2008 April 8

[JonPorobil]

Slept in. Felt a little guilty, but I've only got a few more weeks of college left, so I might as well get away with it while I still can. Found my W-2s buried under about a foot of paperwork on my desk. Guess I ought to fill out my tax forms. Ugh.

On the bright side (no pun intended) The weather is finally warming up. The sun is out for the second day in a row, marking the first time in 2008 we've had two sunny days in a row. The high is 70. T-shirt weather. Yay!

Question of the Day: Do you do live shows? If so, when's your next one? What's the gig?

My band is playing an enormous Pan-Fraternity party this weekend, but our drummer had a prior engagement, so we'll be using a temporary replacement. Trying to squeeze in two practices between now and then, but we're five busy guys. Still, an hour set in the middle of a party that's sure to pack in half the college's population is pretty fun stuff.

[king_arthur]

I play bass with our worship band at church, but we don't do any King Arthur material (I think I played "Angry All Over" for an offertory one Sunday). One Sunday a month I am on for the special music during the offering; a lot of times, I pull out something from a few years ago when I was leading the band, but this past Sunday I did something I had written specifically for that service. I also cover for the leader when he's away or sick - found out that he's going to be away this coming Sunday, but I am also going to be away (going down to Mexico to do some more construction work on a church there).

And a Happy Birthday to Wages!

Charles (KA)

[Paco Del Stinko]

I rarely play out, and the last time that I did was a couple of years ago, on keyboards of all things. I'm not a good keys player, but there were two (!) guitar players in the band who were much better than I am. The two geezers I play with now, and myself, are going to be playing on a community cable tv show which films next month. Big, dumb, moody caveman rock comin' atcha. I'll put up a link when it's online. Maybe.

[Hoblit]

DRC: Fourth day of fasting. Going strong so far. Our office is a bit chilly but that is not a complaint after years and years working hot kitchens.

QOTD: The Funeral Dazies are playing @ The Pegasus Lounge in Tampa on April 25th,2008. Then on May 2nd (or is it the 3rd?) down in St. Petersburg at a place called The Emerald Bar. If you want to see good campy fun, come checks us out. Thanks for the plug. (I'm on bass and Backing Vocals with one song on lead vocals)

[The Weakest Suit]

QOTD: no live shows. maybe a songfight live some day, but i doubt it.

[EmbersOfAutumn]

QotD: I'd love to, but there's no places around here anymore. I'll have to go into Jacksonville, which, frankly, I'd only do if I had a band to go with. As it stands, it's just me. I've played at a coffee shop before and had an interesting time doing that (as it was the first time I really played in front of strangers)--I'd like to do that again should the opportunity arise.

[ujnhunter]

QotD: If I had a backing band I'd play live... however, it's just me, and I'm not particularly talented at "playing" any instruments... much better "recording" instruments...

[Phil. Redmon.]

I haven't played in a live band in some serious years now, which is too bad, because I am really good at it. Ho.

I used to think it was never going to happen again, but I think I'm a little more optimistic now.

Coffee's good.
Working on stuff for monies.
Later: Tire repair.

Couple of fairly excellent Ventura Les Paul copies on ebay right now. I've got one. They are great. The bodies are semi hollow. I've never met a ventura neck I didn't like.

The Black One
The Gold One (like mine)

[Billy's Little Trip]

For years, we played 4 nights a week. But now only for private parties and charity events about 3 or 4 times a year. We like doing the local surf, skate and snow shop events because the younger crowd seem to really like the old school punk/rock.
But the last one was a New Years party at my drummer friends farm. It was a huge party with around 20 some bands. He's a drum teacher and all of his students along with their bands played, as well as a bunch of his old band mates like us.

[HeuristicsInc]

For live stuff, I guess there are two categories. Mostly the concerts have been from home, but streaming audio over the internet with people tuning in that way. Once a friend was over for the in-person experience too. These I like, they're electronic/ambient/improv shows (and I don't have to sing for them). I also did this once on stage a few years ago. I would like to do more of these. I think the next thing I should do is to try to contact venues that have this kind of shows and see if I can open for other acts or something.

The other kind is SF shows. I've done three of these, SFPA, SFLAtlanta, SFNYC. These shows are always kind of nerve-wracking because I don't think my singing is terribly great. Also, I try to do a lot of things with these shows and I think I get too ambitious for what I can pull off well. Lots of screwups. But they're hecka fun anyway and that's all about the songfighters that attend. Cool group.

