Bo Eder
Platinum Member
I know what the answer would be to this, but I just wanted to put this question out there.
Scenario: a fellow drummer acquaintance gives me a flyer and a free download for their bands new single, drummin' up support business, inviting everyone to their next big half-hour gig. I enthusiastically thank him and "will try to get out there" to show my support. I get home and download the song (actually, before I went to all that trouble, I just went to YouTube and listened to it).
My wife comes in and says, "I didn't know you liked Paramore, honey".
We look at Paramore videos, and find out my acquaintances' band and Paramore sound almost identical, right down to the way the songs are arranged, and the way the vocals are laid out.
I've been on the block for a while, and I always thought the kiss of death was to sound like somebody else. A friend of mine worked with a "producer" who did alot of work with Prince, and his demoes sounded an awful lot like, well, Prince. Of course, this friend's project went no where. Ditto for others that I know who "sounded like someone else".
It's just funny because when I look back on the pinnacle bands that everyone knows, none of them sound like anybody else. Led Zeppelin? The Who? The Police? Jimi Hendrix? Living Colour? King Crimson? There are alot of original-sounding bands out there. So, do people knowingly do this to themselves? Or is it just a case of "this is what we like and who we are" so here it is? It wouldn't take all that much research to find out if you sounded like someone else, especially if it's another MTV-rotated group. I can only guess these guys want to pick up the gigs Paramore turned down?
So, obviously, I'll say nice things to my new acquaintance, but in terms of originality I just won't bring that up.
Yes, as a sideman, my job is to sound like somebody else and do the job. I get that. But to apply that idea to an alternative rock band searching for fame and fortune rewarded to those being totally original (not that I think Paramore is totally original, either) ? Would you spend money on a website, and recording, and general marketing?
What do you all do when you meet someone who can't see the forest for the trees?
I wonder if this post will anger anyone?
Scenario: a fellow drummer acquaintance gives me a flyer and a free download for their bands new single, drummin' up support business, inviting everyone to their next big half-hour gig. I enthusiastically thank him and "will try to get out there" to show my support. I get home and download the song (actually, before I went to all that trouble, I just went to YouTube and listened to it).
My wife comes in and says, "I didn't know you liked Paramore, honey".
We look at Paramore videos, and find out my acquaintances' band and Paramore sound almost identical, right down to the way the songs are arranged, and the way the vocals are laid out.
I've been on the block for a while, and I always thought the kiss of death was to sound like somebody else. A friend of mine worked with a "producer" who did alot of work with Prince, and his demoes sounded an awful lot like, well, Prince. Of course, this friend's project went no where. Ditto for others that I know who "sounded like someone else".
It's just funny because when I look back on the pinnacle bands that everyone knows, none of them sound like anybody else. Led Zeppelin? The Who? The Police? Jimi Hendrix? Living Colour? King Crimson? There are alot of original-sounding bands out there. So, do people knowingly do this to themselves? Or is it just a case of "this is what we like and who we are" so here it is? It wouldn't take all that much research to find out if you sounded like someone else, especially if it's another MTV-rotated group. I can only guess these guys want to pick up the gigs Paramore turned down?
So, obviously, I'll say nice things to my new acquaintance, but in terms of originality I just won't bring that up.
Yes, as a sideman, my job is to sound like somebody else and do the job. I get that. But to apply that idea to an alternative rock band searching for fame and fortune rewarded to those being totally original (not that I think Paramore is totally original, either) ? Would you spend money on a website, and recording, and general marketing?
What do you all do when you meet someone who can't see the forest for the trees?
I wonder if this post will anger anyone?