mooghead Posted June 28, 2002 Author Share Posted June 28, 2002 Blues Disciple said: “what is both your own and your band's philosophy on playing music?” We play music because we love it as anyone else, it's an hobby; there are some great gigs available here in our area but to get them you can't play certain songs and you HAVE to play some others: of course you can still play good music, but some good music is forbidden and all kinds of bad music are allowed…well, we happily will never play such well paid gigs in front of screaming chicks…(well, temptation is strong…) (no intention to dismiss some genres as bad music against good; only very personal opinion) Blues Disciple said: “Are your feelings and concerns taken into account when the band picks songs to do?” Of course we're very democratic even if the other members played metal together for years before I came 2 ½ years ago and changed everything: they always listened to the same music, I like metal but in a limited way… Blues Disciple said: “I believe keyboardists have to have a "sound" unique to themselves” I completely agree, the greats are the ones you can recognizes. Blues Disciple said: “who is your audience and do they really care if the song is an exact copy” I don't think they care too much, not really competent, it's just that even if we're only hobbists we still want to play and sound as professionally as possible. It's just a matter of balance… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooghead Posted June 28, 2002 Author Share Posted June 28, 2002 SurrealMcCoyJazz said: “First off, I think Mooghead got much more than was probably expected!” What do you mean? Great comments yours anyway…mmm Bill Evans I recently discovered Kind of Blue…Evans, Coltrane, Davis…J Nirvana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbobus Posted June 28, 2002 Share Posted June 28, 2002 you should hear our Jimi Hendrix Wild thing, its pure madness and people like itit starts with vocal harmonies, then it rocks, theres rap in it, calypso, salsa, a a cappella with hand clapping part, and then it rocks again to end in a metal veinand in the meantime you get 2 guitar solos, a bass solo, a drums solo, and a piano layered with percussion solo. Works for me! That's what I meant with "play the essential parts and make it better if you can, add accents, breaks, a cappella). I just don't agree with the statement that some people are just copycats. Copying something groovy is not that easy. After I did the copy thing I start thinking about how I give it my own signature. I'm talking covers only right now. But to say "copying is for robots so I don't do that" is pretty lame, I think. With all respect. http://www.bobwijnen.nl Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kybdwackr Posted June 29, 2002 Share Posted June 29, 2002 gee..250 300 bucks is free?..man, that means ive played for free for awhile now..its wild how pay varies from region to region..anyway...on the cover tunes.I play in a top 40 country band, but most of us are rockers..so guess what?..we wind up rockin out the country without realizing it..is that bad?...nah..we usually get away with it.Keep in mind, there are still mechanical bulls out here(toro..toro)..If a tune has a "signature lick"...ya best play the dam "signature lick"...and if you get a nasty note from the owner reminding you that this IS a country bar...ah...hello merle.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurrealMcCoyJazz Posted June 29, 2002 Share Posted June 29, 2002 Originally posted by mooghead: SurrealMcCoyJazz said: “First off, I think Mooghead got much more than was probably expected!” What do you mean? Great comments yours anyway…mmm Bill Evans I recently discovered Kind of Blue…Evans, Coltrane, Davis…J Nirvana.Hey Mooghead, My reference was made to my own cynical tangents. You started off with a simple question; and I believe when I read the comment about "balance".....that should be it! After all......in life, music, art, etc; if you attain the proper "balance".....you usually can attain your goals (okay, sorry...sounds like I'm taking "flight" again) LOL! Bottom line: Play from your heart & soul....find a suitable "balance" between your own example of player 1 or 2 that fits your style and ability. When your playing a bar or disco and you have a great night followed by a slower next night, and the club owner has gone from "praise" to "blame"; please don't question yourself. I've seen too many "spirits" put thru the damper by a frustrated club owner that didn't match his booze sales. Always put "groove" ahead of "mechanics". You sometimes have to alter parts to fit your "live" scenario. It's not always what you say.....but how you say it...... Happy Trails, Surreal Surreal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooghead Posted June 30, 2002 Author Share Posted June 30, 2002 I edited this post because it was OT and it didn't suit this great discussion... Ciao. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriphew_dup1 Posted June 30, 2002 Share Posted June 30, 2002 I like a keyboardist who can do both, tastefully (or without taste if appropriate). The keyboard player should play what the song calls for, as should the guitar player and all other band members. www.meriphew.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john88 Posted June 30, 2002 Share Posted June 30, 2002 Originally posted by meriphew: I like a keyboardist who can do both, tastefully (or without taste if appropriate). The keyboard player should play what the song calls for, as should the guitar player and all other band members.Yes, and that implies that the people that you play with are all mature musicians that can actualy listen to anything and ask what it calls for. (besides sounding just like the !&%@#* recording) Anyway, sorry for the rant. I guess I remembered why I only play solo piano or keyboard when I play live these days. That was just a right on the money statement by meriphew. Those with the least to say always say it the loudest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pierce Posted June 30, 2002 Share Posted June 30, 2002 I too play in a cover band, and we have a simple rule for this: Some stuff "has to be there". For everything else, "whatever works, is right". I try to match the "has to be there" stuff as closely as my gear and/or chops allow. For everything else, I do whatever feels right for the groove/feel of the song and arrangement. A good example: We cover "Love the One You're With". Our guitarist came up with a nice arrangement that's more of a funky R&B kind of rhythm. So we play it that way, and don't pay a whole lot of attention to the way the original recording sounds. However, that distinctive Hammond solo "has to be there", so I play it more or less verbatim. It's hard to define "has to be there" in words. But we know it when we hear it. --Dave Make my funk the P-funk. I wants to get funked up. My Funk/Jam originals project: http://www.thefunkery.