The band we played with on Saturday: What a**holes. (Rant alert)

[dave_bass5]

Brasic, my girlfriend used to front an all girl band up to a year or so ago. although they only did covers they had loads of gigs and had their own PA which she used to seup herself and was very good and quick at it.
When ever they played venues that had their own PA and engineer she always got looked down on and told to go stand in the corner etc while "the men" got on with setting things up.
then again i get that because im the bass player even though i do my bands PA.
Ive seen a lot of sound men try and look like they know what they are doing but dont.
Just felt like shareing that i guess.

dave.

BTW might pop in to see your gig on 22nd oct. just round the corner from where i work

[dave_bass5]

Oh, just rememberd an incident that happened to me years ago.
we were playing a charity gig to save the land that had the Rose theatre (down on the southbank in london) on it as someone was trying to build an office block or something.
anyway there were a group of protestors camping there and they had organised a couple of events to highlight the cause (even realeased a single) and asked us to play. first gig went well so got asked back. Singer was friends of the manager of a band that had just got signed (rather not say who but they have split up now) so as they were bigger than us we let them headline (there was no cash involved anyway). come the day and we got there expecting them to have sound checked but the stage was empty and they were sitting in a caravan. when asked why they told us that because it was a cloudy day and it might rain and it was out doors. They wouldnt get their gear out as they had just got it and as they wouldnt get paid they couldnt be bothered. we had to lend them all our backline.
they didnt stay together for to long. (although at least one has gone on to chart success)
Dave.

[brassic]

What was your grilfriend's band, if you don't mind my asking? I might know her.

Would be cool to see you on the 22nd but keep an open mind - we haven't been going long!!

What's your band called?

I remember that rose theatre thing - how did it go?

[dave_bass5]

Girlfriends band was called Venus. they disbanded end of 2003. the guitarist now plays with Girlschool
My bands called Blowup. strictly covers for money these days.
As for the Rose. there now seems to be a office block over the top of the land but i think they elevated it so its not covering the land and i think there might be something to do with the Rose underneath. havent been there for a while.
your website looks very interesting.
look forward to seeing your band if i can.

Dave.

[brassic]

I've heard of you both. And obviously I know Girlschool.

I'd play in a covers band if I could play well enough, but as we've only been at it for about eight months (I learned a few chords 8 years ago, got frustrated and didn't try playing again till I was badgered to join a band) I think I need a bit more skills first.

Thanks for the compliments on the website - I did it myself. Things get very, very childish when you knock back several rum & cokes and decide to open photoshop.

[dave_bass5]

Believe me you dont have to be that good to be in a covers band. as long as you know lots of songs and can play ok you get away with it.
Yeah, the website is crazy but i like it.
I did ours www.blowup.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk but its very plain. you cant get to arty when your trying to get weddings etc.

Dave.

[brassic]

Well, I guess it depends on the wedding, but I see what you mean.

Still, I'd be rocking out to your 60's and glamrock segments!

The only cover we do is Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap by AC/DC but as you can imagine it sounds a bit different with five snotty girls shouting it.

[ATOMICDOG1]

Originally posted by Locke I think your attitude is just fine. I go along the same lines. When we're done with the soundcheck and have to wait for our turn to take the stage I always, always take my guitar with me backstage even though it's just a stock tele (I'd be dead paranoid if I had a $1000+ guitar). I just want to warm up, make sure it's in tune and I sure as hell don't want anybody else touching it. I also take my effects with me. Since I have only three it's no biggie to just carry them backstage before our turn. As for "guest stars" who want to come onstage at our gig...no way. Pure and simple. If I want somebody to join us onstage I'll invite them. I also make sure I bring all the gear (and some backups) I need so I don't need to borrow someone else's stuff. Of course if someone's amp breaks or guitar gets stolen or something equally grand I might make an exception but if not, fuhgeddaboudit. I've found that pretty much the only thing that gets a reaction out of pricks like those discussed in this topic is the immediate threat of violence. Sorry to say but musicians, generally, are push-overs when it comes to the physical side and hence many are easily intimidated into leaving your {censored} alone/leaving you alone as long as you have a little something to back it up. So far I've never had to actually assault anybody but twice I've had to order a couple of pricks to not do this or that (my tone of voice leaving no room for debate). So if you're a girl band, even at the name of equality, it'd be good to have "reinforcement", as somebody here already suggested, just in case if things get out of hand. Even punk and metal guys usually back down when their physical health is on the line.

That reminds me... does anyone have a link to that video of Glen Danzig getting his ass knocked out for cocking off a member of one of the opening bands at one of his shows?
Its funny as hell! :D

[Body Bomb]

Rival band egos are the worst.

