Possible band changes...new drummer?

[colliewobble]

I've had a 3-piece classic rock/blues band for a couple years. We haven't played much lately and I'm pretty much starting from scratch with the band as far as promoting it, due to a move, new phone numbers, contact info, etc.

 

The thing is, as a 3-piece, we are really good. My son (almost 16) is our bass player...and is awesomely good for his age. He and our drummer are incredible together, which makes my job as guitarist/vocalist easy. We sound really good together and have wonderful chemistry. One of the issues I have is that the drummer is a new dad of preemie twins, and isn't available much for rehearsals.

 

One of the problems in our area is a lack of venues and a glut of "classic rock" bands. So with that in mind, I'm going to go more in a blues direction, as far as promoting the band goes. Heck, half our set list is blues, anyway. It's a matter of semantics, I guess.

 

A friend of ours who plays really good harp and sings wants to get working. He has some guys lined up (excellent seasoned players, according to him) who are ready to work now. It would probably only take a couple rehearsals and we'd have 3 hours of blues/classic rock tunes down. My dilemma is whether to go with these new guys who want to rehearse and get really good, and be a 5 piece blues band (with my son), or stick with the 3-piece and take the meager local gig offerings.

 

I want to play as much as possible. I'm okay with playing blues, as long as a lot of it rocks (same with my son). It's weird that around here, at least, blues bands are accorded a measure of respect and acceptance that rock bands aren't.

 

I guess I could work with a blues band and keep the 3-piece rock band intact, but I don't want to deal with any conflicts in the future. And I don' t really have the time to rehearse with two bands. Travel and gas costs are a major consideration, too. I'd rather do one or the other. I'm just not sure what to do. Opinions?

[THB]

CW, you may have to refresh my memory, but ain't LaPine a bit south of Bend? You're kind of out in the sticks there, right? So travel is going to be a given either way you go, right? If you ain't lookin' for more than playing out a couple/few times a month, I think you should do what you most want to. I think it would be a gas playing with your kid. And your drummer with the twins is going to be more available as time goes by, so keep that in mind.

 

 

[colliewobble]

THB,

 

Your memory is correct...we're about 30 miles south of Bend. The whole area is growing rapidly.

 

I'm inclined to stay the course and just add enough blues tunes to get booked in the local blues joint.

 

Yeah, travel is something we have to make decisions about on a daily basis here. Both kids work, but neither drives yet, my wife works in Bend, I work at home but pick up and deliver work in Bend...we try hard to consolidate our trips.

 

Thanks for the input.