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Post subject: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:12 am
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Hello all, I was recently invited to jam with a local covers band. Not knowing what material they did I asked the singer what should I expect. He said "oh we do some Kings of leon and Stereophonics as well as some other stuff, you'll see". So, happy with the KOL and Phonics I went and jammed withi them at the singers garage/studio. We sstarted out doing `sex on fire` and `Dakota` which although was in a differnt key and A LOT slover than I'm used tho playing, it went well. Then came `right, lets do `Mustang Sally` said the singer. My head turned as if to say `your joking right`. sadly he wasn't. I'm not knocking the song but does anybody really need to hear another cover band doing it EVER again. Anyway I played my part and did my best to rock it up a little. Next came `Black magic woman` `wonderful tonight`, `dock of the bay` and `brown eyed girl`. Like I said not bad songs just not my cup of tea. At the end of the night the drummer said `Your in`. To which I replied `haaaaaa what?` I think somehow they thought I wanted to join them. Anyway I said lets just see how it goes. I really didn't want to be in a classic rock band. My intention is get a band doing covers of songs that don't get covered by 99% of other cover bands ot there. So a month later and 4 jam sessions later I sstill feel the asme abbout playing the songs mentioned but am I too deep in this thing? I decided this morning to let te band know I'm not really interested in doing the songs they want, so I think it'll be best if we part ways.

Has anyone else outhere got themselves into bands by accident or misunderstanding? Did you do the same as me and !@$ it in the bud before getting in to deep, or are you still in the band?


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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:29 am
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sounds like you want to go in a different direction. I don't know what you get paid for your gigs, but if you don't need the cash, the time to move may be now.

right after high school, a band I was in for 6 years broke up due to college. a couple years later I received a call from another friend who wanted to put together a band to play weddings and parties. I joined. we played together for about a year before I split. the playing was lame, not fond of the song selection, and to top it off, his mom got a cut of the pay (10%) just for taking the phone call. I could no longer enjoy the gigs, and left the band. do not regret it to this day.

good luck in your future


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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 4:54 am
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Yeah, If you don't like the songs why play them. There's plently of great songs to choose from so why pick songs that have heen covered a million times before? It takes a lot of time and effort to learn songs as a band so that they are tight enough to gig, so I want to make sure it's worthwhile. I think i made the right decision to leave. thanks for the support.


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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:53 am
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Hi Mr Pink

I think you did the gig-going public a favour there, so thankyou. I think the only way you could have acted any more honourably would have been to have screamed when they mentioned mustang sally, knocked your head against your amplifier a few times, wept a small amount, then clipped the rest of the band round the ear one after another, before leaving along with all the musical drive in the room.

But then again, i like to sit on the fence with these things.

Olly

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:04 am
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While I've been in cover bands that played all those classic rock songs you mentioned, I've never been enthralled with the idea of being in a band like that.

I'd much rather play originals or very obscure covers (which people may assume are originals due to their lack of knowledge).

I joined a cover band out of boredom and lack of options; the leader insisted on playing a bunch of overdone and tired songs (which was all he could play) and I went along to be polite. He also insulted the audience by claiming they were too lazy and/or stupid to absorb anything new or different. I set out to change this by changing the arrangement of some of the songs (using a harmonica where a guitar or sax had played in the original, slide guitar instead of "normal" Spanish style, etc.). Later, I snuck in a couple of originals...and everybody (the band and the audience) loved them...not because they were better songs (I've never written a classic), but because the band (with the exception of the leader) was tired of playing the same songs. My songs were new and novel and they got enthusiastic.

When I moved away and left that band, the leader decided he would become a songwriter, much to the chagrin of the rest of the band. They jokingly blamed me for inspiring his next set of "Greatest Hits..."

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:20 am
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Ah, great comments, the final straw was when I was asked to use the other guitarists spare chorus pedal. He NEVER turned his off, which really did my head in.

Oh, did I mention Born to be wild? which sounded more like `born to be mild`


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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:24 am
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One of the reasons I left a band was because of Mustang Sally!
Not really, but kind of. We were gigging and we'd start our set off with Mustang Sally.
A seven minute version of Mustang Sally. It was a three piece band and after each round of verse and chorus, the singer/bass player would shout "lets hear some more guitar!"
Three or four solos later, I had pulled out all my riffs and just had enough of that song.
I'm pretty sure the crowd had enough too.
After I quit the band, more due to the relationship with the bass player, I tried out for another cover band. They played similar tunes, but some songs I really didn't like. I stuck with them for a few jams but could'nt take it anymore. I told them it was too similar to the last band and I wanted to do something different. Also, all the singing was put on me and I didn't want to be a full on singer too. So I left and haven't played with anyone until this past August.
If you are not into it, then yes, you did the right thing. No sense in sticking around and playing tunes you are not happy with.

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:37 am
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You have to either love what you're playing or be desperate for the money to play some of those covers with tons of miles on 'em. I do know some girls that love to dance to some of them though and it all comes down to each individual's situation.

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:52 am
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While it would be wonderful to play nothing but originals or obscure songs, in this town no band that went that route ever lasted more than one gig at any of the dozens of venues. Yeah, it's great to be new and refreshing, but after 49 years of gigging I have found that...

PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR THE SONGS THEY KNOW!

