Jim D
2019-01-31 18:00:51 UTC
In the cover tune business, where I live, there seems a constant need /
desire to learn some new tune I don't already know. Maybe that will be
due to some request at a gig, or maybe just my own boredom. In the
past, way past, there were usenet groups where people just posted midi
files. Not very good most of the time, but then sometimes very good.
If I wanted to learn some song, find the midi, fix all the mistakes in
it, use it as a backing while we played the fun parts live.
Obviously, the very good midis people were passing around were
professionally done. That entire business ( of making quality midis of
cover songs ) seems to have disappeared. Ok, not really, I can find a
few companies that still sell midi format versions intended to be used
as backing tracks. Kinda pricey tho, as $8 or $9 per song seems a
norm. Sure, that's not really a lot, gotta pay them starving keyboard
guys slaving away in some basement making the files.
But for us, for me, it's just not viable anymore. Talked to band girl
about buying a few songs, weirdo things I don't like well enough to
listen to long enough to make our own backings. I'd have to actually
listen to the songs to make our version, and ick .... ever listen to
any of the stuff on the radio these days ? Yeah, someone likes that
stuff, but I don't. That's a curse that comes with aging. Eventually
you lose interest in poorly done music aimed at a kid market. And yes
I'm calling the target audience of modern " country " kids.
This should tell me something. If I really don't like a song well
enough to even want to learn it, why in holy hell are we thinking of
playing the thing ???
It really is time to prune the setlist down to just songs we actually
like, and or start writing our own music. Do I have enough life left
for that fight ? Maybe. What's to lose ? I don't plan on playing
more than a few more years anyway. Certainly less than 10. That came
up yesterday when talking to wife about buying a new ( one last laptop
) computer. Said I'd probably not be doing this 10 years out. Or did
she say that ? I can't remember.
So live for the now. Time to start tossing out all those unfinished
projects in my life. Par it down to things I enjoy. I'm about done
arguing with people, especially in the area of tying to get them to go
along with what actually works band business wise. In ears, turn the
volume down, play songs people want to hear .... so many fights with my
band mates ..... they've about sucked all my energy out. The easy,
obvious, simple solution always was ... walk away from the idiots.
Walking away from band work was how I got into doing solo work those
many years ago.
but then, after a while you run into some old buddy that has a duo gig
... or needs a fill in guitar or keyboard guy ... and in no time you're
back in band hell.
Well, I'm as done as done can be. The new trio config is it for me. If
this doesn't pan out, I'll hopefully I'll be smart enough to do solo
work until the Lord calls me home.
JimD
desire to learn some new tune I don't already know. Maybe that will be
due to some request at a gig, or maybe just my own boredom. In the
past, way past, there were usenet groups where people just posted midi
files. Not very good most of the time, but then sometimes very good.
If I wanted to learn some song, find the midi, fix all the mistakes in
it, use it as a backing while we played the fun parts live.
Obviously, the very good midis people were passing around were
professionally done. That entire business ( of making quality midis of
cover songs ) seems to have disappeared. Ok, not really, I can find a
few companies that still sell midi format versions intended to be used
as backing tracks. Kinda pricey tho, as $8 or $9 per song seems a
norm. Sure, that's not really a lot, gotta pay them starving keyboard
guys slaving away in some basement making the files.
But for us, for me, it's just not viable anymore. Talked to band girl
about buying a few songs, weirdo things I don't like well enough to
listen to long enough to make our own backings. I'd have to actually
listen to the songs to make our version, and ick .... ever listen to
any of the stuff on the radio these days ? Yeah, someone likes that
stuff, but I don't. That's a curse that comes with aging. Eventually
you lose interest in poorly done music aimed at a kid market. And yes
I'm calling the target audience of modern " country " kids.
This should tell me something. If I really don't like a song well
enough to even want to learn it, why in holy hell are we thinking of
playing the thing ???
It really is time to prune the setlist down to just songs we actually
like, and or start writing our own music. Do I have enough life left
for that fight ? Maybe. What's to lose ? I don't plan on playing
more than a few more years anyway. Certainly less than 10. That came
up yesterday when talking to wife about buying a new ( one last laptop
) computer. Said I'd probably not be doing this 10 years out. Or did
she say that ? I can't remember.
So live for the now. Time to start tossing out all those unfinished
projects in my life. Par it down to things I enjoy. I'm about done
arguing with people, especially in the area of tying to get them to go
along with what actually works band business wise. In ears, turn the
volume down, play songs people want to hear .... so many fights with my
band mates ..... they've about sucked all my energy out. The easy,
obvious, simple solution always was ... walk away from the idiots.
Walking away from band work was how I got into doing solo work those
many years ago.
but then, after a while you run into some old buddy that has a duo gig
... or needs a fill in guitar or keyboard guy ... and in no time you're
back in band hell.
Well, I'm as done as done can be. The new trio config is it for me. If
this doesn't pan out, I'll hopefully I'll be smart enough to do solo
work until the Lord calls me home.
JimD