounded.

So yeah, I know exactly how you feel, I've been there. Wanna hear about another one? Pretty much a repeat of the 1st anecdote, always late for practice except when he bummed a ride with me, always half drunk at practice, never practiced at home, never helped set up or tear down and tried to play metal guitar on country songs,showed up 1 1/2 hours late to take pictures without his stage clothes...

And that's just two of 'em. I've seen a dozen others. I don't drink to begin with, never more than a beer every month or two (literally), I do like a doob but never before or during practice or gigs, I don't even bring one for the ride home any more and that's MY choice, not because any band mandated it. I have a hit or three at home and doodle on guitar for a while, but if I need to seriously practice or have a gig it stays put up and I'm ready to play. In fact, the guitar/slide doodles I recorded a week or so ago and posted here were done with a mild buzz going, but not stumbling around stoned out of my tree, I don't like to get that way any more.

Moderation...a word most musicians know nothing about....

I hope you do manage to find someone who has the good sense to play now, party later, but they're very few and far between. I've only known one person in the last 10 years who didn't drink or get stoned onstage, and that was the bass player in the band I referred to in the first story. I never saw him drink anything and don't think he smoked weed at all. I'm sure he didn't do any other substances, at least I never saw any indication of it. So they are out there, just really hard to find.

That and all the personal problems at home you related to us too...I know that sucks, I hope you get things sorted out before you lose it...

I am sooo glad I play half assed guitar for a praise band!
My biggist problem is the new job keeps me out of the studio.
And mucho family visiting this weekend. Boy am I gonna suck on Tuesdays practice I usually get up around 4:30 or 5:00 may have to sneek out to the shop for a couple hours before every one else gets motivated.

I'm just glad it's over. Got a buck & a quarter, too. Yay for me.

I hate it when ppl are so hesitant, so reluctant to take the chances, to make it rock. These guys had NO idea where we were going. Everyone was askeered. The leader, Dddonnie, lost it on so many arrangements I quit counting after the 1st 3 songs. The drummer followed me, so at least there was SOME sort of direction, but there was no cohesion at all as a group. Gee...maybe some practice coulda helped, right? Ya THINK? MAYBE??!!??

The drunk didn't drink today, cuz it was so hot. He was just late enough not to have to help set up. He did help us break down, though, so he could get paid, I guess.

Then they wanted to know when the next practice is...LMAO...I told 'em I'm out, that I'm selling all my stuff & getting a hang glider. Gonna go out with a bang.

The drummer still wants to get a new guitar player. If he does, I'll consider it, but until then I'm not wasting my time on this crap anymore.

There weren't many ppl there, so it ain't like I need to be too embarassed.

Now I can turn my attention to writing that song for the lady who's dog just died. She asked me to write one for him. See...I only get the really big, important, high payin' stuff to do...LOL

And then there's that new project with the flat singer guy...hope I can stand it. I need to pick up my chops, though. He's a helluva nice guy, but many ppl I know just walk out when he starts to sing. Maybe I can do some of it for him.

Cripes I am FRUSTIFICATERED!!!!

Wanna hide out under a rock for awhile until the world at large gets a bit better...

Eh...I'm goin' fishing...to hell with it.

Did someone say 'Cripes'??


What about this dude? He's in your general area.
G12Bulldog

Hey Philby ,
Did ya catch anything?...(most important news to tell after all that.. )

Funny you should mention him, Zip. I DID contact him, spoke with him for awhile, too. He came out to one of my gigs , just last month.

He's the guy who is trying to get that band started back up. His old bass player returned, though. He still wants to use me in some capacity, but was outvoted by the band, as the rest want to keep it a 4-piece, even though they never checked me out.

Helluva nice guy, though. Once I get over this Aug thing, I'm gonna try to hit a few open mics with him. From what I hear he's pretty good, too.

By the by, Zip...did I mention that I liked the Cripes?

No, John...didn't catch anything. Gonna try again today & see if my luck gets any better.

Talked with a guy at the bar last night who does a buncha fly fishing. He told me that luck has nothing to do with it, of course. He says that he FORCES the fish to bite, cuz he uses the perfect lure, & they're always eating. He studies what bugs are being hatched when, & where, & ties his own flies, & has evidently made quite a science out of it all. I dunno if I wanna put that much effort into it. He says he has lures the size of a gnat that he makes. My eyes won't do it & frankly, that doesn't sound like relaxation therapy to me. It sounds like work. I don't need more work.

So today I'll depend on my luck, as I try out my new rod & reel, & maybe some new lures that I bought all by myself!

Check out Cabellas online store and get their fly fishing catalog. They have a dizzing array of flys and tieing equipment. Just a heads up.

Thanks, sans...I have no idea how to fly-cast.

That guy's s'posed to show me one day soon.

I already have a couple fly lures for some unknown reason...I think I was gonna sink 'em with a sinker & see if they work...LOL

Might not have the time to fish much longer, though...Got an email from a band this AM about 35 miles away...now if only I can keep the Jeep from overheating, & they are any good, & if they like my work & I like theirs, & if we can get along, & if they can get gigs or if I can...gee...it sounds like it's almost a done deal, huh? (I really hope it's a good thing - I'm just being silly, I know, but I don't wanna jinx it by being too hopeful. Isn't superstition just awful? I always wear the same clothes on stage, & never ever wash them, cuz they gave me good luck once. Maybe that's why no one wants to work with me?)

After work, I'll be checking out their stuff o/l. I'll letcha know what I think about 'em later.