Lunch Report?

[tvanveen]

The cupboard is almost completely bare, but I think I have enough stuff on hand to make some pancakes.

Mmm, pancakes.

So the band thing is coming along slowly but steadily. No name yet, but we're pretty much practicing every Thursday, and within the next few weeks I'm hoping we can start looking around for some gigs. I've written 2 songs that don't suck too bad, and I'm pretty much done with the 3rd...

I never realized just how political it is being in a band! The drummer and bass player seem pretty happy to play whatever, but me and the singer (my girlfriend) have been having our differences...first it's a little hard to get her to show up, now she wants to play stuff that that doesn't fit in with what we've been doing. Basically we've been doing indie garage type stuff, last night she says she wants to do a hoobastank song...might as well ask a metal band to cover elton john.

No offense to you Hoobastank and Elton John lovers out there.

So how many of you guys write your own stuff? What was it like performing it live the first time? How was the reception?

tv

 

[SGMan88]

First off, congrats on the new band. Writing your own songs is like nothing else it is very gratifying whether the crowd loves it or hates it. Thank God that my band's crowd liked it!!

 

[kbaim]

Hey tv

Interesting question regarding band dynamics.

I'm in an instrumental band. Playing all original material. Done some recording (about 10 songs), but no gigs yet. I write all the songs, but rely heavily on others for their musical contributions.

I've found that benevolent monarchy works better than a democracy. I've tried it as a democracy but it seems to drastically slow the pace of things.

It may be a good idea to set up a band meeting and discuss these things. Songwriters generally take on the leadership positions and ultimately the direction of the band.

Be as fair as you can, but if things start sounding worse and go significantly slower or in the wrong direction, it's up to you to right the ship.

KEITH

 

[ex3.8]

Cool. playing live is a major rush. i haven't played live in a while.
I am doing the husband, father, employee thing at the moment.
I practice bou't 1 to 1.5 hrs a day gathering tunes for a band project. keep it up.

BTW.
but me and the singer (my girlfriend) have been having our differences...first it's a little hard to get her to show up, now she wants to play stuff that that doesn't fit in with what we've been doing.
are you planning on getting married.... imagine ?!?!?!?!?

 

[tvanveen]

I've found that benevolent monarchy works better than a democracy.

That's sort of the direction we're heading. When I started out with the bassist and drummer about a year ago, I had never played with anyone in my life and I didn't know any songs. We'd jam around and that was fun. Lately I've been sort of gently directing things a bit, since if I don't, no one will.

are you planning on getting married.... imagine ?!?!?!?!?

Ha! It's definitely a learning experience. I'll bet I end up learning the hoobastank song just to please her, then we'll probably just quietly drop it...

tv

 

[peter71]

I had some PB and J today, as well as other odds and ends.

I am looking to start playing in a band again as well. I am a little unsure of what kind of music I want to play, or who I want to play with, I will just have to feel it out I guess. My music tastes have changed so much in the last couple years. Oh well... I just hope that whomever I play with lets me sing once in a while. It is fun!

 

[ex3.8]

Ha! It's definitely a learning experience. I'll bet I end up learning the hoobastank song just to please her, then we'll probably just quietly drop it...

tv

You are definitally husband material.

 

[OrangeChannel]

You guys are forgetting the New Cardinal Rule around here...

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TOOOOOOO?

Ha! Now that that's out of the way.

Food: The ever popular Subway Ham and Turkey Sammich. Some Sunchips and a Diet Coke....

Recorded Music: The Secret Machines - Now Here is Nowhere (awesome stuff I recommend this if you want some spacey tunes in your rotation)

Band Sitch: Nill. I need to find some like minded peple to right some good rock with. Long Island is becoming fast, the annoying glut of ex hardcore scene kids with large pretentions and dudes that suck at sharing creatvity. One day it'll flesh out I guess.

