New Songs

[flyfisher]

One of the bands I play with is mainly originals and we're working on a short 8-song set for an upcoming support gig. We've got 8 songs that we've played before and two new ones that have not been performed yet. Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of enthusiasm for the new songs and replacing two older songs from the set-list for this gig.

So, at this week's rehearsal, we play the new songs. After about 4 run throughs they are sounding OK, albeit still a bit loose. We run through the other 8 songs one after the other with no problems. We play the new ones again a few times and the general consensus (i.e. not me!) seems to be that they're OK for the gig.

I'm not naturally pessimistic in outlook, but I point out that if it takes us half-a-dozen run-throughs to get a song 'OK' then it's not really ready for performance. But the others seem to ignore the starting position and just focus on how good it was on the 6th attempt. I point out that we won't get six attempts and that we'll have to turn up and play it right first time.

I would rather play old songs well than new songs badly. But I know the others in the band seem to quickly get bored with the same set and are always wanting to add new songs.

Actually, we have a similar problem in my other band, which is mainly covers with a few originals. Almost as soon as I feel we're all right on top of a song, the rest of the band seem to get bored with it and want to rush in a new song.

Don't get me wrong, I love to learn new songs, but I do feel that when performing we're, well, performing and we owe it to the audience to do the best possible job, not try out a bunch of under-rehearsed new songs just because we're a bit bored with the older ones.

I once read (on here I think): Amateur musicians practice until they get it right, professionals practice until they don't get it wrong. That is ringing so true with us. OK, we're never going to be pro musicians but surely we can behave as if we are!

So, how do other bands handle this sort of thing? Am I really so out of step in wanting to put on a good, tight, performance at the cost of perhaps playing the same old songs?

[EssentialTension]

With my band any new song (whether it's one written ourselves or by someone else) usually gets gigged fairly quickly or not at all.

[thisnameistaken]

If they're just about there we'd put them in the set. Songs tighten up more as you play them live, and given that it's a new song it won't really matter if someone makes a mistake (our singer forgot the whole third verse when we gigged a new song last week) because nobody will be any the wiser.

[Mykesbass]

The added adreneline of a live performance will probably be what they need to add that last bit of sparkle - either that or it will kill them off completely! Give them a go and enjoy them.

[BigRedX]

You have to go with your gut reaction. Sometimes the extra adrenalin of the live performance can push you up the standard you got on the best run through you had in rehearsal, other times it can all fall apart because for instance you find when set up for the gig you're missing some unconscious visual cue that you're still using when practising. The thing you've got to remember is that unless it all goes so badly wrong that you come to a grinding halt no-one in audience will notice any mistakes. However I would suggest that you shouldn't feel compelled to gig a new song over one of your more established number unless it's has the potential when played properly to be a superior composition.

[krth1985]

My band has the same problem. I don't see why we should add songs that aren't up to scratch when we don't need to. No word of a lie the main writer in our band has a new song every week - sometimes 2. We go through them and like you said a few run throughs later they sound ok. My argument is though - yes we can play the song, but everyones concentrating so hard that it just sounds wooden and flat. There's no feeling to it, no bounce. I mean whats the rush really?

[bobbass4k]

1 gig is like 10 reherasals. If you can remember and play them, then put them in the set, playing them live will tighten them up very quickily and you may even change bits of them that you realize don't work.

[the_skezz]

Agreed with others that playing new ones live can really help them develop - so long as they're past the 'God-awful' stage, I'd recommend giving them a try.

[JTUK]

Depends on the exposure.

We once had to get a new drummer in for a very important showcase over a weekend ( maybe 10 original songs, IIRC)
and by the end of that he was ready...but then he was top drawer in my scheme of things and he went on to far greater things.

If the gig is local and not so very important, we will rehearse it the one time and see where it is going..if it has the incredients that we choose the song for..then we'll gig it next time out.
In an ideal world we have a lot more time together as a band and for individual songs but we don't, and some songs are a little less ready than they should be..but 98% of people probably wouldn't notice...even if the are musical..
On that basis we will gig it,...if not then the song probably hasn't worked and never will...so out it goes.

But...there are degrees of playing in a song and playing in a song...and it is important to know what you can handle or not.

[wateroftyne]

Drop a couple in a time at gigs you think can handle it.

And, just to be on the safe side, sandwich each one between two well-established show-stoppers. That way, if it goes wrong, you won't lose too much momentum.