They don't want to hear a band that plays only original stuff, mainly because it usually (not always, but usually) sucks! They don't want to hear the B side of a B side just because you think it's cool to play a song that never got above 40 (or 80 or nowhere) on the charts just so you can broaden the audience's horizons.

I've played the ritziest supper clubs, the casino circuit, the flatbed gigs at county fairs and the skankiest dives and the average audience, especially when they're fueled by liquor when you start set 3, doesn't care what YOU want to play, they want you to play the songs they know and love.

Sad, but true. If you're good enough to play Madison Square Garden, knock yourself out with your original songs. But if you're a working stiff who wants to play three nights a week, four weekends a month, you better dig out the oldies. Or damn sure be ready to play them when a drunk chick sticks a $10 bill in your face and demands Mustang Sally.

Or Proud Mary, for that matter.

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:28 am
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Mr. Pink, I didn't see you mention what other options you had. Myself, I'm rehearsing with a band that I have reservations about. When something better comes along, I'll make a move. Until then, it's all experience. But if the band just drives you nuts, then you have to end it.

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:38 am
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CRGuitarMan wrote:
While it would be wonderful to play nothing but originals or obscure songs, in this town no band that went that route ever lasted more than one gig at any of the dozens of venues. Yeah, it's great to be new and refreshing, but after 49 years of gigging I have found that...

PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR THE SONGS THEY KNOW!

They don't want to hear a band that plays only original stuff, mainly because it usually (not always, but usually) sucks! They don't want to hear the B side of a B side just because you think it's cool to play a song that never got above 40 (or 80 or nowhere) on the charts just so you can broaden the audience's horizons.

I've played the ritziest supper clubs, the casino circuit, the flatbed gigs at county fairs and the skankiest dives and the average audience, especially when they're fueled by liquor when you start set 3, doesn't care what YOU want to play, they want you to play the songs they know and love.

Sad, but true. If you're good enough to play Madison Square Garden, knock yourself out with your original songs. But if you're a working stiff who wants to play three nights a week, four weekends a month, you better dig out the oldies. Or damn sure be ready to play them when a drunk chick sticks a $10 bill in your face and demands Mustang Sally.

Or Proud Mary, for that matter.

Yep ;)
Frankly, and yes, going to be blunt. Take your friggin "EGO" out of it. You don't want to play the "old tired out covers"... blah, blah. Then don't. BUT... PLEASE.. don't come off with the "I'm better than this" attitude. Want to get paid for playing out?... Play the songs peeps want to hear.
AND further more.. If the Band you hook up with has got talent... and you're GOOD at playing Guitar... you'll have FUN playing them if you allow yourself to be creative with it. Granted, if the band is uncreative and lacking in talent then... it is a drag.
But, of course, this is just my opinion... Rock On!
And know... back to our regularly scheduled program

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:49 am
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CRGuitarman and strat-slinger have very valid points.

People want to hear Brown Eyed Girl and Mustang Sally, so change them around, mix them up, have fun with them and everybody's happy. We are a 4 pc, drum/guitar/singer/bass so we don't have keys to depend on. So we have to be rather flexible on how we play things and what we play so they don't sound empty. Another suggestion, and something we do, is don't put those "tired" songs in a set spot on the list for the night. Play some obscure stuff, some will work and some won't, but when you see the crowd may be slipping away refer to the "tired" list and bring them back.

For example for every Brown Eyed Girl we play we'll be hitting them with Graham Parker's version of "I want you Back" or something like that. Works for us.

Egos, many musicians have NO idea on how to seperate their ego from the music. Results in many bands breaking up for trivial reasons.


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Post subject: Re: Was I right to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:56 am
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Quote:
... wonderful tonight


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That whole set list tells me everything I need to know. The world doesn't need another band playing those songs. You did exactly what I would have done, thank them for the offer and politely decline.

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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:34 am
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WI KISSfan wrote:
CRGuitarman and strat-slinger have very valid points.

People want to hear Brown Eyed Girl and Mustang Sally, so change them around, mix them up, have fun with them and everybody's happy.

Um, no. The audience wants to hear the version they know and love, not something new and exciting. You can add four or eight bar variations in the middle, but you have to come back to the song as they know it.
If they want to hear "Wonderful Tonight" or "Sweet Home Alabama", chances are they don't want to hear a Sigur Ros interpretation.

If you hate the songs that the audience wants, you're not playing the right venue.


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Post subject: Re: Was I rihght to leave my band?
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:35 am
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I tend to agree that those songs as well as a whole lot of others just like them are totally overplayed and I sympathize with anyone reluctant to play them. I could go the rest of my life never playing any of those songs ever again and I would be perfectly happy.

However….

As much as I hate to admit it whenever I've played those songs people got up to dance. You can knock them all you like (and I'll be right there with you) but the truth is … any song that gets people to put down their drinks and get off their butts to dance has every right to be on a set list whether we like it or not.

If we are playing solely to entertain ourselves we needn't bother playing gigs. Musicians choose their own musical preferences by a different criteria than the average John Q Public. This much is plainly evident by nothing more complicated than a quick glance at the Top 40 charts. You wanna play in a gigging band? Then you have to start making compromises. You have to start playing songs you don't wanna play. If all you want to do is rehearse and never gig then play what pleases you.

Otherwise, write your own music and play that.

My 2¢

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