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Topic: Band" or backing band? |
Mike Winter
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 8:41 am |
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I was just wondering how many of you players would rather be in a "band," or in a backing behind some single artist?
I've seen it so many times: A band starts out as The Whatevers, then either suits/politics/egos get involved, and it quickly changes to The Whatevers featuring So and So. Then later on it becomes So and So and The Whatevers...then finally...So and So.
I figure if a band starts out backing someone, fine. But I hate to see a real band morph over time into BECOMING a backing band behind some "star."
Thought?
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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 10:15 am
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Mike,,,
JMHO,, but I believe every one in that band is a "Star"!!
I have seen what you're talking about, and have been there. The one time in particular I just gracefully bowed out when the time was right.
The other times I saw it happen,, it resolved it's self!! lol.. The old saying of what goes around comes around, and when you're in an area where there's not a large "Poole" of pickers to choose from word gets around really fast.
Like I said,, I think we're all "STARS" why else are we on that stand?? I don't base this statement on any persons playing ability ,,We all want to play, we all want to perform, so in my mind that makes everyone a star!
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Fessenden S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
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Mike Winter
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 10:29 am
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Yuppa, me too. In our band, we all have a "side-man" mentality, in the sense that we back up whomever is singing lead at any given time. With three or four lead singers, it works out pretty well. It gets pretty tedious hearing one guy sing almost every song for 4 0r 5 sets. This way, we all get to shine some. 
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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 10:30 am
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We're sort of going the other way. Originally it was "John Reese and Open Hearts". John wrote all of the songs and we had a 6 piece band backing him up.
Now we're working on a CD as a trio, with all three of us writing the songs. Thinking of calling ourselves "3 Open Hearts" to reflect the change. It's a little harder to categorize the music ("original rock" doesn't work without a drummer), but we have a lot more creative freedom. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 10:31 am
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"Everybody's a dreamer
Everybody's a star
Everybody's in showbiz
Doesn't matter who you are"
Ray Davies, from The Kinks
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Mark
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 12:15 pm
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No job...No money...No car...but I'm in a band!
...from a tee-shirt in Musicians Friend. |
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Larry Strawn
From:
Golden Valley, Arizona, R.I.P.
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 12:30 pm
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Like that Tee shirt!!
Saying I like,,,,,,,
I'm in the music business,, got $20,000.00 worth of equipment, make $50 bucks a night a few nights each month!!
Not real productive but I'm in the BUSINESS!!! LOL..
The one I've all ways tried to live by is what a 70 yr. young guitar player told me when I was in my early 20's.
"Check your ego at the door!! Lets all go pick and have some fun!!"
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Fessenden S/D 12, 8/6 Hilton Pedal, Sessions 400 Ltd. Home Grown E/F Rack
"ROCKIN COUNTRY"
still can't spell!
[This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 12 April 2006 at 01:32 PM.] [This message was edited by Larry Strawn on 12 April 2006 at 01:33 PM.] |
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Alvin Blaine
From:
Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 12:42 pm
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For the past week or two I've been reminiscing and listening to all my old "Buck Owens & The Buckaroos" albums.
Just yesterday I was thinkin' about how cool of a band that was.
Buck was on a run of having 15 number one songs in a row, and on every single album he let the band sine. He had Don singin songs, playing guitar instrumentals(Buckaroo was one of the #1 hits) and fiddle tunes. Doyle would sing a song or two, and Tom would do a steel instrumental.
This was every album from '64 through'74, even the live shows. It was about the band not just "The Star", like todays music.
How would that go over with today's "Country Stars"?
If Kenny Chesney let his bass player sing a couple of songs on the new album. How about a steel instrumental on the new Toby Kieth CD. Maybe Tim Mcgraw could have his guitar player pick up a fiddle and do an old fiddle breakdown on his next project.
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 12:59 pm
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A band has to have one leader! A man can't serve two masters, and a ship can't sail with two captains. If you're in a band backing a "star" singer, the singer's the boss, plain and simple. If everyone in the band tries to have their own way, that's not music, that's chaos.  |
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Andy Greatrix
From:
Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 1:09 pm
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| Ya what did Buck know, anyway. No wonder he died broke. Of course I jest. Bob Wills always featured his band. so did Laurance Welk and Ernest Tubb. Those guys will be remembered long after Kenny Chesney is forgotten and they were still the boss. |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 1:12 pm
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Mark,
Great quote.......what Kinks song is it from? |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 1:58 pm
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Chris-I took the quote a little out of context-the song was "Celluoid Heroes" about Hollywood Boulevard.
Certainly works for the music industry-it's all entertainment.
Geez-The Kinks. Ray Davies is no doubt one of the greatest songwriters in the history of rock music. Friggin' brilliant!
the verse continues:
"And those that are successful
Be always on your guard
Success walks hand and hand with failure
Along Hollywood Boulevard"
Wise words for sure.
Different industry in my case-but I have been there!
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Mark
[This message was edited by Mark Eaton on 12 April 2006 at 03:07 PM.] |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 3:26 pm
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| We run our band as a democracy and have outlived every local country band. Major decisions and songs all get voted on. The majotity wins. No one feels left out. |
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Jake L
From:
Grapevine, Texas
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 3:41 pm
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A few years ago I was hired to play in a band. About a year later, I was voted bandleader, and immediately started making some personel changes. As a result, a "new" band was formed. Among remaining original members of the band, and the new guys,it was decided that since the former lead guitarist had come up with the original band name, that we would rename the group. We decided to use the lead singer's name as the "star" for marketing, and then the rest of the band would have it's own name. Even though it appeared that we had become a backup band, we still had the mentality of being a single unit. I think that it went over so well because it was a group decision to do that, instead of being told to do so by a bandleader, manager, etc. In fact, the lead singer had reservations at first because he didn't want to seem like a egotist.
