A show today that I'm....apathetic about?

[The_Sentry]

Damn.

You know, at one point in my life I would have been happy to take any....ANY PAYING GIG. I feel apathy for today's show that I have agreed to play.....I know I have no right to...but I feel that way all the same.

I guess maybe it's the place. It's the same place where we got our start, that we played for as a house band for months. That kicked off in June...and the bass player and I have technically been there since April because before that we were in the previous band with the semi-established artist. So...in a way it's the same place, and I really don't think it's going to be much of anything except for a paid practice. Granted...those are great! I should be thankful someone thinks enough of the band to keep booking us there.

But play enough of those...and one starts to wonder "Is there something wrong with us?" as we play to tumbleweeds rolling by. I have to admit the only audience I'm expecting at all is maybe....a dog to come walking up on the deck to howl before it leaves.

Now, does my band suck? I don't think so. I'm in 2 bands, used to be in 3...there is something really cool about this band. We were able to really read each other first time out we ever jammed. Technically, the 3 of us have never had a practice....every time we've played...it's been in front of people. It's really sort of been a healthy pressure cooker (even though I think sometimes it prevents us from working on more technically challenging songs.) The bass player and I work on stuff off the stage, but once the drummer is there...so far...it's always been a gig. Usually a playing one.

I think there's a few things about this band though that have to be realized as far as this gig, our audience (or potential audience), and the market we play in.

First: I really think we've "worn out the gig" in that place. Seriously. We have amassed 5 sets of material in the space of 3 and half or 4 months, and I figure by next month we'll have close to a full set of original material. But I honestly believe no matter how good a band is, eventually people are going to get tired of that band. I don't think we can learn enough new material.

Second: I think because of the location, we're the wrong kind of band for that area. Country bands typically do better up here. Granted, we're not a metal band at all...but we are a rock and roll band...with some psychedelic and funk overtones. We try to cover a lot of different material, and the root of our stuff seems to lie in these takes we have over the Chess records material and jams that just seem to fall into place. Either way....we've been told we put on a good show, but we're not a country band...and I have no interest in playing country except for maybe a few songs to acknowledge it for the sake of having a varied repetoire.

(We were supposed to play a gig elsewhere today...and we were going to do it for free with a benefit just to get off the mountain...but the dude never called back. I don't think the gig is blown....but at the same time, priorities.....we usually don't turn down gigs....even if it's gigs like this.)

Third: I think it's a blessing and a curse....but...we don't sound like other bands. I'll admit that as a singer, I don't have the talent or ability to sound like a lot of classic rock artists out there. So...I've sort of made up my own style. Sometimes the pitch or the key will be altered with songs so it's comftorable for me. I also don't learn solos note for note. The songs that demand that sort of thing...I tend to avoid. (We don't play any Ozzy songs because of this). On a lot of songs I will learn the major riffs or key melodic lines, but I think it's cool to have leeway to make the songs "ours"....I think forcing songs isn't always a good thing. Especially if people are expecting a show.

Fourth: It's a daytime show on a Sunday. How much can people get into this? Maybe a little. I played a show yesterday with another band for a biker run....God, I'm starting to despise those shows as well...even though I have no right to. We've played 2 or 3 so far...and I have to admit that as far as I'm concerned...they're some of the rudest f'in people I've ever had the displeasure of playing for. When they're sober....they don't applaud by and large as a consolidated audience (not even politiely)...OK, that's fine...but don't sit there and act like that and then ask the band to do a jukebox special...."Uh...hey...do you know...any Styx?....uh....how about...the Eagles? Yeah! I wanna hear the Eagles!!! Play me some f'in Eagles, man!"



We're a 3 piece band. I'm the only one that sings in it. And the other band...well, no..they're not going to play your pop songs. It's a blues band. And no, it doesn't help that you're dealing with people who don't really want to hear that band in the first place...or any band....so much as background music....I honestly think that in some cases, people waste their time booking bands for people who'd just rather listen to a f'ing jukebox.

Anyways...

We try to be accommodating on that front...but jeez, I think after this weekend I got rubbed the wrong way with those folks. I also think that if that's bad sober, it's worse at night because then you're dealing with audiences up here that are tweaked out on meth and other recreational drugs that don't exact induce "good times" at all....which can be scary as shit.

