| Author |
Topic: What's YOUR BANDs' situation? |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:14 pm |
|
How does your band start out the evening in a club?
No introductions..........?
No Welcome to the crowd.........?
No intro' to the bar/serving staff....?
Just a first blast of "Pretty Woman" so loud the audience has nose bleeds?
Do they play one song rapidly after another or do they casually space out the tunes with a little silence so folks can have time to DRINK? or EAT?
What is today's logic for a club playing band? |
|
|
|
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:16 pm What's the difference today.....................
|
|
What is the defining difference in playing club music and playing dance hall music these days?
What's your take on the subject? |
|
|
|
Bob Mueller
From:
Mexican Hat, Utah, USA
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:20 pm ???? does it work
|
|
We start the first song with the worst one we know, that way every one drinks the whiskey hoping it will get better.
_________________
TELONICS PEDAL
NEW DELTA BLUES 5 and 5
Stupid D9th with half Day Setup
( DESERT ROSE FROM CHUCK )
LOVE IT !!!!!
NEW STEEL SEAT BY JOE
HOLDS ALL MY STUFF
Roland cube 80 xl (wow) |
|
|
|
Shane Glover
From:
Oklahoma, USA
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:33 pm
|
|
| We usually start out with 2 or 3 up tempo tunes. Then welcome the folks out to the club . Some clubs we have to play songs back to back because we have people standing on the dance floor waiting for the next song to start. Other venues are more of a drinking type establishment where some dead air is acceptable. I have fronted the band for years & after all this time it comes natural to me. But I am currently playing lead and trying to work some steel in, so I would like for my brother to take over the fronting Duties.Some nights he is right on top of things other nights not so much. He is gradually feeling more comfortable with the role. We are also breaking in a new bass player so the band has not settled into a routine as of yet.I figure in the next few months things will settle down & we'll be back to pickin & grinnin as usual!! |
|
|
|
Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:42 pm
|
|
Judging from the cumulative and consistent tone of your posts over the years, Ray, it must suck to be you. You seem to do nothing but go out and listen to bad music, terrible steel players that are beneath your contempt (and this would seem to be....everyone....) and, from your past references to hair-tossing pickers, gay night spots.
Perhaps a change in lifestyle would help. |
|
|
|
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 3:48 pm Gee whiz..................
|
|
I didn't mean to ruffle your feathers there......O' GREAT ONE!
These were merely observatons ANYONE can make when they drop into an establishment without knowing what's going on musically, on the inside. Perhaps my being sober and taking my music seriously makes the difference in what IS and what ain't generally acceptable as music.
But you know liberals these days.........ANYTHING GOES! and apologize for those things you don't personally understand.....
I'll keep YOU in mind in my future posts. |
|
|
|
Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 4:51 pm
|
|
Ray
The last group I picked with had a front man that felt the
crowd -- if thats the right word -- he would do different type
tunes until he would see a response and then work the material
from there . he also interacted with the audience -- this was the same
doing a street gig , dance hall or a club .
Hick |
|
|
|
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 5:12 pm That IS the way it used to be............
|
|
Glad to hear it.
That's the way the 'great' bands did it in the earlier days.......
It seems to be a lost art in today's world.Do you suppose there simply are too many self-taught guys out there today with LOUD g'tars that never saw any advantage in paying their dues to learn to perform music the right way? Might that be WHY country music died? Perhaps there was no murder on Music Row, just on our own bandstands?
5 individuals knocking their socks off behind a lead drummer......and NO ONE, working together as a group?
NOW, hope this doesn't upset anyone in New York....I can't take too many of those A-- Chewings....but I will because there are several thousand Forumites out there that also have a personal viewpoint. |
|
|
|
Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 5:21 pm Re: That IS the way it used to be............
|
|
| Ray Montee wrote: |
Glad to hear it.
NOW, hope this doesn't upset anyone in New York....I can't take too many of those A-- Chewings....but I will because there are several thousand Forumites out there that also have a personal viewpoint. |
Hey Ray !!
