sensitivemthrfker said:

Well, I'm 39 . I think most of us are now serious, but I don't trust the cello. But when you say "perfect band", does that mean you all share the same vision? Respect differences and your authority? Do you genuinely enjoy seeing them...no personality conflicts? Just curious.

heartbeatocean said:

Ya, we all get along, there's a mutual respect, everyone's dedicated and likes each others company. The guitar player and I write all the tunes and the bass player and drummer are down with whatever we give to them, we all just love playing.

sensitivemthrfker said:

Very cool.

I mean, this is a real hassle. People cancelling the night of rehearsal, flying out of town for a week when you have a show coming up, scrambling for rehearsal space, hurt feelings, conflicting vision...communication, communication, communication. And do you even like these personalities?






Well, it's starting to get fun. And then there's the show...which could be great...


BUT IS IT ALL WORTH IT?

It sounds to me Heartbeat that you (or someone else) need to take the reigns of the band and drive.

I only say this because I've put together a band recently and had some of these same experiences until I had finally had enough. My goal was to have a little democracy when it came to cover choices, practice times and everything else. Well after a few practices of indecision or arguing, missed practices, a couple of rearranging the schedule for people and misc. other bullshit. I finally had had enough but I was so worried about not being a taskmaster, dictator asshole that the band was suffering.

So a couple of weeks ago, I just put my foot down and said, "enough". Practice is this time on this day and unless the drummer or me can’t make it, be there. I will pick songs and if the majority of the band hates it or it’s obviously just not working, it’s in the set. Then, as soon as there’s a mistake in a song, we stop and try it again. Practice is to make the music better and playing through was just accepting mediocrity and I had had enough of that too. The last 2 practices have been the best we’ve had and I keep things focused, give them breaks when I sense things are dragging and the music is great and getting better every practice.

I’m not going to lie though, it’s takes a lot of energy to do this, play a couple of instruments, sing a song and back-ups and record every practice. Is it worth it? To me the answer is "hell yes" but it’s only been 2 practices and let’s see how the public responds at our first gig in June.

Hope everything else is going good with you...

It took me 20 years to find the right guys. Now at 38 I have the perfect band. Maturity helps too. Otherwise learn to play and record everything yourself.

The thing I hate most is when rehearsal is scheduled and people show up, but half the people don't and the rehearsal gets cancelled! I say, rehearse anyway, dammit! Don't let the flakes derail the process!

heartbeatocean said:

Ya, we all get along, there's a mutual respect, everyone's dedicated and likes each others company. The guitar player and I write all the tunes and the bass player and drummer are down with whatever we give to them, we all just love playing.

sensitivemthrfker said:

I know of a few local bands here that are like that. Not the best musicians, but you can see that they are dedicated and they're like family and it makes for a much easier working and artistic relationship.

NDRU said:

I wonder how you can break that one down.

It's very funny and ironic, being a musician sometimes. I mean I was raised to practice complicated runs and perform solo concertos with a backing orchestra. What I'm learning now, is that playing music doesn't have to be nearly as backbreaking. I mean, I'm really overqualified to play rock and roll.

But the older I get, the more and more I'm glad to not have the responsibility to have to wow people and perform solos. The ego thing just does not interest me anymore. I don't have time or energy for that!

I want something halfway challenging and it's a blast to play with other instruments. I really enjoy that part.

maybe it is worth it

heartbeatocean said:

Ya, thanks. It can take awhile to find the "right" people, but I am always open to playing with other people too. Just so happens these guys are as good at their intruments as anyone I've ever played with. Super solid playing and it's like magic when we get together and bust out the tunes. Do you play with a band, or write your own stuff etc?

Playing in a band has to be its own reward. If you don't really enjoy it, it's not worth the hassle. The key is to play with good musicians who are also nice people and share your vision for the group. Work hard to find them!

heartbeatocean said:

Oh, I cut that crap out in the beginning. I tell people, "There is ALWAYS work to do". One of my former guitarists was always trying to tell *me* (the bandleader) when to cancel rehearsal. It ain't over 'till *I* say it's over, dude.

On another note, being a female bandleader has been interesting, too. Another reason the aforementioned guitarist is not in the band anymore. . .

heartbeatocean said:

Yeah, granted I like to take solos and do complicated stuff, too, but pop music is about space as much as anything. To me things are really interesting when individuals play minimally, sharing in a complex rhythm.

I want to play simple if the greater whole requires it, and usually it does.

I wonder about how classical musicians like playing rock. The best rock musicians can hang with classical, I believe, but you're playing punk rock, which is very simple by nature. I'm sure your arrangements stretch it a little, but the basic songs are pretty simple. It's an interesting concept, though; two very different styles of music put together.

Having a band is only worth all of the attitude conflicts and associated bullshit if the band does PAYING live performances.

UPDATE: Our last rehearsal went amazingly well. I'm really enjoying the percussionist. She's taken the lead in keeping us together and semi-conducting, and she has an incredibly winning personality (and also provides a great rehearsal space). Now that we've expanded to five musicians and two vocalists, the combination of personalities is a little more diverse. When there were only two instruments, me and the cello, (who had let me down once before), things felt a little touch and go. With a bigger group, it feels better.

Luckily, we share a vision and have a certain level of trust, being defectees from the larger orchestra in which we played together for a couple of years. I think we're really gonna rock this one.

girls love musicians

NDRU said:

Two things happen when you get classical musicians playing punk rock:

1) They suddenly get to be the rock and roll stars they always longed to be
2) They easily get frustrated with the simplicity of the music, and bored

Luckily, we're working in some punkified classical numbers (a punk Beethoven's 9th, for instance) which is challenging with some flashiness and lots of craziness