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. 

Bye Bye Drummer

Our drummer just got put on a 10 hour day shift on Saturdays. I just put another ad on Craig's List and got an immediate hit.

Here it is: "Hi. New in town, if you have paying gigs, I'm in."

How can anybody think they can wing it when songs have arrangements, stops and dynamics that need to be rehearsed?

This guy just got back to me and I sent him a set list with 11 songs to work on. I told him to call me to set up an audition.

Slim pickins' for pickers around here

It’s springtime in the Rockies and it’s still snowing and colder than a well digger’s ass. It was 6 degrees here at the bunker this morning. Yesterday’s blizzard warning turned out to be all blow and no snow. (only got an inch of the slippery skid stuff)

With some extra time on my hands I went through a bit of the history of putting this band together. The project started in Sept of last year with ads posted on Craig’s List looking for players and networking around town for local players looking to form a group.

The Craig’s List ads and scouring the local gene pool resulted in about two dozen people I either talked to, auditioned or took in for a short time. The breakdown of the issues resulting in not having these players is as follows: Eighteen where rejected for reasons of ego, not wanting to practice, lack of equipment, living too far away, poor excuses for missing practice, and for not responding after initial contacts. Two went on because they didn’t want to wait for the band to gel into a tight enough group to play gigs and joined other bands and the rest had to commit to day jobs and didn’t have the time to practice and commit to future gigs.

As it stands right now I have a good bass player who sings well and a drummer who is on thin ice for not showing up for practice, although his excuses have all been legitimate up to this point.

We’re still looking for a keyboard, lead guitarist, or steel player. The ad is up on Criag’s List but I’ve only had one response in the last week from a guitarist I’ve already sent packing for thinking he is too good to have to attend practice. It’s slim pickins around here for pickers.