Jon a good guy , he must have been playing with
his wife’s taiser gun again .   |
|
|
|
Glen Derksen
From:
Alberta, Canada
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 5:22 pm
|
|
| All I know is that I play lead guitar in a classic/oldies Rock band, we don't play all that loud, we try to avoid too much dead space between songs if one of us goes out of tune or has to switch a guitar, and everyone inclding the band is having fun and totally diggin' it. |
|
|
|
John McGuire
From:
Swansea,Illinois, USA
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 5:57 pm
|
|
| Quote: |
| How does your band start out the evening in a club? |
1st song is always Buckaroo works good to tweek the sound if need be.A quick welcome to the folks and say the name of the band and lets us know if they have any request.Then another Buck Owens song, different one everynight.(hey He's 1 of my favorites and it's my band)  Normally 3 or 4 up tempo songs then try a slow one, It depends on the crowd. No dancers on fast songs and they do on slow then we play more slow. I watch the dance floor and walk the tables and talk on break. We use a set list just to keep things moving 15-17 songs first set (hour) and 10-12 sets 2,3,4. 45min. That's how we do it. |
|
|
|
Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 9:01 pm
|
|
"Do you suppose there simply are too many self-taught guys out there today with LOUD g'tars that never saw any advantage in paying their dues to learn to perform music the right way?" That would be me,Can't read a note yet somehow I still find work with some great players aint that a kick in the cajones?I also still play with peeps half my age and I'm digging it.Ray I don't know you personally but you seem to be a very bitter person that is stuck in the past and that aint a healthy way to think in a fast moving world,and no I'm not gonna N.Y. your butt it would be to easy,although I've never seen anyone here piss off Jon Light so It might be time to take a very hard look at yourself...Go hang out with younger players,who knows you might make some new friends but ya gotta get rid of the attitude it aint doing you no good.
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
|
|
|
Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
|
Posted 8 Jul 2009 10:56 pm
|
|
| We play for dancing venues only. We play 20 songs on the first set(1 hr,). 15 minute break on the hr. and 15 songs on the remaining sets. At the start, we welcome the crowd, then do 3 songs back to back, say a short something to the crowd, then 3 more etc. The band members are introduced on the second set as per an instrumental. The people get their moneys worth from the band. During the instrument break on the last song, we thank the crowd, management and staff. Jody. |
|
|
|
Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 3:53 am
|
|
Club: They want it loud, fast and all get rowdy and lets get drunk!. They club makes more that way.
Dance (when you can find one): Generally they want a good mix of material. |
|
|
|
Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:21 am
|
|
I dig hearing about how things used to be. Its a perspective I seldom get anywhere else and its fascinating and alien to me. 
I'd go on ahead and tell you what the situation is with MY band, but it would be like describing another planet compared to your world. Im not playing the same kind of clubs, not playing to the same kind of people, dont have any of your history..its not apples and oranges, its apples and lagbolts. |
|
|
|
Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:34 am
|
|
Since the beginning of time there have been acts that "get it" and acts that don't.
This generation of bands is no better or worse then any other.
I'd hate to generalize. I can see examples of good and bad any night of the week.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
|
|
|
|
Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:56 am
|
|
Ray, I feel very lucky in my band situation. I'm enjoying it much more just doing weekends than I ever did full time. My wife and I have our own band and I do lead and steel. She's the lead vocalist and emcee mostly but we all contribute to that a little.
We usually start off with "Sugarfoot Rag" and then go into a ballad followed by an up tempo tune. We usually try to do the old "one slow" "one fast" thing and it seems to work out good for the places we play as the crowds are mostly the older folks.
After four or five songs I'll cut back the volume on a guitar or steel ride and my wife will introduce the band and then we'll resume our set.
I have a bass player who's a dream to play with. He's an old "Phart" (74) but he's rock solid and always makes the gig on time, helps with equipment, etc. What I really love about him though is his catalog of songs! He does all the Merle Haggard classics (in the right keys) and also a bunch of other goodies by folks like Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson.
My wife on the other hand is more versatile in her selections and rounds out the band. She does country classics, old rock & roll, old pop standards, and on some gigs, a gospel tune or two. Plus she's always on the bandstand dancing when she's not singing and sometimes even when she's singing.
The only drawback to the band is that I have to furnish the PA equipment but the guys help with the set up so that's not too bad I guess.......Here's a shot of our band........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
|
|
|
Bill Bassett
From:
Papamoa New Zealand
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 2:21 pm
|
|
These days I have a couple of different things going.
On the one hand, I get to do 4 nights a week at a cowboy chuckwagon dinner show, The Blazin M Ranch.
( www.blazinm.com ) Every word is scripted, every laugh is calculated and every obvious screw-up is part of the show. This is a top notch bunch of pros and I am proud to be part of it. The audience gets a little of everything from The Sons of the Pioneers to Roadhog Moran, from Vaughn Monroe to Krusty The Klown. (These are examples of style mind you, not direct rip-offs.)
