Bob's Country Bunker

Leslie Ehrlich · From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

How many forum members have played in places where their kind of music was not wanted? That happened to me just recently, and whenever such a scenario occurs I can't help but think of the Blues Brothers playing in Bob's Country Bunker.

The other guitarist warned me that there were a lot of country music fans in the crowd, but I wanted to do the gig anyway because there was a nice big stage and I had room to set up my steel. By the end of the second set half the crowd was gone because we didn't play any country music. Then the other guitarist suggested that we play 'Heartaches By The Number'. He wanted to play bass on that tune because he knew how to play the walking bass line, the bass player struggled with the rhythm guitar part, and I tried to do something on the steel. We were lost, and the song went over like a lead balloon.

The sound man brought some CDs to play over the PA system while we took our breaks, and two of them happened to be Alan Jackson albums. As we were packing up our stuff someone in the crowd asked to hear one of them, and I knew right then and there. Oh well, live and learn.

Glenn Austin · From: Montreal, Canada

You should have played "Rawhide"

Seriously, What kind of music does your band do ?

Tony Farr · From: Madison, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Well I was playing a place in Hendersonville one night some time ago, and when we took a break, the guy in charge told the band leader, your band doesn't play what the customers want to hear! Well while we were packing up our instruments, that guy started playing records, and said this is what they want to hear, guess what? He was playing the same songs that we had just got through playing. The band leader told him as we all went out the door, that either you're dum or you can't hear. They wanted us back the next weekend but the leader told him to just keep playing records that that was all they deserved.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

One doesn't have to be a psycologist to recognize that many, many of the current so-called "country groups" have missed the boat by a wide margin. We've talked about the demise of "our kind" of music"; "the "PSG" in general; Gaylord and the Opry, etc. EVER wonder why "OUR KIND OF MUSIC" could be disappearing while blue grass is on the popularity track?
To any observer researching the question, it will become quite obvious in very short order...........that whomever, for the most part, is selecting the song lists......often have no comprehension whatsoever of what anybody but him/herself wants to hear or play. Being the BIG STAR seems to be the rule these days.
Some groups play the same tired, old and ugly tunes for all four sets, week-end after week-end. Some groups I've met/worked with briefly, have no more than 20-25 songs TOTAL that they can hobble thro'.....in any sort of organized fashion. Some of these lists have been typed out weeks in advance.....and are RIGID as if set in concrete.
Some groups invite audience audience participation/requests.......and yet know that they can't play diddle and as a result most of the requests get tabled. Some of these same groups........play so loud that light hearted social conversation over a cool beverage is next to impossible.
When the pain in the ear becomes so unbearable the audience has but one choice and that is too leave. (When this is done, they routinely apply the rule of 400!) Thus, we "ALL" lose.
While we all love steel guitar and many of us enjoy C/W music and/or w/swing....there are just too many groups getting up in front of the public........who are totally ilequipped to be doing so. Many lack the background of "standards" while others have no concept of what "real playing" is required.
Some of these leaders stand up and scream every vocal performed......leaving the entire group as nothing more than background noise. Instrumentals are total absent.
All kinds of people go to clubs; some to drink and some to dance. There are those that dance only waltzes or slow dances, while there are others that want to jitter-bug or boogie all night long.
Some of these groups of today...will rapidly go from a slow ballad into an exagerated frantic Orange Blossom Special. What happens then, the slow dancers that have managed to find a partner and have just arrived on the floor, are basically chased off with a tune they cannot perform to. What happened to playing the "tempo" for those dancing? The audience is supposed to set the flavor of the music being played/and the temp.
It just seems to some of us that have grown up in this business, that some of the new folks (THIS IS NOT A CONDEMNATION) have failed early on to do their home work and to learn the ropes as many of us have done.
Today's hot steel players.....many who are not working....learned to play what the customer wants, likes and expects to hear rather than what some numb-nut "leader" has decided what everyone is gonna get because he has the power to make the decisions.
That kind of attitude has and continues to hurt many of us to this day. Saturday night, I had the opportunity to visit and listen to a group of old-timers, playing the local Elks Club circuit in this region. THey've been doing it for more than 12 years now. A five piece group; drummer using brushes; lead guitarist playing melodies; rhythm guitaris that knew what cords to play and when/where to play them. The bassman plays thro' a 12 inch amp.
The musical balance was fine. They were pleasant to listen to. The dance floor was full for virtually every tune. Those not dancing were able to converse at tables of 4 to 8 people. It was a BIG, happy crowd.
What is it I'm missing? Getting a gig for less than anyone else will take for it, is not a measure of success.

Paul King · From: Gainesville, Texas, USA

I played a church campmeeting in Oklahoma where the band I was with was playing Christian Country. During the sound check we were running through a couple of tunes when people were getting bent out of shape. One man went and got one of the board members and he wanted to know who we were and who got us in. The man preaching the campmeeting was the one who got us in to play. I remember one man saying that was honky tonk music and another said it was a bunch of crap. The music was not well received that night but we played and sang just like nothing had happened. We found out they were heavy into contemptary music. I have played a lot of places but have never been treated that way especially by people at a church function. I have found that most people even if they do not like your music will at least show some respect and dignity.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

For me, It's always been one of the great unsolved mysteries that young people (with good hearing) like the music real loud, while the older folks (with fading auditory capabilities) just can't stand it loud.

Lotta truth in what you say, Ray. I played in joints...er...uh...excuse me, "establishments" where there were 250 people. Most would consider that a rousing crowd for a local place, but these people weren't buying much. Most would go to the parking lot to partake in a couple 6-packs they had stashed (or something slightly "illegal"), and then return in a half-hour or so, half-lit, and looking for nothing but "loud noise" from the band, and trouble from the decent customers! Needless to say, most of these places are gone now, so the older folks just stay home...with no place else to go now but the Moose, Elks, and Am. Legion clubs. From the the band's point of view, the lack of desire for people to go out anymore rests squarely in the lap of the owners, who let such things continue. But from the owners' perspective, 'twas the bands that ran all their customers off. Go figure.

Anyhow, to get back to the thread's topic, back in the '60s (before all the riots), our little "hillbilly" band was booked (by our slightly shady agent) into an all-black nightclub...in an all black neighborhood! (Yes, we were the only white-bread in the place.) The crowd didn't rave about us, but they treated us in a civil manner, and a few of 'em even liked some of the Cash and Owens stuff that was our staple at that time. In a similar situation today, we'd probably be very lucky to get out with our instruments and our lives...yes, times have sure changed.

Somebody wanna 'splain all this to me?

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 06 January 2003 at 07:46 PM.]

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Our female Mayor explains this happening as "diversity" and "tolerance". It makes us all happier to be together even tho' we can't speak the common language of many in the group.

Rick McDuffie · From: Benson, North Carolina, USA

As our country band was packing up one night, the DJ fired up the house sound system and played the most obscene rap filth you've ever heard. I couldn't get out of there fast enough, and I wondered how those people could appreciate us and still want to listen to that trash. We were well-received and the band (without me) has returned to play there again. Go figure.

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

Alot of times the whole situation hinges on the perceptive powers and abilities of the leader of the group.
I say this while reflecting on my gig last night; A quintet playing for a corporate party, led by a time warp trombone player who seemed unable to grasp the fact that nobody in their 20's thinks a tune like "Quando Quando" is anything but a bad joke.
Ugh.
-John

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