Jambo10

[quote name='Norm' post='1214725' date='Apr 29 2011, 11:23 AM']Seeing singers with a lyric sheet on a stand or even holding a book (worse!) always used to get my goat until I had to take over lead vocal duties to keep a band going. I was of the same opinion as you bottlebassman, I've learnt the basslines why can't they learn the lyrics? I still struggle to remember words to 30 odd songs in a 2 setter gig. Sometimes I barely look at the book, some songs I get lost & have to read them (different ones no pattern to it). Yeah, its a crutch as somebody earlier suggested, I know but I don't get stressed about it. I just keep the book low on a cut down stand like a monitor, have large clear print & a little clip on light for dark stages. I've noticed more pro's using lyric sheets, Robert Plant for example on his electric prom gig, Michael Stipe sometimes too. Keep it low & people don't notice it so much. Other general comments to Jambo10. Agree with lots of the comments above, 1. Light from above, front side rather than rear where poss. Difficult at some venues i know. 2. Get yer heads up, look at the audience, smile, interact with the rest of the band, look like you are enjoying yourselves. 3. Backing vox & harmonys lift songs. Work on helping singer out on choruses. 4. Material choice, vary pace & tempo of the 1st set, save some slammers for the last few songs. Choose songs you can all do justice to, especially sing. If the singer is struggling it doesn't matter how good the band are. 4. Don't introduce every song, segway some songs together, take it in turns to introduce songs/chat to audience. Share the load & keep it brief. Your band isn't bad at all but could be loads better (like the rest of us too) All the best & good luck, it sounds like you will get there as you are willing to work at it! Cheers, Norm.[/quote] Didn't read this properly last night when I got in, sooooo........ The lights at rear, well as we all know, it depends on ceiling hight, a struggle at that gig, but they normally go as high as possible. Was out with the guitarist for a few jars and we both agreed we are going to chip in with more vox. I normally do the setlists and I like to mix it up but clump a few similar together, dance ones etc, so i structure like 3/4 songs rapid fire, no gaps. Then a breather, singer caan give patter etc. Example....we did a short set on sunday night there, we were nearing the end of Take Me Out, now the dancefloor was full, I gestured to the singer to keep going as Are you gonna be my girl was next, she likes to give patter before starting with her tambourine, then obv bass comes in, but the floor was full and I wanted to keep them there, so I wanted to kick right in. But she insisted we stop, give sh*t patter about her tambourine, and we lost them all. She insists on saying which band we are covering next, no matter how many times I have said "let them figure it out themselves, the punters aren't stupid". As for the stand, move it to the side?...nope, drop it down a little, nope....don't have the songs you actually know still in the book, nope....double print lyrics so you dont turn pages mid-song, nope.........its just a non willingness to evolve shall we say. These are just some small examples, which are easily rectified, but there are many many small things adding up, that it is starting to grate with the rest of the band. Sure, the rest of us aren't perfect by any means, but we WANT to get better, that seems to be the issue. I don't want it to turn into a singer-bash cos she is a decent person, but patience is wearing thin. Rant over I think......

Once again guys, thanks for the words. We have spoken about many of the points that have been raised, to be honest the bulk of decisions come from myself and guitrarist, only because we are willing to put ideas on the floor and not bury heads in the sand. Things like lights, backing vox movement have been talked about and are being rectified. thats why I'm glad that I can ask you guys, for an honest opinion. I think changes may be afoot!

Of course all of us, in every band want to strive and make our individual selves better and the group unit as a whole. In the case of our singer at the moment, there are a lot of murmours coming from the punters that she is stale, same patter after every song, we ask her to change it about a bit, nothing changes. the biggest thing for the rest of us in the band is the lyrics, sure its not easy to learn EVERY song, granted, but it is read almost word for word, no variations to tone, it is basically reading from a book, and there are lines or indeed sections of songs that just get refused, not sung at all, the *anytime anyplace* section of Call Me, the whole mid section of Many Of Horror, there are numerous to mention. It has been subtly suggested that she tries various things, but all to no avail. We want to be playing better venues, and have already been offered bigger and better things then the local boozer, but, until we iron out these issues, we don't want to be made arses of in bigger venues and laughed out of town so to speak.

