kinda scary gig tonight...

[neastguy]

this band broke up in june 2009 and we have only played with the original drummer once in about 4 years. So he flew in last night... he is using our Bass players cheapo practice drumset... there is not time for a practice so we will be just setting up and letting it rip for a one time Reunion Gig... And I having 2 little ones... really haven't picked up an electric guitar in about a year, other than to record a little christmas song... I know the drummer has been keeping up w/ it down in Florida... and the singer is in another band.. anyhow, can't say I'm feeling all that great about going into this.. I guess I might need to bring some chicken wire... anyone else ever done a crazy gig like this?:band

[rmconner80]

this band broke up in june 2009 and we have only played with the original drummer once in about 4 years. So he flew in last night... he is using our Bass players cheapo practice drumset... there is not time for a practice so we will be just setting up and letting it rip for a one time Reunion Gig... And I having 2 little ones... really haven't picked up an electric guitar in about a year, other than to record a little christmas song... I know the drummer has been keeping up w/ it down in Florida... and the singer is in another band.. anyhow, can't say I'm feeling all that great about going into this.. I guess I might need to bring some chicken wire... anyone else ever done a crazy gig like this?:band

Worst I've had it is a gig of all original songs with very catchy and very specific drum parts... played by a fill in drummer with one rehearsal only. He did great, but still it gets in your head.

You guys may have it a lot tougher... yet you will probably be fine as long as you are watching each other and can relax. Those two things will go a long way. Could even be a lot of fun.

[KCWM]

Not at the same level, but when I was high school, I was in a band with some friends. I called this place to book a gig and heard nothing from them. We ended things shortly after that. A year later, I get a call asking if we can play that weekend and the pay was pretty good for my friend and I, considering we were kids. I called the guys up and explained the situation and we got together, practiced once, and played.

Sadly, I chose that gig to debut my wonderful Fender Stage 112SE that I paid an arm and a leg for. Talk about getting lost in the mix, and it was just the bassist and drummer. Did I say wonderful? I hate that amp.

[harpinon]

I saw a buddies gig he threw together. His brother and a friend. No rehersal, no previous time as a group. Just 3 guys and a tentative song list. They were awesome. Good musicians will always compliment and inspire each other. You will do fine. Just plan to have a great time.

[BarneyFife]

I would just try to have fun with it. You're getting to play with old buds. There will be mistakes but just laugh thru them and everybody else will too. But if you go in tense, the crowd could sense that and react accordingly. If they see you are having fun then they probably will too.

[FlyingVBlues]

I backed up Chuck Berry at a gig in New York in the early 70's. We did the gig without a rehearsal. The only thing he told us to do was to watch his foot for cues on when to start or stop playing. He didn't tell us the set list and was really unfriendly. After the gig was over he didn't say a word to us. He just packed up his guitar and split. While we didn't make many mistakes I was anxious the entire time and it was one of the least enjoyable playing experiences I've ever had.

FVB

[monty]

In my previous band, I had my first gig with them a 3 days after I did a 3 song tryout with them with no practice in between. It went pretty good actually. Just try your best!

[burningyen]

Keep your expectations low and just laugh and have fun with it. It's great that you guys are still on good enough terms to do something like this. Just think of it as a chance to reconnect with friends rather than a gig.

[Mark Robinson]

When it's me, I get off the computer and practice the music a few times through. Nothing can substitute for preparation, and sometimes it's unplugged, after everybody else has gone to bed. You will do fine, just run the tunes!

[gtrfinder]

I've had it go both ways (good and bad), although I will say that sometimes these ended up being some of my most memorable and fun gigs.
Just prepare as much as you feel comfortable beforehand, but don't drive yourself crazy.

Have fun!

