Saturday, January 26, 2013

A slight change of plans





Now that I’m as secure as one can be in the commitment of the core members of this yet to be named band I’ll start using their first names in this and future entries.

Introducing the band:
On drums/vocals, Paul
On bass/vocals, Dave, AKA "Doc"
And of course Bob, AKA Me on vocals and rhythm guitar

Our practice Thursday started with a meeting to discuss the issues that came up during the week. Doc said he may push his surgery back to March, but it still may be as early as Feb 5th.

I ran my idea about moving Paul to bass and bringing in my drummer friend to fill in while Doc is recovering. He reluctantly agreed, but would later recant saying it was not that productive a move and would place a burden on him to have to learn the bass for the songs only to be moving back to drums later. I agreed and we decided to just practice with me on guitar/vocals, Doc singing his parts and Paul staying on drums.

The next order of business was to discuss changing our practice day from Thursday to Saturday to allow for us to bring in a great guitarist, Joe, who expressed an interest in joining our group. Joe works a night shift job weekdays and only has Friday night or Saturday to practice since Sunday is his family day.

Paul teaches photography class at a community college on Monday and Wednesday nights, and has to travel sometimes from Thursday through the weekends to photograph hot air balloon events occasionally.

We agreed on moving practice to Saturday afternoons although this will mean Paul will be missing some practices.

Our first session with the new guitarist was supposed to be today but yesterday his wife had a health issue that needed emergency care and Joe needed to attend to her needs through today so we postponed until next Saturday.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The bass player needs surgery



Monday night the bass player told me he has to have surgery on his left arm on Feb 5th.
He’ll be starting physical therapy just days after the operation and will be unable to play bass for about 4 weeks.
I love this guy’s playing and vocals, as well as, the original songs he has written and his energy and personality and I want to keep him in the band.
So, yet another obstacle presents itself.
The solution I’ve come up with will depend on the flexibility and cooperation of the drummer, who is also a very good bass player. If the drummer can cover on bass during rehearsals for the time the regular bass man is recovering, I know a drummer who can sit in on our practices for that period. Meanwhile, the bass guy can still sing the songs he is soloing on and do his harmony parts.
I’m figuring we will be ready to do a four set gig in about 6-8 weeks if we continue to get songs worked up at the rate we are doing now. That should be time enough for the bass guy’s recovery and time to get his chops up on the whole set list.
This, plus the rearranging of our rehearsal schedule to bring in the new guitarist is asking a lot of our drummer. I sure hope he can make the adjustments we need to keep this group of people together and I’m open completely to other ideas from the rest of the guys on this.
Two more rehearsals and I’ll start booking gigs. The clubs I have in mind are taking bookings anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks into the future so this should put us in the rotation right about the time we are ready to go.
Our next practice is Thursday night so we’ll see how this goes over with the rest of the group then.

Saturday, January 19, 2013

It never ends and I love it

Just got off the phone with the bass player. He talked to the guitarist that I talked to last night at the Crystola. The guitarist really wants to get together and give it a shot with us. I called him after I got off the phone with the bass guy and he is interested and likes the material I told him we are doing.
Looks like we are going to have to juggle some rehearsal times and days a little to fit him in. He's a real asset so I hope this can be figured out.
Have to get together with the drummer and work out the details. If we can get an amiable solution for the near future this could work out to be one of the best bands I've ever been with. Solid playing and four part harmonies.

Thursday practice


We had practice Thursday night with just the three of us. We worked on the 10 song list we made up last time and worked on vocal harmonies, arrangements and dynamics. These guys are pros and don’t mind working on songs to get them just right, without a lot of distractions during the rehearsal. It's a pleasure working with guys who have dedication and ambition. We made progress on all the songs and put together another list of 7 songs to work on for next Thursday.

The bass guy knows a guitarist who is wanting to get back into playing with a band. I know and have heard him play too and he's great. He was sitting in with a group at the Crystola Roadhouse Friday night, so I went down and talked to him. Unfortunately, his day job won't allow him to practice Thursdays. Too bad. He would have fit in well.

