I’m thinking of joining or forming a band but…

LiveeviL2000

LiveeviL2000

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As the title says, but I don’t know what kind of band I want to be in. Cover band or originals, do bands do both? I couldn’t do tribute because
a) I usually play songs my way
b) I’m not good enough for a tribute band.

Also, if I do decide to perform. What gear is needed. I’ve been researching this topic online and I’ve read about venues not allowing certain cabs or needing monitors, yada yada.

Just as a little background. The last time I was on stage was a handful of years ago and I was only subbing in for 1 gig.
Before that it was the late 80s.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
As the title says, but I don’t know what kind of band I want to be in. Cover band or originals, do bands do both? I couldn’t do tribute because
a) I usually play songs my way
b) I’m not good enough for a tribute band.

Also, if I do decide to perform. What gear is needed. I’ve been researching this topic online and I’ve read about venues not allowing certain cabs or needing monitors, yada yada.

Just as a little background. The last time I was on stage was a handful of years ago and I was only subbing in for 1 gig.
Before that it was the late 80s.
Click to expand...
When my youngest was in a garage band right after HS, they did a mix of covers and originals. Covers at first till they had a catalog of their own. Then more original with some covers. He graduated 01, so they were very much into bands like Blink, Green Day, Jimmy Eat World.... etc. Their originals pretty much went down same path. They actually were pretty good. Then as happens.... college and going their separate ways.

As for gear. The guys gigging will have to weigh in on that. Only comment I could add there would be In Ear Monitors. Do away with most of the on stage monitors other than one/two for vocals. Cuts down on stage volume and lets the audience hear the good stuff thru the mains..... not garbaged up with stage noise. This from experience. On worship band our monitor volume got so loud we didn't need mains for the congregation to hear the music. And frankly, it was a mind set that needed changed with sound guys. "I can't hear myself the monitor." So they turn me up instead of turning others down..... repeat for every person on stage till your ears hurt from too loud monitors. In ear did away with that issue.

And good luck with your venture. Most important if you do go down this road. Have fun!!
 
Same boat as you, switched to bass as main recently & can actually have my choice of bands because of demand.
Was almost part of a band a month ago but it didn't pan out. Me only 1 way & its just me, but it will always be originals vs tab bands.

At our ages..dont frustrate yourself over it. Find where you fit cause its to be enjoyed not a pressure pit of amateur nonsense most local stuff becomes unfortunately.

I am cocked & loaded for guitar or bass for right band with rigs for every ocassion

Can go DI & have amps for stage level or almost any situation

As a guitarist..i am taking a Marshall mid cut tone & V30's depending on what other guitarist plays or greenbacks if he is V30's. Or i am taking BF Fender or Mesa tone & greenbacks or american voiced speakers if he is M tone so we are in mix naturally

Bass- name the rig got it lol

Been auditioning & looks like things will end up at my place cause of the radical PA with subs & ya just show up with guitar & plug in. No moving company crap until gig night

I am lucky around here most venues we will play are set to kick drum level & they mic a cab into PA. Really the only way i want to play at this stage in life. Screw in ears & silent stages. I wanna play like its 1987 again..where no one whined about anything. Every one knew there role

Rant over but going to find the right 2 bands , even sold some cars to free up time. 1 last go round here

Band 1 in Standard E with all original from anything motown-metal-rock-jazz

band 2 all out downtune madness...
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
I thought about trying out as a bass player. But I really don’t have any gear.
I have a killer bass and other than a fender rumble practice amp and my HX Stomp. I have nothing else.
I sold off all my bass gear long ago.
Click to expand...
Have actual experience this past month on that. hence the recent bass rigs

The orange OB1 (300 SS watt not class D) is right at the edge of a heavy band volume wise but needs 2 cabs to do it. It could do a regular rock band. Am actually jonesing for next band response to drag this rig out & audition for a a band. Dont even care if i don't get in the band..just want to see where the threshold of this amp is. Think the OB1 500 would get it done.

The 280 watt RMS Trace Elliot SS not the class d can level buildings with the matching 4x12 cab

Ampeg SVT-actually the end all be all- will use it every live situation where its not over kill. believe it or not 2 marshall or Mesa stack band..you need bass firepower U pretty much need to run bass amps at 4 ohms to extract the power needed. Its about clean headroom & note fullness & definition & more pure power always translates into a much fuller bass tone in the mix.

PS have hlf 410 cab- its ported for downtune

A good bassist really is a blender...

50 watt tube MIG 50 useless-overdrives way to fast & gets lost, Great recording & early OD , Much better guitar amp, obnoxiously loud with gtar in comparison

This is all assuming metal bands with double kick drummers (hard hitters cause thats just the way genre is) & 2 guitar players, its pretty much all have ever been around my whole life as bass player,

SWR 4004 -400 SS watts can cut it with 2 cabs at 4 ohms for sure


I would say 300- 400 watt SS minimum & prob 800 watts class d minimum.. The way they hit the rails power on bass is very different

key with bass is 2nd cab(more speakers quickest way to more volume)--run rig at full output & EQ pedal in front to carve the low bass going in..that is what muds up & eats all the power.

