Angry does not even describe...

[Jakedog]

The way I am feeling today.

So we leave in six days. Six. To drive down to Belmont, MS to make our new record with a very cool engineer/producer.

Mando player calls me last night, and backs completely out of the whole thing. This, after all three of us sweating for two months to make sure everything was perfect, and ready to roll. Now we leave in six days, which is exactly how long my partner and I have to completely re-tool thirteen songs, so that we can now record them in a duo format.

His reason? He wasn't happy with the money agreement as pertaining to how the new record will pay out. I won't bore you with the details, but the numbers are insanely generous. Especially considering he wrote nothing on the record, and has invested no money in the record. I wrote all of the songs, and my partner and I are paying for the whole thing, and he, as a member of the outfit who's been there since day one, was set up to get paid out exactly what we are, just for showing up and playing on it. Because I'm cool like that. Kind of a band of brothers, all for one and one for all kind of approach.

Screw him. I'm done. He left me so hanging, I canned him. If we're making a record as a duo, we'll promote and rep and play it out as a duo.


tearing my effin' hair out

[MikeSRV69]

That really sucks, Jake. I have had people bail on me like that. Just go forward and make your new record. I hope it sells a million. Living well really is the best revenge. Peace.

[graphs]

man, that does suck. hard.

another possibility might be to track the songs as they are written and overdub the mandolin parts later. obviously not the ideal, but given the circumstances it's something to consider.

i hope it all works out for you.

[AngelStrummer]

The only thing that comes to my mind is: "silver lining".

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by graphs

man, that does suck. hard.

another possibility might be to track the songs as they are written and overdub the mandolin parts later. obviously not the ideal, but given the circumstances it's something to consider.

i hope it all works out for you.

Thought about that actually, but after a lengthy meeting/song re-tooling party with my partner last night, we've decided we are just looking to go ahead as a duo at this point. We have finally come to the realization that we are the only people we feel like counting on from now on. It'll be tough to do, but we can get prepared. It sucks though, because I have a lot of other things I need to get done before I leave town for a week to go record, and now, I have to spend most of my time working on pre-production that for all practical purposes, was already done. Poo.

My partner has the brunt of it, he has to work out fills/intros etc. to cover all of the stuff that the mando player was doing, and re-work all of his vocal harmonies for the three-part harmony songs, because now they will only be two part, and what he was singing most of the time isn't the ideal place for him to be given the new situation. Poo.

Thanks for all of the words of encouragement guys, I really appreciate it.

[bender-freak]

that really blows chunks,...similar experiences in years past is why i totally quit the "band" thing and went strictly one man band with a singer.....

sorry this happened to you...i am gathering there is really no viable or logical reason for the mando spanker to do this, other than he felt it was a form of exerting "control".....the old "you can't possibly do it without ME" ego thing ....

[Chrismeyer]

Let me ask you this...is he married? Sounds like a wife thing to me,otherwise why wouldn't he go?
Sometimes (alot) a musician marries a girl that just dosen't get it and this kind of thing is the result.
Hell,my wife let's me go where ever and even let me LIVE in Texas while we recorded with Kings X in 2001 for a month!
Just sounds fishy to me that for no apparent reason he'd drop out and that excuse is way too flemsy.

[mudbean]

He wasn't happy with a three way split, and all he would be contributing is to play & sing?!?

Total BS, Jake, you were right to can him.

mud

[Jakedog]

Originally Posted by AngelStrummer

The only thing that comes to my mind is: "silver lining".

I have thought of that too. Cheaper to travel/tour now, less ways to split the money, one less cook to spoil the stew, etc.

My partner and I have been working together nearly ten years, and never once have we gotten cross-ways over anything important. We're sticking with just us. Maybe someday we'll find another like us, but until then, I don't need the drama.

[TeleDrifter]

Bummer, but in the long run you're better without "Mr Bailout". Maybe you should look for another mando player. Maybe in Belmont...Good luck..Cheers

[woodman]

jake, i think you're doing it right under the circumstances. from what i've heard of your music, you don't need no steenkin' mando! just stay true to your vision and don't rush to work in a ringer at this late date. once you get your tracks, you can do anything you want in the way of augmentation later on. the important thing is: git 'r' dun!

keep us posted as this unfolds. frankly, you may be better off as a duo!

[boneyguy]

I agree with woodman, git r' dun and then make decisions about instrumentation afterward if need be.

There's less people to pay as well when you're a duo and that can only be a good thing!!

[sean79]

Unexpected setbacks like this suck, but sometimes they happen for a reason. I've listened to some of your myspace stuff. Very nice. Very real. Mandolin or no mandolin, it's going to be good. Enjoy it.

[Ricky D.]

Don't let that jackass drain your energy or control your emotions. He just went from one of the three people in the group who are extremely important to one of the three billion people on the planet that mainly you have not met and never will.

