leschirons Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 Got a call from a pro guitarist who'd taken a couple of gigs on but had no band. We both knew the same vocalist /sax player (also pro muso) and he'd been roped in so he just needed a rhythm section. He said he knew a pro drummer that was up for it. Set list to be decided. When we finally meet up to discuss a playlist, I'm handed a sheet with 14 numbers on it. I thought that would be the first set. Wrong. That was the total play list for what turned out to be nearly two hours playing and, on the second gig (tonight) we didn't get to the last number. The band went down a storm two nights running. Okay, the songs were stretched out some with funky intros and some fairly long sax solos but I got paid more than in my usual band, played only 13 songs and had a great time. I'm used to playing between 35 and 40 numbers usually. This is the future. It's up there with garlic bread. 2 Quote
bazzbass Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 why would he book two gigs without being in a band? or were they booked before his last band split up? so you only played for an hour? or did you stretch 13 songs out to two hours? either way good deal hehe But, you know the rules, pics or it didn't happen Quote
Yank Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 13/14 songs in 2 hours? Musta been some great jams. I love playing songs that take you on a journey like that. Jam band or jazz based? Something like "Low spark of high-heeled boyos " ? 1 Quote
geoffbyrne Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 I used to play in a Blues band whose set list for 1 hour would be 5 numbers...... G. Quote
chris_b Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 8 hours ago, bazzbass said: why would he book two gigs without being in a band? Get the gig then put the band together. If you know good musicians then this is no problem. 2 Quote
leschirons Posted March 25, 2018 Author Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) 9 hours ago, bazzbass said: why would he book two gigs without being in a band? or were they booked before his last band split up? so you only played for an hour? or did you stretch 13 songs out to two hours? either way good deal hehe But, you know the rules, pics or it didn't happen Here's the poster. Testament to a thrown together band with the "and friends" name As chris_B rightly pointed out, took the gigs and then put the band together. Here's the second set, which lasted 50 minutes. Purple rain, Stormy Monday, It's probably me, Put it where you want it, N'oubliez jamais and You can keep your hat on. Last two as the owner is a Joe Cocker freak. First set was eight numbers. Everything had a long intro, a couple of sax and guitar solos and all had a very extended and real easy jazzy feel. Sax player / vocalist is an excellent front man. Loads of audience interaction with a few jokes thrown in. Just went with the flow. I loved it. As usual, my name wrongly spelled. But then I'm only the bass player. Cherry on the cake for me, was a fabulous drummer. Edited March 25, 2018 by leschirons Quote
discreet Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 (edited) There seems to be some kind of weird 'honour' in playing very long sets. I say they're vastly overrated.I'd much rather watch a great band for 30 minutes than a mediocre one for two hours. Some covers bands in particular seem to think that quantity is the equal of quality. it is not. 6 minutes ago, leschirons said: Cherry on the cake for me, was a fabulous drummer. That's a sweet cherry. Makes life much, much easier. And more pleasant. Edited March 25, 2018 by discreet Add quote 2 Quote
bazzbass Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 I used to think drummers were easily replaceable, and most of them are, but a really good drummer, like I have now, is priceless, that's why we pay him nothing, badoom tsch 1 2 Quote
discreet Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 2 minutes ago, bazzbass said: ...a really good drummer ...is priceless... +1 Absolutely. And very, very hard to find. I'm on my second good one in 40-odd years, feeling happy - and grateful. Quote
bazzbass Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 I too have had exactly 2 great drummers in 38 years. And the current one was put onto us by the first one hehe Quote
bazzbass Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 1 hour ago, chris_b said: Get the gig then put the band together. If you know good musicians then this is no problem. how cool is that hehe I wish I was in that position. I am in a different position where a few venues have offered me gigs, as long as I find two other bands to share the bill with. Quote
yorks5stringer Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 Hope you got some Pizza, salade and fromage too? Quote
