PEE-MU: Musician's Thread

[Reply #80 on:]

Im a bassist. Im a Top of the page bassist

[Reply #81 on:]

I may be recruited into another band sometime soon.  Matt (my bandmate in Red:Shift, Nerve Harvest, and The Bloody Marys) is forming another band with two drummers (including myself), and everyone taking lead-vocal duties.

I've been wanting to form a band myself, but as singer instead of drummer (York's drummer-drought is mainly responsible for me being in so many bands, in the first place).

I don't sing that bad, really.  I'm kinda in the same register as Brandon Boyd (Incubus), Mike Patton (Faith No More), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), and Jason Perry ('A') - in other words, at the high-end. 

It's worked for harmonies on Red:Shift so far, so I'd like to see how it goes on lead-vocals.

[Reply #82 on:]

I'm head tech and Webmaster for HyperSimon.
Samples are available on their website, http://www.hypersimon.com

Online CD ordering will be available soon (as soon as they open a bank account  ), and if there's one track that you like, I can probably clear a full song download for you.

The single that's getting radio play across the United States is "A Car Song."

[Reply #83 on:]

I can play the drums, the harmonica and the acoustic guitar, the only problem is that I am tone deaf, so I cant really sing, and I have to have someone tune my guitar for me, but other than that, I'm not that bad.

[Reply #84 on:]

I play the bass.  I've played in a funk band, a metal band back when I was in high school and there was still some real metal, and now I'm trying to get a hardcore band off the ground but my damn guitar player is too lazy to play.  My influences are too varied to list, I have a couple of cheap basses, I'm about to buy a used Music Man for way too much money, and my amp is a Baby Blue II, the best bass amp ever.

[Reply #85 on:]

Bizarre experience at the gig I played last night, involving one of the other bands.

We're soundchecking, and the other bands are arriving.  Matt is letting in the second band, and the drummer says something like "Don't be too surprised if I jump over the kit and kill him *gestures at Lead-Singer* tonight."

Their soundcheck decends into an onstage ruck involving musical differences (Singer: "We're not playing too guitars tonight, I have to cover the drummer's backing-vocals, coz he's pissed".)  There's lots of to-ing and fro-ing between the two, calling each other, and so on.

When it gets to their performance, Jimmy (our friend and sound engineer), cuts them off before they finish their set (their time was up, and they'd fannied around for a lot of the time),  Didn't make them much happier, smashing beer glasses in the dressing-room.

Last thing anyone saw of them, was they were outside having a mass discussion on whether or not they should split up there and then.

Poor dears, must be tough when you're a struggling artist.

BTW: Red:Shift played blindingly, albeit with a few fluffs at the beginning, but the end of the set was awsome.

I got some pics taken, and will post them when I get them.

[Reply #86 on:]

That's funny.  I played a show a number of years ago where the opening band for us broke up then and there in the bar after their set.  It ended with the bass player smashing his bass over the hood of his car and throwing his stomp box down the street.  I recovered it and it still sits in my parts drawer. Free Boss LM2B anyone?   

[Reply #87 on:]

My covers band, the Ladykillers, have a gig tomorrow but we haven't practiced in weeks so we're going to what we always do: rehearse the set tonight, set up tomorrow, drink copius amounts of alcohol and rock the place out! Lot's of fun, and we get paid for it too 

[Reply #88 on:]

Cool, I wanna be in a covers band, sounds like a blast.

[Reply #89 on:]

I've just found out I've got to prepare four ensembles / rock bands for a college competition in a months time...eep! 

[Reply #90 on:]

 

Originally posted by Spice Weasel:
That's funny.  I played a show a number of years ago where the opening band for us broke up then and there in the bar after their set.  It ended with the bass player smashing his bass over the hood of his car and throwing his stomp box down the street.  I recovered it and it still sits in my parts drawer. Free Boss LM2B anyone?    

I always find it funny how infantile arguments can be between bandmates.  I swear band fights are the closest thing you can get to being in a relationship without actually being involved with someone.

[Reply #91 on:]

That's sooo true. 

However, our band disagreements are normally quite civilised.  One almost got out of hand, but we nipped it in the bud fairly quickly.

Nowadays we normally quibble over setlists.

[Reply #92 on:]

The reason our current line-up works so well is that all arguments get sorted as everyone is willing to compromise. And that's why the previous line-ups failed - someone always knew best (even if he had no talent).


 

Originally posted by Melllvar:
The only other PEELers band I've heard is Lurrr's.  What a gip!

You have mail.

[Reply #93 on:]

Aye, downloaded the first song.  The sound quality is hellishly poor (how'd you record it?)

Your singer sounds like Tim Wheeler (from Ash).  That's a good thing.

