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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> First time out !!!
        
(Message started by: assaultme on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:11pm)

Title: First time out !!!
Post by assaultme on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:11pm

Well, I have never played my drums out.
My partner & songwriter Dave and I have been practicing our own original tunes for a few years or so.
So I have had NO experience playing with others and only practice "cover tunes" bu myself.

Tonight we had our open house at work that we have to show customers & engineers a good time. We do this because it brings in new business.

Our owner Terry and one of our field guys have a band and play together often times alone with only a drum machine.
I found out that they were going to play the party and offered to play the drum parts for them.

I went & got about 3/4's of my drum kit (because it is too big to bring it all) and set up to play.

They do mostly country, swing and some rock music. I picked out about 10 tunes from their play list to play with them. I play only rock music and my drums are very loud.
Their amps were not very powerful so I had to adjust my playing style to accommodate.

Now, playing with people you have never played with before is very difficult, even for a pro...which I am not.
The bass player is supposed to give the "sit-in" drummer signals for breaks, bridges and pauses & ends.

He is supposed to do this because it helps you get in the pocket so to speak.

Mark (the bass player) didn't give me any signals, so I had to really concentrate. I don't get stage fright or anything like that. For whatever reason, I just don't have that problem.
I was, however, really nervous about making a mistake...just because I want to play 100%

I did really well because a few of the guys told me I did excellent considering the difficulty. My son wont lie to me either, he'll tell me if I sucked.

He said, all things considered, I did just fine.

So, I have a damn good day today, plus got paid my normal wage for it.

Got the drums there & back safely, played good and had a blast !!!!

I couldn't be happier and consider it a very good start.

Brewcrew, you might have some insight into this subject....slap it on me !!!

Anyways, I had a great time and wanted to share my pleasant experience with y'all.

Cheers, Dave

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Jonny on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:17pm

[smiley=headbanger.gif] [smiley=me&mb.gif] [smiley=headbanger.gif]

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Redd on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:18pm

I"m thinking a Clusterhead band. Dave on drums, Brew on bass, I'll sing lead or back up depending the song. Now we need lead and rythem guitarists who can also sing and have an ear for harmony's as we're set. Maybe a keybordist, but that makes a 6 piece band and thats alot of equipment on a stage.

Hmmmm got me thinking now. Pipe dreams...

;;D

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:20pm

A special thanks on behalf of the Band and I hope we passed the audition. -- Ringo

Cool Dave!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by assaultme on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:30pm

on 10/19/07 at 21:20:39, Kevin_M wrote:

A special thanks on behalf of the Band and I hope we passed the audition. -- Ringo

Cool Dave!

Get back...right Kevin ?

I remember that line...think it was Ringo wasnt it?

My favourite Ringo line was when they asked him: "Ringo, are you a mod or a rocker?"

As quickly as it was asked, Ringo said: No, I'm a mocker" [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Tell you what Pegg...if you could sing "Heat Wave" like Martha Reeves or Linda Rhondstat, I love to play with y'all.

That is a great song.

Thanks Jonny, I figured you would like my short 15 minutes of fame [smiley=laugh.gif]

Yeah, my life is fairly well mundane. Like I said: "Even a blind hog finds an ear of corn once & a while" [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Cheers, Dave

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Linda_Howell on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:39pm

This thread is useless without a audio link. ;;D

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 19^th, 2007, 9:46pm

Quote:

A special thanks on behalf of the Band and I hope we passed the audition. -- Ringo

on 10/19/07 at 21:30:18, assaultme wrote:

Get back...right Kevin ?

I remember that line...think it was Ringo wasnt it?

Yes pumpkin cupcake, good guess. ;;D

Hey Dave, sounds like you adapted and concentrated well. ;)

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Brewcrew on Oct 19^th, 2007, 10:06pm

All I can say is that Mark was not much of a bass player if he didn't:

take you under his wing
spend a few minutes before you started talking through some of the changes and stops
maintain almost constant eye contact with you
and position himself so he could see your kick foot.

The upside of that is that it forced you to make it happen that much more by yourself. That way, it turned into even more of a learning experience for you. Sounds like it went really well. Congrats!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Jonny on Oct 19^th, 2007, 10:14pm

on 10/19/07 at 21:30:18, assaultme wrote:

Thanks Jonny, I figured you would like my short 15 minutes of fame [smiley=laugh.gif]

Dude, I gave you eight horns and two brews up because you got out there and kicked ass even with a suck bass player.

