Yikes, what did I get myself into?

[sunvalleylaw]

The rhythm guitarist and lead vocal (Brian Carney) pictured in the vid at the link below (from the early 90's) invited me to join him and the keyboardist and other vocalist (Johnny Valenzela) and a bass player in a regular jam.


http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1443097202081
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1443097202081

These are the guys that put on the Dark Side of the Moon album concert this last summer in Hailey. http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php?t=16125 They are looking for someone to add some fills, leads, lines and basically "ear candy" as Brian put it. They are playing acoustic instruments, but he said I could play electric as long as it fits the vibe. He covers rhythm, but said as I get comfortable, I could add some additional rhythm if it fit. If it goes somewhere, we might perform.

He suggested this song to get the vibe they are going for.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0rG2ME4sAc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0rG2ME4sAc

The songs he suggested I familiarize myself with include

"Goodbye Blue Sky" Pink Floyd
"Into the mystic" and "Wild Night" Van Morrison
"Norwegian Wood" if I get to it, by the Beatles.

We have talked guitar, and I have mentioned I enjoy messing with short fills and melody based lead stuff. I also told him, and he knows, I am pretty much a newbie type. Still, I feel I may have jumped into water over my head. He told me it was very loose and casual at this point, and that he was inviting me because I did not have pre-conceived notions. They have no firm plans at the moment, but it may go somewhere if it were to work out. Their prior lead guitarist would just get drunk and wank around horribly.

I talked this over with Spud, and I am going to put on these songs and listen, and hear some fills I could fill space with, and get ready to listen and underplay at first, to just get the feel.

Anyway, in I go. The water is just fine. Time to start swimming! :thumbsup

[oldguy]

Yikes, what did I get myself into?


Anyway, in I go. The water is just fine. Time to start swimming! :thumbsup


There, you've answered your own question. You'll be fine, Steve. ;)
Have fun!!!:thumbsup :thumbsup

[t_ross33]

Awesome SVL! I am big proponent of the "sink or swim" method. Sounds like your position will offer lots of opportunity to explore creatively without having the pressure of having to carry the gig. I think your playing will grow exponentially in this environment! Good luck, and most of all RELAX AND HAVE FUN!!
:dance

[R_of_G]

As evidenced by the following statement, I believe you have the right approach...


d I am going to put on these songs and listen, and hear some fills I could fill space with, and get ready to listen and underplay at first, to just get the feel.

I think you'll do fine Steve. I'm interested in hearing updates about how it goes for you. I'm glad for you to get this opportunity.

I know how you feel as I too am about to take the sink or swim plunge. I was just asked by friends to play solo at their wedding which is at the end of February. I'm working on an original composition. That part is coming along rather well, but the playing in front of people part, that's going to be an adventure for me. I have never played in front of people before other than jamming at parties where there were other people who weren't really paying attention. This will be something very different for me, but it's a step I need to take.

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks guys. Yeah, R_of_G, I know what you mean. I have played in front of people before with my student band that used to exist before the young guys moved away to college. But actually, this free forming, just go with it, jam with accomplished musicians makes me a bit more nervous. With the student band, I could learn my part, as everyone did, and we were basically all in the same place. This will take more adaptation on the fly, and I will be playing with guys who have done that together for years.

If I relax, use the KISS method, and go from there, hopefully it will all work out.

[Brian Krashpad]

Sounds like a great way to learn and have some fun to me. This is sorta what I did when I was teaching myself mandolin (very much still an ongoing process). Some folks I didn't know were looking for a mandolin player, and I was upfront about being a noob, and just went and jammed with them. It turned out I sorta knew their drummer, but at any rate see if it clicks in your case, and if so run with it. I've probably played a dozen or so gigs with the hippie band in my case. Had a ton of fun.

Break a leg!

[SuperSwede]

Its going to be Awesome Steve! Have fun and enjoy the ride.

