Bo Eder
Platinum Member
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I made mention of joining a metal band previously, and it seemed like all fun and games when I was invited to play with a friend's band who didn't have their drummer that weekend for a barbecue.
Well, lo and behold, they've asked me to join as a permanent member, which I still didn't take that seriously because they weren't gigging, and I've already got two bands I cleared my summer calendar for. Now they called me and said they lined up at least two gigs and asked if I'd be available.
Apparently they were so impressed that when I told them we'd be doing the first job with no rehearsal - the date is coming up soon and I've already planned a bunch of stuff - they were more than happy that I just said yes. I did promise I'd practice the tunes and we'd see how it all worked out on the job.
This is much different than my attitude at a backyard party eating steaks.
But now the fear is sorta creeping in: I hear these songs always on the classic rock radio stations, but I've never played them. I never took the songs apart to analyze what they were playing because to me, it was just background music while I made my way through my day on the way to a gig playing different music!
I suppose it's not really modern metal head music, but it's classic stuff that has been around since the 80s: Ozzy, Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Quiet Riot, Van Halen, Judas Priest....stuff like that. And I admit, I had alot of fun at the barbecue, but nobody was caring about my mistakes or the fact that I had no idea what songs they were playing. They'd call them out by name, and I didn't know titles until they started playing, and I'd say, "yeah, I heard that on the radio this morning!"
Well, now, money is on the line and I have to look like the professional I make myself out to be on any other gig. I've listened to all their songs by the original bands on YouTube, and I think I'll do the Kenny Aronoff thing and make little charts on index cards. But then I have to make it look like I'm not glued to some kind of chart too.
Maybe I should get some leather clothes? Maybe a long hair wig too? I find it ironic that I've gone for months not playing out, to now suddenly juggling three bands. I might have to go get some drumming gloves (gasp!)
Well, lo and behold, they've asked me to join as a permanent member, which I still didn't take that seriously because they weren't gigging, and I've already got two bands I cleared my summer calendar for. Now they called me and said they lined up at least two gigs and asked if I'd be available.
Apparently they were so impressed that when I told them we'd be doing the first job with no rehearsal - the date is coming up soon and I've already planned a bunch of stuff - they were more than happy that I just said yes. I did promise I'd practice the tunes and we'd see how it all worked out on the job.
This is much different than my attitude at a backyard party eating steaks.
But now the fear is sorta creeping in: I hear these songs always on the classic rock radio stations, but I've never played them. I never took the songs apart to analyze what they were playing because to me, it was just background music while I made my way through my day on the way to a gig playing different music!
I suppose it's not really modern metal head music, but it's classic stuff that has been around since the 80s: Ozzy, Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Quiet Riot, Van Halen, Judas Priest....stuff like that. And I admit, I had alot of fun at the barbecue, but nobody was caring about my mistakes or the fact that I had no idea what songs they were playing. They'd call them out by name, and I didn't know titles until they started playing, and I'd say, "yeah, I heard that on the radio this morning!"
Well, now, money is on the line and I have to look like the professional I make myself out to be on any other gig. I've listened to all their songs by the original bands on YouTube, and I think I'll do the Kenny Aronoff thing and make little charts on index cards. But then I have to make it look like I'm not glued to some kind of chart too.
Maybe I should get some leather clothes? Maybe a long hair wig too? I find it ironic that I've gone for months not playing out, to now suddenly juggling three bands. I might have to go get some drumming gloves (gasp!)