You have more than 15 minutes, bro......just go for it like i did with my company!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by assaultme on Oct 19^th, 2007, 10:23pm

Thanks Jonny. It means something coming from Brew, Kevin, Pegg & you considering y'all know and enjoy music.

BTW Pal,,,you're in big trouble !!!

Word on the street is, Vanster is gonna turn you into the FCC, Washington, the Vatican, and possibly the environmental protection agency for having a personality !!! [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Cheers, Dave

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 19^th, 2007, 10:34pm

on 10/19/07 at 22:23:44, assaultme wrote:

BTW Pal,,,you're in big trouble !!!

Word on the street is, Vanster is gonna ...

The word got from his sewer to the street somehow.

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Callico on Oct 20^th, 2007, 1:03am

Great! You only get one first time, an I'm glad it went well. That seems to be your love, so go for it as far as you can.

Jerry

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by ski2k on Oct 20^th, 2007, 4:42am

Awesome, Dave!!

Glad to hear it! Something I've always wanted to do, but I can't play an instrument. I can sing a little, but that's it.

Happy to hear you had a good time!

Adam

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Oct 20^th, 2007, 6:23am

Way to go Dave !!!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Oct 20^th, 2007, 6:35am

Way to go Dave - good on ya for getting out there.

Now if y'all would add a pedal steel or a Dobro into the mix -ahhhhhhhhhhhh sorry, just a little dream of mine!!!!

I keep trying to turn all you rockers into Tim McGraw or something! ;;D

Carol

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by Melissa on Oct 20^th, 2007, 8:39am

Oooo, that sounds so cool! I always wanted to be in a band. As a lead vocalist tho, but my voice isn't powerful enough and vibrato is hard for me to attain also. :(

Could I be a backup singer in the cluster band? ;;D

Way to go Dave!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by DennisM1045 on Oct 20^th, 2007, 8:53am

Way to go Dave! [smiley=headbanger.gif] I'm glad you finally stepped out and put it on the line. That takes some guts. Stepping on stage cold with guys you've never played with had to be a real challenge. But us clusterheads aren't known for backing down from a challange are we ;)

-Dennis-

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by JenniferD on Oct 20^th, 2007, 10:53am

on 10/19/07 at 21:39:38, Linda_Howell wrote:

This thread is useless without a audio link. ;;D

LOL Linda!

Sounds like a helluva good time Dave, good for you!!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by HeadhurtinMama on Oct 20^th, 2007, 10:56am

Dave,
Next time you do a local gig, lemme know!!!

Bridget
Now post a video!

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by assaultme on Oct 20^th, 2007, 11:14am

on 10/20/07 at 10:56:00, HeadhurtinMama wrote:

Dave,
Next time you do a local gig, lemme know!!!

Bridget
Now post a video!

Ya know Bridget if I can ever get Dave to focus long enough, we can get the 12 or so tunes we have written done & ready to play out with. Of course it will require us to do cover tunes as well. You can never expect to gig anywhere and get paid a dime if you don't do covers.

As much as I don't like trying to cover other artists tunes, it is a reality of gigging clubs. Nothing to me is more annoying than a bar band doing a bad cover of "Were an American band"...yuk !! Or Mony, Mony with a stupid explicative thrown in. Yeah, Tommy James would shudder !!!

We are working on finding a bass player right now...it is going very slowly. You might not believe how difficult it is to find 3 or 4 people who are able to work together in a "creative or arts" type of situation.

We have a few tunes we have recorded which I am very fond of , but our recording equipment needs upgraded.

Brew gets it when it comes to the bass player & drummer being "locked together" and the importance of cues to the new guy as it relates to getting the entire tune right.

If the bass player is trying to do 1/4 notes to "drive" the tune, the drummer must know where to put the bass drum hits. A bass drum & bass player hitting 1/4 notes together in perfect time can make a tune drive and have "punch" that can be done no other way...except maybe by a competent keyboard player.....but the bass is where it's at when it comes to that "bottom punch" or drive thing.

Anyways yeah!!! if we ever get it together, you & Travis will be my guest.

Regards, Dave

Title: Re: First time out !!!
Post by LeLimey on Oct 20^th, 2007, 11:46am

I'm so pleased for you Dave, you deserve it (((HUG)))