Trends of P&W Guitarists

[jebbo]

I can go either way. I prefer church music, but I also play in secular bands. I'm just waiting for the right contemperary christian band to come along. Until then, it's bars and church. No drinking though, just playing. Most of the secular bands I play in have a christian back ground.

[Jazzerstang]

I love playing and seeing everyone together in harmony in the congregation--all ages; some with hands raised, some standing in reverence, some singing every word. No pressure, just freedom. Much more fulfilling to me than to have people in some dingy room not paying attention. the group participation is really important to me. you just don't get that all the time-- especially in bar/club situations. In terms of worship-- I think I like doing it so much because it is a group declaration-- hopefully with lots of energy. you might not agree, but worship is strikingly similar to this in my mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRpTf27WtTM

I love it.

[Old_Skool_Noma]

I've mostly played in church since I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I've never had the opportunity to play in a club but I have played two Battle of the Bands, the first time with most of the same people I played with in the youth worship team, the second time as a guest guitarist/vocalist in another one of my friends bands.

I wouldn't mind playing at clubs once in a while, but I don't have any other members to play with, and its hard to find other musicians with interests in country music in my area.

A couple of the regular guitarists at my church used to play at clubs in their younger years but they no longer have any interest in playing clubs anymore.

[rokdog49]

SoVeryTired...sorry to hear that.
Our congregations (I play in two different churches) love to hear us and participate with us. Maybe it's because we only play once a month in each. The other three weeks, both churches offer different types of music for worship.
At least in church, they don't yell obscenities at the band if they don't like a song or whatever.

[Jack FFR1846]

I am "allowed" to play anywhere that my wife and kids are going to be anyways. Sort of limits where that's going to be, eh?

Even in my church, they just started this year with auditions for any new musicians/singers/tech/drama members. I would probably pass the audition now, but 3 years ago when I joined, I'm sure I would not have.

I played out in the 70's. Between the late 70's and 2008, I stopped playing guitar.

[Thighbanez]

Originally Posted by Old_Skool_Noma

I've mostly played in church since I was a freshman or sophomore in high school. I've never had the opportunity to play in a club but I have played two Battle of the Bands, the first time with most of the same people I played with in the youth worship team, the second time as a guest guitarist/vocalist in another one of my friends bands.

I wouldn't mind playing at clubs once in a while, but I don't have any other members to play with, and its hard to find other musicians with interests in country music in my area.

A couple of the regular guitarists at my church used to play at clubs in their younger years but they no longer have any interest in playing clubs anymore.

no club playing for me either. I can't imagine what it's like. I can't even find other guitarists to play with....much less a whole band.

[django365]

My wife took me away from the clubs and bar gigs about 12 years ago<while we were still in music school<now she is childrens pastor and I get to lead worship <it has been great growing in the Lord.I still get into playing when the Holy Spirit leads us < shure I know I'll never look back> and every time I pick up my Guitar and my children can see me sing and play it's an awesome feeling I could never get that in clubs , I know that every time I play I'm playing for an audience of one < My Creator> and I still do it for free .

[Old_Skool_Noma]

Originally Posted by Thighbanez

no club playing for me either. I can't imagine what it's like. I can't even find other guitarists to play with....much less a whole band.

Same here, I've been trying to get a hold of one of my friends from high school that used to play in the youth worship band with me and see where his interests are at, but he no longer has facebook and he doesn't check myspace. Its a shame because he is a great player and I've heard hes been going through a bit of a rough patch recently.

[mrboson]

Originally Posted by Jazzerstang

I love playing and seeing everyone together in harmony in the congregation--all ages; some with hands raised, some standing in reverence, some singing every word. No pressure, just freedom. Much more fulfilling to me than to have people in some dingy room not paying attention. the group participation is really important to me. you just don't get that all the time-- especially in bar/club situations. In terms of worship-- I think I like doing it so much because it is a group declaration-- hopefully with lots of energy. you might not agree, but worship is strikingly similar to this in my mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRpTf27WtTM

I love it.

Wow... lol I would never have expected to see a reference to Minor Threat in here... but I see your point. Actually, my churches youth group has really been emphasizing a theme of how they are "worshiping warriors" (phrase taken from a Jake Hamilton song) who are called to be radical in their expression of worship and love to God. I love how at a Jesus Culture concert people rush the stage. Nobody thinks to crowd surf or form a mosh pit, but everyone wants to be right up there in it.

At my church, we really have a lot of freedom, and people do come right up to the front. Musically, we have freedom to rock and be loud, because we also remain sensitive to when it is time to be sensitive. It is really cool, and much more satisfying to me than just a plain concert gig. Last week I led, and twice in the set I had the congregation take over, once spontaneously singing a chorus during a quiet musical section so that we just played to them for quite a while. The second time we were actually finished with the last song (Break Every Chain), and the congregation started singing again, and we again just accompanied them. Yeah I know, big deal, this happens in great secular concerts too. But we get stuff like this almost every week.