[Reply #94 on:]

Using three microphones, a PA system and a MiniDisc player. Thus the appalling quality. We intend to buy some studio time in the future when we have recruited a fourth and final member.

[Reply #95 on:]

 

Originally posted by Archie2K:
Using three microphones, a PA system and a MiniDisc player. Thus the appalling quality. We intend to buy some studio time in the future when we have recruited a fourth and final member.

Hmmm...although the technical limitations of MD can be annoying (on a standard 74 minute MD, you're recording 5 times worse than CD quality, although you need a decent audio setup to notice), I've had very few quality issues with a similar setup (two AKG3000s going into a Spirit NotePad, feeding via XLR into a live CD recorder).

Obviously it's only really good for recording live - but I really can't afford to book into a professional studio to do some tracking - I make do with an original issue iMac running Logic 4, through a USB soundcard. Loads of latency, but it does the job. When it's not crashing   

Again, a big problem I have with recording live, is that I'm not normally at the CD Recorder, but mixing the seperate PA system. Therefore, it can often overload during a very load applause...I guess I need four hands...

In the meantime, if anyone can offer me tips for pulling off a live version of Massive Attack's Tear Drop, I'd be glad to hear it!

[Reply #96 on:]

I play the keyboard. I had lessons for about 2 years when I was about 10, and I have just recently taken it up again. The keyboard I have is an ancient Yamaha one though, I think an upgrade is in order once I fully re-learn to play. I can play the Futurama theme!   

[Reply #97 on:]

Cool, I had to learn to play piano in school last year. I was actually really good, until the more complicated two handers came along. Forget that. Guitar for me, baby.

[Reply #98 on:]

Well the Futurama theme actually doesn't have chords if you listen to it, but I made them up to be D and E anyway, it sounds right to me! I also spent a whole day working out the tune and chords to The Portrait (Titanic piano solo). Maybe I'll record it and put it on the Internet (somehow)...

The guitar always looked like a really hard instrument to play compared to the piano/keyboard, and I wouldn't know since I've never tried, what is it like?

[Reply #99 on:]

Well, I wouldn't be the best example, since I only began playing a year ago, but you practice- you get good. I remeber it was really hard to move my fingers in the correct orders and as quick as I should when I started.  Many people give up (my sister being one) since they think it will be too hard, at least from what I've heard and seen. But eventually you get good, with practice.  So, yeah, it is pretty hard.  I still have trouble.

It would be cool to hear you playing the theme on piano, once I learn the notes I may try it.  I can also try it on the piano, why not?

[Reply #100 on:]

It won't exactly be a piano, it will be an electronic keyboard doing a pretty good impression of a piano! I'll try and use the mic on my laptop to record it, I can't think of a better way.

As for learning to play, I found it so much easier to pick up playing the keyboard again because the ability to read music as well as listen to it and work it out from that comes back quicker than I would have expected. We have a guitar but one of the strings is broken, so no chance of trying to play that until it is fixed.

[Reply #101 on:]

Well I guess that's it... Kult of the Dead Rockstar are effectively on hiatus. Hard to practice when your guitar player is going to another country...

...and just when we got a decent promotional material going. The idea was make sticky labels that say "Kult of the Dead Rockstar are better than..." and the webaddress. Then stick on whatever we feel like insulting today... bands, political parties, movies etc. etc. 

[Reply #102 on:]

 

Originally posted by Ozor Mox:
It won't exactly be a piano, it will be an electronic keyboard doing a pretty good impression of a piano! I'll try and use the mic on my laptop to record it, I can't think of a better way.

If your keyboard has L/R jack inputs (or a headphones socket), use guitar leads (or a stereo lead), with a Jack to MiniJack adapter on the end. You should then be able to put your keyboard into the mic in on your soundcard (all sound cards have mic inputs, but some laptops don't).

[Reply #103 on:]

New band, new danger.

Basically, it was decided by myself and Matt, that people would actually come to see us, if we had two sexxy chicks in the band.  I know I would.

We're putting some riffs and sequenced backing tracks together, and we'll see where we go from there, but it's always exciting starting a new band.

[Reply #104 on:]

I play the drums, Tama ArtStar, and Harmonica. Both self taught.

Melllvar, you look like MAtt Groening. really.

[Reply #105 on:]

Only in that picture (probably).

My drums are TAMA Rockstar (as are FilthyCrab's), they're the drums of choice.

FDC comprises three-quarters of Nerve Harvest, while (NH singer) Orgo's away in Blackpool, we're gonna do this with Maggie in his place.  Will be like NH but more of a hip-hop feel.