[skydawg]

You can still have the mando tracks overdubbed and perform/record as a duo. Heck there's a lot of pro acts that don't perform in concert like the record/CD. I agree w/ canning him though. What a bad 'tude!

[Tele Fan]

If there's justice he'll set on that mando in a most uncomfortable fashion. Good luck with the record bro!

[allen st. john]

There are two kinds of people. Those you can depend on. And everyone else.

Or maybe find a girl who can play violin. Or cello.

Okay, that's a little OT, but I stumbled upon this clip on YouTube, and I've just been playing it over and over.

This band Cloud Cult put an ad on Craig's List and found Shannon Frid this gorgeous violin player who can really sing. Ignore the first 40s seconds of wanking, but then the harmonies--and the strings--kick in.

Seriously, good luck with the session. Sometimes less is more.

[neocaster]

Sorry you got bailed on. Sounds like he tried to leverage the fact that he knew you needed him. From your tone, I'd say he was right, but good on ya for not caving just to get him down there. People who extort will only extort more later.

[RickG501]

Sorry to hear, Jake. You're probably lucky to get rid of his sorry a** right now than for him to bail out for something more important. It's getting harder and harder to put your faith in people nowadays. Soldier on!

[Big John]

jakedog, get in there and do it as a duo, if thats the way your mando player was, better you found out now and not when it's too late.

Take a deep breath, have a laugh about him and sort them songs out !!

Sure you can promote it as a duo, thats NO problem, we often get bands on TV and radio here doing a version of their latest whatever with just a pair of acoustics and maybe a snare, if they are good songs it don't matter, you can add other players later.

Best of luck.

[D.K. Buchanon]

Here's hoping that your mando player will go down in history as the "Pete Best" of your outfit...

[robt57]

Originally Posted by allen st. john

Shannon Frid this gorgeous violin player

Is it me or is she flat, I mean her playing?

[Telarkaster]

Sorry to hear Jake. I've had this happen to me to a lesser degree: for a gig instead of a recording session. We had one week to change the set list and practice once with a new line up before the gig. The show must go on.

To paraphrase a recent US Secretary of Defense: "You don't go on stage with the band you wish you had, you go on stage with the band you have".

You are now a duo. Probably for the better, these things happen for the better. Don't let your anger cloud your headspace and distract you. Retool, regroup, refocus and kick butt! I heard your stuff on MySpace, I know you can do it. I'm not worried about you!

[Tim Armstrong]

Jake, that SUCKS!

Sounds to me like the same old story: on the eve of success (or after tasting initial success), insecure musician with issues scuttles the band, or at least his participation in it.

Dan Baird did it to the Georgia Satellites.

Nick Lowe did it to Rockpile.

And a whole helluva lot of musicians we've never heard of have done it to their bands, too...

Just remember, when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!

Cheers, Tim

[Jakedog]

Thanks for all of the encouragement folks. We can get prepared, and get the record done, it's just a lot of time and work we weren't counting on.

The more I think about it, the more I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me. I am still angry about the fact that I got left hanging, but I'm not upset about doing the record, or supporting it, in a duo format. I travel alot and gig my songs solo, so it isn't really tough for me to adapt them. It does put a lot of pressure on my partner, but he can handle it.

We've talked some more, and we are definitely both on the same page. And that is that neither of us are interested at this point in even looking for anyone else. We are both quite confident that if we don't have anybody but the two of us to depend on, we can't very well be disappointed by someone else's actions/inactions. We feel like keeping it just him and me, will take almost all of the work out maintaining the dynamic (no babysitting and such) and allow us to have a lot more fun at work.

Thanks again, it helped alot to see all of this support. I really felt like I was doing the right thing, but it didn't hurt to see how many other people thought so too.

[graphs]

well, seems like you've found the silver lining and are better off without this fella. cheers to that!

[fiestared57]

Plus, now you get to split profits in two rather than three.

[Colt W. Knight]

Sounds like a jerk. Have you had any previous issues or intuitions about him previously?

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Big John

jakedog if thats the way your mando player was, better you found out now and not when it's too late.

I guess it doesn't matter if it is a shakedown, or what; you gotta be able to depend on people and now is as good a time as any to wash him out.

Good luck.

[Clive Hugh]

There's an old saying "two's company, three's a crowd".
Clive

[franchelB]

Sorry to hear about your situation, Jake. Maybe it just might be a blessing in disguise...you might find an even better mando player with a better attitude that the last one!
Good luck to you and your partner!!

[MandyMarie]

I wouldn't be shocked if Jerry played mandolin as well! He plays everything else! When everything falls apart...there's always Jerry

I REALLY hate to hear that G.S. ...but like everyone else has said, if he didn't do it now...he'd do it eventually and it's better for it to just be done. Sorry you've got the headache, my friend, but this record is going to be killer!