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthplanet Posted July 1, 2002 Share Posted July 1, 2002 I think you can take a liberty or two provided you do it in the style and the sound of the original. Listen to a group recorded in the studio and the same group live doing the same songs and you will get the idea of what I mean. Some groups that come to mind:Yes, Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, lots of blues guitarists. For an example what to avoid listen to Pink Floyds "Pulse" (tired, drawn out versions of many songs.) Ironically "The Delicate Sound Of Thunder" is a good example of what to do. Try not to cover songs with tricky licks unless you (the band) can play them. (The audience is smarter than you think!). Try to find the fun in all of this (it may be hiding but it's there!) Michael Q:What do you call a truck with nothing in the bed,nothing on the hitch, and room for more than three people in the cab? A:"A car".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenthplanet Posted July 1, 2002 Share Posted July 1, 2002 I think you can take a liberty or two provided you do it in the style and the sound of the original. Listen to a group recorded in the studio and the same group live doing the same songs and you will get the idea of what I mean. Some groups that come to mind:Yes, Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, lots of blues guitarists. For an example what to avoid listen to Pink Floyds "Pulse" (tired, drawn out versions of many songs.) Ironically "The Delicate Sound Of Thunder" is a good example of what to do. Try not to cover songs with tricky licks unless you (the band) can play them. (The audience is smarter than you think!). Try to find the fun in all of this (it may be hiding but it's there!) Michael Q:What do you call a truck with nothing in the bed,nothing on the hitch, and room for more than three people in the cab? A:"A car".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted July 1, 2002 Share Posted July 1, 2002 Originally posted by mooghead: even if we're only hobbists we still want to play and sound as professionally as possible. It's just a matter of balance…Hey, you play out and you get paid. Your a professional. You may not make music your sole means of income or be a member of a musicians union/guild ,but you are a professional. You're serious about it aren't you? RobT RobT Famous Musical Quotes: "I would rather play Chiquita Banana and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve" - Xavier Cugat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooghead Posted July 2, 2002 Author Share Posted July 2, 2002 Yes we take it really seriously... We have rehersals twice a week for 2 hours and half each time...and we "try" to look after details, sounds, harmonizations, stage presence...we try. Real professionals are another thing...at least we're much better than some pros, but miles far behind what we consider the true pros... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooghead Posted September 24, 2002 Author Share Posted September 24, 2002 I just wanted to bring up again this discussion since it's strictly related to "Are we asking too much?" I'll take my time to express my opinions which anyway, are stated in this discussion.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbobus Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 A good example: We cover "Love the One You're With". Our guitarist came up with a nice arrangement that's more of a funky R&B kind of rhythm. So we play it that way, and don't pay a whole lot of attention to the way the original recording sounds. However, that distinctive Hammond solo "has to be there", so I play it more or less verbatim. Cool, I play that one too! That organ solo indeed has to be there. Also the part before with that "do do, do do do do doodoo" and the break. The rest of it we funk up as much as possible. The way we play it it ends up as a '70s TOP song (without horns, too bad) with those sixteenth note bass lines. BTW, I was ranting about people who think copying is easy and stupid, not about that people should play the song like it is on the record. http://www.bobwijnen.nl Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jojje Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 "Don't get me wrong, I love to play original parts- hell, I majored in Jazz theory and Composition, but I'm not offended when a band asks me to play another instrument's part any more than when I play the lead line in Giant Steps (yeah right)" ...come back when you can play the entire solo...:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted September 24, 2002 Share Posted September 24, 2002 The role of ANY musician playing live is to serve the music. Often that means setting up an atmosphere for a singer, or laying down a serious groove for dancers..... It so happens that much music is written to serve soloists (the aforementioned "Giant Steps" comes to mind) and so the best way to serve the music is to comp well for the other soloists, and when it's time play a great solo yourself. I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick K. Posted September 26, 2002 Share Posted September 26, 2002 I'm probably the only one on this forum that plays Country music. We have to adapt some of the radio cuts you hear so that they are dancable. We try as much as possible to match the instrumentation, vocal harmonies, and overall feel from the artist. HOWEVER, we typically look for ways to either lengthen the songs, or segue them. Many artists are using 40+ tracks in the studio, which makes it impossible for a 5 piece that doesn't sequence. I truly think that as artists, we have a certain responsibility to our crowd. That, simply put, is to provide them with an experience. We take them places by our song selection, adaption, and ambiance we provide. I think that playing cover tunes is important for the gigging musician, but to use only as a template, changing where necessary for the good of the show. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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