Also with downtuning..the gtar player have to be guitar players in the mix or it is so non fun when 2 guitars & bass are all in the same EQ. Mush ^ everyone just keeps turning up & Up & up


Technically you can use the HX stomp into PA , i built a modular rig this month out of my PA gear, even used multiple power amps & subs & 10's & 15's, was no limit to the power & cabs i could hook up. Just didn't reward as a player..felt disconnected from the music

Now I did run my bass amp & DI into PA at same time..oh yes...then the bass amp just became level to kick drum & was a monitor but i had all the control of my amp & tone i had worked hard to set
 
I would say you can sure do both originals and covers. To get started, depending on venues there, you likely need a decent assortmemt of covers cause most people wanna hear stuff they know. I suspect uou will have to find like minded partners musically.
Equipment will vary hugely depending again on venues. Here, most clubs amd bars have house PA. We have played halls, dances etc over the years. My bro (drums) and I started playing together as kids. To pracyice we needed monitors so started w that and a small mixer. These days equipment is miles above what we had. The main thung jamming os to be able to hear vox and each other. I say small mixer amd powered wedges. If you go IEM you need to run mics or lines from everyrhing.
I say start by jamming with some people and go from there.
 
Great question.

As I’m sure you’ve picked up on by now, I am a huge fan of processors and in-ear monitors. No one in our band uses actual amps. As @iblive indicated, it makes for less extraneous sound that can clutter up what is coming from the mains. But, I’ve seen bands sound fine with physical amps, too. But, the other issue is a lot of “stages” can be very small and cramped, so a processor helps conserve space, too.

The larger question is more about finding that band that is a good fit for you. The gear will come, but the band is the band. When I say “fit” I’m talking about fitting in with the personalities, goals, and expectations of the band. Some will want to gig every chance possible, others have schedules that are less flexible. Someone may really want to do a song, but you may hate it. How will you deal with that? At some point, you’ll have to figure out the legal aspects too, like, getting paid, paying the band members, etc.

Bands definitely do both covers and originals. It is actually kind of a relatively smooth way of introducing originals if there are any aspirations in the band for that. You could do mostly covers and intersperse a few originals in the set. You can gauge the reaction of the crowd as you go. They may love the originals, or they may fall flat. If they don’t work well with the crowd, at least you’ve still got a lot of cover material they may like. Or, the song writing may really be good and you end up doing mostly original material, but it will take longer to get enough material for a full gig. You need about 45 - 50 songs for a four hour gig. This would give you enough material for four sets with a break between sets.

Then there are the questions of procuring the sound gear necessary for the band, marketing the band, getting bookings, deciding on a rehearsal space, etc.

As @Jethro Rocker suggested, maybe just get together with some other musicians you know and start playing some songs together and see how it feels. If you work on a few songs together (covers or originals) and they feel good, try them out at an open mic night. That’s a good way to get a little exposure without trying to get an actual booking.
 
Start original band, get songs done then throw in some covers for fun….


Not sure whats the deal in u s and of A …. But you have enough gear to gig… heck … one of the headliners bassist turned up to the gig… using my bassist, amp, bass and lead…. Sigh…

So i say you have plenty of gear….

Just please dont dress up like Motley crew…

Most of times you can get away 2x12 and 50w head…. ( if you are not Ramo lol )

Looking forward to your band!
 
To me there's nothing worse than a cover band that plays the same old boring covers we've been hearing from bar bands for 100 (+/-) years! The problem is, that's all drunk bar flies want to hear, they don't care about originals unless they've heard them on the radio. That's probably the #1 biggest reason I never gave a crap about being in a band.
 
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LiveeviL2000 said:
I thought about trying out as a bass player. But I really don’t have any gear.
I have a killer bass and other than a fender rumble practice amp and my HX Stomp. I have nothing else.
I sold off all my bass gear long ago.
Click to expand...
You could use the stomp. I bought a FRFR , line 6 cab plus. I have never giged but you could go front of house and use the cab plus for stage monitor.
Of course to the contrary lug a bunch of gear traditionally.
Richie Castellano toured with Jon Anderson of Yes playing bass. I believe he used a stomp live.
 
DirtySteve said:
To me there's nothing worse than a cover band that plays the same old boring covers we've been hearing from bar bands for 100 (+/-) years! The problem is, that's all drunk bar flies want to hear, they don't care about originals unless they've heard them on the radio. That's probably the #1 biggest reason I never gave a crap about being in a band.
Click to expand...

You're right about people wanting to hear the stuff they already know. When I first started in this band, I asked our drummer about doing originals. Without hesitation, he said, "Nobody wants to listen to them."

Kinda sad, actually.

We try to keep current by playing more modern tunes, as well.
 
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