Band advice

[Gio_Force_One]

Coming to you guys for some advice , always get good advice here.
So I started a modern country cover band in January and we've had our problems finding people but now we have everyone. However the new 2nd guitar player has joined and really has just taken over I good ways and bad ways. It's a cover band and he's taking it overly serious the band meetings he brings hand outs and has all these weird opinions. He's taking the fun out of it.

Also he doesn't like how my live rig is , basically it's a jcm 800 which he said isn't country and my Steve morse guitars. Well first he said oh you come from the Eddie side turn up your amp and use your volume knob , which I do. He told me I couldn't do that live it wouldn't work. So I really don't know how I lived these last 10 years or so doing it. i feel my tone is great I can do anything with the volume knob and an overdrive . The morse sounds great . I think the other people are just mesmerized by his connections he says he has and all I he promises he makes.
I don't want to do it was fun now it seems like work the band meetings are just weird to me if it was an original band and we were working on songs and a tour I could see it . But a cover band that will play once or twice a month seems like over kill . I just want to play and have fun .

 

[kestrou]

They play country music in Rhode Island?

Tell him: Lighten up, Francis!

Your rig and guitar is YOUR rig and guitar - keep his mitts off and mind his own beeswax...

Kevin

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Vote him off the island.

 

[mystixboi1]

What's his rig like? Kind of crappy to dog on people's gear. Tell the douche canoe that taylor swift's guitarist uses a 5150 III stack.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Awkward one that - I've had trouble over my 40 years of playing. In some instances I've walked out - in some instances we've resolved differences amicably.
So may I suggest a "Band Charter". Get together over some beer / snacks start with all the good things the good gigs/rehearsals you've had then be curious (in other words challenge the short comings).

In the Charter state what you will do, wont do and review the situation in say 4 weeks.
Sometimes things have just gotta be aired rather than let it smoulder. It's really hard to start a band and you may feel that you don't want to rock the boat so to speak, because forming a new band could possibly be an onerous task?

Charters - It's something we do in HMRC - stating the blindingly obvious really as all Consultants do - and making a fortune from it!

Tips
Say that you are happy with your sound on stage, people in the audience have commented on how good your tone is too. say your happy to listen to any advice but that is all it is?
Advice and recommendations are all they are - you can act on them or disagree (in your own mind) - heck it's not like he's gonna check yer vol/tone knob settings !!
The sound on stage (in/out of the flame of the speakers - yes it does exist) is different to that in the audience.
So do a live recording - analyse it - look for ways it can be improved?

These are my recommendations ha! ... and my consultancy fee is ......."

 

[BUC]

Well, I gotta admit, a JCM800 for country is a bit of a stretch. You won't find many of them in Nashville.

I will also say that I've seen more guys make a JCM800 sound like crap more than just about any other amp. Not trashing the amp, but it can be awful in the hands of the wrong player. It can sure take up more space in the mix than you intend!

I've never heard you play so don't think I'm jumping on your skills or tone. Just making a snap observation. I have actually played modern country with a dude who has a hot rodded 800 though, and yes, it could be a challenge. Loved the lead tones but it just took up too much room for everything else.

What you are describing is the typical lament of the bar cover band. Change the variables and I've had this same conflict with many other musicians. Basically you gotta ask yourself some hard questions.

I will say that two of the best decisions I've ever made in music were:
1. quitting a band and moving on. Scary to jump off that cliff but eventually it worked out much to my advantage.
2. Firing a musician who wasn't holding their own. Ended up replacing them with a seriously upgrade that drove the band to much greater heights. Tough to do, especially if they're a bud outside of music.

One thing I always do to keep objectivity on tone and mix, is to record every performance and many practices, then step away from them for a few days/weeks and then listen back. I'm lucky enough to have the studio and means to do that. I will admit that my tone hasn't always been as good as I thought it was when I was actually playing and this is a trap that MANY players fall into. The recording never lies and some truths are nicer than others.

So, arm yourself with the facts and decide if you're going to continue to manage the problem in hopes that it improves, quit, or fire the dude. Sounds easy eh? I've found if people have been playing for years, it's tough to mold them unless they want to change. Easier to fire them or quit in that case.

 

[ksandvik]

Modern country today is pretty much seventies rock. So any amp setup emulating that sound is fine. I'm sure modern country will move on to something else sooner than later, maybe hip hop drum machines..

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Modern country today is pretty much seventies rock. So any amp setup emulating that sound is fine. I'm sure modern country will move on to something else sooner than later, maybe hip hop drum machines..

so so true .

 

[Gio_Force_One]

What's his rig like? Kind of crappy to dog on people's gear. Tell the douche canoe that taylor swift's guitarist uses a 5150 III stack.

PRS , Suhr, and line 6 helix

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I have also seen a bunch of Mesa Boogies on country stages too. So who knows alot og=f this so called country does sound like seventies rock so why wouldnt a marshall fit in. Didn't Steve Morse use jubillee in Dixie Dregs at one time?

 

[kestrou]

I have also seen a bunch of Mesa Boogies on country stages too. So who knows alot og=f this so called country does sound like seventies rock so why wouldnt a marshall fit in. Didn't Steve Morse use jubillee in Dixie Dregs at one time?

I don't think Steve was using a Jubilee back in the Dregs days, but he for sure was during the SMB days...

Kevin

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I don't think Steve was using a Jubilee back in the Dregs days, but he for sure was during the SMB days...

Kevin

I knew he used them at some point

 

[Gio_Force_One]

apparently now he wants to get rid of the female singer because he know someone thats much better looking and will be an easier sell if we want to do hind end gig. so basicslly he siad fire her cause shes not pretty enough.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Post #3......

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Post #3......

looks like I'm gonna be the one voted off , i don't have all the high end equipment and the supposed connections.

 

[kestrou]

So here's the plan...

He shows up, fires the whole band (or otherwise convinces them to leave) - and everybody that was there originallye gets together as another band!

So who exactly in the current band is buying the load of BS he's selling?

Kevin

 

[kbaim]

Id think about
1. Asking the bass player and drummer if they're ok with your tone etc.
2. Have a talk with the other guitarist privately

If its mostly for fun, the guys you pick to be around are a big reason for doing it.
If its more for money and he can get you gigs, that's tougher.

 

[Magic Jason]

To me, there is only one question: is it fun?
If it isn't because of this jerk... take a leave.
If you aren't a pro and do NOT NEED music earnings to feed your family, run away. Life is too short.

 

[Jamie M]

Bands can be a real pain in the ass. I walked out on my band 2 years ago due to childish playground antics. I will not play in another band again due to always having issues.

 

[DrKev]

You started the band, he came in as 2nd Guitar? Talk to the other guys. Either can him or you drop out and start over.