[R_of_G]

Thanks guys. Yeah, R_of_G, I know what you mean. I have played in front of people before with my student band that used to exist before the young guys moved away to college. But actually, this free forming, just go with it, jam with accomplished musicians makes me a bit more nervous. With the student band, I could learn my part, as everyone did, and we were basically all in the same place. This will take more adaptation on the fly, and I will be playing with guys who have done that together for years.

I've played with a bunch of different people in all kinds of variations of instrument combinations in party settings and often some more accomplished local musicians here would be part of it and I would often get intimidated playing with them even though they were mostly friends of mine who were familiar with my skillset. Sometimes I'd get past it, sometimes not.

I suppose on the plus side, at least for my situation, I'm playing solo, a comfotable place stylistically. It's also my first complete original composition which makes a solo performance easier as I don't have to teach it to anyone else.



If I relax, use the KISS method, and go from there, hopefully it will all work out.

Simplicity rules. Frisell is a huge influence on the piece I'm writing for this. His advice seems most often to be to keep it lyrical and centered on a strong melody which he finds endless ways to phrase.

I'm still not clear on exactly how long I'll be playing so I'm practicing my phrasing to give myself a wide enough pallette depending on how long I have to stretch it.

I wish you the best with it Steve. Your varied tastes in music will serve you well.

[sumitomo]

The Deamon's are comming to get ya Sun,Hahahahahahahaha!Now tell 'em to take a flying leap cause you don't care your gunna have fun!Sumi:D

[marnold]

Well, I think you should really try to make an impression on them. Show up in some very tight polka-dot spandex trousers. Make every fill count--get in as many notes as possible. Put some fake blood tablets in your mouth before the first song and bite into them right before you come in. That will let them know the caliber of person they are dealing with.

[R_of_G]

Well, I think you should really try to make an impression on them. Show up in some very tight polka-dot spandex trousers. Make every fill count--get in as many notes as possible. Put some fake blood tablets in your mouth before the first song and bite into them right before you come in. That will let them know the caliber of person they are dealing with.

Don't forget to somehow include fire.
Breathe fire.
Set the guitar on fire.
Catch fire.
People love fire.
Fire. Fire. Fire.
:beavisnbutthead:

[street music]

Good going there Steve sounds like a fun ride, enjoy it.

[sunvalleylaw]

Yeah, I'll get all Hendrixy and grab Brian's nice older Taylor he will be playing and light that thing on fire. (after all, I don't want to burn my own. . .).

[riverrick]

Sounds like some fun Steve!!! Good luck. You gonna play the red Hag?

[sunvalleylaw]

I think I am starting there, as it is primarily an earthy, acoustic vibe they are going for. If you check the vid of them above, their lead guy for their electric band back in the day had a nice strat tone, but I think I will start with the Hagstrom. Once I get my tele, I might try that out too.

Brian still plays that same Rick for electric gigs. It is the one my son decided he liked. Sometimes he plays a tele too.

[Brian Krashpad]

Well, I think you should really try to make an impression on them. Show up in some very tight polka-dot spandex trousers. Make every fill count--get in as many notes as possible. Put some fake blood tablets in your mouth before the first song and bite into them right before you come in. That will let them know the caliber of person they are dealing with.

Dude! That is so my schtick.

[sunvalleylaw]

It's official, the vid of their old band Stonewheat I linked above that you facebookers can look at contains one additional song we will be doing. The lead guitar has a number of repeating phrases that I hope and think I can get my fingers around, and I can get something going for when he solos over time. I am curious what any of you think of that song if you happen to watch.

[Monkus]

Good luck !!! remember to breathe once in a while !!!

[Perfect Stranger]

Remember, sometimes when playing leads and fills....less is more! If you know what I mean....

