Bumpy Moments with YOUR Band?

Franco Pepe Kalle · 01-21-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

I do solo stuff, which is terrifying. I've been playing a little bit in a garage jamming with some other musicians, but my live performance has been all me.

Probably the worst was a set in which I seriously got so tense, I decided to replace some of my more complex songs with some really easy songs I knew, because I was super-tense.

One of the songs I replaced a harder song with was VERY simple: The only chords in the song were Am, C, F, G. It was easily the simplest song I was going to play.

Things didn't go tragically awry - I was, however, for some reason unable to play the easy song...because I kept forgetting the lyrics. My hands were shaking so badly that the change from Am to C kept being weird, and I kept just singing the weirdest lyrics to the general tune of the song to cover. At one point, the lyrics became: "I'm on stage and can't play guitar / I'm onstage and my feet are asleep / I can't remember lyrics, I'll go far... / duh-duh-duh, lightning to strike."

It was nerve-wracking. My friends were kind and said they didn't even notice...because I just kept playing anyway...but I don't believe them.

Wow that sucks. Why did you decide to play guitar then.

Blarobbarg · 01-21-2012, 08:51 AM

I have honestly had no bad gigs. I'm on drums/djembe/random objects and usually get really into it so I'm always dancing around and excited, and so is the rest of whatever group I happen to be playing with that night... I usually don't play for big crowds, the most being around 50 or so... but I'm playing just for the joy of playing so it's no big deal.

I guess the worst one I ever did was the night I played with some friends and we hadn't practiced at all, and our EQ was totally screwed up, and there were about 7 people there. I was mostly upset about how much we sucked.

Unrelenting · 01-21-2012, 12:19 PM

There is a monthly artist showcase in my city. All sorts come out; acting troupes plugging their plays, contortionists, karaoke singers, improv groups, puppeteers, all kinds of neat things. My friend and I had a noise band. We played there 3 times. After the first time, we were only allowed back because the guy who organized it thought we were hilarious.

The third time we brought a bunch of strange things to use in our set: jars filled with shells, homemade tambourines, toy guns, and aluminum cans. We got a bunch of audience on stage to do sort of a "noise drum circle" thing. So we start barking at everyone to play faster and faster. By the end everyone was literally breaking **** on stage. The guy running it had to call an intermission after the set. He made my friend and I clean up, and the offenders didn't help a bit. They all "had to go" and just disappeared until the next act came on stage. The guy running it wasn't impressed and basically said that we weren't welcome back.

Blarobbarg · 01-21-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrelenting

There is a monthly artist showcase in my city. All sorts come out; acting troupes plugging their plays, contortionists, karaoke singers, improv groups, puppeteers, all kinds of neat things. My friend and I had a noise band. We played there 3 times. After the first time, we were only allowed back because the guy who organized it thought we were hilarious.

The third time we brought a bunch of strange things to use in our set: jars filled with shells, homemade tambourines, toy guns, and aluminum cans. We got a bunch of audience on stage to do sort of a "noise drum circle" thing. So we start barking at everyone to play faster and faster. By the end everyone was literally breaking **** on stage. The guy running it had to call an intermission after the set. He made my friend and I clean up, and the offenders didn't help a bit. They all "had to go" and just disappeared until the next act came on stage. The guy running it wasn't impressed and basically said that we weren't welcome back.

Dude... that's awesome. I want to be in that circle.

TockTockTock · 01-21-2012, 04:17 PM

Probably the bumpiest moment in my band is forming one...

Unrelenting · 01-21-2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Pat

Probably the bumpiest moment in my band is forming one...

It's hard to find reliable people who share even a slightly similar vision for their music

Guybrush · 01-22-2012, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrelenting

It's hard to find reliable people who share even a slightly similar vision for their music

I think it's easier to get together and work together as a concept band. The bands I've been in have generally had pretty clear concepts that we all understood.

An added benefit is that I find it easier to be creative within a frame as well. It's easier to sit down and think "Okay, I'm gonna make a shanty" or "I'm gonna compose a Morricone-ish western tune" than just "I'm gonna make a song". At least I generally think so.

Above · 01-22-2012, 08:43 AM

We had to kick the original vocalist out because he sucked, and his mum told me off for it. He couldn't play anything, and he can't sing, whereas the rest of us all play and sing well.

Oh, and I left this covers band, and they've been talking so much **** about me. Leaving a band is like breaking up with your partner. You can never be 'just friends' afterwards and it's awkward as hell.

Unrelenting · 01-22-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

I think it's easier to get together and work together as a concept band. The bands I've been in have generally had pretty clear concepts that we all understood.

An added benefit is that I find it easier to be creative within a frame as well. It's easier to sit down and think "Okay, I'm gonna make a shanty" or "I'm gonna compose a Morricone-ish western tune" than just "I'm gonna make a song". At least I generally think so.

I disagree personally. If I set out to make a specific kinda song then it comes off as sounding forced to me. Different strokes and all.

Blarobbarg · 01-22-2012, 09:08 PM

I agree. We never set out to write anything. It just happens. Usually by taking some lyrics somebody thought up and putting them to a chord progression someone else thought up. Once, using that method, we ended up with a 50's doowop/pop song with incredibly depressing lyrics involving drug addiction and suicide.

01-21-2012, 12:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
Unrelenting True to username Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,100	There is a monthly artist showcase in my city. All sorts come out; acting troupes plugging their plays, contortionists, karaoke singers, improv groups, puppeteers, all kinds of neat things. My friend and I had a noise band. We played there 3 times. After the first time, we were only allowed back because the guy who organized it thought we were hilarious. The third time we brought a bunch of strange things to use in our set: jars filled with shells, homemade tambourines, toy guns, and aluminum cans. We got a bunch of audience on stage to do sort of a "noise drum circle" thing. So we start barking at everyone to play faster and faster. By the end everyone was literally breaking **** on stage. The guy running it had to call an intermission after the set. He made my friend and I clean up, and the offenders didn't help a bit. They all "had to go" and just disappeared until the next act came on stage. The guy running it wasn't impressed and basically said that we weren't welcome back. __________________ My lastfm

01-22-2012, 08:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
Above Oh my golly! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: England Posts: 339	We had to kick the original vocalist out because he sucked, and his mum told me off for it. He couldn't play anything, and he can't sing, whereas the rest of us all play and sing well. Oh, and I left this covers band, and they've been talking so much **** about me. Leaving a band is like breaking up with your partner. You can never be 'just friends' afterwards and it's awkward as hell. __________________ Be pure, Be vigilant, Behave

01-21-2012, 08:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	I have honestly had no bad gigs. I'm on drums/djembe/random objects and usually get really into it so I'm always dancing around and excited, and so is the rest of whatever group I happen to be playing with that night... I usually don't play for big crowds, the most being around 50 or so... but I'm playing just for the joy of playing so it's no big deal. I guess the worst one I ever did was the night I played with some friends and we hadn't practiced at all, and our EQ was totally screwed up, and there were about 7 people there. I was mostly upset about how much we sucked.

01-21-2012, 04:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	Probably the bumpiest moment in my band is forming one...

01-22-2012, 09:08 PM	#20 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	I agree. We never set out to write anything. It just happens. Usually by taking some lyrics somebody thought up and putting them to a chord progression someone else thought up. Once, using that method, we ended up with a 50's doowop/pop song with incredibly depressing lyrics involving drug addiction and suicide.