I ran the ad on Craig’s List again for a fourth and got one response from a guy who responded once before. I’m skeptical about him after talking with him on the phone for about half and hour. I don’t know. Just got a feeling he won’t fit in, but I asked him to come up next Thursday for a tryout. We’ll see how he plays and how the other guys like him.

I need to get a longer rope.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Another One Bites The Dust



No one ever said that musicians are flakey people, right?   
The keyboard/guitar guy just called me. He has had the 10 song homework list for two weeks. He said he didn’t have time to LISTEN to any of the songs because he had to work on his cars. ??? You don’t have a CD player or Ipod?
He actually called to ask directions to the bass players house where we rehearse and mentioned the not listening thing. I didn’t say anything to him about not even listening to the songs but was going to tell him at practice that that attitude will not fly with me and he used up his one “pass.”

About half an hour after the first call, I get another call from the guy. This time he say’s he’s quitting because he’s a rocker and doesn’t want to play country music. 
Now let me get this straight. You answer an ad that says ,”Contemporary Country Trio Seeking Fourth” and you don’t want to play country music?
A few musicians I know who have had experience with this guy warned me that he was not dependable, but I’ll always give a guy enough rope to hang himself. 
That sound you hear is the trap door swinging.

Friday, January 11, 2013

I'm happy to say the keyboard guy has chosen wisely. He'll be staying with us and practicing on Thursdays.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

What's a little more drama when I've come this far?

The guy I've got playing keys and lead guitar plays on Thursday nights at a non-paying jam night. He doesn't want to rehearse on Thursdays because of this gig.

The drummer teaches classes on Monday and Wednesday nights. The bass player's other band rehearses on Tuesday nights. That leaves Thursdays, and weekends.

Weekends are out for a host of reasons from family to working gigs.

So the question is. Is playing for free more important to you than rehearsing for future paying gigs?

Choose wisely. I won't wait long for an answer. This train is moving on with or without you.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Since we decided to work up songs that we know collectively, or aren't difficult to work up, to minimize the learning curve and get a 40 song set list as soon as possible, here is a list of the 10 songs we have for homework to do for our next session.

1. CCR medley: Born on the Bayou, Suzi Q, Green River. I'll be singing Green River and the bass man will be singing the other two.
2. Hero by  Enrique Iglesias. A beautiful slow song. The keyboardist will be singing this one.
3.  Keep Your Hands to Yourself by Georgia Satellites. The drummer will be singing this one.
4. Rockin The Beer Gut by Trailer Choir. I'll be singing this.
5. My Next 5 Beers by Trailer Choir. I'll be singing this.
6. Medley of Dwight Yoakam's Long White Cadillac and Springstein's Pink Cadillac. The keyboardist will be singing this one.
7. Superman by Willy Nelson. I'll be sing this one.

We can work on harmonies and arrangements on these songs next session.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

1/2/13- Last night was the first time since this journey began that I had a room full of truly professional quality musicians. The keyboard/guitarist turned out to be a guy I have played with before who is a very good guitarist. He didn't bring his keys with him for this session, but I don't think his ability on that will be an issue.
The bass player is an amazing song writer and excellent on bass.
The bass/drummer guy moved over to drums seamlessly and plays with taste and finesse.
It looks and sounds like the makings of a fine 4 piece. All four of us sing well and can put on some fine harmonies as well.
We had a meeting after the session to discuss our direction and decided on a 75% cover songs 25% original repertoire to start out and work toward doing all originals as time goes on.
The bass man is working on a new album too, so we'll be working on doing some back up tracks for that as well. His studio is roomy and full of the very best equipment.
All the pieces are now in place and we made a 10 song list for each of us to do some homework on for our next session.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

1/1/13 Gotta get used to using this new year date.
After a great party ringing in the New Year last night listening to a great local band and watching the midnight fireworks fired off on the summit of Pikes Peak, I spent most of today riding the couch with the remote.
Had another bass man answer my ad. He lives up here. Spoke to him and set up an audition for tomorrow night. The keyboard/guitarist who answered the last ad will also be coming in as well as the drummer.
Hoping this configuration works out. This process has been long and trying.
Wish you all a safe, prosperous and musical New Year.
Play on.