[Reply #106 on:]

I play the sax, piano, and I sing. For the sax, it's mostly jazz improv. But I save all the classicals for the piano.

[Reply #107 on:]

Me and Hil are friends in real life out of the interent too, we have been since kindergarden I think. We started a band recently and I play lead guitarist. I don't really think we're so great though.

[Reply #108 on:]

There's talk going round the band I'm in that out teacher might make me cut my hair once we start getting regular gigs, to "fit in with the image"
Bollocks to that, I'll quit the band before I cut my hair....been growing it 2, nearly 3 years now and it's finally getting past shoulder length....I know image is important but I don't care, my hair is who I am man....! 

[Reply #109 on:]

Went to a drummers symposium night before last with Davd Garibalidi of "Tower of Power" (old school funk).  Very cool.  David talked a lot about motivation and how he approaches writing and practicing.  I think I may actually have learned a few things (happens if you're not careful).

I highly recommend going to see David at one of these sessions if you get the chance (he does them in conjunction with ToP tours, so he may be in your area soon).

[Reply #110 on:]

Oh, I love Symposia.

I've always wanted to go to a Drum Clinic.  Steve White (Drummer with Paul Weller, and elder-brother of Alan, drummer with Oasis) is a well-repected session drummer, and tours the UK giving clinics.

Maybe, I'll get of my ass and go to one.

[Reply #111 on:]

Dude, who doesn't love symposia???  Seriously, David gives a great session - he started out by playing a 10 minute solo that was very mind-blowing.  Then talked and did lots of demos of rythms and such.

Sounds like seeing Steve White could be pretty cool too.

[Reply #112 on:]

You might be interested to know that Nick D'Virgilio is doing a drum clinic in Derby soon. He's the drummer for Spock's Beard, and a pretty impressive musician. Also, Steve White is appearing at Music Live 2003, although I don't know what he's doing. I'll be going anyway to spend my money 

[Reply #113 on:]

 

Originally posted by Gleno:
There's talk going round the band I'm in that out teacher might make me cut my hair once we start getting regular gigs, to "fit in with the image"

Why would your band have a teacher? Do you pay him to teach you all how to behave like rock stars? 

[Reply #114 on:]

Teacher/manager, it's a music school he does both....he's been in the business for a lot of years and knows the score....And I already know how to behave like a rock star....*Drinks 5 bottles of scotch, vomits all over himself then goes on stage* 

[Reply #115 on:]

Some good band-related news today:

Nerve Harvest are doing a gig with one of my favourite bands, Apartment 26.  I saw them supporting Fear Factory a few years ago, and have got their first album "Hallucinating".  Now, I'm gonna play a gig with them.

My new band, FirstDateCrime is possibly forgoing the backingtracks idea, and recruiting a turn-tablist instead (Matt's mate Ozzie, who's a professional DJ, and is pretty damn handy on the wheels of steel) - how cool is that?  I can't wait to get this band up and running.  It's gonna be so cool!

[Reply #116 on:]

I can't think of any other place for this, and this is probably the best place as all musicians will appreciate it.

Today is the tenth anniversary of Frank Zappa's death. I only found this out from another forum (and, coincidently, Evil Dick's practice was cancelled today as well) so I didn't know until today. He was a great man, and music is worse off without him. He would have only been 63 today.

That is all.

[Reply #117 on:]

oh yeah, i should maybe post in here again, because... my band has no room to practice in anymore. we lost the one we used to play at.
sadly, we don't have the equipment to just play in some garage...

so, i guess our band (which was lazy already anyway) will be pretty much inactive if not dead. but hey, we managed to record some shit, it just sucked. 
and me and a friend will keep writing songs, dammit. 

[Reply #118 on:]

 

Originally posted by Lurrr:
Today is the tenth anniversary of Frank Zappa's death.

Oddly enough, I was told only today that I look like one of his session musicians from the 70s.

Godspeed, Frank.

[Reply #119 on:]

Keep writing Spiff, you never know what might be around the corner.

I've had lots of band-related stuff happening recently.  Still going forward in the new year with new band, FirstDateCrime - which currently features Matt, Charlotte and Myself from Nerve Harvest plus singer Maggie and turntablist, Olli - there's also tenuous plans to involve former EarthnoiZe members Bob (rapper) and Will (guitars) which will make FDC a seven-piece.

Can't wait to get started on that.

Another band, with Matt and Charlotte, this one a punk band, three-chord and three-part harmonies.  Should be fun, if we ever get it started.

There's a brand new Red:Shift website, which has been taken out of my hands, thank goodness.

Oh, and I'm gigging tomorrow night.

EDIT: How many full-time bands do we have on here now?  We so could put together a gig with all of 'em (especially the UK ones).