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Topic: Budget Concerts? |
Tom Jordan
From: Wichita, KS
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Posted 31 May 2005 3:08 pm
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My wife and I had a great time at the Dwight Yoakam concert out at the Pozo Saloon (CA). Dwight was great, the bass and drummer were smoking and the lead guitarist was "energetic"...I don't mean this in a bad way, he is good for his years (30) but not as polished as Pete Andersen...it did sound like he went to "Andersen U' though.
My point though is that this concert was out doors in the oak trees (good) and about 1600 tickets were sold at 26 bucks apiece ($41,600). The opening "act" was a local guy, solo on guitar and the warm-up, Steve Azar played a set...without a bass player! I couldn't believe that they were too cheap to hire a bass player. The sort of lead guy would bass-comp on guitar when he wasn't soloing. The drummer/back up singer was good and played standing up like the Stray Cats drummer did.
They did a good job, but really bugged me that there was no bassist. I understand road economics and maybe not traveling with a steel, fiddle or even a keyboard player. What do you think? Is this a new trend? Anyways it sure made the Dwight Yoakum band sound "fat" when they started!
Tom Jordan
edited fer spellin[This message was edited by Tom Jordan on 31 May 2005 at 04:10 PM.] |
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Dave Grafe
From: Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 5 Jun 2005 6:23 pm
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Tom, regardless of whether the act was local or not, if they are playing in an "opening" slot then they aren't seeing much of that $40K (maybe not ANY of it). Most of the time the opening acts are set up by the promoter to play for the exposure alone.
For most concerts a promoter can get lots of acts for nothing at all (some acts are even willing to pay to play) because they just want to be part of the scene - or simply be seen at all - this is known as "horny to be hip."
I once auditioned for a band with a weekly radio show. They wanted to add a steel player first, but they hadn't made up their minds whether to add a drummer or a bass player next.
A total no-brainer, I passed on that gig.
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Dave Grafe - email: dg@pdxaudio.com
Production
Pickin', etc.
1978 ShoBud Pro I E9, Randall Steel Man 500, 1963 Precision Bass, 1954 Gibson LGO, 1897 Washburn Hawaiian Steel Conversion
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Alvin Blaine
From: Picture Rocks, Arizona, USA
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 11:18 am
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Quote: |
The opening "act" was a local guy, solo on guitar and the warm-up, Steve Azar played a set...without a bass player! I couldn't believe that they were too cheap to hire a bass player. |
I don't know the group your talking about, but there is sort of a trend right now of not having a bass player. There are several alternative type rock groups doing gigs sans bass.
Some of the more popular ones are "The White Stripes" , "Kaki King" and my favorite "David Lindley y Wally Ingram", but there are several out right now just doing the guitar and drum thing.
So maybe the act that you spoke of is just trying to be a part of the current trend of no bass bands.
From one point of view who is to say that music has to have a bass player. Most string bands back in the twenties and thirties didn't have bass players, and that's some of my favorite music. However if there is a choice of having a guitar and drum duo or a guitar and bass duo, I would go with the bass.[This message was edited by Alvin Blaine on 15 June 2005 at 12:25 PM.] |
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Tony Prior
From: Charlotte NC
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 12:54 pm
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geesh, I though the trend was to not have a Steel player..
boy , those hundred thousand Bass players out there are in big trouble !
t |
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Gene Jones
From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 1:17 pm
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The "bottom financial line" is paramount to the music producer bean counters today and the current trend is to eliminate any cost that the consumers won't complain about....and who believes that the majority of today's music consumers care a whit about bass players (or steel guitar players).
An "outee" with a ring attached will trump a bass player any day of the week!
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www.genejones.com
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Tom Jordan
From: Wichita, KS
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Posted 15 Jun 2005 1:36 pm
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"An "outee" with a ring attached will trump a bass player any day of the week!"
Gene, now that I can understand! But these guys didn't do much for me that way...I hadn't considered that the guitar/drum combo was a new trend. I guess I don't get out enough.
You know, it really wasn't bad...just wasn't what I expected when I bellied up to the trough.
Tom |
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Gene Jones
From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 16 Jun 2005 6:10 am
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Tom, I understand your point and I agree.
In another life when I was "jobbing" I would occasionly do a small venue job without drums or guitar but I always refused a job that didn't have a bass player.
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www.genejones.com
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John Poston
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Posted 16 Jun 2005 7:57 am
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While I don't always mind bands without a bass player, I find it a challenge to play in a group without one. I think I gravitate to it as my tuning reference and make sure I can hear it well on stage. |
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Jack Stoner
From: Kansas City, MO
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Posted 16 Jun 2005 12:16 pm
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A got hired for a one night gig quite a few years ago (late 70's) by a lead guitar friend. When I showed up for the job, it was the Lead Guitar picker friend, a drummer and Me on Steel. I wound up playing bass on the C6th neck for most of the night. I couldn't stand it without a bass, especially since I also play bass. I, V - I, V - I, V.... |
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