[Jason UP]

i do a gig like that every year in April. One guy emails a list of 50 tunes, some get tossed / substituted and 5 folks in the band drive/fly in from all over for "practice" at say noon, and we play that afternoon say at 5pm till 2am. it's a cancer benefit show and there ends up being about 1,000 folks under a huge tent with beer trucks - doesn't get much friendlier than that. talk about "live without a net" though. Songs are mostly Dead, Allmans, Band type stuff but some Sam & Dave / Pickett type stuff and a few dance-y numbers thrown in to keep it lively. We jam the crap out of a few to fill up some time, but heck they're Dead tunes mostly. We're all 35 y.o. with kids & lives, etc. so it's basically learn the tunes on your own and show up. All are great ear players and a chick Joss Stone-esque singer that can bring it with a couple of us filling in harmonies where suitable. Goes swimmingly every year (knock on wood) and the gig has become part of the town's schedule, so to speak, where local musicians now show up to try and get a piece of the action; we'll let a couple of harp or mando players come on stage from time to time and rock out. Great times, best part of my year musically i'd say from a fulfillment standpoint just b/c we pull it off and i (until the past couple of months) gig regularly with original band stuff. Just something about a crowd full of semi-liquored up folks digging on tunes they know that gets you going; can't say that happens a lot in the originals world for me just yet!

[fjrabon]

I backed up Chuck Berry at a gig in New York in the early 70's. We did the gig without a rehearsal. The only thing he told us to do was to watch his foot for cues on when to start or stop playing. He didn't tell us the set list and was really unfriendly. After the gig was over he didn't say a word to us. He just packed up his guitar and split. While we didn't make many mistakes I was anxious the entire time and it was one of the least enjoyable playing experiences I've ever had.

FVB

yeah, realizing what a terrible person Chuck Berry is was one of the really sad musical heroes moments of my life.

[fjrabon]

I think I got you all beat. So I *kinda* play B3. I get a call from an acquaintance asking if I can do an emergency fill in for a really important gig. He's tried every other keys player in town and nobody could do it. Pay is pretty good ($300). He promises we will practice.

No practice, keeps getting put off and never happens.

I kinda know a lot of the songs, none of them are much more than just filling up with chords, so I don't panic.

I get to the gig and the entire band plays a half step down tuned. I know vet keyboard players who refuse to play in a band where all the songs are a half step down. Its a nightmare on keys. Everything is on the black keys if the songs was written originally in a normal guitar key. They refuse to tune up to standard.

I really struggle through the gig, but more or less make it through. Their drummer was a nightmare and the bass player always lagged behind the changes.

End of the gig the lead singer comes up. First of all, despite the fact that I clearly asked him if it was $300 for me to play, he says that it was $300 total for the whole band to play. He flat out lied about that. Secondly, he wanted to dock some of my pay because I "messed up a lot of songs" I was so mad I told him I'd cut the tires on their van and my dad is the sheriff in town, so good luck getting me for it motherF*. He pays me $100. Wasn't really surprising that they couldn't get anybody to play with them in retrospect.

About a week later a lot of their gear was stolen and the lead singer believes to this day I stole it. Kinda wish I had.

[edwarddavis]

NO. but good for you. Its all about having fun.

[Aaron Smith]

I do an annual gig with a 12 piece band of hand surgeons. We have done it for 5 years now, and it's bigger each year. Obviously none of us are pro's; fortunately, everyone in the band plays pretty solidly, and we have a pretty accessible set list. The audience is usually 350+. It is a bit scary each time, but it has come off without a hitch every year. One of the most fun shows I get to play.

[DBR]

Back in the early 80's, I was with a band for two weeks when I went to rehearsal one evening and the guitar player said we had a gig that night. It was my first band and I was terrified. I think we did o.k. considering it was the wrong kind of music for the club. We did a few other gigs after that that went o.k. except for the time I got totally blitzed prior to going on stage and passing out after the third set. I never did that again thank goodness. After about the fifth gig the guitar player kept turning around and telling me I suck. I warned him if he told me that again, Id walk out on the gig...he did and I did. That was the end of that musical relationship...needless to say. Really does one's head in. I got over it and kept moving on.