[sunvalleylaw]

Ok, tomorrow night is the night. It was postponed one week. I have used the time that I have had do play along with the songs we discussed. I have been trying to find some phrases that fit the songs. Some of the songs I have some lines kind of down (some of that Sun May Shine song I linked the vid to for example), some I know where I want to play and which tones I want to focus on, and some are still a little bit hunt and peck. Into the Mystic for some reason is not comfortable yet.

But be that as it may, I am going to play through the songs again now (finally have some time tonight), and just go in and have fun. Listen a lot, less is more, etc. Brian says they may be bringing out some songs they have not even played in a long time from their old catalog, so there will be some just plain listening going on. Anyway, just wanted to check in on it! Here I go!

[Brian Krashpad]

Break a leg!

[sunvalleylaw]

I think it went pretty well! I got asked back for next week, so that is good. I had a lot of fun, so that was good too. They liked my tones, both Hag and strat. But I think the Hag fits the vibe better overall for most of the songs. I got some good smiles for my improv on some of the songs that I had not heard, and my prep on their Sun May Shine song worked out well. On a few of the songs, I am just going to have to study and learn the key lines. The Van Morrison songs especially, and on Wish You Were Here. On those songs, the parts I thought I might play are covered by others, and they need me to play the recognizable lead lines.

Bottom line, it was a blast! :thumbsup:happy The improv on the fly and the study of the required lines are going to really help me take a few steps up on my playing too. A bunch of motivation just flowed in the door!

[Spudman]

That all sounds great. I'm glad you came away encouraged and excited to do more. That's a good thing.:applause

[SuperSwede]

That all sounds great. I'm glad you came away encouraged and excited to do more. That's a good thing.:applause

+1

[Lev]

Nothing improves your playing like jamming and bouncing ideas of other musicians. Glad it's working out for you SVL!

[Brian Krashpad]

Bosstastic!

[oldguy]

That sounds great! Keep us updated on how it goes (a pic or clip never hurts, either....:)............).

[R_of_G]

Good for you Steve! Glad you enjoyed it and are embracing the opportunity.

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks guys. Hey R_of_G, how did your performance go?

[R_of_G]

Thanks guys. Hey R_of_G, how did your performance go?

Mine is not until the 26th, three weeks from today.

[sunvalleylaw]

As I wrote, I was thinking that it wasn't quite here yet. Keep me posted! Your gig sounds interesting and like a fun project.

[Jimi75]

I missed to wish you luck for the first session, but I was convinced
That you were gonna leave a good impression on these guys.
Great to hear all went well. Congratz svl!

[sunvalleylaw]

Night two tonight. The keyboard player who could not make it last week is coming this time I think.

[sunvalleylaw]

Went pretty well again! I made progress on some of the songs, got introduced to some others, and got along fine with the keys guy. They asked me if I could come next week, so we'll just keep it rolling!

[sunvalleylaw]

I have been practicing, and listening, and playing along with the initial songs we have jammed on from the attached set list. This list was what they have played out at some cafe type gigs, and with some changes, what I might play out with them if it works out.

A very fun exercise. As a number of the songs are not typical blues sounding pieces, I have been forced to explore more major tonalities. Also, some of the original tunes do not have simple chord structures such as regular blues and rock songs, so again I can't just camp out in the minor pentatonic of whatever key the song is in.

One technique I have been trying is using the pentatonic shapes, which I have learned up and down the fretboard, but shifting so that I can use the major pentatonic shape. I learned this from some tutorials I found in iTunes. You just shift the standard shape we all think about so that the normal root note is on the right, and not the left. So then it is the note that extends 4 frets above the lowest note in the pattern on the low E string. Then I can expand the pentatonic shapes from there. Obviously you have to remember that the roots are in different places than when you are playing this shape as a minor pattern.

This is easier for me at this point than knowing the full major scales, though I am trying to learn those too. Also, I think it is more flexible for me as it is simple shape based so it gives me a map, but doesn't lock me in as much, and I can experiment and find other tones I can use, such as chord tones that are not in the basic shape.

