Surrounded by Solo Artists!
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Posted on Feb 12, 2003 12:01 pm
blueninjastar
Maniacal Genius
Contributor Since: Dec 30, 2002
Am I the only one who's noticed this or maybe it's only in my little corner of the music community, but it seems like everyone is a solo artist nowadays! I've been looking for a couple of months now for people to complete a band with. Everyone I talk to is doing the exact same thing I'm doing! Even two of my best friends are prolific musicians and it would seem only natural that we would play together. But no, all three of us are wanting to do the same thing. As a result, all three of us are sitting around our houses playing by ourselves most of the time!
It seems to me that some years ago, there was a wealth of guitar players out there. Maybe too many there for a while. Finding a bass player that would hang around for a while or a drummer who didn't need serious psychotherapy or a singer who could fit his head through the door were a challenge. Now, all these years later, I'm looking for a guitar player to collaborate and form a band with, but everyone I talk to is looking for the same thing!
I'm not complaining here. Just venting a little frustration over this whole thing. Am I the only one who is surrounded by solo artists?
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Feb 12, 2003 12:21 pm Ya, the affordability and commonplace of the home studio has been a double-edged sword. Now everybody can do their own thing in their home without having to go through the hastle of being in a band, the ego trips, fighting and other downsides of band life.
Looking back on my band days, there was a lot of crap, fighting and such between egos and creative opinions. But out of those came some pretty darn cool collaborative music.
You are totally right, the days of the garage band is coming to an end I fear...
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 12, 2003 12:34 pm Yes,
I share in your frustration, but I must accept change; and we is a changin!
Here, Michigan, gigs are becoming more infrequent partly because of economy and partly because of the one man band in a box. They can play what you hear on the radio. A lot of what you hear on the radio can't be duplicated live obviously. Midi, sampling, etc. And yes, I can create a tune and never get out of my jammies. Try to find a good brass, reed, or keyboard player. The gitfiddle has been the only instrument for 40 years now. Try to find someone who reads music and plays more than 3&1/2 chords. And if you do, then find someone who will listen to them. Our collective ears have changed. And thanks to the mobile subtones move to abu-dobie to record without someone elses boom boom inclusive. I'm sure it's all good or at least "just is". Personaly, guitar ranks right up there with the accordian for me. I loved it for many years, but I am tired of listening to it. I like hearing something else take lead. I guess that's why I love jazz so much. There are some jazz perfomers that are not going back in time and are independant thinkers moving ahead outside of the envelope of "media" music. My personal saving grace.
Feb 12, 2003 03:49 pm Itotally understanwhere you're coming from blueninjastar. I've hit a real creative dead end as I've focussed more and more towards production in general and now I want to get together with other musician's in my area to get back into the creative writing process. I played bass in a rock band for about 10 months in 2002 and I really miss that fun of just jammin' with others. I think a creative colaboration is just what I need to get a jumpstart back on the right track.
Feb 12, 2003 04:16 pm Collaboration is key in my mind to staying open and moving forward. I have a very good friend who is a tremendously talented guitarist and songwriter, but who has been working totally solo for so long that he now is pretty close to impossible to collaborate with. I don't want to end up with that same attitide.
The other thing that is getting to me is that I can write and record all I want by myself in my little home studio, but I can't play live by myself. At least not in the way I would like to. I've had about enough of acoustic performances. I'm rather bored with that avenue.
I guess I shouldn't have cut myself off from the "scene" so much when I left my last band. Maybe then I wouldn't be having such a hard time finding people interested in putting together a band. Note to self - Never lose contact with any of your musician friends!
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Feb 12, 2003 06:07 pm Hmmm, I don't know if I share you view :)
Maybe it's just around my area (The South East of England) but there are plenty of bands around these parts - not only am I in one, but I also help run a local bands night every Tuesday in a club near where I live and there are always plenty of acts willing to play - most of them of very good quality as well.
I find myself wanting to lean more towards production than being in a band, but maybe that's just because I play keyboards and synths on stage? :)
jues.
Feb 12, 2003 06:21 pm Oh, there's no lack of bands in my area. I'm in Orange County, California where only a few years ago there was a massive surge in the music scene (Sublime, No Doubt, Stone Temple Pilots, Lit, Offspring, the list goes on...). There are literally thousands of bands within a 20 mile radius. I'm quite sure that I'm just not looking in the right places for fresh blood. I could call on all of my old band-mates to fish for interested parties, but that would only put me right back where I started from.
I guess I just needed to blow off a little steam about having a hard time finding good, reliable people willing to make a commitment and who want to play in a band. It makes me question my own abilities. Having this opportunity to vent a little, I'm now ready to get back to work.
Feb 12, 2003 07:39 pm ever concider doing the one-man live laptop thing?
Feb 12, 2003 07:45 pm I've considered it, but that's not really what I'm into. There are few things that I love more than a great live performance from a band. There's a sort of "magic" that happens when a band really gels together and when you can tell just by watching them that they are having the time of their lives. One of those few things that I love more is to actually be part of such a live performance.
The one-man-band thing is very cool and I do enjoy both watching it and doing it, but it's really not what I want to be doing. For now, my efforts will simply be to continue writing and recording. Sort-of a "if you build it, they will come" approach.
At least I don't have to worry about my drummer drinking all my beer! (right db?)
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 12, 2003 09:55 pm Oh, I must say there is no sensation like being part of a group that lands a good groove. I crystalize when that happens. There is nothing but the music, and five minutes later four hours have passed. It happend first for me in Jr. High School and 35 years later it still happens. Ahhhhhh
Feb 12, 2003 10:01 pm I'll drink to that!!! Although, I'll drink to most anything. :P
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Feb 12, 2003 11:14 pm It happened to me when I was 9 year's old. I stood behind that massive B3 with only 3 day's of practice, and started my live playing day's with a big shiver that went up my spine when the sound all fit together as if we had played together for 15 year's. The guy's I played with were all 5 and 6 year's older then I, but a good keyboard player was hard to find back then. And I was allready 6 year's into classical piano training. But like dB said, I did have good and bad time's, and now. I more enjoy sitting here with dB and spending time coming up with just the right line for a short piece. I still like writing full tune's, but like Walt. I have turned to more adventuress stuff, Fusion, progressive Rock, Textural mosaic's shall we say. And they all revolve around me and the thing's that go on around here. Oh well enough blathering, I allready forgot what I was saying to begin with.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 13, 2003 08:06 am You said a lot.
Mosiac, mental images, obscure yet related for us. I read once that we think in words, and yet thought came first.
Ogres are like onions...
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Feb 13, 2003 05:11 pm I saw that film for the first time the other day - made me laugh.
"Why can't they be like cakes? Everyone likes cakes!"
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 13, 2003 05:58 pm In a sence, I hate to admit it. I'm sure it denotes imaturity in my artistic taste, but I absolutely loved the flick! I rolled through the whole thing. Shreck is my solemate! It was like watching myself on TV right from the moment he came out of the outhouse! And Oh-Babby! When Shreck-ete fooed on the Men in tights! Ya Honey, my kinda woman!
Feb 13, 2003 06:11 pm I loved that one too. I've always been a big fan of animation and that one is great. My personal favorite line... "Oh sure it's big enough, but look at the location!"
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Feb 13, 2003 06:12 pm Walt, dare I say that you should possibly consider getting out more ;)
jues!
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Feb 13, 2003 06:23 pm Oh don't get me started.... Excuse me, I gotta go save my @#$, right after she is doing the xy factor thing denoting her expectations of the relationship.
Jues, You are too intuitive! Ya wasent spos to pick that part up.