As for upcoming shows, uh, don't have any. I should suggest another Net event to my Tapegerm friends, that would be fun.
-bill

[rone rivendale]

QotD: I don't believe my style of music fits the whole 'live' thing. Also I hate singing/rapping my own stuff in front of people. I can sing the Barbie Girl song to a group of ppl and not flinch but when someone is like "spit me some of your rhymes" I'm like.... "uhh no".

[Reist]

Qotd: I've always wanted to perform live, but I don't have a backup band. I'm currently writing some acoustic music so I can play some at some open mic nights soon. I'll try to get some footage for you guys when I do.

[Caravan Ray]

I'll be playing at an office drinks party next week. Should be fun - especially since I've just handed in my resignation. I will feel no compulsion to edit any of my lyrics. It will be gay, impotent cowboys and other sexual fantasies full-steam-ahead

I'm also writing and recording a theme song for the Planning & Environmental Department of my company to distribute at the party. I've asked all my colleagues to supply me with a sound bite of them saying something of attempting to play an instrument - and I will put together a song. So far I have received some good audio of a girl tapping a hard-hat with a pencil, and an assortment of recorded frog and bird calls.

[sausage boy]

Haven't played live as Sausage Boy yet, but have been practicing some of the songs with a guitarist the last few weeks. Just gotta find a drummer. Apparently they are thin on the ground around here.

[Reist]

Just gotta find a drummer. Apparently they are thin on the ground around here.

Too bad I live on the other side of the world. I need to start playing in a live band. I think it would be a great experience.

[j$]

I can sing the Barbie Girl song to a group of ppl and not flinch

You should do. Damn, Aqua should flinch every time they drag that piece of shite across their faces.

]when someone is like "spit me some of your rhymes" I'm like.... "uhh no".

I find it hard to believe that anyone has ever said that to anyone. If they do, the only response is hit them hard in the face until they stop saying it.

QoY: I don't have any gigs coming up. I've played a few over the years but I suffer from such crippling stage-fright every time that I hate the experience, and take at least 1/2 hr to relax enough to be any good by which time the gig has usually been over by 5 minutes. My art exhibition last weekend went well and I premiered some music there which worked well; I sold nine pieces as well, so maybe I have been pursuing the wrong pasttime all these years ...

[HeuristicsInc]

My art exhibition last weekend went well and I premiered some music there which worked well; I sold nine pieces as well, so maybe I have been pursuing the wrong pasttime all these years ...

Awesome, nine pieces? How exciting! Also, I mentioned this in email, but people should check out the album, it's quite cool.
-bill

[j$]

Thanks, Bill!

If people want to hear the album of which we're speaking, they should check out the 'listen to my song' thread here - http://songfight.net/forums/viewtopic.p ... 69#p112569

[jimtyrrell]

Checkin' in late. I'll save the Roll Call business for the 4/9 thread, but...

QotD: I play as often as I can. Tonight I'm at a restaurant/bar in Belmont, NH. I'm booked at least twice a week through the rest of '08.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I suffer from such crippling stage-fright every time that I hate the experience

Join the club. A horrible curse for a performer. I'm not suggesting that you take drugs, but I suggest that you take drugs. 10mg Valium is like magic to me. I relax enough to communicate with the audience, and still keep my edge enough to play good. In fact, I play better when I'm relaxed.

All of my early years of performing, I was so wasted that I didn't know that I had such phobias, or maybe I did but I was in denial and that's why I drank and took so many drugs, not sure. But when the point came in my life that I wanted to quit my bad habits, I then found out that I couldn't do it alone. But I forced myself and it was horrible. I'd get physically sick before every show, but I was determined to do it clean. I would put the audience out of my head and just focus on the music, which helped, but I became so disconnected that I could tell that the energy was gone. My bass player, Edgar, is a ham and loves the stage, so he would take over, while I looked like a guy they let out of a straight jacket for the show and stick me back in a padded room after. Funny thing is, we had some of the most interesting reviews during that period. They thought that I was mysterious. Little did they know that I was about to have an all out panic attack.

[fluffy]

qotd: I think I need to take a break from live shows for a while. Pretending to be a rock star was a fun vacation but it's worn me out. I need to go back to work to relax.

[rone rivendale]

when someone is like "spit me some of your rhymes" I'm like.... "uhh no".

I find it hard to believe that anyone has ever said that to anyone. If they do, the only response is hit them hard in the face until they stop saying it.

Actually the reason I used quotes was because there is this HS kid at work that used that exact phrase several times. heh.