Anyways....FYI....remember that scene from the Blues Brothers where they walked into "Bob's Country Bunker" and rocked it? Eh...doesn't happen that way. We'll leave the chicken wire up...and hopefully we'll get another push into the urban markets nearby or at least the winery circuit where we can play some blues and do just fine....

(OK, rant over. I'm very happy someone appreciates us enough to keep booking us there...even if it's because a football game went on blackout status. )

 

[Kramble]

Have videos of your band ?

 

[mrpesca]

Sentry, I've been a mechanic for twenty years and I still have to change oil sometimes. It just goes with the territory.

 

[The_Sentry]

Sentry, I've been a mechanic for twenty years and I still have to change oil sometimes. It just goes with the territory.

Oh yeah....I hear ya on that. As stated...I'm happy for the show....but at the same time, I'm havin' a hard time gettin' up for it....if you know what I mean...

Have videos of your band ?

That was shot a while back on a cheap camera. I think we've improved a lot since then...

 

[Drudeboy]

Do they really have chicken wire up?

 

[Kramble]

I think you have a great voice for this kind of music.

 

[The_Sentry]

Do they really have chicken wire up?

There should in one bar down the road where we also play. Last week there was a stabbing and one reported incident of a gun being pulled on someone in the parking lot.

Gotta love biker gangs....

I think you have a great voice for this kind of music.

Thanks Kramble. I have to admit that a lot of times I look at how I sound...but also how I come off onstage. The rest of the guys don't move much, so I try to jump around, get audience participation...stick my tongue out at 'em...play peekaboo with the hat...whatever I can do to make 'em laugh or whatever....

 

[diceman]

You guys sound good.

Do you play any originals? I'm guessing "no" since you don't have rehearsals.

We've had a rash of crappy gigs with good gigs sporadically mixed in - but lately we've been having some fantastic gigs. Building up a "fan base," etc. I think that you've got your work cut out for you as a cover band. A lot of the people we get in the door are people who have been told by word of mouth that they need to hear a couple of our original (and controversial!) songs - not because we're necessarily an amazing band.

It does sound like much of the curse is the "cover band," though. We've never had any requests - and the only reason that the people in front of us are there is to hear our band and a couple of others playing that night - we're never "background music."

 

[The_Sentry]

You guys sound good.

Do you play any originals? I'm guessing "no" since you don't have rehearsals.

We've had a rash of crappy gigs with good gigs sporadically mixed in - but lately we've been having some fantastic gigs. Building up a "fan base," etc. I think that you've got your work cut out for you as a cover band. A lot of the people we get in the door are people who have been told by word of mouth that they need to hear a couple of our original (and controversial!) songs - not because we're necessarily an amazing band.

It does sound like much of the curse is the "cover band," though. We've never had any requests - and the only reason that the people in front of us are there is to hear our band and a couple of others playing that night - we're never "background music."

Actually....I've got 8 or 9 in the can. The band knows 3 of 'em....we could probably pull off 4 along along with a couple of instrumentals. That's the work on it....but I figure we're doin' OK with that in light of how long we've been together. I'm hoping that by next month we'll have a full set of originals so we can at least get in on a showcase with bands doing originals...and in 3 months we'll have 2 sets of originals. There's a few more cover songs to learn...but it's kind of a balancing act. The band has already agreed that the best way for us to do our originals at this point is to "trojan horse" 'em into the sets.

I have a couple of controversial songs...on one...I need to get a delay pedal for it...but we could probably pull it off w/o one....

On word of mouth....flyers....you know....sometimes I wonder about those. I did budget in a weekly entertainment mag for solid advertising for 3 months...we're really hoping it'll get us some gigs with a slightly different clientele.

I really think your band (based on what I've seen in the pics) is starting to take off, Dice. I can't wait for that to happen with this band. (I'll also admit...I don't think it's a question of "if" so much as "when"....but at the same time I know that gigs like today's really don't contribute much towards that at all.)

 

[diceman]

The Trojan Horse is a good idea!

