Ross Brown Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 I know this falls in the who cares category, but My new band played an open mic last night. We got to play 3 songs I was hoping for more but everyone got three Being used to playing a whole night for so long it was a bit frustrating to only play that much. We played a Janiva Magness song Thats What Love Will Do for You; Pat B. - Hit me with Your Best Shot and Medicine - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. It was a good test. We had some minor deviations but it was comforting because it did not throw anyone off. Everyone was a pro and I doubt anyone in the crowd noticed. I bored myself with the bass line to the first song but was happy with the rest. The guy that hosts the open mic is a friend and a monster bass player I felt like I needed to do more I quickly let it go. It is an all ages open mic so we brought my 15 year old step daughter. She had rehearsed the song Come together with us earlier in the week and got to sing it on stage with us. She did a nice job. She was scared but it didnt really show. She asked us to learn two more songs from this century. We agreed She sings well (like her mother) and it is a good experience for her. The band has about two sets ready. Hopefully we will be booking gigs soon. We are still hoping to add a keyboard player but they are hard to find in these parts.... Thanks for reading. "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenstrum Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Just a question out of curiosity: Do these guys dress the part? Tenstrum "Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." Harry Dresden, Storm Front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 Just a question out of curiosity: Do these guys dress the part? Absolutely. Singer in heels and sexy black dress, guitar player in cool dress shirt, drummer looked like a pro. I wore white dress shirt with brand new blue jeans and new white sneakers. Kinda overkill for an open mic, but we dressed for what we want, not for where we were... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard W Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 It is an all ages open mic so we brought my 15 year old step daughter. She had rehearsed the song Come together with us earlier in the week and got to sing it on stage with us. She did a nice job. She was scared but it didnt really show. She asked us to learn two more songs from this century. We agreed Why? My band just added a 22-year-old female vocalist (the rest of us are in our 50s). We're playing Steely Dan and she's like: "who?" I told her, "honey, you are going to be exposed to some of the greatest music ever..." "Everyone wants to change the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves." Leo Tolstoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamy ALB Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Good vibes Ross!! http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Little-Bitter/185235472447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 It is an all ages open mic so we brought my 15 year old step daughter. She had rehearsed the song Come together with us earlier in the week and got to sing it on stage with us. She did a nice job. She was scared but it didnt really show. She asked us to learn two more songs from this century. We agreed Why? My band just added a 22-year-old female vocalist (the rest of us are in our 50s). We're playing Steely Dan and she's like: "who?" I told her, "honey, you are going to be exposed to some of the greatest music ever..." She likes a lot of "my" music for sure. My son plays a lot of blues in his band... It will be fun actually learning newer stuff... Kids have a wide range of taste. "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottom End Posted May 25, 2011 Share Posted May 25, 2011 Sounds great! I've been playing with a few guys and a female singer. We've gotten several songs down, and I think we'll be ready to play in public soon. "Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.'-Hamlet Guitar solos last 30 seconds, the bass line lasts for the whole song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 string Mike Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Good for you, Ross. Glad to hear you are finally getting some traction after a long season of frustration. As far as "this century" music, our drummer is 23, he's asked for a few things from 'this century' a couple times. But, he's really starting to latch on to the classics. He's really starting to understand what made that era of music so good. Sounds like you had fun. Rock out "Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind"- George Orwell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Cool stuff, Ross! How was the crowd reaction? And your musicians' nerves? "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Cool stuff, Ross! How was the crowd reaction? And your musicians' nerves? Good reaction from crowd. Everyone in the band has "been there" before. I asked the singer if she was nervous before we went on and she said "yes, a little, but I like to be a little nervous...". In general no one was nervous, for the most