So I guess back to the point of the thread, the things that are happening in P&W are pretty awesome. There is value being placed on musical excellence, and on the ability of the band to being interactive with the congregation. As a guitarist, there isn't a better time than now to be part of P&W, and I enjoy it way more than secular gigs. At church I get worship God through my playing. Not sure I really get to say that playing at the microbrew festival.

[Jazzerstang]

Originally Posted by mrboson

Wow... lol I would never have expected to see a reference to Minor Threat in here... but I see your point. Actually, my churches youth group has really been emphasizing a theme of how they are "worshiping warriors" (phrase taken from a Jake Hamilton song) who are called to be radical in their expression of worship and love to God. I love how at a Jesus Culture concert people rush the stage. Nobody thinks to crowd surf or form a mosh pit, but everyone wants to be right up there in it.

At my church, we really have a lot of freedom, and people do come right up to the front. Musically, we have freedom to rock and be loud, because we also remain sensitive to when it is time to be sensitive. It is really cool, and much more satisfying to me than just a plain concert gig. Last week I led, and twice in the set I had the congregation take over, once spontaneously singing a chorus during a quiet musical section so that we just played to them for quite a while. The second time we were actually finished with the last song (Break Every Chain), and the congregation started singing again, and we again just accompanied them. Yeah I know, big deal, this happens in great secular concerts too. But we get stuff like this almost every week.

So I guess back to the point of the thread, the things that are happening in P&W are pretty awesome. There is value being placed on musical excellence, and on the ability of the band to being interactive with the congregation. As a guitarist, there isn't a better time than now to be part of P&W, and I enjoy it way more than secular gigs. At church I get worship God through my playing. Not sure I really get to say that playing at the microbrew festival.

amen brother

[SoVeryTired]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

SoVeryTired...sorry to hear that.
Our congregations (I play in two different churches) love to hear us and participate with us. Maybe it's because we only play once a month in each. The other three weeks, both churches offer different types of music for worship.
At least in church, they don't yell obscenities at the band if they don't like a song or whatever.

Don't worry, it's not happened recently. But I've played in atmospheres ranging from apathetic to hostile in the past! The congregation in the church I'm part of now really responds to the worship and comes ready to sing - it wasn't always so but we've made a very conscious effort to include and inspire.

[Thighbanez]

Originally Posted by Old_Skool_Noma

Same here, I've been trying to get a hold of one of my friends from high school that used to play in the youth worship band with me and see where his interests are at, but he no longer has facebook and he doesn't check myspace. Its a shame because he is a great player and I've heard hes been going through a bit of a rough patch recently.

Sorry to hear that man. I hope you and him hook up eventually.
In my area/church people are too competitive to get together or share information. It sucks, but what can you do....

[bawdyli'lmonkey]

Originally Posted by Thighbanez

In my area/church people are too competitive to get together or share information. It sucks, but what can you do....

Says the former lead pastor of the church I was at, in response to another church asking for a community project partnership, "we have no interest in community participation."

Modern church is seen as business, they won't help other churches who might out perform them. Everything they do must benefit their own church.

[ChickenKiller]

Originally Posted by bawdyli'lmonkey

Says the former lead pastor of the church I was at, in response to another church asking for a community project partnership, "we have no interest in community participation."

Modern church is seen as business, they won't help other churches who might out perform them. Everything they do must benefit their own church.

May be stretching it a bit, My buddy is a Church Pastor and The President of the Minister's Alliance in the town he is in. Being the "New guy in Town" he tried to contact some Black Ministers to be a part of the Minister's Alliance in the town to do a community wide event... Come to find out there are 2 Minister Alliances in that town one for Black Churches and one for White Churches!

History says that Black Churches and White Churches in Memphis used to get together once a month back in the late 1940's early 1950's The Hillbillies and The Black Folks and they would Have Huge Worship services! The music they produced was called Vulgar, Hillbilly and Black... Critics hated it, but people Loved it...

A small boy used to attend these service and the type of music he learned in Church he sang on stage.... Anyone know who that lil boy was? Elvis!

I don't think we will ever seen a trend like that again that Produced Rockabilly, Blues, Rock n Roll and such...


Back to my buddy's community, The town is about 60/40 White/Black and both sides are very prejudiced so much that the Churches do not even cooperate, how much are we missing by our limiting God????

Both cultures bring something to music the other one does not have!

[mrboson]

Originally Posted by Thighbanez

In my area/church people are too competitive to get together or share information. It sucks, but what can you do....

This is sad and unfortunately true in lots of places

My family switched to a new church in town a little over a year ago, and it had nothing to do with something wrong at the prior one. We just believed we were called to move, and I was not recruited or anything (in fact I came as a civilian, not even "trying out" to be on the new church worship team. Things worked out quickly that I was eventually invited). Old friendships kind of evaporated since then and people I used to jam with weekly just for fun are no longer available.

