ern500evo Posted March 20, 2012 Author Share Posted March 20, 2012 There's been a slight change of plan which has forced our hand a bit (maybe for the best). Our drummer can't get the time off work so it's gonna be acoustic. Our 2 singers/guitarists will be using acoustics through the PA but also bringing their electrics and small combo's, I'll use my electric bass and little Ashdown practice combo. I think it'll be ok, as I mentioned before, our singer has close ties to the family (the deceased was the mother of his daughter) and I'm good friends with a lot of the people who will be there, so I'm fairly sure the majority will get behind us. Thanks again guys, much appreciated. I'll keep you all posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Good luck, i'm sure the family will really appreciate the fact that you've really thought about how best to carry out their wishes. My guitarist says he was at a friend's dad's funeral and they had arranged to play "Love Me Tender" by Elvis as the coffin disappeared behind the curtain but a mistake by the chap's son resulted in them playing "Return To Sender". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) [quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1332269270' post='1585891'] ...they had arranged to play "Love Me Tender" by Elvis as the coffin disappeared behind the curtain but a mistake by the chap's son resulted in them playing "Return To Sender". [/quote] ...ahem. Edited March 20, 2012 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted March 21, 2012 Share Posted March 21, 2012 Personally, I'd ask a member of the immediate family to introduce your band and explain why you're playing a rock set before you get started with it - i.e. set the scene and avoid people getting the wrong end of the proverbial stick. I organised a similar thing myself for an old colleague years ago and picking the music was a tricky issue. Bizzarely, we got treated to a live set by Badly Drawn Boy (long story) which was a nice surprise, if that can be said of a wake. Anyway, I'm sure that if people are given an explanation beforehand, they'll appreciate why it's a celebration of someone's life rather than anything inappropriate. Hope that helps and good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ern500evo Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Well we did it, and it actually went quite well. It was a nice day weather wise so a lot of people were out in the beer garden but they came in and supported us, raised their glasses and had a good sing along. Our singer did really well seeing as he had to perform and at the same time comfort his 15yr old daughter who had just lost her mother. There was plenty of hugs and handshakes for the band after with comments like "well done lads, she would've loved that". This was the second wake I've done in 4 months, and I found this one a bit easier for a couple of reasons, 1) she'd been ill for such a long time that there was a sense of she's free from pain now, and 2) the one I did in November was for a very close friend, who's passing hit us really hard as a band, particularly me and the singer as we were very close to him. His passing was also a lot more sudden, he had a rare heart condition called Marfan Syndrome, he collapsed on a Thursday without warning and died on saturday. One thing to come out of all this, is it certainly makes me think about life and making the most of it, my friend was 40 and the funeral today was for a woman of 42 ( I'm 41). Anyway thanks for all your comments/advice/ best wishes guys, all have been much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanbrook Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Glad it went well lad and fair play to you for doing it. Living in ireland it's very normal to have a band at a wake, but most of the time people are too drunk to notice When my mum died there was no black clothes allowed everybody had to wear party dresses or bright suits, the church looked like a wedding She had said Life is to be celebrated not mourned My thought and prayers to you and your singer and again fair play to ya for being brave enough to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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