November 27, 2012
November 27, 2012 (Tuesday)
(Post 663, Day 333 of 2012, 697 days since starting this blog)
(Post 663, Day 333 of 2012, 697 days since starting this blog)
Daily Comment
This is what it takes to get my band to cover a Stones song: The lead singer has to hear something he likes as a part for a singing friend, she has to also like it, they have to get together and learn and practice it by themselves, then he has to tell the band he wants to do it (I knew it early on, because the band knows I'm a RS fan, and I've suggested three or four different songs, all of which the band has declined to do).
My current thinking about the band is that it is a hobby band, a garage band, and is in no danger of becoming more than that. Which is fine with me, because I play with other people whenever I'm not playing with the band, and my only goal is to play. I just think it is a lot of wasted potential.
And I would like to spend more time playing with the band.
But the band won't progress too much futher because: a) Three-quarters of the band members have priorities which make an active rehearsing/performing schedule always difficult, frequently impossible. b) Half the band has no commitment to doing the work required (90% of which involves nothing more than playing their instrument) because they know they won't put in the time required (see a), preceding). 3) Performance skills are unevenly distributed, and the infrequent playing makes it difficult to upgrade and retain any gains in those areas.
When I first heard the band, I heard a group that was tight, original and focused. I was impressed, especially with the quality of the original songs. That is something I wanted to be a part of. Over time, I came to see that the group was as much a social as a musical thing, and, since I like everybody in the band (a lot), that's okay.
But I have some misgivings these days (nothing that would make me quit, just things that I wish everybody participating understood). First among these are that I don't think the original songs are getting their best presentation.
Secondly, I see great disunity in approach to making music - differences in background, taste, goals, experience, priority (and motivation) that affect everything from song choice to performance (although I understand the reasons, I don't find them adequate or, when it comes down to it, acceptable).
I am also chafing at the limitations of the other members - this is the most minor of the items, I just wish the limitations didn't interfere with performance as much as they do. These limitations are chiefly skill, motivation and time.
Lastly, I want to spend more time playing than the other band members, collectively, (because it takes all four of us). Playing more, in my opinion, is the answer to all these problems.
None of these things just arrived on the scene, and, as I've stated, none of them are deal-breakers as far as my continuing role in the band.
The practice was fun. We did some new material that I liked and thought we played well. The new singer's role and relationship with the band was never defined, we played a lot of our old material.
The best thing about it, to me, was that we spent most of the evening playing, not in discussion.
The worst thing is how I felt, physically - watching my energy fade over the course of the night.
The funniest thing is that there were 3 KIa Souls parked outside the guitarist's house. He has one, the new singer has one, and my new one.
Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!
Food and Diet Section
Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011 Today's Weight: 204.8 lbsYesterday's Weight: 206.0 lbsDay Net Loss/Gain: - 1.2 lbs
Diet Comment
Yes, I think I thrive on regular eating, at least as far as weight control goes. Ah, what the hell, maybe in all ways. By regular eating, I mean eating on-plan foods (vegetables, proteins and 'good' fats) in satiating quantities.
Unfortunately, logistics conspired against me. Dinner was late - after practice - which led to more eating than I like to do at that hour, then a late-night fail.
Unfortunately, logistics conspired against me. Dinner was late - after practice - which led to more eating than I like to do at that hour, then a late-night fail.
Food Log
Breakfast
Cocoa-kale protein shake (almond milk, whey protein (24g protein), kale, chia gel, cocoa, cinnamon, stevia blend).
Lunch
 |
| Roasted turkey on Spring Mix, red cabbage and balsamic vinaigrette. |
Pepperoni, baby carrots and home-made mayonnaise.
Dinner
Pepperoni and a salad of hard-boiled eggs, Spring Mix and cole slaw mix with balsamic vinaigrette.
Snack
Ezekiel Golden Flax sprouted grain cereal with blueberries, almond milk and stevia blend.
Liquid Intake
Coffee: 20 oz, Water: 96+ oz.
Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!
posted by Reverend Ken at
8:30 AM
11 Comments:
I was thinking when I read this, do people in your band read this blog and have you told them these things directly?
Love you
No, none of them read the blog, and yes, I've told them these things directly, except maybe for the parts about disunity of purpose and skill limitations - because that is my perception, and may not reflect what is really going on. I'm too close to be a good judge.
Look, I love these guys. I have spoken at length about all these items with J. (the band leader) - I am personally closest with him and regard him as one of my best friends.
In this band, I play a supporting role only - nobody has asked me to be their mentor, although I have no problem doing so. There is nothing wrong with this band that couldn't be solved by getting together and playing about three times as much as we do; I have been quite vocal about that for over a year. But it doesn't happen for one reason or another - it can't be laid at anyone's feet.
The worst offender is actually J. - his non-band obligations (job, other interests, school, family) have been the main limiting factor. The lead guitarist is the most vocal about how much time he wants to devote to the band, but in the two years (we just had that anniversary) that I've been with i am Fool, he has not been the greatest limitation. His main problem is his skill level on guitar, which isn't a critical problem for me (or the band, IMO). I wish he was making better progress in that area, but, really it just isn't that big a deal.
That is the drummer's main problem, too. He is actually a pretty good drummer, but he gets stuck in one style, and tries to make it fit everything. Problem? Not too much.
And, you've heard the band. We're pretty good. I'm not hung up about this, I enjoy rehearsing and performing with these guys.
I just want more.
Consider getting more out of music from other resources. If you are looking for growth and stimulation from your music , then you need to "shock" your self out of your inertia driven musical rut. Challenge yourself. Try to play with musicians better than yourself, to learn from them while making superior, more satisfying music.Take lessons or study different forms of music. You already know what you get from being part of I am Fool, now expand yourself - LOVE, andy
@Andy: First of all, nice to hear from you.
OK - from a time and performance perspective, this is something I have been doing from day 1 with i am Fool. In any given month, the band takes up less than a quarter of my playing time, sometimes much less. I constantly look for playing opportunities with new musicians in any genre (I have recently been bass backup for a 22yo rap singer). My participation in jam sessions 2-4 times a week is a two-edged sword, in that it affords me a great variety of playing opportunities, but some of the more nose-in-the-air good musicians regard it as inconsistent with my level of playing (they're idiots, although they're making money playing, which I rarely do). I accept the sobriquet "bass whore" that has been used to describe my performance practices, because it pretty much describes my approach these days.
For better or worse, these days I have no ambition to improve or even diversify my playing, except what happens "naturally" by performing. The only playing I do at home is when I need to learn a new song. So, no bass lessons. I don't consider myself in a rut at all - neither is i am Fool - we just aren't spending enough time playing to realize our potential.
From my point of view, music doesn't follow Woody Allen's shark analogy (keep moving forward or die). Me? Most of the musicians who know me know I play more than most other bass players around. But most of it is playing for free, which I don't have problems with , but I have found a lot of people who consider this "amateur" (one excellent bass-playing friend who is very busy doing paying gigs in the area always calls me "a real professional" - in the most sarcastic tones (but with a smile, he's a friend).
It is not clear what it is that you want more of. - andy
I want more playing time with the band. A lot of what I've written about in the post is simply nothing more than my frustration with limited playing time with this particular set of musicians.
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