Also - quite honestly - flyers make a huge difference. The gigs which we don't promote always have much smaller turnouts it seems.

I'd be interested in hearing your original stuff once you get them on video.

As for my band, our drummer can't find a job (web design and welding) and is going to join the Army at 29 years old. So, we'll be on a quest for a drummer after 2.5 years, unfortunately. I can't hardly tell him that the Army is a bad move - it was very good to me (although life sucks much of the time) and I'd do it over again in an instant. It'll be terrible to see him go, though. He'll be up at meps in a few weeks getting checked out.

 

[The_Sentry]

The Trojan Horse is a good idea!

Also - quite honestly - flyers make a huge difference. The gigs which we don't promote always have much smaller turnouts it seems.

I'd be interested in hearing your original stuff once you get them on video.

As for my band, our drummer can't find a job (web design and welding) and is going to join the Army at 29 years old. So, we'll be on a quest for a drummer after 2.5 years, unfortunately. I can't hardly tell him that the Army is a bad move - it was very good to me (although life sucks much of the time) and I'd do it over again in an instant. It'll be terrible to see him go, though. He'll be up at meps in a few weeks getting checked out.

Well...I like the concept of flyers...just don't know if they work up here. It is a pretty rural area.

Anyways...dude...you're losing your drummer? Man...that's tough. I gotta agree that at 29...that's a rought time to be joinin' the Army. It might be good for him, though...time will tell. (I hope he doesn't mind taking orders from guys that are 9-10 years younger than he is, though...)

Dice...I hope you've got another drummer on standby...man....the drummer (at least in my opinion) makes or breaks the band. Someone once said that most guys can have an off night...miss a few notes here and there...but if you're drummer's off it can be immediately felt by the entire audience.

(OK, so I'm a big fan of drummers! I'll admit it! )

As far as more originals....some of 'em I'm pulling off my wolfsrun site. I've got 2 that the bass player gave me that I'm flushing out. The drummer's got a couple. We entered a battle of the bands this month with recording time as the prize. I'm very confident our band with either win it or do very well....

 

[The Mick2]

All part of the territory being a local musician is tough. I know I don't want to see the same group night after night so I'm sure no one else does ether. I think it is why I started a new band every two years+/-. Ether the fans got tired of us or I got tired of us and I would move on. Playing to the door guy and the bar tenders gets old.

 

[diceman]

Best of luck with the BOTB!! We are going to do some recording with a well established band a couple of hours from here who have a studio setup - and will be sure to get a few good tracks down before our drummer leaves. We don't know anyone who we'd want to drum for us... we are all "friends" more than just band mates, so that really puts a wrench in things. None of use want to just have "the drummer" who shows up for gigs and practice - but I guess those friendships will forge themselves eventually so long as he isn't a douchebag. That will be a huge challenge, though - and I agree that the drummer really is the backbone. Any of the rest of us would have been easier to replace than him. Our bass player in particular is crushed, and is talking like he won't play in a band without having Joe on drums. We'll see.

I gave Joe the big talk about Army life - good and bad - he's still all in. He's looking at computer jobs, so I guess his life will be a little more laid back as compared to what mine was (and I'm guessing yours as well - not sure what your MOS was - but I do know you were deployed...)

As for flyers - We do a lot of "hand bills" and just walk around the day before the show handing them out around town (mall, grocery store, University, etc.).

Are you guys still considering touring?

 

[The_Sentry]

Best of luck with the BOTB!! We are going to do some recording with a well established band a couple of hours from here who have a studio setup - and will be sure to get a few good tracks down before our drummer leaves. We don't know anyone who we'd want to drum for us... we are all "friends" more than just band mates, so that really puts a wrench in things. None of use want to just have "the drummer" who shows up for gigs and practice - but I guess those friendships will forge themselves eventually so long as he isn't a douchebag. That will be a huge challenge, though - and I agree that the drummer really is the backbone. Any of the rest of us would have been easier to replace than him. Our bass player in particular is crushed, and is talking like he won't play in a band without having Joe on drums. We'll see.