leschirons Posted March 25, 2018 Author Posted March 25, 2018 7 minutes ago, yorks5stringer said: Hope you got some Pizza, salade and fromage too? AND, a dessert, coffee and drinks. 1 Quote
mcnach Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 11 hours ago, leschirons said: Got a call from a pro guitarist who'd taken a couple of gigs on but had no band. We both knew the same vocalist /sax player (also pro muso) and he'd been roped in so he just needed a rhythm section. He said he knew a pro drummer that was up for it. Set list to be decided. When we finally meet up to discuss a playlist, I'm handed a sheet with 14 numbers on it. I thought that would be the first set. Wrong. That was the total play list for what turned out to be nearly two hours playing and, on the second gig (tonight) we didn't get to the last number. The band went down a storm two nights running. Okay, the songs were stretched out some with funky intros and some fairly long sax solos but I got paid more than in my usual band, played only 13 songs and had a great time. I'm used to playing between 35 and 40 numbers usually. This is the future. It's up there with garlic bread. One of the bands I've played with, we had a pool of about 25-30 songs between originals and a few covers... The lengths of the songs cold be altered dynamically to suit the length of the gig... if people seem to be enjoying it, we make them longer... guitar/sax/trombone solos, often with call/response elements between them can transform a 3 minute song into a 12 minite epic that gets people sweaty and having fun. Amazing. Quote
ambient Posted March 25, 2018 Posted March 25, 2018 10 hours ago, bazzbass said: why would he book two gigs without being in a band? or were they booked before his last band split up? so you only played for an hour? or did you stretch 13 songs out to two hours? either way good deal hehe But, you know the rules, pics or it didn't happen A friend of mine does it all the time. He knows enough people that who he knows can just turn up and play. If one person can't do it, then he knows several other people. I've done some nice gigs with him, there was a Christmas market in Birmingham, best of all was a bandstand in the middle of a lake in Worcester. Quote
MrDaveTheBass Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 On 25/03/2018 at 09:47, Yank said: Something like "Low spark of high-heeled boyos " ? Are you in a Welsh Traffic tribute band? Quote
FinnDave Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 I've got my first Grateful Dudes gig next Sunday. As the name suggests, they play Grateful Dead material, so for the assembled Deadheads, our four hours will probably leave them feeling short changed! Quote
discreet Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 4 minutes ago, FinnDave said: ...our four hours will probably leave them feeling short changed! Good Lord. You want to borrow my 7lb Jazz..? Quote
FinnDave Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 I survived five hours or more rehearsing yesterday with a Precision, so I should be up to the task (remaining upright, that is!) Quote
discreet Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 11 minutes ago, FinnDave said: I survived five hours or more rehearsing yesterday with a Precision, so I should be up to the task (remaining upright, that is!) Good work. I find gigs always seem longer than any similar-length rehearsal but I suppose that's understandable... Quote
FinnDave Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 19 minutes ago, discreet said: Good work. I find gigs always seem longer than any similar-length rehearsal but I suppose that's understandable... Interesting, it works the other way for me, rehearsals can seem to go on forever, but gigs just fly by! Yesterday's rehearsal (and the other 3 I've had with this band) are the exception, they are as enjoyable as a gig. 1 Quote
chris_b Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 25 minutes ago, FinnDave said: Interesting, it works the other way for me, rehearsals can seem to go on forever, but gigs just fly by! +1 Except for Grateful Dead numbers. Each one lasts for 3 weeks. Quote
FinnDave Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 Just now, chris_b said: +1 Except for Grateful Dead numbers. Each one lasts for 3 weeks. Everyone says, that, but some of the short ones only last a day or two 1 Quote
Dad3353 Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 3 hours ago, FinnDave said: Everyone says, that, but some of the short ones only last a day or two ... but they're not the best ones. Quote
FinnDave Posted March 26, 2018 Posted March 26, 2018 33 minutes ago, Dad3353 said: ... but they're not the best ones. Of course not, just the edited highlights! 1 Quote
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