Trying to form prog band - it's a struggle
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Music and Musicians Exchange
Forum Description: Talk with and get feedback from other musicians on the site
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79286
Printed Date: November 22 2024 at 21:05
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Trying to form prog band - it's a struggle
Posted By: jkugelman
Subject: Trying to form prog band - it's a struggle
Date Posted: June 26 2011 at 01:21
|
I've been trying for the past few months to put together a prog band. It's tough to find people where we have a mutual interest in playing with each other. Either I'm not impressed with them or I scare them off.
Frustratingly, even though I post ads listing many of my influencing bands and post song samples, I meet up with people whose interest in prog extends little further than Radiohead and Pink Floyd. I love those bands don't get me wrong, but they're just the tip of the iceberg. For what it's worth I'm 28 years old. I'm not sure what that means but I'm just throwing it out there. I've become afraid to tell people that I want to play 20+ minute songs, or that I like synthesizers, or that violins and flutes sound cool. Even though I'm upfront about all that in my ads it still seems to turn people off. Any tips, advice? Is there somewhere else I should be posting besides Craigslist? I'm kinda wondering if I should widen my search net and try to trap non-prog-playing musicians into playing prog. Maybe indoctrination is the way to go... |
Replies:
Posted By: mono
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 03:43
|
I think you should be a bit patient with the people you audition... I suggest you search for a good sound and feel rather than common influences. There are a lot of people who don't know anything about prog but that can suit your band quite well! And if you're putting together a band, don't throw in everything at once (don't define the project too much). Start by telling the basics and add the details as you go along. This is of course not a general recommendation, just something that could help in your case... Good luck! ------------- https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else |
Posted By: QuestionableScum
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 10:31
|
I think Mono is largely right. But I would ask you is it important to you that you play in a band, or that you create music that fits your own personal vision? This is important because if it is more important to you to create music that fits your personal vision, then a band may not be the best idea. Or if you are to form a band don't expect that goal to be satisfied through the band. Likewise, if playing in a band is more important, than just take Mono's advice and find people that you click with regardless of influences. Also, if you know that your influences and vision differ greatly from your band, just look for other musicians who are not dead set on playing music that you do not like, but rather are open to experimentation. Personally, I have had a great time playing with musicians who have very different tastes than I. In a band context musical chemistry between the members seems to be the most important thing. |
Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 14:21
|
Both posters are right, you are no Fripp so having an unyeilding musical vision is probably going to be out of the question. Jam with people, especially friends and nine times out of ten what you create on accident will out do all your schemes and plans. In any case I find that bands based on auditions that are being formed with a purpose tend to fall apart quickly and create more stress than music. At the end of the day it should be about having fun not "making a prog band" ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: Tapfret
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 15:24
|
One word...chemistry. Cinnamon tastes really good, but not in spaghetti. ------------- https://www.last.fm/user/Tapfret" rel="nofollow">  https://bandcamp.com/tapfret" rel="nofollow - Bandcamp |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 19:37
| I think playing good music regardless of the genre would be much more important than not doing anything because I can't find the musicians to play prog with, if I were in your place. |
Posted By: dreadpirateroberts
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 20:00
|
Hey, I've played in a few bands over the last ten years and I agree with everyone about chemistry. if you don't get along with the poeple you play with, you won't have fun. But your problem seems to be partly that the people who answer your ads are being scared away by the idea of incorporating instruments (flute violin etc) outside their comfort range?
Perhaps it is a good idea then, as you've suggested, to seek people proficient in other genres/instruments and say (if you meet with & can stand the person/s) 'would you be willing to play in a progressive rock band' or call it a fusion band, as that's what you will be doing, fusing styles & genres etc? ------------- We are men of action. Lies do not become us. http://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - JazzMusicArchives. |
Posted By: Mushroom Sword
Date Posted: June 27 2011 at 20:48
I think you're onto something here... ------------- 
"I gazed into the eyes of the madman and I saw, and I saw,and I saw myself. |
Tapfret wrote:Posted By: himtroy
Date Posted: June 28 2011 at 00:21
|
Believe me, you can make it happen as long as somebody is a good musician. I've turned so many of my friends into psychedelic musicians that like craziness and odd time signatures (synths, organs, horns, bass, drums, and guitars). It really helped that they liked jazz, but some of them not even so much. People play a lot different than what they listen to, and if you don't put vocals in (or generic vocals) nobody you play with can make it too poppy. As long as you find good musicians it should work out ------------- Which of you to gain me, tell, will risk uncertain pains of hell? I will not forgive you if you will not take the chance. |
Posted By: Amnesic Ostrich
Date Posted: June 28 2011 at 04:05
|
Yeah, I think as long as you find good musicians that you get well along
with, who are creative and open, there's a good chance you might be
able to play what you want as well. Bands tend to have a leading person.
Like in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRzUAu0vMkk" rel="nofollow - Beardfish , Rikard Sjöblom writes the most of the
riffs/parts/stuff, and the band helps him arrange it and make it unique
for their group, determined by the persons playing in it. Often there's a
couple of minutes in the middle of a song where it's sort of.. more of
jam session with laid back solos and such. And for example Opeth, where Mikael Åkerfeldt practically writes all of the music, but everyone's free to give their opinions and ideas. The drummer (previous drummer Lopez) said in an interview that he made his own drumming parts at least over 90 % of the time, and the rest would be stuff he agreed with Åkerfeldt on, that he had come up with. |
Posted By: Philamelian
Date Posted: June 28 2011 at 08:04
|
Forming a band out of nothing is really hard. We have struggled for six continuous years as the core part of the band (drummer, bass and keys). Sometimes because of other members problem of contribution sometimes as written above lacking chemisty betwen members, situation don't allow you to get a step forward. It's really annoying when you are creating lots of stuff non had finished properly when years are passing. I thing succes of a band lie behind staying as a band with right people as well. ------------- http://www.facebook.com/philamelian" rel="nofollow - http://www.facebook.com/philamelian http://soundcloud.com/cagri-tozluoglu" rel="nofollow - http://soundcloud.com/cagri-tozluoglu |
Posted By: criticdrummer94
Date Posted: June 28 2011 at 12:00
| Heck if I lived in your area and wasn't still in school i would audition for your band because i wanna form a progressive band of my own |
Posted By: mono
Date Posted: June 29 2011 at 07:01
|
Concerning the struggle between "your own personnal vision" and forming a band. Simple solution: start your solo project and see how far you can go alone. If you find yourself quickly overwhelmed, it means you need to work with others. In that case, you have to be a bit humble and force yourself to leave some of your ego at home (depending on your fellow band members). If you're satisfied with your solo project, it becomes even easier to form a band, as you will have an "espace" (exutoire in French) for your ego/ideals/personnal vision, and you can concentrate on the collective side of the band. ------------- https://soundcloud.com/why-music Prog trio, from ambiant to violence https://soundcloud.com/m0n0-film Film music and production projects https://soundcloud.com/fadisaliba (almost) everything else |
Posted By: jkugelman
Date Posted: June 29 2011 at 17:04
|
Thanks all, great advice in thread. I don't have an unyielding vision--I do have a vision but I'd say it's quite yielding.
What prompted this was having two different people stop responding once I showed them the song I'm working on right now, which is one of those 20+ minute beasties. I think I came on too strong, so to speak. That's not first date material. I'll stop mentioning prog for now and just try to meet musicians in general. You guys are absolutely right, chemistry is what matters. |