I am just about ready to throw in the musical towel

smurfco

smurfco

Meatus McPrepuce
The Bird Index had a rehearsal last night, first time in a few weeks and maybe the fourth or fifth time with our new guitarist. He's a nice guy and I think he's making an effort, but he was not able to get through a single song from start to finish. And when he would get derailed he wouldn't be able to recover. Everything sounded terrible.

The sad thing is, he is actually above average compared to almost everyone else that we have auditioned or tried to play with. @Help!I'maRock! is still the only person who really put in the effort to learn the songs, and the only configuration of the Bird Index that I felt good about the prospect of putting in front of people.

But other than Howie, it's been a parade of suckitude. So here we are, Brad and I, with two albums that I think are pretty good, and no ability to perform them. I take this stuff seriously, maybe too seriously I'll admit. But I think I'm done. I cannot remember the last time I had a Bird Index audition or rehearsal that was any fun at all. Maybe we should just keep it as a recording thing and not even bother with putting a band together. We were both so disappointed after rehearsal.

I feel bad too because I genuinely like the guitarist on a personal level, and I think he is trying - but it's just not working. So now I have the unpleasant task of maybe telling him he's out. But what's the point, really? The chances of the next guy being any better are apparently pretty low. It is so frustrating because I know if I could just find the right people that these tunes would be pretty cool live. But I think I'm ready to admit that it just isn't going to happen.

Anyways, that's all. I will be back to posting nonsense about my fictional dad later today.
 
jelloman said:
Is he playing guitar or bass?
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Guitar. I switched to bass because aside from Howie nobody has been good enough on bass, and I figured it might be easier to find a guitarist. (Plus I really do enjoy playing bass.) I'm trying to be flexible. If we could find a great bassist of course I'd go back to guitar/keys. But we can't even find anybody decent. I mean, even with all of this guy's musical shortcomings he is still better than most that we have tried.

I think I have unrealistic expectations - but Brad the drummer and I are both at a certain level. Not virtuosos, but we play together so well and are both pretty decent players. And after each time we have one of these rehearsals we are both in rotten moods because for us it isn't fun to just get together and make noise. It's only fun if it's good, if we're making progress. Otherwise I would rather do almost anything else.
 
I will take my incredibly high praise and run with it. In my mind, while my effort was certainly there, I was simply not good enough. Both you and Brad were incredibly patient with me learning not only the songs but the instrument. I still suck, but I may have found a project that fits my level of suckitude. We shall see.
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
I will take my incredibly high praise and run with it. In my mind, while my effort was certainly there, I was simply not good enough. Both you and Brad were incredibly patient with me learning not only the songs but the instrument. I still suck, but I may have found a project that fits my level of suckitude. We shall see.
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I really would have enjoyed seeing that project with both of you in it. I will continue to hope to see the project with someone @smurfco can eventually find to fill your apparently enormous shoes. @smurfco , don't throw in the towel. You obviously love your art and something will come together eventually.
 
I feel your pain. We did a video shoot last night that was such a colossal clusterfuck I'm still reeling from it this morning.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't know their parts.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't know their gear.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't sing well enough.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't play well enough.
I'm fucking tired of being the only one who puts in the necessary time.
I'm fucking tired of having to know everyone else's shit so I can (gently and positively) nudge them in the right direction, over and over and over.
I'm just fucking tired.
Sorry to derail your thread, but I'm this close to quitting completely.
 
That sucks @smurfco and @micwalt

If you lived on the other side of CT i'd jump at a chance to play with you. Do you think switching from guitar to bass is also adding to the problems? Are you guys based near Stamford or in New York?
 
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micwalt said:
I feel your pain. We did a video shoot last night that was such a colossal clusterfuck I'm still reeling from it this morning.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't know their parts.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't know their gear.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't sing well enough.
I'm fucking tired of people who don't play well enough.
I'm fucking tired of being the only one who puts in the necessary time.
I'm fucking tired of having to know everyone else's shit so I can (gently and positively) nudge them in the right direction, over and over and over.
I'm just fucking tired.
Sorry to derail your thread, but I'm this close to quitting completely.
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Yes to every single one of these. You know exactly what I am talking about.
 
BlockInlay said:
That sucks @smurfco and @micwalt

If you lived on the other side of CT i'd jump at a chance to play with you. Do you think switching from guitar to bass is also adding to the problems? Are you guys based near Stamford or in New York?
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Thanks dude. I am actually in Norwalk now, a little bit further from the city. And our drummer is in Weston - a little further still.

Switching to bass was more out of necessity than anything else, my logic being - after trying to find a bassist for a long time - that maybe if I just play the bass we will have an easier time finding a guitarist. No luck so far...
 
I hear you. I know it may not look like it at the barn, but when I am in a band, I know the songs backwards and forwards and all of my parts, I could play in my sleep. It really sucks when the other people don't put in the effort.
 
That sucks, and I understand your frustration. I'll echo what others have said about your talent and creativity. It would be a shame to give up. I agree with your approach, finding a guitarist should be easier than finding a bassist, and since you enjoy the bass it makes sense for you to stick with it. For some reason, good bass players are few and far between, while guitarists seem to be a dime a dozen. Finding one that "fits" though, is another matter. As the over-used adage goes, sometimes things really are darkest before the dawn.

Good luck to in your search, and again I hope you don't give up. Maybe if you just take a little break you'll come back refreshed, and find some new energy/inspiration. If nothing else, it'll give your guitar player some time to learn the material. :shrug:
 
I perform as a solo act 95% of the time because I hate the hassle of being a band den mother. The guys I record with are champs, but they got burnt out on live shit years ago when they tried to make it and kinda face planted and I’m not gonna drag them kicking and screaming back into the bars.

The trashy punk rock thing I had going included some cool, enthusiastic dudes who were not super good at their jobs and it was draining to do all the creative work and all the keeping it together on stage and in rehearsals. When the drummer moved, it kinda fell apart because I left it to my bass player buddy to maintain and he didn’t—now he and his wife are having their first kid.

I’d like to get a weirdo new wave version of my act together to do this silly Gothic Beatles meets the Post Punk Stones trip I’ve got going in my head, but I’m too busy and too overworked to commit to leading what would need to be a 4 to 5 piece outfit through twice weekly rehearsals and all that.

But yeah, it’s hard to get role players who show up—I’ve certainly been that guy in situations where I’ve over committed and don’t have the passion for the project I’ve pretended to have.

You should work out a solo/duo arrangement that works and just do that. More good, fun shows/tunes done stripped down is better than less stuff done perfectly with needless stress.
 
@smurfco there’s another kinda shitty way you could maybe build the right band. Troll your local rock shows and ID the players you dig and try to poach them. This is not an uncommon way to secure a bassist. When I was actively playing out in a popular-ish power pop type band, I was propositioned pretty regularly by other scenesters to join their rock gangs (likely because for the time I had the right look and spent most sets energetically doing parodic Pete Townshend stage moves because my parts were boring...certainly not because anything I was playing was that awesome).

There could be a great guitarist married to a bad situation looking for some action on the side. Of course, networking with local musos is its own ring of hell...
 
I've had a very strong urge to get into a band again and play out, but work and other commitments stand in the way of that desire. I envy you guys that can make the time for such an endeavor.
 
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