Your Own Band

[Ronnyboy]

Has anyone here every been in there own band? I am in a band with a few of my friends and we do school concerts and birthdays. We play classic songs and also make our own music that sounds like a classic. Me I am a percussionist and I love it, except for our song "Power To The Max" No drumming at all!

But have you ever been in a band?

[Ginafish]

I've been a groupie for 'garage bands' when I was young. One of them that I followed in high school is still making music!

http://www.jaredyoung.com/

[ZeroG]

My wife (getamanda) is a Christian singer. She has been a part of many bands. HeavyJ is a member of Isara and played drums in her last band. HeavyJ is actually a heavy metal fan, and secretly a Christian drummer . I was the sound man for their band, but they have broken up due to church politics.

getamanda has quite a few tracks ready to put on her album, but real life keeps getting in the way of our dreams. Our dream is to finish the album, and take the band to Saturday night gigs in churches around southeast Texas.

From what I have seen, being in a band is awesome, if everyone gets along, and the egos don't step on each other. Mutual recognition of everyone's talent, with a mixture of talent which doesn't conflict is a formulae for success. Not easy to accomplish. Find your place in the band. Let the leader lead if it isn't you.

Hierarchical relationships don't exist musically, but they do in a team. It is a difficult balance of musicality and human dynamics. The right combination can be a success (ie. Rush, Stones, AC/DC, Aerosmith, ZZ Top) or failure (ie. Pink Floyd, Eagles, Van Halen, Guns and Roses...). Or watch "Some kind of Monster", a documentary on Metallica. Amazing they can put on a show with all that behind the scenes.

Good luck new dude!

[Ronnyboy]

Thanks! But yes I am the leader. I write, compose, edit, and record the songs. Unfortunately I have yet to put them on CD's to distrubute through out my school. We are all good friends so yeah we are good. Thanks for the advice.

[HorseFilms]

I hang out with (and sometimes play guitar and bass) with these guys:
www.myspace.com/diesl

[Nick Lane]

My friends and I have discussed starting a band for some time, since we are all musically inclined. I play keyboards/piano as well as write lyrics and I have friends who are a drummer, 2 guitarists, and 1 who thinks he can sing (although, in my opinion, I feel we would need someone else. But to be fair, I have't heard him try yet.)

[UniverseA7X]

I'm in a band called As He Defeats. We're from Las Vegas, NV, and this Saturday we're playing a show in St. George, Utah at the electric theater. My first show out of town, so it'll be pretty exciting stuff.

www.myspace.com/ashedefeats

[PK]

That's really cool, UniverseA7X. Looks like you've got a good band put together with a good sound too.  Good luck with your first out of town gig.

Isara has a MySpace page if you want to add us as a friend. http://www.myspace.com/myisara

[sambouri]

I have been in various Punk bands for the last 6 years, played around the UK in various venues and put a couple of low selling E.P's out. My last band broke April 2007 when the singer got too big for his boots and decided we were talentless... Started something new, but began to lose the drive when getting a singer of any worth was becoming difficult. You can hear the old band if you like at http://bandmix.co.uk/richsams if interested. I am coming to thailand in september and not sure if ill will be able to function without playing drums so really wanna get in a band, but i think it might be quite difficult.

Rich

[KitKat]

sambouri, playing your drums in a band in Thailand may not be as difficult as you may think. I think you said you'll be in Bangkok and it's quite a westernized city and the Thai's love punk music, actually all types of music. I've recently traveled to Bangkok twice, but then again, I'm an older Texan, so I may not know enough to really help you, but I thought a little encouragement couldn't hurt.   

[sambouri]

That would be awesome and thanks for the encouragement, would absolutely love to rock out in a dingey thai club...

[reverendh]

I was in a bar band in Houston called Blind Ray & the Mice from the late 80s until till a few years ago, when we finally succumbed to families and obligations. Two CDs of all original material, most of which are available here for free download: www.blindray.com

By the way, I just returned from my first trip to Thailand, Bangkok and points south, and am absolutely gobsmacked, as the brits say. What a place!  It was a bit upsetting to see toddlers clinging to the backs of motorcycles while careening through traffic, and it made me appreciate the helmet campaign.

[ZeroG]

reverendh,

Hi Henry, this is Bill, Doni's friend. I thought I recognized you in that picture on blindray's site.
Feel free to introduce yourself in the Member Introductions thread.

[Ginafish]

reverendh, don't take this the wrong way, b/c I think it's a compliment. Blind Ray's music reminds me of the children's songs I enjoy listening to with my kids along the same lines of 'They Might Be Giants' or 'Laurie Berkner'. So from me, that's groovy.

Did you play guitar as well as sing?

And 'As He Defeats' will really amp up the energy in Utah this weekend! Good Luck! It'll be great!

[reverendh]

Thanks, Ginafish. Yes, I always loved TMBG. I did (and do) play guitar also. - Henry

[HorseFilms]

I shot a TMBG concert in Chicago about 7 years ago. They're fun.

[RJfromAHD]

I'm in UniverseA7X's band, As He Defeats as the bassist.  We're just about a year and a half old, and we're hard at work to do our CD release show next month.  It's pretty engaging.

[elcangry3512]

I was in a band called Briseis (named after Achilles' supposed bride), as I knew the bassist. After the drummer broke his wrist, she asked her fellow bandmates to see if I could replace the drummer for a while. I had a few practice sessions with them, and only did one show in front of 30-some students at school. that's when I realized that I couldn't go in there and play because of my stage fright. I missed my cue on the intro to the first song, and had to start over again. I managed to keep on, but my heart was about explode. Same thing used to happen when I was taking Theater at school in the 8th Grade.

Yes, I had to, or I wouldn't get my credit, and I wouldn't graduate. V_V

Still, both were fun for a while.

[Mus.]

I sometimes think about joining or starting a band and becoming a didgeridoo legend but then I realise I hate performing in front of people. The perfect excuse to not learn to play an instrument.