O/T The WORST town in America for musicians........

[RitchieDarling]

Prescott, Arizona has got to be the very worst town in America for musicians.

Unless you are a middle aged white guy who thinks he's the next Muddy Waters, or a guitar player who thinks he is Stevie Ray reincarnated, there is simply no one for you to play with.

Bass players are expected to stand in the back, play only root notes, turn WAY down, and wear drab clothing if possible.

And if you hold a bass, don't even DARE to try to sing.

It is depressing.

My drummer friend Scott and I have been after a guitarist for three years now.

No luck.

We get loads of offers to play in bands.

But only blues bands.

Or we get a guitarist who comes in and starts barking at us like a DI.

That usually lasts about 30 seconds.

This weekend we sat in the garage and waited for 4 hours for a guy who never even showed up!

Talked to him on Wednesday last week. Everything was fine for Sunday.

Then talked again on Friday. Everything was fine for Sunday.

I emailed him a map on Saturday so he would know how to get there.

So, Sunday lunchtime, and ...... nothing....

Called his cell. Nothing.

Sent a text message. Nothing.

Called his house. Nothing.

I've been dealing with this sort of thing here for ten years.

I give up.

Ok, I'm done ranting now.

Ritchie

 

[syciprider]

Buy an octave pedal and play guitar on your bass.

 

[phatduckk]

surprisingly enough san francisco sucks to IMHO

 

[DTG]

Hey guys i think its world wide....

 

[KennethB]

And I thought I was having it hard, having trouble finding players for a Zappa-tribute big-band I want to put together.
Hehe, lots of "blues bands" in the Frozen North as well. Everyone has a band and what do they play.....twelve bar blues. I go to the bars and clubs and everybody is "lets play blues in the key of G" Urrrk!! Gets really BORING after a while. Some bands tune down a half step. They are really special!
Sometimes I find myself running out of there screaming and in tears. Then I go home and put on a Dream Theater dvd or something and go: "Aaaahh!"

 

[bassmonkey]

Is it a talent thing? IMHO(speaking as a bass player) blues is fairly easy to fake on a guitar. By that I mean, pretty much anyone can sound convincing with a little effort. That statement is not meant to take anything away from people who can really play the blues. However, other styles take a bit more effort to sound okay. Plus it is very much a 'lead' sound. I'm lucky, the band I'm in is fairly ego-free. Therefore we play a wide range of music. The guitarist is very good, but also ndoesn't have a need to show off on every tune. He is more than happy to strum a few chords alone, if that is what is required.

 

[n!k]

I have had the same trouble trying to make my own band. It took about 10 minutes to find a solid, punctual, friendly and talented drummer. It's been months and no guitarist though. Figures.

 

[Psycho Ward]

That's it! Let's burn our basses!

 

[Big Poppa]

OK Time for a deep thinkin pompous poppa post

First off our industry does zero to pair players by ability and genres. In golf you have a handicap, in tennis there is a rating system 6.0, 5.5 and even a ladder. The double edged sword of being a musician is that it is subjective.....ten people can listen to a guitar player and 8 think he sucks and two think that they just witnessed live channelling by hendrix.

An avid tennis player or golfer doesnt fancy him or herself as the next Roger Federer or Tiger Woods...the local bar guy thinks that he got cheated or is just biding his time before he gets discovered.

THere is no Emily Post for players. There is no code of conduct or etiquette that is part of the process of learning or playing the instrument or interacting in a band.. Any other Hobby playing is only part of the deal.

So you have an unbalanced , unjustified ego and you cant tell them anything so you just continue your search.....

My Dad taught me...drilled it into me.....Start on time, dont turn your back to the audience for more than two seconds, mix your tempo and keys, be ready in between songs, treat the audience with respect regardless of what the gig is, if you make a mistake keep playing like nothing happened, have spare strings, cables strap, amp.....avoid cliches on the mike.....bring it down for the start of verses and solos. NEver let the audience know that the lead singer is a jerk and the bas player just hit on your wife. Take the guy that shows up to rehearsals that isnt messed up and knows what not to play over the hot shot who is doing you a favor playing with you.

A band is chemistry and the slogging through the dog doo for those rare moments where everything happens just right. Its those times that will keep you in the garage waiting for a guitar player that is never gonna show

 

[DTG]

Gets really BORING after a while. Some bands tune down a half step. They are really special!
)

very funny

coffee....spit......screen.....mess

 

[Sub1 Zero]

Ritchie if you lived closer I'd ask you to come play with us

 

[T-bone]

My Dad taught me...

I think your Dad just taught us all a few things.

Thanks, BP!

tbone

 

[RitchieDarling]

Excellent advice on all counts, BP!

R

 

[MikeVt]

Wow Ritchie....I wish I lived closer. I've already mentioned my problem with guitarist egos in another thread. Although I haven't played in a band in years, I played with a bunch of guys in the NY area several years ago and we tried out a bunch of guitarists to replace my friend who wanted to focus on singing. They all came in with egos bigger than life. They all thought they were the best, and NONE of them managed their volume or tone properly. It wasn't a 'team' activity. We were there simply as 'backup' for them, and it always ended up in arguments. That whole ego thing has always made me sick. I can't stand playing with guys like that. Why can't all guitarists realize that they can learn something new from everyone they play with? What's the deal with the egos?!?!

I, for one, love being told what to play and when. When creative input is requested, or a lead is in need of writing, I'm happy to do it. Otherwise, I like being a team member like the rest of the band. I don't play very well, but I once had a bandmate tell me that I was the best guitarist he had ever played with (he was semi-famous in the local area and had played with a LOT) because I managed my volume and tone so well. It was the best compliment he could have given me.

Good luck on your continued search!
Mike

 

[tkarter]

You need to move Ritchie. Us hillbillies always have someone around that wants to play.

tk

 

[INMT]

.....we kinda have a similar problem here in ole' Montana, people talk a big game, show up and have nothing to deliver.
I feel for ya man. It took nearly 2 years of living back here just to find anyone to actually jam with let alone start "band".

 

[Oldtoe]

Thanks, Pops.

Good read. I believe I'm going to print it out, laminate it, and keep it with me at all times.

 

[AnthonyD]

Wow... And I thought I had it bad in my neck of the woods!

Hang in there Ritchie - makes it worth it in the end.

And thanks for the advice BP - will certainly be sharing the same sentiments with my boys.

 

[phatduckk]

ya im lucky in the sense that my band is comprised of a bunch fo pretty chill guys. we discuss - don't argue, everyone's on time, we all pay rent on time, take care of gear etc and get along damn well.

the problem is the population of SF. seems like everyone that lives here has better things to do than go see live music. sure, touring bands get a crowd but there's no real "scene" for any genre.

this place is overrun by hipsters. im not a jazz guy but ive heard ok things about the local jazz scene but thats really it

esp. w/ punk rock there's this overwhelming attitude of "eh, whata re you 16? i grew out of that and have a cool haircut now"

 

[Kristopher]

I think the same thing's true for musicians as it is for women...

all the good ones are either taken or aren't into your gender (or genre as the case may be)