|
The Birth Of a Band Most likely you won't have any merchandise to push or many upcoming shows to promote - so ... what will you talk to the crowd about? Will there be a "crowd"? Its almost a given that a pedal, head, or guitar string will break. The guitar sound you grew so accustomed to hearing from your previous project is now replaced with a new sound. And, most importantly that "Psychic-Link" that you had from playing dozens of shows together with your previous bandmates must now be reinvented. So given all the "headaches" you might wonder why I find it exciting? Well, starting over is a chance to try and get "right" the little things that stood in the way of past project that you were a part of. Musically, its a chance to alter your playing style, explore your instrument in ways that might not have fit the style of music your previous band was playing. Professionally, its a chance to insure good "communication" between bandmates, set common goals, layout a new direction. Its a chance to fill your head with music when on stage instead of some argument that just happened backstage. With my most recent original project, "Four Minute Mile", it was important to me to play with a group of guys that I wouldn't mind spending long periods of time with on the road, guys who were more concerned about trying to make a career in music and not be a career "rock star". We are all sarcastic as hell to each other; but right from the start we all openly discussed what we wanted for ourselves and from each other. Perhaps you might have seen the final episode of VH-1's "Bands on the Run". Soulcracker vs. Flickerstick. The former bandmates seemed to all get along. The later bandmates seemed to fight a lot. Most bands that fight frequently tend to somehow think it adds some spark to their music. I disagree. Maybe I just don't like conflict enough. But at the end of the day I'd far rather play with guys who didn't feel like fighting with each other all the time. If you are a young drummer/musician starting a new band here are some suggestions that I try and adhere to. 1. Try and schedule a low-key first show about 1-2 months down the road. It will make you all have a reason to prepare. When you know a show is right around the corner it will make everyone less likely to cancel a rehearsal. 2. Don't rely on other's parts to get you through the song. The monitor mix might stink or be nonexistent. You can't be keying off the vocals or guitar if there are no monitors. 3. Have a business meeting or two early on to discuss the way you will all be running the band and who will be responsible for what. 4. Take 10 minutes before the show/set and sit with your bandmates and discuss the set list. Cover tempos, who starts what, transitions, alternate tunings that you might have to take into account. 5. Play simple... you will hopefully have 100s of shows to incorporate your fills into. The first few shows are all about finding a "comfort zone" on stage. 6. Keep your eyes/ears open more then normal! 7. Avoid the last minute urge to drop a song from the list. If you all arrived at the gig expecting to play a song...just play it. Your songs will only get better the more you play them. 8. Record your show.... Record your show... Record your show... You will learn more from listening back to a recording 1 time then rehearsing the tune(s) 5 times. 9. Take 10 minutes after the show and write down your thoughts so that you can discuss them at your next rehearsal. 10. Remember the people who were at your first show... One day the club might be packed with "fans" but I personally always think back to those early days that small group of followers were the only set of bodies in the room. -- Appreciate them!!!! 11. No matter how bad it may go remember ... Its more fun to play a new set of songs moderately well then it is to play a group of songs for the 4000 th time and nail them! (Unless you are Aerosmith playing "Walk this Way" at Woodstock) |