 

We were playing a show in Seattle last year at the end of the tour. It was a three band bill, and the headliners dropped off a week or so in advance. So this other band jumped on the bill. I guess these guys were leftovers from the early 90's NW garage scene who were still bitter that they never got as big as the Mono Men or Gas Huffer. They played surf-rock that sounded exactly like someone just put on a Link Wray or Ventures record. Technically impressive but boring as hell.

 

Anyway these guys were really pissed that they had to open the show, even though they jumped on the bill at the last minute and we had booked the show five months in advance, not to mention that we were listed as playing second on the posters and in the local weekly. Not that we really care about this kind of {censored}, but it was really irritating to see someone 15 years older than me act like a baby and crying to everyone who would listen, the sound guy, the bartendress, their bandmates, their friends, anyone who would listen about how we were "bogarting" their spot on the bill.

 

We had to listen to this asshole as he was running all around the bar crying about how he had to play first. I really wanted to tell him off, but the four of us decided it'd be a better idea to sit in our booth, not cause a scene, and continue working on our two pitchers of beer.

 

Whatever. If your 37-year-old-ass gets that upset, then maybe it's time to either grow the {censored} up, or hang up your Jazzmaster if you can't handle it. Add to the fact that this was at a TINY dive bar, and there were maybe 40 paying customers tops. On a Sunday. Who the {censored} cares? I would have volunteered to played first, except I didn't want to indulge this overgrown infant in his temper tantrum.

 

Finally, the booker walks up to this guy and says calmy but firmly, "I'm tired of dealing with your stupid rockstar bull{censored}. Get on the {censored}ing stage and play."

 

So Asshole gets on the stage, and says before their first might-as-well-be-a-Dick-Dale-cover, "This song goes to USS Horsewhip, who don't know their proper place on a bill."

 

The booker and other band on the bill were both visibly disgusted. The booker walked up to us, and brought us two more free pitchers of beer, and later when he was paying out the door, "Here's an extra $30 that I was going to give to (Asshole Band Name Deleted), it's yours. Don't tell them."

[caveman]

Granted I come from a different era and have earned the "caveman" handle honestly but the guy would have apologized to you or have had to leave town.

[Tedster]

I always thought it was a good idea to remain friends with other local bands, as I'd probably end up playing with them over the course of the years. I reckon they felt the same way too. Oh, there was some running other bands down a little and some gossip, but that's all it came to. Back in the early 80s I was in a band called "Shrapnel". We did a gig and one of the other bands' girlfriends said "What's your band called, "Scrap Metal"? I did a double take, until I realized that that was how the other band referred to us. I teased the other guitar player and said "What's this 'Scrap Metal' {censored}?" He got all embarrassed and gave his girlfriend a dirty look...but we were all buds, so we laughed about it. But otherwise our dealings with other bands were mostly amicable.

[Brian Krashpad]

Originally posted by ATOMICDOG1 That reminds me... does anyone have a link to that video of Glen Danzig getting his ass knocked out for cocking off a member of one of the opening bands at one of his shows? Its funny as hell! :D

I may have that somewhere. Might take some digging. I'll get back to you.



BK

[Jimi Ray Halen]

There are some great people playing out there and there are some petty assholes.

What's bad is when you have to use the latter's sound man. Everything is fine during soundcheck but then mysteriously turns to shiat when you start playing. Feedback, low vocal levels, etc. etc. etc. I've seen this at every level.

There's one band in particular that if we share a bill with I have my 6'9" ex-bouncer best friend stand over the sound guy's shoulder in case he decides to get "creative". He hasn't done it since.

[JBJ]

Originally posted by Tedster I always thought it was a good idea to remain friends with other local bands, as I'd probably end up playing with them over the course of the years. I reckon they felt the same way too. Oh, there was some running other bands down a little and some gossip, but that's all it came to. Back in the early 80s I was in a band called "Shrapnel". We did a gig and one of the other bands' girlfriends said "What's your band called, "Scrap Metal"? I did a double take, until I realized that that was how the other band referred to us. I teased the other guitar player and said "What's this 'Scrap Metal' {censored}?" He got all embarrassed and gave his girlfriend a dirty look...but we were all buds, so we laughed about it. But otherwise our dealings with other bands were mostly amicable.

back in high school a "rival" band from the local scene referred to us as little {censored}ty as opposed to city.

[ThomasH]

Originally posted by brassic

That's a sweet looking guitar you have there. If I had one of those I would be heartbroken if somebody jumped on it. On the other hand it could have been worse if you had been playing a set-neck or maybe even a hollow-body.

Back when I was in high school there were a lot of that kind of {censored} going on between the local bands. I tried to stay out of it, but I learned to only let people I knew and trusted play my guitar/amp/effects. Nothing ever got broken by anybody (other than myself ) but I just hated seeing some prick, who had borrowed my guitar for a jam, hammering away on it like a man possesed. That only happened a few times though, before I learned my lesson.