So, what makes you a Geezer Band?

[GCDEF]

 

A side bonus is that a surprising number of young chicks are attracted to the old bad boys doing rock and roll...maybe they wish their father was like that, maybe we're an oddity, I dunno, but they want to be around these older creatures.

 

 

I don't have quite your mileage yet, but I'm getting up there. That surprises me too. I get serious cool dad points with my kids (16 and 18) and their friends, and surprising acceptance from the younger people in the audience.

 

As I said, it's an attitude. Keep yourself in shape, look like you belong on the stage, keep your music fresh and energetic, it doesn't matter how old you are. Carry that extra 50 pounds, dress like you're heading for a cookout with the neighbors and play the same songs you were playing in your high school band, you're a geezer.

[JoeDirt]

 

and play the same songs you were playing in your high school band, you're a geezer.

 

 

We were playing Guns and Roses, Bon Jovi, Journey, etc in high school and I'm still playing it now. But we are not a geezer band. :poke:

[pinkfloydcramer61]

When your gig starts when Bingo is over

 

When your keyboard stand doubles as a walker

 

When you start threads like: "'DEPENDS' on stage- yes or no?"

 

When you annnounce over the PA: "There have been reports that the brown Viagra that is circulating is specifically, NOT TOO GOOD. But it's YOUR _____, so be my guest" (Woodstock reference, tee hee:lol:)

[wades_keys]

If you own a real Les Paul Custom that you only paid 400 dollars for when you bought it new, you might be a geezer. If your everyday gigging rig is considered 'vintage' by everyone else, you might be a geezer. If you don't know what a modeler, midi, sim or backing track is, you might be a geezer. If you think Nirvana is "modern rock'', you might be a geezer. If you think white tennis shoes onstage look cool, you might be a geezer. When you see 21 year old girls out with their mothers and thee mothers look hotter than the daughters to you, you might be a geezer. If your gigs are starting to be 8-12 or 7-11 instead of 9-1, you might be a geezer. If your back is killing you by the end of the third set, and you start wishing you had a stool to sit on, you might be a geezer. When the after hours parties turn into you going home, putting your sweats on and watching Sports Center until you fall asleep on the couch, you might be a geezer.

 

WIN

[jeff42]

 

I mean, can you really envision people in 30 years from now remembering, singing along with, etc. rap and heavy metal? ha ha ha.

 

 

yes. very much so. Rap and metal both have very loyal fans.

 

Most of Black Sabbath's albums with Ozzy came out over 30 years ago. If they arn't metal I don't know what is.

[Lee Flier]

No, that just makes you a nerd. :poke:

 

I prefer "beatnik" but "nerd" will do just as well.

[theGman]

 

I don't have quite your mileage yet, but I'm getting up there. That surprises me too. I get serious cool dad points with my kids (16 and 18) and their friends, and surprising acceptance from the younger people in the audience. As I said, it's an attitude. Keep yourself in shape, look like you belong on the stage, keep your music fresh and energetic, it doesn't matter how old you are. Carry that extra 50 pounds, dress like you're heading for a cookout with the neighbors and play the same songs you were playing in your high school band, you're a geezer.

 

 

So true...heck, I've been going out some with a girl younger than my youngest daughter. That still makes her over 30, I'm not from West Virginia! ha ha ha

 

Funny about the dress: Seems that if you're a geezer (I will be one in 10 years too Guido) and you dress like you just mowed the lawn, they think you just *did* mow the lawn. If you're young, you're cool.

[wades_keys]

yes. very much so. Rap and metal both have very loyal fans. Most of Black Sabbath's albums with Ozzy came out over 30 years ago. If they arn't metal I don't know what is.

Sabbath = classic

 

Godsmack, Disturbed, Korn? EH, I dunno.

 

Or worse: Theory of a Deadman, Puddle of Mudd, or Nickelback. :facepalm:

 

SOAD will probably stand the test of time though; hopefully they can get back to making music.

[theGman]

 

yes. very much so. Rap and metal both have very loyal fans. Most of Black Sabbath's albums with Ozzy came out over 30 years ago. If they arn't metal I don't know what is.

 

 

You're right, of course. I meant overall; there are a few special ones of every genre.

[Vito Corleone]

yes. very much so. Rap and metal both have very loyal fans. Most of Black Sabbath's albums with Ozzy came out over 30 years ago. If they arn't metal I don't know what is.

 

Not realizing that a lot of the rap and heavy being played by bands is already 30 years old = geezer.