[quote name='paul_5' post='1213403' date='Apr 28 2011, 12:57 AM']I reckon your singer has a good voice for more jazzy stuff, she can hold a tune and does move a little bit to try to entertain folks, so full marks for trying, but on first listening it seems like the entire set has been transposed to suit the singer's range, which in this instance doesn't really work for me. Also you as a bass player and your guitarist could try to move a bit more; if punters just wanted to listen to music then they'd be drinking kestrel super strength in their front gardens on discarded sofas, punters need to be entertained, and it's everyone's responsibility to ensure that that happens. I know it sounds like I'm being really picky, but I've had similar problems in the past with shoe-gazing musicians who were excellent players but not entertainers. That's a real bug-bear of mine, as if only one of you makes the effort to move around a bit you risk looking like that drummer at the wrong gig (you've probably seen it on here before now...). Bottom line is to find some songs that your singer can do in the original key, or find a singer who is more versatile. Oh, and move a bit more, even if you have to consciously choreograph everything at first, it'll make a difference in the long run. Cheers, Paul[/quote] We actually had a short gig tonight (40 mins) and half of what yourself and others have said has already been put into practice. The singer also chips in with songs of her choice, which quite often, funnily enough, or not as the case may be, tend to be the ones she can't manage!! Cheers.

Thanks for all your opinions chaps....everything that has been said by all has been taken on board, I have discussed a lot of these with the band and on the whole agree with it. There is now more movement on stage, less fret watching/more headbanging lol A bit more backing vox/harmonies been added. Lighting slightly altered and just a bit more oomph into the performances. Only drawback so far is the singer still refuses to do anything different! Once again, thanks chaps.

Shameless bump for Pete. If you can catch these guys, you wont be disappointed.

When you start playing JUST for the money, then it becomes a chore to do it and eventually resent it. Thats my take on it anyway.

Second gig in 2 nights, a pub that we are regulars at...now, either we are pants, or the holiday weekend took its toll on the punters. Wasn't as busy as normal so we managed to wrap it up 15 minutes early....yay! Added another couple of new numbers in the set which went ok, though the usual old classics get the drunks singing...badly...as per norm. Charity gig tomorrow night, no humphing PA, fab, plug in and play for the win!

Welcome along.

Sounds real good. Especially 5 Seconds Back, particularly enjoyed that track and vid.

Just back from Callander, which for those who don't know, is in the middle of nowhere!, an hour and a halfs drive just to get there!...anyways..... Started off really slow, first few songs in the polite applause started, I looked at the drummer, he looked at me and we gave the old look...uh ho, long night ahead. then everything clicked, the punters got in their groove, so did we and everything went fab, no hiccups to speak off...... Now I need some sleep!

Thanks for the words chaps. Im not looking for critisism or even looking for excuses and scapegoats, I juat wanted to get some honest opinions from you guys who aren't biased or drunk. And who have been there and got the t-shirts so to speak. All I want is for myself to be a better bassist and the band to grow and be stronger, if it means tweaking the set or changing the line up, so be it. I would even support a move to get a better bassist in!!

Have a good one Pete.

Too many quotes to do here, so I will give you all the heads up. We had a varied set, well, some people think so, 60's to modern pop, that particular gig was a pub full of 18-20 somethings, hence the setlist, but other gigds are almost exclusively 60's-80's stuff, so we do mix it up. As for the points where who actually decides what songs the band cover, well i would say about 70% are picks from guitartist and singer, and believe me when I say the singer has picked some songs!, songs that weren't hits, some from bands nobody has even heard of. Also the ones that get binned at studio rehersal level are mostly her picks as she can't sing them!...anyway. Guitarist has soo many pedals he cant keep up with them, and to be honest, this clip doesn't do him justice. The guitarist does the youtube clips himself as he has the capabilities on a pooter to do so. As for the speaker in front of me that night, yeh, didn't realise i was gonna be stuck behind it till it was too late! Feet gazing... guilty, more fret gazing than feet really, but for simple songs I will head bob along with the best of them. We have encouraged her to interact more with the crowd but she doesn't feel comfortable doing so unless she has had a drink or 3, but then verses are missed, choruses come in late, you get the picture, catch 22 really. We put a booze ban in place some time ago which didn't go down too well with her, but seeing as I drive and the drummer drives and sometimes guitarist drives too, we felt it was only fair nobody drinks on the job. All in all, the punters come up to us and say that, musically they like us, and the kind of stuff we play...then comes the "but"....and then they go on about the singer, remember that these clips are the good stuff, your not getting to hear the duff stuff! But, in her defence, she turns up and she is reliable......just a bit wobbly with a mic! I appreciate fully all your comments, good and bad, I am open to constructive critisism as I want myself and the band to be as good as we can be, and most of you out there will be far more experienced than me, so your words and appreciated. Cheers Oh, to prove we do actually play other stuff........ comments on this lot then...and yes, be honest again...cheers.

