If it aint one thang......

[cozmicslop]

....it's another.

 

A few months ago, while reforming a previous group, our singer went on a huge ego trip and I booted her. We were trying to expand the group and she bristled at sharing lead duties. It was something we had to do because she took forever to learn songs, was limited stylewise and had too many hangers-on blowing smoke up her ass making it difficult to deal with her. We recruited two more female singers (one lead, one backing) because our main songwriter wanted the harmonies.

 

Then the backup singer lost her husband taking her out of the loop for a month. As we were now back down to one singer, I made peace with the first one as a concession to the keyboardist/songwriter. Finally the backup singer gets over her mourning and rejoins the group just in time to do one gig.

 

Now the keyboardist has come down with pnuemonia. I don't expect him to be able to work for weeks. Right now he's in intensive care with a tube in his lungs. Hearing about his condition the second lead has just disappeared, I suspect in frustration. I fully understand her position as she left a gigging band to join a start up project. I don't know how patient I would be if I were in her shoes.

 

After three months this thing has fully jumped the tracks.

 

The irony of this whole thing is, before he decided to reform this band, I was happy just writing songs and doing preproduction on a studio album. I didn't even care about trying to form a band until the record was done.

 

Now I'm stuck trying to hold this thing together, and everybody's expectations, when it wasn't even my idea to begin with. Not to mention all recording being put on hold while the band was assembled.

 

Hell, I don't even know how to write for females.

[JacieFB]

You are the cosmic glue that binds your band together.

 

Stick.

 

Stick.

 

Hold tight to what is important.

 

Release what is not.

 

 

(I'd say either get everyone together or talk to everyone individually. Have everyone spell out their goals to you specifically--short-term and long-term. If anyone really doesn't want to do it then cut them free. Take what you have left and make it work. You might have to downsize. It sounds like even though you liked your previous project and that was your "thing", you are actually liking the direction of this project. Give it your best to form it into something that works for everyone. If you can't, you still have your project.)

 

(I would say learn from this band, but it seems like every band I am in presents a new form of {censored}ery and previous lessons go out the window. So good luck!)

[sideswipedv]

Well i feel for you my friend. I've been fight the good fight here for about three years with my current band, and everytime i start to think it feels right , everything goes south like a meteor.

 

About three years ago, after a year and a half, i had to ditch a drummer and his guitar player cousin, a couple of months later before suitable replacements could be found for them, My lead lady and her horn playing husband get a divorce which left just me and the bass player.

 

After a six month break, we found a drummer. He had a guitar player, and low and behold a new face on the scene turns out to be a phenomenal femal singer/keys player.

 

We played for about a year, giging a few times before the guitar players drinking turned out to be too much ( ever seen that before? ). He had to go.

 

Found a quick and by all acounts better replacement and never missed much of a beat. A couple of gigs and that brings us to this passed summer.

 

The bass player meets his "perfect woman" cept she dont want him to play in a band. I cant belive he is willing to give up three years of work for someone who knew what he did when she met him. Icing on the cake, lady singer/ keys player moves about 200 miles away for a new job!!!

 

Now to sum it all up. Shes into the project enough to commute for practices everyother week, and for gigs whenever and where ever.

 

Hes working out great and things couldnt be sweeter after the storm.

 

:)

 

P.S. I think that all of the above is typical band B.S. . Keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel, just be ready to dodge an oncomming train!!