What sucks for me is I am labeled as the "church XYZ lead guitarist / WL" in our town. It is even how I am introduced to musicians from other churches. I'm just a guitar hack WL, period. I'll happily fill any role at your church, any day, and would happily invite "outsiders" to join me at mine just for special occasions (and I often do, but have very few takers).

So speaking of trends... this seems to be an unfortunate one.

[Thighbanez]

Originally Posted by mrboson

This is sad and unfortunately true in lots of places

My family switched to a new church in town a little over a year ago, and it had nothing to do with something wrong at the prior one. We just believed we were called to move, and I was not recruited or anything (in fact I came as a civilian, not even "trying out" to be on the new church worship team. Things worked out quickly that I was eventually invited). Old friendships kind of evaporated since then and people I used to jam with weekly just for fun are no longer available.

What sucks for me is I am labeled as the "church XYZ lead guitarist / WL" in our town. It is even how I am introduced to musicians from other churches. I'm just a guitar hack WL, period. I'll happily fill any role at your church, any day, and would happily invite "outsiders" to join me at mine just for special occasions (and I often do, but have very few takers).

So speaking of trends... this seems to be an unfortunate one.

Wow, it's NOT just my area that has this problem.
Are guitarists that share and collaborate a dying breed nowadays?
I can't even get any of the guitarists I'm friends with on FB to come out and play or even take time out to get together.
Ah well, at least I've got my church...

[Thighbanez]

Originally Posted by ChickenKiller

May be stretching it a bit, My buddy is a Church Pastor and The President of the Minister's Alliance in the town he is in. Being the "New guy in Town" he tried to contact some Black Ministers to be a part of the Minister's Alliance in the town to do a community wide event... Come to find out there are 2 Minister Alliances in that town one for Black Churches and one for White Churches!

History says that Black Churches and White Churches in Memphis used to get together once a month back in the late 1940's early 1950's The Hillbillies and The Black Folks and they would Have Huge Worship services! The music they produced was called Vulgar, Hillbilly and Black... Critics hated it, but people Loved it...

A small boy used to attend these service and the type of music he learned in Church he sang on stage.... Anyone know who that lil boy was? Elvis!

I don't think we will ever seen a trend like that again that Produced Rockabilly, Blues, Rock n Roll and such...


Back to my buddy's community, The town is about 60/40 White/Black and both sides are very prejudiced so much that the Churches do not even cooperate, how much are we missing by our limiting God????

Both cultures bring something to music the other one does not have!

Wow, that is sad.
Sad but true.
We have some of all people at our church, but it's mostly black. I always find myself wishing that the white members would invite more of their friends so that there would be more people that understand guitar and like it.
I know that's probably a horrible thing to say, but it's true where I'm from. The black people in my area generally do NOT like/acknowledge/support the guitar as an instrument. Why that is...I don't know. But I'm not the stereotypical black person anyway...*shrug*

[Vince a]

Has this been your personal experience?
>>> Yes . . .

Did you used to play out a lot in the "secular" world, and now your only playing happens on Sunday AM?
>>> Bars suck, band mates had super egos in the secular band, which I just cannot deal with their stupidity . . . oh, and I can play three times a week - practice and two services!

And if so, what made you make that change?
>>> Little to no egos, better songs, more camaraderie, the music isn't about anyone in the P&W band . . .

Your own desire, or simply taking the opportunities where they come?
>>> A little of each . . .

[Old_Skool_Noma]

Originally Posted by Thighbanez

Sorry to hear that man. I hope you and him hook up eventually.
In my area/church people are too competitive to get together or share information. It sucks, but what can you do....

Thanks, I hope I can get him to start coming back to church, we need more guitarists that are willing to participate at my church, but there always seems to be a power struggle over control of the music and a lot of the musicians quit because of that.

As for competitiveness I haven't noticed any around me but I could be oblivious to it as well. It a shame that people get competitive about things like that.

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by Thighbanez

Wow, that is sad.
Sad but true.
We have some of all people at our church, but it's mostly black. I always find myself wishing that the white members would invite more of their friends so that there would be more people that understand guitar and like it.
I know that's probably a horrible thing to say, but it's true where I'm from. The black people in my area generally do NOT like/acknowledge/support the guitar as an instrument. Why that is...I don't know. But I'm not the stereotypical black person anyway...*shrug*

Hate to say it but being in a COGIC church you are facing an uphill battle in attracting white members. Little different from being in an ethnic based Orthodox Church trying to recruit members of other ethnic groups.

My church faces a similar pattarn. Eventhough we are not linked ethnically as a denomination specific congregations tend to be. And as the demographics changed in the local community when someone does visit that one week until recently they would not come back to be the only Chinese face in a church dominated by Nigerians