Ideally, I could just have the fretboard be my canvas and find notes by ear, but being a mid life newbie, having a road map to get started helps. Anyone else use this approach or try this? :)

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/setlist1.jpg

[Pickngrin]

Very cool, Steve. It sounds like a great opportunity and a good reason to venture out into some new fretboard territory. Keep us posted!

[R_of_G]

Very cool to see "Green is the Colour" on that setlist. Nice to know some cover bands realize that Pink Floyd has more albums than the "super-classic" ones. "Green is the Colour" is a beautiful song that can be jammed out endlessly.

[Jipes]

Great for you SVL just go for it I^'m sure you'll fit in just fine, relax and enjoy the music !

[Brian Krashpad]

Rock on Steve!

[sunvalleylaw]

Had another good night. I played decently. I am making progress on the originals, and finding my spots to play. Some moves are becoming licks for me. Those songs are stretching me, because the keys are different and I can't just camp out in minor pentatonic and chord tones. It's coming. Now on the covers, I need to work on getting some signature hooks and licks down that the audience expects. Right now on the covers I don't know, I am just coming up with my own stuff. That is fine, and my stuff fits well enough, but I need the hooks at least on some of the songs.

Gearwise, although I listed my strat as my "weapon" in Robert's thread, this situation really calls for the Hagstrom in most cases. It blends with the acoustic rhythm guitar. And the fact that there is only a bass and no drummer tends to favor the warmer, fatter flavor over the single coil bite of my strat in most of the songs.

Best news of the night though (I am still smiling) is that Johnny looked over at me about half way through and said, "So, should I book a gig?" Sweet! It will be low key at the local brewery. That should be quite fun. Shooting for like sometime in April it sounds like. :thumbsup:happy

[Brian Krashpad]

Woo-hoo, rock on! Man, you're getting me all wanting to gig and shit.

[sunvalleylaw]

:thumbsup Thanks Brian!

[Jipes]

Sounds good Sunny, I guess you're in for a nice bunch of gigs :dude Cool go and rock the place :dance

[oldguy]

Congrats, SVL!
It sounds like you're this close to becoming a professional musician!

( Which is great, 'cause when the gigs start paying, you can buy more gear...:AOK)

[sunvalleylaw]

HaHa, I don't know about "professional musician". But it should be fun. Thanks for continuing support guys.

[stingx]

Into the Mystic was my wedding song. Good song to cover SVL!

[R_of_G]

Steve, if you're looking for ideas for "Into the Mystic" here's a nice live version by the current incarnation of the Allman Brothers Band with Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks.

KmWBeDizySA

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool! I will check that out. Thanks guys. StingX, that is a great song for a wedding. It was mystifying me a bit so to speak, but I will get it down.

[sunvalleylaw]

Best news of the night though (I am still smiling) is that Johnny looked over at me about half way through and said, "So, should I book a gig?" Sweet! It will be low key at the local brewery. That should be quite fun. Shooting for like sometime in April it sounds like. :thumbsup:happy

Ok, yikes again. Gig time, friday night at the local brewery. Opening for Abraxas, a well regarded Santana tribute band that is supposed to be the bomb. The gig is official and in the paper and everything. http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005136076 Yikes!! We are mentioned three paragraphs down.

We are going under the moniker for this show of "Those Guys". I think Johnny just kinda threw out a name to cover us for now. It was mis-printed in the paper version of this paper as "Those One Guys". LOL! I might like that even a little better. "Hey, who's opening for that Santana band?" "Hmm, wait, let me think, . . . it's Those One Guys."

We are not being paid, other than free beer, but they are charging a cover because of the other band, so I have been practicing as I would like to sound decent. We will play for about 35-45 minutes with about 5 or 6 of Stonewheat's originals and two or three covers, including probably Wooden Ships, Into the Mystic, and maybe Norwegian Wood. Mellow, sit down and eat dinner before the big band comes out stuff. Should be fun!