:bow

[neastguy]

wow, these are all great stories....

so I went home for lunch today.. I thought I better fire up the guitar and make sure the amp was good to go... I played for about 20 minutes.. ran through what i think I needed to .. not going to think about it too much anymore .. it was weird again standing and playing and I'm so used to my Taylor and yammy classical that playing my Lp was like playing w/o strings...lol... the other good thing was that I was actually impressed with how prepared I was equipment wise.. flashlight, ext chord, strings , winder,snip, tiny guitar stand and even extra mic cables in my little pedaltrain gigbag..lol.. I'm bringing a little head for a backup, just in case and I'm ready to roll for tonight.. I think were going to record some of it.. so that will be fun.. I already see people on facebook talking about showing up tonight... I'm sure once the 1st song is over, I'll get back to my normal relaxed self....

[reddgeetarzan]

this band broke up in june 2009 and we have only played with the original drummer once in about 4 years. So he flew in last night... he is using our Bass players cheapo practice drumset... there is not time for a practice so we will be just setting up and letting it rip for a one time Reunion Gig... And I having 2 little ones... really haven't picked up an electric guitar in about a year, other than to record a little christmas song... I know the drummer has been keeping up w/ it down in Florida... and the singer is in another band.. anyhow, can't say I'm feeling all that great about going into this.. I guess I might need to bring some chicken wire... anyone else ever done a crazy gig like this?:band


Sitting in with a friends 'country' band- but they do a bit of everything- almost all of which I've NEVER played- and we've not had a single rehearsal.. :eek:. Nice little club in downtown Columbus. They gave me a 40+ song set list (originals too) to learn a couple of weeks ago- started in on it and then it got changed around a bit on Wednesday of this week. The songs I learned are not going to be played- some of the others are just so unfamiliar for me, its gonna be a rough ride, but I'm happy to do it! I like the challenge and these guys are a good band- I actually played with the singer in one of my first bands in college @ Ohio State, so its all coming full circle after all this time! I've been doing this a long time and I have to admit I'm a bit scared, especially after the set list change (they are preparing for another gig on Sunday, but this establishment is a bit different, so it needs different music). Pray for me tonight, I'll need it!!! Neastguy- good luck on your gig too- I'll think about ya as I'm downing a drink or two to knock the edge off. I'm excited and scared all at the same time- but man, it feels good to get back out and play again! Gotta thank my buddy Tom for feeling confident enough about my abilities to throw the gig my way- I just hope I can do him justice!!! :o

www.ericdove.com (http://www.ericdove.com) is the website. Good guys- good tunes- should be fun, unless I completely screw up...LOL.

[reddgeetarzan]

wow, these are all great stories....

so I went home for lunch today.. I thought I better fire up the guitar and make sure the amp was good to go... I played for about 20 minutes.. ran through what i think I needed to .. not going to think about it too much anymore .. it was weird again standing and playing and I'm so used to my Taylor and yammy classical that playing my Lp was like playing w/o strings...lol... the other good thing was that I was actually impressed with how prepared I was equipment wise.. flashlight, ext chord, strings , winder,snip, tiny guitar stand and even extra mic cables in my little pedaltrain gigbag..lol.. I'm bringing a little head for a backup, just in case and I'm ready to roll for tonight.. I think were going to record some of it.. so that will be fun.. I already see people on facebook talking about showing up tonight... I'm sure once the 1st song is over, I'll get back to my normal relaxed self....

I do the exact same thing- I've been getting ALL my gear ready all week. Over obsessing about what I don't know has made me a bit neurotic about the gig....I'm just gonna go have some fun. Hope you do too! I know you'll be just fine.....you're ALL in the same boat- I'm the "new" guy fillin' in, so the spotlighteye of scrutiny is going to be on me. After one or two of these :drink I should be good to go- only problem there is the 2hr drive @ 3am.....

[neastguy]

I do the exact same thing- I've been getting ALL my gear ready all week. Over obsessing about what I don't know has made me a bit neurotic about the gig....I'm just gonna go have some fun. Hope you do too! I know you'll be just fine.....you're ALL in the same boat- I'm the "new" guy fillin' in, so the spotlighteye of scrutiny is going to be on me. After one or two of these :drink I should be good to go- only problem there is the 2hr drive @ 3am.....

the good thing for us is that a lot of the people who are coming are coming to see us.. since its been forever since we played together.. I probably will not need the chicken wire... good luck to you... I'm sure you will do great