Stuff I want to buy (but can't since I may not have a job): Naylor Dual Drive 2x12 Combo or a Bogner Ecstacy 101B 2x12 Combo.

 

[tvanveen]

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TOOOOOOO?

Lucinda Williams and The Shins.

tv

 

[pack-rat]

Heated up some left uber pizza for me and the kids. It tasted better the first time around, but it was good just the same. Fresh strawberries, some cantelope and a glass of milk.

I am listening to Blue Oyster Cult's Fire of Unknown Origin, Cultosaurus Erectus, Agents of Fortune, and Some Enchanted Evening. I like that genre of Heavy Metal. I'll go on a jag learn a couple of songs and then off to something else. I started breaking down "Burning for You" it was probably their biggest single as it has a bit of a pop flavour to it and is rather a simple 4 min 20 second song. Simple riffs and simple solo.

As I am typing this wife is playing a Josh Grobin DVD. I thought he is ok but to watch him sing, is something else. He sings so effortlessly. I'll serinade my wife with a Josh Grobin song and she says "stop it ! Your ruining my memory of Josh Grobin !"

I wish I can sing.
I keep telling myself "vocals is another instrument"
When I sing in front of a group of people I get nervous but I can do background and stay in tune and harmonize.
My wife can sing beautifuly but she doesn't like singing in front of people and diffinately won't sing with us.

I admire good singers it takes alot of nerve. Maybe that's why alot of them I meet tend to be bit high on themselves. (The ones in bands where they just sing and don't play anything but maybe a tamborine anyway.) (Anyone remember the MTV awards when Van Halen in 1997 (?) presented an award with David Lee Roth ?)

There are so many great guitarists, bassists, and vocalists out there, we as guitarists seem to be a dime a dozzen (bassists included) but you know there aren't alot of really GOOD drummers out there. When i hear a good drummer play at a club they tend to be playing what I call "English style" (snare pulled ever so slightly behind the beat. Listen to John Bonham or Keith Moon or pretty much all English drummers. American drumming is racey, has a fast feel to it the snare sounds to me like it is just so slightly ahead of the beat. Auzzie drummers tend play the snare right on the beat.)
I mention this to average drummers they dont get what i mean but if they are playing English style and mention to them "hey i like your style you pull off on the snare" and usualy get "Hey you play drums ? Nobody mentions this!"
Sry I am getting off topic.

The guys I play with all have like minded in taste in music so we get to do stuff we all like. We are nothing big so no politics we just have fun. Maybe lucky to do a gig every now and then for free at an office party.

 

[koogie2k]

Sorry I'm late again. Still working night shift out of town....what day is it anyway?!?!?

Went to Chili's....had a steak, mashed taters, veggies, salad.

Not currently in a band. Looking though. Anyone in the Va. Beach area, e-mail or PM me. Still can jam and who knows.

I used to drum in a band. So I can relate to Pack Rat. It's funny, I used to write the songs and assumed the "leadership" role if you will. The bad part was, I had to hum the song to the guitarist (who was darn good) and we would go from there. Now, I just try to play what is in my head. I have a 10 track digital recorder that is certainly holding what I hope to be some decent songs. Who knows, could happen.

Today - Pink Floyd "Darkside Of The Moon"

 

[dan ratcliffe]

I'm hoping for some good old fashioned cheese on toast for lunch.... lets hope i remember....

I'm in a band with my brother (drums) and my best friend of 11 years (bass), we've been a Van Halen tribute band but have been doing originals for 2 years. We've had some ups and downs with singers and we're without one at the moment...

The first couple of times I played our songs live, I was pretty much paralysed with stagefright (I have closeup footage of my fingers shaking almost uncontrollably, how embarrassing!), but as the gigs have rolled on, I've become more confident in my own abilities to the point where I almost look like I'm enjoying it!

There aren't many feelings better than looking up and seeing that people are digging what you're doing. That and selling a couple of CDs at the end of the night tells you you've done a good job of entertaining people for 40 mins...