[BlueStrat]

 

yes. very much so. Rap and metal both have very loyal fans. Most of Black Sabbath's albums with Ozzy came out over 30 years ago. If they arn't metal I don't know what is.

 

 

 

My band did a concert in our local downtown at a small park in August. They brought in a busload of folks from an assisted living center. I remember thinking "Oh God, these people are going hate us!" since we do mostly uptempo modern blues and original stuff. Long story short, they clapped and cheered, and one old guy came up to me afterward and told me my slide playing reminded him of Duane Allman, and told me how he used to hang with the Allman Brothers back in the early 70s, and rattled off all these names of southern rock guys he knew personally from back then. And then it hit me: how many older guys do I know who are musicians still playing in their 60s and 70s? Quite a few, as it turns out. Just because someone may look old, doesn't mean they aren't cool and you might be surprised at their experiences.

[RoadRanger]

Not realizing that a lot of them classic rock tunes ARE metal =

 

[SeniorBlues]

Geezers understand that Classic Rock is NEWER than what they grew up with. Their "roots music" is more accurately referred to as "Oldies".

[wheresgrant3]

(Spoken in the voice of Jeff Foxsworthy)

If you play "Small Things" but move around stage like you could be in a Viagra commercial... then yes... you might be a Geezer.

 

If each song is spaced with a minute of fumbling to the next song... then yes, you might be a Geezer.

 

If your backline is filled with Peavey combo practice amps and household applicances or furniture(such as a coffee table to hold drinks or a desk lamp to be able to read the setlist... yes I'm seen this) then yes..you might be a Geezer.

 

If you attempt to play "Killing in The Name Of" (RATM) or "Bodies"(Drowning Pool) to fit in with younger bands in your area and your guitarist is using a blues or clean tone... well yes, then you might be a Geezer.

 

If you show up to a gig looking like you just cleaned your garage... well then you might be a Geezer.

 

Let me preface... I think there is nothing wrong with Geezer Bands. Geezer bands in my mind have nothing to do with age or setlist material... it has everything to do with attitude and presentation. To me... a Geezer band is essentially a band that presents itself to be out of touch with modern culture. It doesn't mean they are... it's just the way they present themselves... in their look, attitude, and delivery. There is a classic rock band around here that still gigs out after 20 years together and going to see them is like a small arena tribute. That is NOT a geezer presentation in my opinion. I've seen Geezer Bands range in age from 25-60... Singer 25, guitarist 33, Bassist 47, drummer 53 can all look and present themselves much older than a band of all over 40+ year olds. Most are what they are... hobby bands, an excuse to get out of the house on a Friday or Sat night. Again, nothing wrong with playing in one (we still jib our bassist for playing in a Ramada Inn band we nicknamed the Menopause Warriors, prior to joining us- he says he was between bands... we say he was looking for Ms Robinson). Some make decent money doing what they do and if your having a great time... well then both quotas are filled. . Still I'm sometimes a little plexed when a guy in a geezer band looking all his age (and then some) says to me at a show "Man I could never do what you guys do... I just turned 40" and I'm thinking... what is he talking about I'm 40.

[rhat]

My band did a concert in our local downtown at a small park in August. They brought in a busload of folks from an assisted living center. I remember thinking "Oh God, these people are going hate us!" since we do mostly uptempo modern blues and original stuff. Long story short, they clapped and cheered, and one old guy came up to me afterward and told me my slide playing reminded him of Duane Allman, and told me how he used to hang with the Allman Brothers back in the early 70s, and rattled off all these names of southern rock guys he knew personally from back then. And then it hit me: how many older guys do I know who are musicians still playing in their 60s and 70s? Quite a few, as it turns out. Just because someone may look old, doesn't mean they aren't cool and you might be surprised at their experiences.

 

Nothing wrong with being a geezer.... face it we started this rock thing. The thing I enjoy most about playing for the geezer crowd is ,, i load in at 630... downbeat at 7 ,, done by 10. down here on the coast we are just comming into true geezer winter texan season. These people are the best crowd you could ever want to play for. They spend money , they have fun ,, and they will go out for live music 7 nights a week ,, because thats all they got to do.

 

have fun and enjoy themselves. I play with some interesting guys. One has quite a resume ,,, the list of guys he knows and has opened for is like the rock and roll hall of fame. one guy is in the mid america rock and roll, hall of fame. I am honored to be hangin with guys like this and am honored to have the great support of the people that come out to see us do our thing.

[Vito Corleone]

I really have no idea when a band becomes a 'geezer' band. I agree with Grant that it's more about the mindset of the band, but it's also more about the mindset of the audience.