Rig will be my Hagstrom, my Peavey C-30, my delay pedal and maybe the boost in my ZYS. I will probably bring my tele for if I break a string or something with my massive bends 2 to 5 step bends. ;-)

[Brian Krashpad]

Break a leg Steve!

For me, gigging is where it's at! Have fun.

[R_of_G]

As always Steve, enjoy yourself. Look forward to hearing about it.

[syo]

Have fun Steve. Video would be nice... :D:thumbsup

[Eric]

Cool stuff, SVL -- I'm jealous. I hope it goes well.

[Lev]

Good luck Steve, be sure to bring along a video camera!

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, I thought it went pretty well. I had fun anyway. The room was mostly getting toned up with food and beer prior to the main show, but we got a lot of complements and the main band (who was really good) gave us some props as well. I meant to have my daughter film me, but I received some concerning health news about my father, and got a little scattered before the show. (we are hoping that although it is concerning, it will be ok in the long run). I did manage to get all my gear there though! Johnny V. recorded it with a decent recorder so maybe I can post some clips later. I blew one portion of a cover lead, but otherwise was pretty solid I thought. I may have been a little low in the mix. We will see what the tape shows.

[Lev]

Well done Steve, glad you had a good time. Hope all works out well with your Dad.

[syo]

Congrats on the gig. Sounds like it went well for you. I hope your father is ok.

[NWBasser]

Sounds like a very cool evening to me.

I hope all turns out well for your father.

With that in mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMA77DYSio

[sunvalleylaw]

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w92/sunvalleylaw/P4080351.jpg

Not very exciting stage presence being demonstrated there. LOL! But evidence nonetheless. First time I had ever played out sitting down. But it worked ok for this dinner music gig. The keyboard player did not make it into the frame and was to the right of Brian on the right with his Taylor.

[Brian Krashpad]

Hey, you're out there doing it, sitting or standing. The Hag's looking good, are you playing through the Peavey?

Also, any info on what that bass is? Obviously a flipped righty, but that headstock isn't ringing any bells for me.

[sunvalleylaw]

Yep, that's the Peavey between me and JohnnyV. The Hag/Peavey combo, with a little delay on a couple of the songs, was just what they were looking for in this group. Fat and warm sounding. I dialed the mids out a little with the eq but really that was all. The Concert would be fun to gig with, but is much bigger to haul around, and really would be overkill for this project. Brian wants to get a rock project with a drummer going maybe end of summer/fall, and if we do that, I may give both amphs a tryout. But the Peavey works really well anyway.

Just for grins, here is the band page for Stonewheat, Johnny and Brian's band from back in the day, which was active in LA back in the 90s.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stonewheat/126297444866?sk=wall

Note Johnny is the longhaired keyboard player in that group. He played bass in this project.

[sunvalleylaw]

Also, any info on what that bass is? Obviously a flipped righty, but that headstock isn't ringing any bells for me.

Hmm, I think it is an inexpensive Ibanez Brian has. It sounds good and works just fine. It gets knocked over, left in vehicles, etc., but keeps on truckin'. Johnny played bass here, but with their Stonewheat setup, and some of their other projects, usually plays keys. He just flipped Brian's "beater bass" over. :AOK

[Brian Krashpad]

Hmm, I think it is an inexpensive Ibanez Brian has. It sounds good and works just fine. It gets knocked over, left in vehicles, etc., but keeps on truckin'. Johnny played bass here, but with their Stonewheat setup, and some of their other projects, usually plays keys. He just flipped Brian's "beater bass" over. :AOK

Keepin' on truckin' is the sign of a good bass.

My T-40 is like that. Indestructible.

[sunvalleylaw]

Its going to be Awesome Steve! Have fun and enjoy the ride.

Thanks Swede, and all the rest for the encouragement. And enjoy the ride I have. I hope it picks up again at the end of the summer after they are done with their summer project.