On Not Turning Up
So we had a gig at the Primrose on Saturday. And it went really well, etc etc. But here’s the thing. We’ve done quite a few of these multi-band gigs now. And every time at least one of the bands hasn’t turned up – sometimes more than one. Like on Saturday, there should have been 4 bands and we were supposed to play for about 45 minutes. But one band cancelled and another just didn’t show up, eventually replying to the organiser’s text message 10 minutes before they were due to start. How rude is that? I mean, if something prevented me from getting to a gig I would let them know well in advance. And it would have to be a really good reason, like losing both my legs in a paragliding accident. Or if it wasn’t a really good reason, I would at least have the courtesy to make up a really good reason, like ‘our drummer’s just died’. When I said this Adam asked why it was him that had to die and I honestly didn’t mean it personally…
This has happened so many times that I’m beginning to wonder if musicians are naturally ruder and less courteous than other people. And if they are, is it that being a musician makes you rude or is it that rude people are more likely to become musicians? Or is it just that we are living in a particularly uncivilised society today?
Saying that, apparently the band’s message was that they had ‘lost their bass player’. I’m not sure if this means lost as in misplaced, lost as in ‘fallen out with’, or dead. If it’s the latter I feel pretty rotten for saying all of this. However if they have just misplaced their bass player, well that’s just careless. Maybe they should consider investing in some kind of electronic tagging system or something.
Doing Cover Songs
There are two schools of thought on this. One is that you do as near to the original as possible. The other is that you…. “make the song your own”.
Robb
Not Just the Making of
We need to get into the studio and record a track so that we can make a kick ass rock video and get Eddy Van Halen!
This looks too much fun!
Robb
The Mighty Hot Leg Show us Some Man Rock!
OK, perhaps man rock isn’t to be applied to this clip!
Robb
On Learning to Play Less
At rehearsal last night, we were working on a new song we’ve written (as yet untitled) when Mike made the shocking suggestion that we should PLAY LESS! I mean what the heck is that all about? Anyone who recalls the young Mike will know what I mean. I was particularly outraged when he suggested that I didn’t play bass for part of the song. I mean, you can’t have no bass, can you? But do you know what? It worked. So I went one further and suggested that we ALL stop playing for a part of the song (and just have the vocal line) – they weren’t sure, but we did it, and it worked! And now it sounds proper 80’s rock!
A valuable learning experience – less really is more. Perhaps I should have listened to my father.
The Gender Issue
I think I have mentioned before the issue of singing a song from the ‘wrong’ gender perspective, and worrying about how it might look if I go on stage singing about being in love with a beautiful woman, etc. Well Robb and I went to see Justin Hawkin’s (from the Darkness) new band, Hot Leg, recently. It came as a bit of a shock when they started playing “The Power of Love” – and I don’t mean the Huey Lewis and the News Song, I mean the Jennifer Rush song – and yes, Justin sang “Cos I’m your lady, and you are my man”. It was surreal. And very funny.
So maybe if he can do it, it’s ok for any of us?
Silverthorn 