Band Situation. Kind of a rant.

[Diocide]

So I've been in two serious bands in my life. One is with my best friend (the one described as Weirdo Electro in my sig) which we decided to take a hiatus from earlier this year. He wanted to work on strictly instrumental electronic music (NOT CRAPPY DANCE STUFF) and I had my own project going also (Undercliff).

I figured it would be all good because I had the Undercliff project going. So the Undercliff project has progressed at a slow, but steady pace. In about a year we've gotten almost an hour of originals down, recorded a 3 song demo EP and have started trying to book some shows. So we played our first show last night. I was excited. Like REALLY excited, because this band is totally my baby. I write all the music, most of the lyrics, sing and play guitar, and I've been the only one trying to book shows. So basically I've worked my ass off to get where we are.

So in the week leading up to our first show we decided to have 3 practices. At practice earlier this week, my drummer informs me that he's not feeling the music and doesn't really want to play anymore, but he'd play this show with us and then he's out. I'm fucking bummed. I've worked my dick off and now once I book a show, he's done.


END RANT

TLDR version; After a year of working on a new band, we book our first show (YAY) and the drummer quits the same week (BOO).

[jnurp]

drummers aren't even musicians.

[ovid9]

Damn, that sucks dude. Why would he wait until this point to break the news he's "not feeling it?" Ugh.

Hopefully you can find another drummer to replace him!

[Diocide]

Damn, that sucks dude. Why would he wait until this point to break the news he's "not feeling it?" Ugh.

Hopefully you can find another drummer to replace him!

Yeah, I did the normal round of FB/CL posts and whatnot, but it ain't looking good. When I first started this project, I was actually playing drums because I couldn't find one.

drummers aren't even musicians.

Well they're hard to find around these parts, regardless of what they might be.

[JiveTurkey]

The bright side is, from the description in your signature; it is ambient doom. So you don't need uber-inhuman drummer that would be hard to come by. You would have thought he might have mentioned his "not feeling it" in earlier practices or sometime when the creative process was in it's formative stages

Mojo sent. Play your show like your life depends on it and with any luck (especially the specific genre you are working it); someone in the audience will be looking for a drum gig. Problem solved!

[izzy]

Dick move on his part.

Having said that, it's ez to see why he's not feeling the music -- it's hard to be invested -- when you're not invested:

this band is totally my baby. I write all the music, most of the lyrics...

No judgement, just sayin'.

[Diocide]

Dick move on his part.

Having said that, it's ez to see why he's not feeling the music -- it's hard to be invested -- when you're not invested:

this band is totally my baby. I write all the music, most of the lyrics...

No judgement, just sayin'.

No, I get what you're saying, but on the flip side, he has it relatively easy, he just plays.

edit; and it's not like I made the decision to do all that. Neither he nor the bass player have ever offered a piece of music/riff/song. The drummer does not play any other instruments and the bass player has contributed lyrics before, but whenever I ask him if he's written anything lately, he shrugs his shoulders and says no.

[izzy]

... he has it relatively easy, he just plays.

I get what you're saying ...

I don't think you do.

[JiveTurkey]

It is so awesome to write your own music but finding a group of like minded dudes with skills and writing ability gets exponentially more difficult as you delve deeper into obscure genres. Maybe your gig will have a good response and maybe kick start him into enjoying it? Being the sole writer is tough; but when the other dudes are standing there staring at you waiting for lightning to strike; it's kind of their own fault for not being a part of the process.









Unless you're musical-Hitler.

[Diocide]

... he has it relatively easy, he just plays.

I get what you're saying ...

I don't think you do.

I get you, I'm just frustrated.

[izzy]

edit; and it's not like I made the decision to do all that. Neither he nor the bass player have ever offered a piece of music/riff/song. The drummer does not play any other instruments and the bass player has contributed lyrics before, but whenever I ask him if he's written anything lately, he shrugs his shoulders and says no.

Well it sounds like you're better off in the long run with a different crew so it's a blessing it happened now rather than later.

[Diocide]

Unless you're musical-Hitler.

I'm a pretty laid back dude IMO. I'll come up with a bunch of riffs/ideas that go together and we just play em and see where it goes. I'll play guitar, and if I have a general idea for the drums, I'll show him the idea of what I'm hearing in my head and he usually can nail it, but I don't micro-manage. I'm not writing his fills or hi hat rhythms for him.

I don't know. I know this might sound arrogant, but if no one steps up and kind of "takes the reigns" then nothing will get done. In every other band I've been in, EVERYONE wrote music. Shit, my best friend growing up who I played guitar with was a drummer AND a better guitarist than me. This is the first time where I'm playing with two people who do not really write, they just play.

[Diocide]

edit; and it's not like I made the decision to do all that. Neither he nor the bass player have ever offered a piece of music/riff/song. The drummer does not play any other instruments and the bass player has contributed lyrics before, but whenever I ask him if he's written anything lately, he shrugs his shoulders and says no.

Well it sounds like you're better off in the long run with a different crew so it's a blessing it happened now rather than later.

That's how I've got it in my head. Even if we can't play out for a while, I can just write and stock pile songs/riffs for when we do get rolling again.

[izzy]

That's how I've got it in my head. Even if we can't play out for a while, I can just write and stock pile songs/riffs for when we do get rolling again.

Want to grow as a musician? Consider this an opportunity to hook up with a new crew where you are the weakest player, writer and arranger.

[Diocide]

That's how I've got it in my head. Even if we can't play out for a while, I can just write and stock pile songs/riffs for when we do get rolling again.

Want to grow as a musician? Consider this an opportunity to hook up with a new crew where you are the weakest player, writer and arranger.

That's a been a consideration of mine as well. If I can't get this back together, then I'll look for a band to play with.

[SenatorClayDavis]

Too bad - but perhaps you'll get some exposure based on the show and if you make it known you're looking for a drummer one may materialize.

I can relate a little as I recently told my band I "wasn't feeling it" and will be stepping down sometime after our next show (this thursday). But guitarists are way easier to replace than drummers - at least the dude followed through with his commitment to the show.

[wrongnote85]

if you're an alright drummer just turn this into a recording project for now and get some things down on tape. then perhaps you can use that to help find a new skin beater and you'll feel like you're getting some work done in the process.