Our last singer quit/got fired (depending on who you talk to in the band! I say he quit...), and we were left with 15/16 songs and no lyrics. I'm currently in that next stage of my development as a musician by learning to write lyrics and melodies so we can present finished songs and a direction to potential singers. Its another one of those hurdles to get over as I know I don't have the greatest voice in the world.

Being in a band and making music with guys I respect pretty much means everything to me. Its been 4 months since our last gig and I miss it like last summer.

Well, this has been a waffle, thanks for reading!

Dan
...listening to CKY, but don't worry, I've got plenty of proper music on the shelves too!!!

 

[pack-rat]

I am not a drummer so I may have not explained myself properly.

koogie2k: Do you know what I mean about "English Style" ? am I right in my observations ?

Maybe dan ratcliffe can help me with my observations too as he is in U.K. and his brother plays drums.

 

[dan ratcliffe]

I've emailed my brother and hopefully he'll be able to give us a good explanation of the difference in styles.... he's been playing for 16+ years so he could probably share a few observations...

Its good to see drummers getting props on here too, my brother gives a lot of thought to what he does and just because he is stuck behind a mass of cymbals and toms, "just playing drums", he never gets the credit he is due.

I think drummers are under-respected anyways, I wish I could move four limbs in time. Hell, I'd settle for two!

edit: and for the record, Steve has the loudest snare I've ever heard!

Dan
...still dreaming of that cheese on toast...

 

[dwf1004]

"Our last singer quit/got fired (depending on who you talk to in the band! I say he quit...)"

...wow, Dan. Doing that Van Halen tribute thing to a T, aren't ya (since that's how the whole Sammy thing unfolded)?

BTW, pack...it was 1996 for the VMA awards with Roth. Just FYI.

 

[dan ratcliffe]

"Our last singer quit/got fired (depending on who you talk to in the band! I say he quit...)"

...wow, Dan. Doing that Van Halen tribute thing to a T, aren't ya (since that's how the whole Sammy thing unfolded)?

BTW, pack...it was 1996 for the VMA awards with Roth. Just FYI.

If I told you the whole story, dwf1004, you wouldn't believe it... and thats just from being in a band who are happy if they can cover the money it cost to hire the room/engineer and have a couple of cold ones afterwards.

But I can appreciate the VH thing now...

 

[dan ratcliffe]

a word from our drummer....

Pack-rat, this is according to my brother.....

The English style of drumming, nowadays anyway, to me does sound very "loose" compared to the session sound of some of the US drummers out there...is it called "back beat"? Very British feel, imo...

The British sound is a lot more reliant on swing and groove than technical precision. That is no way implies that one is worse than the other, it's just a lot of English drummers tend to rely on their national and natural influence, imo.

Players like John Bonham, Ringo Starr, Phil Collins and Ian Paice, whilst technically very proficient, always managed to sound more laid back....very few US players have this ability. Jeff Porcaro and Lars Ulrich in particular demonstrate this on a lot of their work...

That's jusy my opinion...it might just be a load of old ****!

SR

...so there you have it. I just call it groove!

 

[pack-rat]

yup groove. Better felt than telt

like guitar playing there are a ton of methods no right or wrong way.

Oh thanks i was going by memory when Van Halen apeared on MTV with Roth. I used to hope that Roth would get togeather with Van Halen but after that I lost all respect for him. So did the VH bros i think but they were being diplomatic by not saying anything IMHO.

 

[koogie2k]

I agree with Dan's bro on the style of drumming. I was really influenced by European players. Bonham....god he had the best sound even to this day. I feel the difference when I played a Led Zep song as opposed to Van Halen song when drumming. Neither one is bad of course, just I felt more "relaxed" if you will. Love 'em all. Neal Peart would definitely be a drummer you have to be relaxed in order to get his stuff down. Being too stiff is noticeable and makes you sound like you are sitting on barbed wire. Not good.