The whole show is fun and challanging to do night after night and do it well.
On the other hand I get to play in a little classic rock band called The Retros. 4 guys in our 50s playing songs that frankly not everyone else plays but that everyone knows. That show is a lot more casual but we always recommend tipping the bar tenders and wait-staff and plug our web site ( www.azretros.com ) and have a good time doing it too.
BDBassett
Rimrock AZ |
|
|
|
Joe Miraglia
From:
Jamestown N.Y.
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 3:28 pm
|
|
Good evening we're" Willow Creek",glad to the here!
Now will every one over 50 please leave! I'm the first one to leave Joe
www.willowcreekband.com
side note " Pretty Woman" is a oldie,a song from the past  |
|
|
|
Joe Miraglia
From:
Jamestown N.Y.
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 3:55 pm Re: What's YOUR BANDs' situation?
|
|
| Ray Montee wrote: |
What is today's logic for a club playing band? |
Having fun,making people have a good time.
We play the song "save the horse ride the cowboy" in the middle of it we shout out we're having a WillowCreek good time. It's not just about music, Joe |
|
|
|
chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 5:05 pm
|
|
| A couple months ago, we did a week of one-nighters, with 2 other bands of young guys, from LA, San Jose, Sacramento, Reno, Portland and Seattle to Coeur d'Alene and we were reminded of why old guys don't do that. Typically we have 15 minutes to get on, we do a set of 35-45 minutes, depending on the venue, and 5 minutes to get off. The music is sort of prog/metal/rock and it's very loud. |
|
|
|
Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 5:53 pm
|
|
Chas, Sorry but I completely missed the promo for your Portland gig. Please let me know if you are ever playing in Portland again.
Thx,
pete b. |
|
|
|
Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 7:13 pm Re: That IS the way it used to be............
|
|
| Ray Montee wrote: |
It seems to be a lost art in today's world.Do you suppose there simply are too many self-taught guys out there today with LOUD g'tars that never saw any advantage in paying their dues to learn to perform music the right way? Might that be WHY country music died? Perhaps there was no murder on Music Row, just on our own bandstands?
|
Don't forget about the audience in the scheme of things here. There's an awful lot of apathy going on with club audiences as well these days, so much so that a lot of clubs are shutting down because people don't even care enough to go see live music anymore. THey'd rather stay home and surf and net and watch big screen TV's. There's a lot more at play than just bad musicians. They've been around forever.
I've tried to engage many audiences in clubs as a front man, only to be shut down with rudeness, ignorance, and apathy. You get tired of it after while, the boozy people who stagger up and yell at you. Thank God for the soft seater shows and concerts, because the audiences in many clubs are downright belligerent and mean. Sometimes I feel lucky if they're just minding their own business and not paying me any attention at all when I do solo acoustic. Every so often I'll throw in a bad vocal line or off-chord to check and see if they're listening. No problem to get their attention then. I rarely play solo these days. I need to be part of a loud, rockin' band if I'm entertaining in a bar.
So when you're talking about clubs, it's all about what it's always been about: drinking and fooling around with the opposite sex. The band is merely a soundtrack. Many times I've been playing and realized that the band were the only sane people in the whole club.
Mostly what the audience wants from the band is MUSIC.....they don't care about all the niceties anymore.....they look up to people on TV like Donald Trump, Simon Cowell and buddy from that show House. It's cool to be an A#$%hole these days.
_________________
Jackson Steel Guitars
Web: www.chrisledrew.com |
|
|
|
Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 8:34 pm
|
|
We always start out with me doing a up tempo song on Steel. The people all leave we get paid and go home.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
|
|
|
chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
|
Posted 9 Jul 2009 8:42 pm
|
|
| Quote: |
| and realized that the band were the only sane people in the whole club. |
those people vote and procreate.
| Quote: |
| Chas, Sorry but I completely missed the promo for your Portland gig. Please let me know if you are ever playing in Portland again. |
Pete, we were out with The Trust Co and The Dreaming. The band I play with is Tack and the stuff we do is pretty "aggressive" with tight arrangements. Sometimes I play the guitar straight, but mostly it's power-chords, "grind-washes" and sometimes I play the guitar with glass. I can make a lot of noise. |
|
|
|