 

My band ranges from 42-55. I think we're probably a geezer band, but I certainly could make the case based on response from the audiences we play for that we are not.

 

But I think we probably are for this reason: there was a specific point in time--I can pretty much remember the exact night--when we were playing a nightclub gig about 5 years ago when it felt like the girls were looking at me differently: not as a sexy musician on stage but more as a respectible older man. When you are playing for people you wouldn't otherwise hang out with because they are so young, then I think you're officially a geezer band. It was then that I decided we needed to start taking a different approach to how we sell the band and our music.

 

It was also then, ironically, that we started bringing more girls up on stage with us to shimmy around and sing and dance. My take (and it might just be my take--I have no actual evidence to support this) is that they like doing that with my band more than others because they feel less threatened to get up on stage with us. Their boyfriends aren't going to be jealous that were shaking booty with the old guy behind the keyboards.

 

The key to being a GOOD geezer band (and consequently, not really being a geezer band at all maybe) is to be authentic and have fun but remain age-appropriate. If you're trying to look like you're 25 when you're 50, you're going to look stupid. But you don't want to look old and boring either.

 

If the definition of a geezer band is a bunch of old dudes who look and act like a bunch of old dudes on stage, then we're definately NOT that. I don't really think of myself as a geezer onstage.

 

But that 21-year old girl out there? She probably does.

[jeff42]

Still I'm sometimes a little plexed when a guy in a geezer band looking all his age (and then some) says to me at a show "Man I could never do what you guys do... I just turned 40" and I'm thinking... what is he talking about I'm 40.

 

hahahah! I have had something similar said to me over the summer by a guy who is only a few years older than me. He may have been around 40.

 

He let me know that he is usually in bed by 10pm on a friday and this was a special occasion he was out this late (it was like 11:30pm, right before our 2nd set started)

[flanc]

Ironically, I JUST received the below email on facebook.

 

 

There's a new band playing this weekend called The Geezas. They come well-recommended, and here's what they have to say about themselves. Sounds like a GREAT rocking weekend......come on in and check them out and listen to some Old Classic Rock like you can't find too often live!! They start at 9 and will be rocking for YOU until closing.......come in early for dinner!!

 

 

 

We're a 4 piece, rock band consisting of some... shall we say... "older"

 

players. We do power trio, and classic rock material from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Mostly songs that don't get played on the radio every 15 minutes, and that most local bands don't play. Cream, Hendrix, Robin Trower, Molly Hatchet, Rush... things like that..........the sets are 45-50 minutes of high energy, straight through music.

 

 

BTW, this club does cater to a little older, more affluent client

[wades_keys]

Making fun of how somebody else looks is pretty high school to me.

 

To each his own.

 

I'd rather see a band of Geezer's that can play with dynamics and taste than have to hear and see another meth-influenced sock-on-the-head loud as hell drop tuned flogfest.

[TrickyBoy]

I guess thinking about it once you turn 40 playing for a bunch of 21 year old women shaking what they got in your direction starts to get a bit creepy . Anyways I was wonderin' what yous guys think?

 

You calling me creepy??? :poke:

[heatheroo]

this makes you a Geezer........I'm the bass player.

 

www.geezerrox.com

[mstreck]

Any of yous guys dye your grays just for your "band image"?

 

I'm just going to skip my answer to that question and just get right to the

[GCDEF]

I guess thinking about it once you turn 40 playing for a bunch of 21 year old women shaking what they got in your direction starts to get a bit creepy . Anyways I was wonderin' what yous guys think?

 

If you break into their house and play guitar while they sleep while you're wearing only your socks, that's creepy. If you're playing in a bar and they come in and watch and start shaking what they have in your direction, isn't that one of the main reasons we're all doing it? Nobody's forcing them.

[rhat]

If you break into their house and play guitar while they sleep while you're wearing only your socks, that's creepy. If you're playing in a bar and they come in and watch and start shaking what they have in your direction, isn't that one of the main reasons we're all doing it? Nobody's forcing them.

 

Not really ,, its always been about the music for me. The whole idea of guys using bands to score women is a little creepy in my opinion. I dont have alot of respect for those types.

[Vito Corleone]

 

Not really ,, its always been about the music for me. The whole idea of guys using bands to score women is a little creepy in my opinion. I dont have alot of respect for those types.

 

 

Playing for women and trying to score them are two ENTIRELY different things.

 

There is definately a big element of playing for the women and working to get a reaction from them in both what my band does and what I do individually. And my wife would be the very first one to get pissed at me if I DIDN'T do that.