Jake Lowe |
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Chris LeDrew
From:
Canada
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 4:12 pm
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| I agree, Mark........brilliant writer, and that's a great song. He speaks the truth. |
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Mike Winter
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 12 Apr 2006 9:31 pm
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Here's a story from Bobbe Seymour:
"When I first moved to Nashville in the sixties, my first road job was with Ferlin Huskey in Seattle, Washington. We were on the country music extravaganza with Buck and the Buckaroos. Before the show started, I was backstage tuning up with Ferlin standing beside me when Buck walked up to us, greeted Ferlin and after some small chitchat, asked Ferlin the question, “How many pieces do you have in your band?”
Ferlin replied, “I don’t have a band, I just carry 5 props.”
Buck looked down at me and I just shook my head. Then Buck proceeded to make a speech to Ferlin that I’ll never forget. “Ferlin, you’re a star and you’ve come a long way but it’s obvious you still have something to learn. If you would do what I did and make everybody in your band a star, make them all well known, pretty soon the band will be as important as you are, your price will go up and your audience will be much more receptive to your show. You won’t be carrying 5 props, but your 5 musicians will be carrying you.”
Buck shook Ferlin’s hand, winked at me and walked away."
My sentiments exactly.
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Mike
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Blue Moon Highway
(Country Music...and then some.)
www.bluemoonhighway.com
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2006 2:13 am
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| Time after time, money changes everything. It seems like the record companies have a much better mental grasp of how to promote and mold one artist than a whole band. This seems to be an increasing rather than decreasing trend, and a large part of it is probably that it's easier for them to manipulate a single artist into doing what THEY think is right - bands tend to have solidarity and opinions, the last things a Svengali-wannabe wants to hear about. More than a few of the "AOR-in-cowboy-hats" so-called country bands are now formed by managers looking for a marketable package, rather than by the old-fashioned method of freinds playing together. [This message was edited by David Mason on 13 April 2006 at 03:15 AM.] |
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James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
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Posted 13 Apr 2006 4:19 pm
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| Quote: |
| More than a few of the "AOR-in-cowboy-hats" so-called country bands are now formed by managers looking for a marketable package, rather than by the old-fashioned method of freinds playing together. |
Well, this might fit, from late columnist Mike Royko:
"If a 'marathon, with all those emaciated runners sprawled on the grass, tongues hanging out, wheezing, moaning, writhing, throwing up . . . is the way to happiness and long life, pass . . . the cheesecake.'"[This message was edited by James Cann on 13 April 2006 at 05:20 PM.] [This message was edited by James Cann on 13 April 2006 at 05:22 PM.] [This message was edited by James Cann on 13 April 2006 at 05:23 PM.] |
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Don Powalka
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2006 8:13 pm
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This is a quite interesting topic. I've never been a road warrior like many of you in this forum, nor have I been involved with any big name performers. I do have to admit that for the most part, the local folks I've played with have treated me with quite a bit of respect. There were some ego maniacs out there, but they usually found out that a crowd can see that and they don't like it. The folks I played with just had a band name, the last being The Sage Band. We went up or down as a team. I also played with another band called the Country Carravan. There too, we went up or down as a team and when we had a down night, we laughed it off and did better next time.
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Fender Strat Fender Tele Gibson Les Paul ShoBud U12 Genuine Dobro Washburn B16 banjo for aggravation |
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kyle reid
From:
Butte,Mt.usa
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Posted 15 Apr 2006 2:56 pm
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| I would think Chesney is too smart to let his Bass player sing? |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 15 Apr 2006 3:07 pm
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I've been in bands with just a band name and ones with a person's name and the band name. It really didn't matter to me and I never had a hang up with it, either way. The "stars" in the band usually didn't last long and were gone anyway.
When we work with Tommy Cash it's "The Tommy Cash Show". Sometimes we are "The Tomcats" and sometimes we are "The Cash Crew" just depends on what Tommy wants to call us. Doesn't really matter as long as he pays us. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 15 Apr 2006 4:57 pm
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I prefer being a sideman in general. Its more simple. No band meetings, no set list discussions and an absolute minimum of rehearsals. They tell me the date,time, where the gig is and how much it pays and I take the gig or not. Around NYC if a band is a bunch of well paid side men it tends to be a very, very good band. Its way more fun playing with great players. It makes me rise to the occasion. The fact that I actually do need the money is a great motivator for keeping my end of the deal as together and trouble free as possible.
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Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website
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Kenny Burford
From:
Independence, Missouri USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2006 6:08 am
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I understand completely why record companies are reluctant to sign and promote bands, it's almost impossible to get a band to stay together through a recording project, let alone a tour. The ones that do are the exception and the financial risk is too high.
As for me I would rather work for a band leader or name act, someone who is willing to make decisions. I wouldn't go aboard a ship that did not have a rutter and the same goes for playing music. |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 19 Apr 2006 7:23 am
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Jack,
I agree entirely. It doesn't really matter as long as there is respect among all involved.... And you get paid in full... on time.
Keep in pickin'!
Glenn |
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Andy Greatrix
From:
Edmonton Alberta
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Posted 19 Apr 2006 7:57 am
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| The bandleader doesn't necessarily have to be the lead singer. There are examples where a guy (or gal) owns a band name, plus the PA and transportation, does all the booking, and hires singers as well as pickers. When one of the sidemen wants to leave, they are replaced with another employee. I knew of two instances where a bass player and a guitar player, neither of them sang, were band leaders. If a lead singer wanted to be the leader, they had to go and form their own band, which meant buying a van and a PA, hiring sidemen and booking the band. Only in Elvis movies does a lead singer just walk in and take over the band. |
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