The Wild West Fair is tonight. We had a practice this week and all went well. I have been wondering if talent alone makes a good band. The players and singers that we have for tonight are top notch. We even broke in a new bass player and he fit right in. the thing is that we only play a few times a year, and only practice one time before each gig.
So are we all such good players or are we all just lucky? I’m not sure, I do know that we have been playing off and on for the last 5 years, and it just clicks…every time.
The feeling of satisfaction that I get from making good, quality music for people to hear is unmatched by anything else I know. It really makes me want to go out and form a band…really put some effort into it, and see where that takes me. I can envision some drawbacks with regular band…the ego, focus, creativity, and lack of creativity, along with personalities that can inevitably clash. The nice thing about this group is that we don’t see each other all that much, so when we do get together to play, it’s a no pressure fun environment.
So I ask, What makes a good band? is it sheer talent? Chemistry? Practice? Dedication? Hard work? or is it something more?
Filed under: Making Music | Tagged: Country Music, Electric Guitar, Friends, Gigging, Guitar playing, Music, Rick O'Shea and the Bouncing Bullet Band
Yes, the everlasting question. What makes a good band? Definitely talent (or, more like the technical ability to play whatever it is that you like to play), practice, dedication, and hard work. Those are a must, and each will very with how much the band outputs.
But, to me, the most important thing that makes a good band is when they listen to each other and are constantly engaged with each other. You can always tell a good band when they’re all just digging what each of them is doing, and the playing focuses on the simplicity of making the song come to life. No one is head-down thinking about how to play the most notes, or thinking ahead to their solos and figuring out what they’re gonna do. Everybody is completely aware of each other at every note, diggin what each player is doing, finding ways to lift each other’s playing, trying to find a way to build on what each is doing, and above all having fun. Those are the good bands, at least in my view.
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A good band makes the guys bob their heads and yell and makes the gals dance. That may seem simple, but in my experience, it’s truth. If people would rather watch your band play than talk and/or dance, that’s a good band.
Talent is an overused work in the world of bands. What is talent anyway? Good technique? Stage presence? A good ear? I’ve known many trained and educated musicians who couldn’t pull off a decent live performance if you aimed a shotgun at them. I’ve known people who knew next to nothing about their equipment other than how to turn it on who commanded your attention with their playing. So again I ask… what is talent? I’m of the opinion that ability in combination with knowing what one wants to do musically is the key and if that’s talent, then so be it!
As far as a band situation, what I’ve seen that makes a good band is commitment. The desire to stick with it and develop a performance that is solid. It doesn’t have to be flashy or choreographed, but rather TIGHT. Groove is everything. Locking in. That takes time in a band and it requires a work ethic. Knowing where people are going and being able to anticipate what’s about to happen on stage comes from hours and hours of rehearsal (learning each other) and gigging (finding out what works with the audience and how everyone goes about eliciting a desired response from them). I guess that requires all of the ingredients you mentioned in your blog – chemistry, practice, dedication, and hard work.
Even with all of those things going for a band, a key element is getting the job done. By that, I mean to say giving the people more than what they came for every single time. It doesn’t matter if there are 5,000 people, 500 people, 50 people, or 5 people there. It doesn’t matter if they’ve paid to see you or not. It doesn’t matter if the band is being paid or not. It doesn’t matter if the monitors are feeding back or if there are glitches in the sound system. It doesn’t matter if the band is “into it” or not. It doesn’t matter if the band is sick, tired, or sick and tired. That moment on stage has to be the sole focus of everyone involved and it has to be there before the first chord is struck all the way until the amps are turned off. On stage is “go time” and everything that a band does revolves around that moment in time because the fact of the matter is that if your band can’t BRING IT live – regardless of what style of music is being played – then there is no reason for that band.
My thoughts. I look forward to reading the rest of your blog!
I like the concept of the pick-up band more. less commitment, and pressure. the day in and day out of practice…is everyone pulling their own weight…that guy really sucks type atmosphere really take the fun out of it…for me.
to be honest. I haven’t really played with a band a in a few months now. the last time I played I sat in for a absentee guitar player. one practice…one hour before the show, and all went well.
The group I wrote about above has real chemistry. we’ve played together off and on for over 10 years…it’s like a jam session with others listening. I think I like that way.
If you’ve played with the same guys off and on for ten years, then you obviously know when the drummer is about to bring it down and you follow. You know when someone is gonna go for another pass on a lead because you can tell he’s feeling it and you instinctively know to keep chugging away. That certainly isn’t a pick-up band! I do understand not wanting to overwork the material and play occasionally to keep things fresh. That’s good stuff, too… and easy to do when you’re familiar with everyone and their playing style.
I can even understand being a hired gun for the weekend. It’s just enough stress to keep you on your toes, it’s fun to just go for it, and the excitement of not knowing where things may go is interesting and entertaining.
