Decisions, decisions, desicions

[mikey383]

I've been looking to form/join a band for many months, and I've finally got my break(s). The problem is that I have two gigging bands interested in me, and a few other guys wanting to form a band, and I'm not sure what to do. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Band "A" - Right now is a cover band, but they want to do originals. The drummer is good, the bassist is decent, but the other guitarist has only been playing for about 3 years, and he's not very good. I haven't even heard the singer because he was sick when I tried out for them, but they say he's good. The drummer did the vocals just to get through the songs. They're also looking at having me do vocals and booting the singer since he rarely shows up for practice. They play Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, and the heavier alternative rock/metal that I like. I feel like I could join this band and tighter everything up, taking over the main guitar position, and letting the other dude do the parts he could play easily. It would take some work, but I think it could pay off.

Band "B" - Is strictly an original band. They have more of a Tool, APC, Deftones vibe, which I like. The drummer is freaking awesome, the bassist is damn good, and the guitarist is great also. I would be doing vocals and guitar in this band also.
Here's the catch: They have one album out already with their old singer, and they're looking to change their style to more of an instrumental type music like This Will Destroy You, but using the vocals as more of an instrument instead of having it out in front of the music. Mainly because they say that they've been told their music is great, but their singer sucks. I've listened to their CD, and I have to agree that the singer can carry a tune very well, he just doesn't sing with any emotion. It's kinda boring. He sings the same in the softer parts as he does in the heavy parts.
I think they just needed someone who can bring the vocals up to par. They've been playing without a vocalist for almost a year now, and they just don't have a voice.

Option #3 - Form an all new band with people I know. I know a drummer who's pretty good, I have a buddy who sings in another band but plays guitar very well and wants to do a side project to help me out until I can get a full time guitarist. This still leaves me without a bassist though, and I would be starting from scratch on this project. I don't know if I'm willing to go that far. SO, I'm kinda ruling this one out for right now.

Band A would satisfy my power chord crunch hunger, but Band B would satisfy my longing for melodic, more technical stuff. The only problem is that I want a band that does vocals more prominently. People want to hear the vocals, and not just the music in most cases. They don't go to watch a band to listen to the instruments, unless they are a musician - or are dating/married to a musician.

So I'm torn here. I don't want to do both, because that would be a lot of lugging gear around, and I just don't have the time to commit to both, nor the money to invest in new gear for both.

Any advice?

 

[ToneAddictJon]

Think about what you want out of playing in a band.
If you jump into a formed band, you might be struggling with songwriting and playing styles- they're use to one thing and that's not what you do, the other guy did it like this, songs written around someone else's voice (if his range is different than yours that can cause a problem).
I've been in a lot of cover bands, and they all eventually end up trying to do originals, the problem is that almost ever cover band I've been in or seen has 1-2 great members and then the rest are just decent enough for drunken bar gig players. This isn't always the case, but the majority of the time it it. The other problem with cover bands is there is usually a struggle within with how many originals everyone agrees on, sometimes there's that one member that just wants to play covers and will go along with originals at first, but then doesn't put any effort into it.
Building your own band from scratch is usually my favorite way to do it. You can pick all the pieces and make sure they fit together rather than trying to retrofit a triangle into a circle. This also takes a lot of work- you have to get songs down, decide on a band name (frustrating sometimes), get tight as a band, start from scratch booking gigs, and usually takes the longest to get out gigging compared to jumping into a band. But you also have the freedom to go any direction you want with it, you don't have to deal with that one guy that doesn't cut it in your mind.
Take your time, and I would suggest not joining either of the projects if they aren't what you want, this is your music and talent going into this so don't settle for anything less than what works for you. Good luck

 

[mikey383]

I've given thought to the band from scratch, since I was previously in a band with the guy wanting to play guitar, and we click well. We had some originals that he definately wants to play, and that he wants me to play no matter what band I get in. So, I guess you could say it wouldn't be totally from scratch. But the drummer I have lined up for this project lives an hour away, and - don't get me wrong here, he's good , *but* - he's not great...and I'm still without a bassist, and nobody knows of one either.

The cover band - They want to eventually be an all original band, but they haven't had the creative talent to write them, and they've gone through so many lineup changes that it really hasn't been practical for them. I think covers are a good thing, as it allows the band to tighten up. If you know how it sounds, you know how it should sound, and can get everyone on the same page. But, you're right on the 1 or 2 good players part...and I don't want to be stuck in the local bar band scene forever.

The original band - I was told by a buddy that has seen this band play out before, that if I joined this band, he could see some regional touring out of it, not just stuck locally. But, if they are wanting to go in a different direction with their style, I don't know how true that statement would be. I don't want to play music that lacks vocals per se, but I want to play something that will capture an audience.

I think I'm going to suggest that to band "B", and go from there. They seem like the safer bet, and if they are open minded enough, it will work.

 

[AustinK]

I say join band number 2. It sounds like they have skill on their instruments of choice. The vocals thing could easily be fixed as it sounds like they want to do the more melodic vocals thing as some sort of buffer, they want to be allowed to have an ok singer but still sound good. If you can really sing i am sure that they will see this and write more "out in front" vocal parts. It is cool that they like to play the same style of music as you but that might get too one directional in songwriting. I feel that playing with musicians with different styles produces more original songs and is more fun. Good luck with the decision but remember being in a band is all about having fun.

 

[Platypus]

Band B sounds like a winner to me.. there are a million and a half bands doing power chord crunch / covers of bands that really don't need covering out there.. go with the more musically inspiring/technical music. If you gel well with the band and they are great musicians it will only help you grow more yourself as a musician.

 

[mikey383]

I emailed a suggestion to band "B" that they their last singer just didn't demonstrate the emontional playground that their music did, that they would benefit from having one that can because the music is good, and I just got a "Yeah, I agree. You still up for the instrumental thing?"

I guess I'll have to demonstrate my vocal abilities to them a little more. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll just keep looking.

On another note, Band "A" and Band "B" know each other, and neither one had anything good to say about the other. Band "A" says Band "B" has fired 3 or 4 singers because they don't sound like Maynard James Keenan. I'm thinking that's why they want to do a more instumental type thing. But for one thing, instrumental music bores me to death. But....good musicians are extremely hard to find in this area.