[quote name='Shockwave' post='1206673' date='Apr 21 2011, 05:47 AM']A female front singer for that kind of band just does not do it for me. Your singer in particular is just not suited to the material, no grunt to the voice. You need someone that can move around the stage and communicate with the audience, she is unable to do this if she keeps reading lyrics from a music stand. Even if she knows some of the lyrics to some of the songs, she cant truly rock out just in case she forgets the lyrics without them directly in front of her. Sorry [/quote] Don't apologise at all, you are only repeating what all the punters say, you have proved my point in this exercise entirely. The satnd has been given a date to go though, so fingers crossed she pulls it off, then the whole interacting and moving around stage wil happen more. Cheers. [quote name='thebrig' post='1206686' date='Apr 21 2011, 06:58 AM']Same problem with our singer (male), even after a year of playing virtually the same set almost every week! If I mention it, I'm told I'm being too picky![/quote] We have been gigging together now for 16 months and there are wee bits of songs which get missed out, *anytime, anyplace* section of Call me. When I bring them up at practice, I get told exactly the same...That I/we are picking on her!! Cheers.

[quote name='Ogien' post='1206635' date='Apr 21 2011, 12:20 AM']Hi Guys, Thanks for welcome. Jumbo: Please do! It will be great to meet fellow Basschatter. Next event details: [url="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119352581475820"]http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119352581475820[/url] Michal[/quote] Just checked out your myspace and facebook pages, sounded good buddy. Can't manage this weekend as I'm playing in Kelty. But keep me posted on when you are gigging though. Bryan.

Just checked out your website, some good tunes there. Might catch you some day, but alas this friday my band is at Callander.

I feel rather inadequate now, we have 3 this weekend coming, friday, saturday and sunday night.

Welcome Michal. Grew up in Edinburgh and now just live over the water in Fife, will pop over and catch your band some time and say hi.

Right then chaps, over the last umpteen months gigging, we seem to be getting the same comments cropping up over and over again from the punters at different venues. Same can be said who watch the vids of the band on youtube and comment back on facebook or whatever. Soooo, my question to you lot out there is, give your honest opinion.........and then I will see if everybody in the entire world says the same thing.... erm, by the way you're watching and commenting on the whole band , not just the crap bass player!

Excellent gig last night. Crowd really got into the groove,as did the band and the wife!! Was a pleasure meeting you Pete, top notch bassist, nice and clean tone you got there and the band is a really good tight unit. Excellent vocals and guitar, in fact everything, backing vocals, brass, keys and drums....all round, could not fault anything with the gig. Not sure how many tickets constituted a sell out, but the place was pretty well packed full. No doubt by the time I get home from work later on, the wife will have played the cd several times over!! Keep up the good work mate. oh, and have you got the clutch fixed yet??

[quote name='Jesso' post='1200047' date='Apr 14 2011, 10:27 PM']Some cool vids here. How does one embed a video though?[/quote] Think somebody will have replied to you by now...but...all explained here buddy... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10414"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10414[/url]

[quote name='dougie' post='1198787' date='Apr 13 2011, 10:07 PM']I`ll look out for you,will you be wearing a carnation or carrying a rolled up newspaper?[/quote] I tend to go for the fedora hat, trenchcoat and carrying a dozen red roses look, worked well at Waverley back in the old steam days!

[quote name='dougie' post='1198761' date='Apr 13 2011, 09:42 PM']Me too.....you better be f***ing good!!!! [/quote] The wife is a big Steely Dan fan, so she will tell me if they are any good

Tickets bought for Voodoo rooms!