Playing Up

[caesar]

I hear a fair amount of live music. When I take my friends out, who don't get out as much as I do, they are usually much more impressed than I am. The problem is that the performers don't always play to the best of their abilities. Of course, if one is lucky, the band is on fire the entire night. But that rarely happens. Now one doesn't need to play their heart out on the day their mother dies, but it would be nice if the bands cranked out great music for more than 10-15 minutes each show. What do you guys think?

 

[Ron Party]

Caesar, what kind of bands/music are you seeing which give you that impression?

 

[caesar]

Caesar, what kind of bands/music are you seeing which give you that impression?

Mostly blues and jazz.

The performances get much better if there other famous musicians in the audience, and better still if one of these musicians gets up and joins the band.

 

[Ron Party]

The performances get much better if there other famous musicians in the audience, and better still if one of these musicians gets up and joins the band.

No doubt. Those are truly magical moments to be savored.

I saw The Derek Trucks Band at a small venue in San Francisco about 2 years ago. About 2/3 of the way into the show, the keyboardist grabs a microphone and says: "ladies and gentlemen, we have a special treat for you. Joining us, Mr. Carlos Santana!". Santana and Derek traded licks for 3 songs and I swear judging by body language Santana had at least as much fun, if not more, playing with that amazing band than with his own!

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Of course, if one is lucky, the band is on fire the entire night. But that rarely happens.

Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. I played semi-pro for many years. More time together, more rehearsal, more gigs...all of that helps. The more prepared you are to take advantage of the moment, the more often it will show up (and the less civilians will be able tell the difference). But the performers always know when it's there, and that impacts everything. We used to say "the groove is in the room," the "groove" being that undefined thing you find and then ride, where the whole band is deep into it (the groove) and moving together as a single unit. Once you're in that groove, on that ride, it lifts the energy, the creativity and even the ability up with it. But nobody has the on switch for the groove. It's there or not. You hit it or you don't. And you ride it until the ride is over.

Tim

 

[slowGEEZR]

I agree with Tim 100% on this! I listen to live music weekly and when the band is in the groove, you know it!

 

[caesar]

Unfortunately, that's just the way it is. I played semi-pro for many years. More time together, more rehearsal, more gigs...all of that helps. The more prepared you are to take advantage of the moment, the more often it will show up (and the less civilians will be able tell the difference). But the performers always know when it's there, and that impacts everything. We used to say "the groove is in the room," the "groove" being that undefined thing you find and then ride, where the whole band is deep into it (the groove) and moving together as a single unit. Once you're in that groove, on that ride, it lifts the energy, the creativity and even the ability up with it. But nobody has the on switch for the groove. It's there or not. You hit it or you don't. And you ride it until the ride is over.

Tim

Phelonius, great perspective. I caught many Dead shows in late eighties and nineties. The performances were a blast when I was there, and I was really immersed in every song. But I found that out listening to the tapes later that the shows really sucked. On the other hand, there were some month-long tours that were just really special from the very first song to the last.

So did you find that "pressure" from other musicians made you excel on stage? As Ron Party mentioned above in the Derek Trucks / Santana example, others seem to bring out something extra. I have heard Clapton in concert where he was just going through the motions. But on some of his recordings with Freddy King, Duane Allman, or Albert Lee, among others, he really pours his heart and soul out.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Phelonius, great perspective. I caught many Dead shows in late eighties and nineties. The performances were a blast when I was there, and I was really immersed in every song. But I found that out listening to the tapes later that the shows really sucked. On the other hand, there were some month-long tours that were just really special from the very first song to the last.

So did you find that "pressure" from other musicians made you excel on stage? As Ron Party mentioned above in the Derek Trucks / Santana example, others seem to bring out something extra. I have heard Clapton in concert where he was just going through the motions. But on some of his recordings with Freddy King, Duane Allman, or Albert Lee, among others, he really pours his heart and soul out.

Well we never had anyone famous join us onstage, I'm afraid. We did have other musicians sit in from time to time. Sometimes it would energize things and sometimes the lack of familiarity with each other and with the material would have the opposite effect. Familiarity, I think, is the greatest enabler. I was very fortunate in that for the last 10 years I played regularly, I played with the same 3 guys week in and week out. We got to know each other's strengths and weaknesses so well, we played as a single unit well, even when we weren't in the groove. That made finding the groove easier, helped us stay in it longer, facilitated making the most of it while we were there. I miss it.

Tim