part. "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Good reaction from crowd. Everyone in the band has "been there" before. I asked the singer if she was nervous before we went on and she said "yes, a little, but I like to be a little nervous...". In general no one was nervous, for the most part. Sounds awesome, man Congrats! Any pics or audio available from this band? Oh and about being nervous: Harry Solomon: Dick, in order to be brave, you must first become afraid. For true courage lies in the overcoming of fear, not in its absence. Dr. Dick Solomon: That's beautiful. Who said that? Harry Solomon: The blue Power Ranger. "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Good reaction from crowd. Everyone in the band has "been there" before. I asked the singer if she was nervous before we went on and she said "yes, a little, but I like to be a little nervous...". In general no one was nervous, for the most part. Sounds awesome, man Congrats! Any pics or audio available from this band? Oh and about being nervous: Harry Solomon: Dick, in order to be brave, you must first become afraid. For true courage lies in the overcoming of fear, not in its absence. Dr. Dick Solomon: That's beautiful. Who said that? Harry Solomon: The blue Power Ranger. No pics or clips yet... that I'll post anyway.... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Singer in heels and sexy black dress...I'm assuming you're not referring to your 15-year-old stepdaughter here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Singer in heels and sexy black dress...I'm assuming you're not referring to your 15-year-old stepdaughter here... No Sir.... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 So in what direction will you take this band? I am unfamiliar with the three songs you mentioned so I cannot guess at the genre. "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 Hey, if you have 2 sets, why not book a weekly jam someplace? You get to play for an hour, and then the jammers take over. You can work in new tunes in front of a crowd and see their reaction. And, it gets the band out of the rehearsal hall, basement, garage, etc. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 Hey, if you have 2 sets, why not book a weekly jam someplace? You get to play for an hour, and then the jammers take over. You can work in new tunes in front of a crowd and see their reaction. And, it gets the band out of the rehearsal hall, basement, garage, etc. Yes, I am thinking about something like that... Thanks "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted May 27, 2011 Author Share Posted May 27, 2011 So in what direction will you take this band? I am unfamiliar with the three songs you mentioned so I cannot guess at the genre. Right now it is a strange mix. Grace Potter songs are kinda rockish/popish. We do some country rock, some blues (think Shemeka Copeland, SRV), Classic rock... and because I promised... we may through in a jazz type number or two. We will eventually have sets ready for dance music and sets ready for the dinner crowd, so that we can take either type of gig. Here is what we have so far... Here for the Party Love Disease Take it Back Wild Night Steppin Stone Paris Medicine Tightrope Superstition Hit Me with Your Best Shot Fast as You Some Kind of Wonderful Joss Stone version Thats What Love Will Do for You My Baby Loves Me Come Together On Fire Its 2am Attitude Hurts So Bad Sympathy for the Devil Chain of Fools I Get Evil Blues Stew I Just Came To Play "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted May 27, 2011 Share Posted May 27, 2011 Interesting idea, Ross, to have different set lists for different occasions. Good to see a Fiona Apple tune on your list, too I am a big fan of her first two albums (even have a load of promo singles from various radio stations - and always welcome more copies) although her last album did not do it for me. Drummer of the blues band told the rest of us today that we need to consider the audience's taste aside from our own, when choosing songs to add to the set list. Shows how in sync he and I are because all day at work I kept thinking about our set list and whether it was too obscure or not Last thing I want is for people to come over and ask: "Why not play a cover or two" when all you've been doing is just that :grin: "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Took the band out again for another test drive to a smallish tavern on a Thursday. My son told me to come check it out and bring the band... his band plays there a lot. The place was packed with people there to have fun... way cool. We got about 8 songs and we did ok. We still have some work to do to tighten up but we are getting there. I like this group I am with now. Also, I got to debut my vocal version of the Monkees song Steppin' Stone. I would like to do that again... fun.... Thanks for listening (reading) "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Also, we played a Susan Tedeshi version of Hurts so Bad.... Wow... the vocalist (my wife) nailed it.... We also did a Wynonna version of Burnin Love.... that went over very well too... ok I'll stop.... "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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