I understand, too, what you’re meaning about “the day in and day out of practice…is everyone pulling their own weight…that guy really sucks type atmosphere”. It’s hard sometimes and it creates a lot of stress for the leader. But I wouldn’t have a band if I weren’t the leader! It’s not a control issue, either. Allow me to explain…
The last two bands I’ve led have been very good bands. (My, but that sounds egotistical!!!) But I passed on my vision to the people I chose to play with me. That vision is something everyone has to get onboard with or, for me, it’s just jamming. One of the things that’s very important to me is that people leave the venue saying something like, “That band was awesome!” or “Are those guys local?” In order to generate those type of comments, the music has to be tight. Precise breaks, dramatic dynamics, excellent musicianship, great renditions of cover tunes, and exciting original music. When someone sings along with a song they’ve never heard before – and like they know the song by heart – is a powerfully inspiring thing for me. When I see a band, I want the smile on my face to hurt because I’ve been sitting there like a babbling idiot for so long. You know the kind of band I’m talking about. Simple, straight forward, in your face, kick ass music. And here’s the thing – it can be bluegrass!!! I don’t perform bluegrass music, but I’ve heard bluegrass bands that made me say, “Damn! Those guys friggin’ rock!” In my experience, it takes a lot of effort and time to get a band to that point and to keep it razor sharp. Flawless, if you will. That, in itself, is inspiring to me. To see (and to lead) and band that is ON IT song after song.
When a band is like that, there is little need for lights and other effects. There’s no need for catchy stage banter or forced movement among the musicians. No tuning on stage, no “inside” band jokes to kill time or to work into the next song – people don’t get those jokes anyway and the ones that do get them are the friends of the band who hang out a rehearsals or who’ve seen the band twenty six times. There is an incredible amount of discipline involved in getting a band like that to a stage, but because of that effort, the performance goes off without a hitch and it’s challenging and fun to keep it professional looking and sounding.
More importantly, it affords me the opportunity to set my price and to be consistently paid a better than average wage. Organizers and venues know exactly what they’re getting with a band like that and they know that people are going to turn out for them and return to see them next time. I’m able to pay my band members well. They come to rehearsal and their parts are prepared. They’re on time and cooperative because I pay them to be. I’m able to obtain and keep a quality FOH sound engineer because I can pay him what he’s worth – and he’s worth his weight in gold! I can pay for a load in and haul out crew that respects my equipment and enjoys being a part of the band.
A lot of work? Hell, yes. But for me, the personal satisfaction is worth it when my band is called upon for an event and people come out to hear us… and they bring others with them. We’re appreciated as a band and it means a great deal to me to be seen that way.
I’m not trying to convince you of anything and I certainly dig where you’re coming from. You asked what makes a good band and I guess the answers to that are as different as the many styles of music and the musicians who perform it. That, in itself, makes music fun!
Kenny,
ahhh…your talking about playing for money…that something that I have never done…food? yes. money, not so much.
http://ericmakesmusic.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/play-for-free/
Thanks for reading and carrying on the conversation. I’ve got a few changes in line for this blog.
please stay tuned.
I don’t mind playing for a charity event or something like that for free. That’s good stuff – and it’s fun and rewarding, too.
Meh, don’t listen to me… I’m just here to read your blog. I’ll catch up with everything in time.
I like your blog. It’s very enjoyable to read.
My favorite play for free gig was a wedding for a friend of mine 10 or so years ago:
We played, and on our way into the reception the wedding coordinator said:
“Thank you for the music, it was so beautiful my husband had to hold my hands back to keep me from clapping, and we’re asking everyone to take just two sandwiches”
Everyone loves the fun, but the same things apply,the principals,the truth, about life-you see successful acts,they never “just so happened”-in the words of Larry Carlton-”hard work,will get the job done”-Do you really have any conception of what hard work really is?Really?Did you grow up in a comfortable homelife?No real difficulties?Do you really know what difficulties are?It’s the REAL hardships of life that you learn from,and make you what you finally become.”Its A Long Way To The Top”-think about that song-,I do,all the time,I’m reminded of the truth there,in a simple AC/DC song.But also,”never stop believing”,as with God,”all things are possible”.I’m one who made it,I love you all,but it can sure be an illusion,keep yourself grounded.
Players who listen to each other (and not just themselves) will always make a band sound better. Also, any band is only as good as its drummer and bass player. If the groove isn’t there, it doesn’t matter how good any of the other members are – the band will sound weak.
A lousy band with great songs can still be a lot of fun, but a great band with lousy songs will be boring.
I rember watching the Beatles anthology and they talked about this a little. A good band has to have talent but theres a little more. You can’t reveal too much about urself or you’ll seem boring, second everyone is the band has to get along and like the same kind of music. That way the band will work really well and eveyrone can get along easier.