I gave Joe the big talk about Army life - good and bad - he's still all in. He's looking at computer jobs, so I guess his life will be a little more laid back as compared to what mine was (and I'm guessing yours as well - not sure what your MOS was - but I do know you were deployed...)

As for flyers - We do a lot of "hand bills" and just walk around the day before the show handing them out around town (mall, grocery store, University, etc.).

Are you guys still considering touring?

Yeah.....that's always good...handing 'em out....we're so regional though...and the gigs are so spread out...sometimes it's hard for us to get to some of these places to do the canvassing. (then there's also that issue of hanging 'em and people taking them down.)

As for touring....I guess the biggest factor in that is my personal job situation. The band's pretty much of the opinion I should ride out the job and let 'em fire me if they have that much of an issue with my extracurricular activities.

I would also like to see what this band sounds like at the 6 month mark...and yeah, I really think we do need a couple of "pick me up" gigs. A paid gig is a paid gig, but it's really hard when you're considering that and you show up to play for dogs, bartenders and waitresses only.

 

[diceman]

Play a free show somewhere and get a good crowd! We play plenty of "free" gigs since we only get paid after the door and sound guy. Those shows suck. We played a breast cancer benefit last night (well, we hosted it in memory of our drummer's grandmother) and canvassed the hell out of it - all proceeds went to a cancer foundation, and we had an amazing turnout (in large part due to the show being a benefit, I think). We made exactly $0.00 at the show, but it was one of the best shows we've ever had (I tentatively ranked it 5th. ) - and we raised $500 for cancer.

Maybe try and find a nice little venue, charge a $4-5 cover, add a couple of bands to the bill, canvass the hell out of it, have a bunch of people there just to hear music, make no money, and have a great show!

 

[The_Sentry]

Play a free show somewhere and get a good crowd! We play plenty of "free" gigs since we only get paid after the door and sound guy. Those shows suck. We played a breast cancer benefit last night (well, we hosted it in memory of our drummer's grandmother) and canvassed the hell out of it - all proceeds went to a cancer foundation, and we had an amazing turnout (in large part due to the show being a benefit, I think). We made exactly $0.00 at the show, but it was one of the best shows we've ever had (I tentatively ranked it 5th. ) - and we raised $500 for cancer.

Maybe try and find a nice little venue, charge a $4-5 cover, add a couple of bands to the bill, canvass the hell out of it, have a bunch of people there just to hear music, make no money, and have a great show!

Yeah...I think that's one of the reasons I'm a bit bummed today. We were supposed to do one of those but the booker didn't verify the showtime with the drummer who books our gigs. (they said he had some personal issues this week...whatever.)

So I booked this one instead. I'd rather be playin' the freebie for the benefit today TBH about it.

PS: The pics of your benefit show looked great! That had to be a fun gig.

 

[diceman]

Thanks! I'll hopefully have some better pictures in the next couple of days. My sister was there and used my camera - stood way back from the stage and took the bulk of the pix from a slow blues jam that we do. So, they aren't too exciting!

Throw your own benefit! We just did "Save The Boobies." And, "Save The Nuts" will be next.

Booking is always a nightmare. To compound our current problem, our drummer also runs the promotion company that books almost all of our shows (HE has 2 venues that he books for, and about 25 bands to pull from - us included). When he leaves, the promotion company dissolves, and the rest of us don't have the time to put in to it. So much for regular gigs.

 

[The_Sentry]

Thanks! I'll hopefully have some better pictures in the next couple of days. My sister was there and used my camera - stood way back from the stage and took the bulk of the pix from a slow blues jam that we do. So, they aren't too exciting!

Throw your own benefit! We just did "Save The Boobies." And, "Save The Nuts" will be next.

Booking is always a nightmare. To compound our current problem, our drummer also runs the promotion company that books almost all of our shows (HE has 2 venues that he books for, and about 25 bands to pull from - us included). When he leaves, the promotion company dissolves, and the rest of us don't have the time to put in to it. So much for regular gigs.

Damn, man. Isn't there a way he can do that that will help pay the bills? It sounds like your drummer is pretty much indespensable. Even aside from the drumming at the gigs.

You're right about the benefit, though. I'd love to get a couple of bands lined up for that. We've been talking to another band to do just this.