Some bad news

Our bass player Doc has been struggling trying to make ends meet both financially and physically with his injured arm and has decided to move back to Missouri.

He has worked hard with me in this effort to put this band together and has been a good friend. I really hate to see him go but I understand completely the difficulty in fighting a battle with money and health issues.

He has family, including grand children, back in Missouri and old friends who have offered some relief and there is nothing like being around family to help you overcome a difficult situation.

It’s been a difficult decision on his part and after listening to him describe the benefits of moving, I have to agree that his decision is the right one for him.

The problems I am having putting together this band pale in comparison to the struggles of a person trying desperately to pull his personal life out of the abyss

I wish him well and hope he has better luck getting his life on track..

I have discussed this situation with Charles, the drummer, to see what his thoughts are on continuing to pursue the Cooter Creek Canyon Band project and a replacement bass player and he has expressed interest in continuing with the band project. The situation is further acerbated by the fact that Doc’s house is where we rehearse, leaving us with a search for new rehearsal space as well as a new bassist. Charles said he is willing to let us use his garage for practice.

I received a response to my Craigslist ad from a lead guitarist who also plays bass. I will go down to the Springs to see him play on Saturday and ask if he is comfortable with moving to bass while we continue our search for another bass player.

To be continued…..

Let's get this party started.

Had a good rehearsal last night. Songs are coming together nicely. We're looking at having 20 songs down pretty tight by our next practice. As soon as we get 20 songs tight I'll start booking.
By the time we enter the rotation in club schedules we should have the next 20 down pat. Looks like we'll be out and gigging sometime by the end of June.
I have a couple tricks up my sleeve to get maybe two or three club gigs by early June up here in the mountains.
Stay tuned and let's get this party started.

Drummer update and possible lead guitarist

After having our latest drummer bail on us last week, spirits were running low and I ran the ad on Craigslist for a replacement.

Doc (bass) called Charles and talked to him about why he quit. Turns out he was more put off about having to play a little softer than he was concerned about the long drive to practice. After some negotiation and a pair of bamboo sticks that muffle the sound of a hard hitting drummer, Charles decided to rejoin us. He'll be able to hit em hard when we play some of the larger rooms, but we like to keep the volume down during practice.

Last nights rehearsal started off a little slow, but within a couple songs we hit a groove and got a lot of work done. We're working out the kinks on the dynamics and arrangements of some of the more complicated songs and they're sounding pretty good.

I was going to audition the other drummer that responded to the Craigslist ad this Saturday, but after a few simple questions like, "Can you come to Woodland Park to practice twice a week for a few weeks?" and getting a "Hell no!" I decided not to bother with him at all. I'm really sick of flakes and fruitcakes who respond to Craigslist ads. They should have  a breakfast cereal named after them. "FLAKES AND FRUITCAKES" all air and no substance.

A lead guitarist who just moved to the Springs from Nashville responded to the ad for a lead player. Says he's a chicken picker. I like that. I emailed him back yesterday with some questions and have yet to hear back from him. We'll see.

The continuing saga of Starvalley Nut House continues to continue.

The other drummer who responded to my Craig's List ad has contacted me via email and has agreed to do an audition this Saturday.
The continuing sage of Starvalley Nut House continues to continue.

Unbelievable

Unbelievable.

The drummer we auditioned last week is a hard working guy and did his homework on the set list. His weakness for us is that he is a bit heavy with the sticks and plays everything pretty loud. We hoped he would adjust and play to the spirit of the songs, but he had trouble with that.

He also lives pretty far out east in Colorado Springs, which is a long drive to come here to rehearse.

Nobody likes to be told how to play, but we can’t have a drummer who drowns out the rest of the band.

I got this email from him this morning:

“Hey Bob& Doc,I don't think I can afford to travel up to Woodland  Park as much as we would need to be as tight as we need to be.I'm a good country drummer and you guys a good musicians also,however I think I'm going to lean towards a rockier and probably louder type of sound,and you guys probably need a little more quieter  style of drummer,hope that there are no hard fellings,I'm just not comfortable with where I believe this would be heading,Best of luck,Charles”

I’m sorry he couldn’t adjust and I understand the hardship of having to drive so far to practice. I wish him well.

I have another guy who responded to the Craig’s List ad. He was scheduled to audition yesterday, but since this drummer did such a good job working the list I gave him I decided to go with him and told the other guy we picked a drummer. I emailed him today to see if he still wants to audition.

Waiting for a response from him.

Drummer passes list of death

I gave the guy we auditioned today a list of 11 of the more complicated dynamic songs we do on Monday last week. He did his homework and hit all the changes right on. So then I sprung some songs on him he didn't know and he did a great job picking up the dynamics with just visual ques from me and the bass player.
Doc (bass player) and he hit it off too. Always a plus when the rhythm section can get along. 
Long story short, this guy is good and he wants in. I think we can finally start moving along at a good fast pace with the full set list.
I'll be moving pretty quickly to start booking gigs in the next couple weeks. Still have to deal with a long lead time with clubs booked up 6-12 weeks out.
Cooter Creek Canyon Band coming soon  to a watering hole near you.

Auditioning a new drummer

Checking out a new drummer today who responded to my Craig's List ad. The saga continues. Onward and upward, into the star valley nuthouse.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.