Incomprehensible live music...?

[mexicanyella]

Stash's thing would probably be offputting to some, but he's clearly playing what he planned to.

This thread and specifically this post have sent me into the Stash dimension. This guy’s playing is 5000% Los Bananos. If you watch a few of his “tips” series on YouTube you start to get a sense of how he’s thinking as he plays stuff like that^^^

Here’s a pretty “out” performance:

 

[loudboy]

IMHO, the Japanese noise/performance acts kind of have that market cornered.

 

[johnny k]

I once was playing with my friends in the street, and this older couple gets out of a restaurant. The guy starts berrating us : don't you have music schools at your place ? We answer, yeah we do have some. He replies then you should go there quick because you guys are terrible, you suck ! He kept on for a while.

His wife was smiling at us like maybe he had a bit too much to drink or maybe he was having a senility fit or something. He was geniunely mad at us, like we had just killed beethoven, mozart and wagner right in front of him, just by playing music.
They then proceded to go away. It is a nice memory.

I will always remember the day this old guy took offense because we assassinated music.

 

[chezdeluxe]

A friend and I team up as “Plumber’s Craic” (he IS a plumber) and play a yearly charity gig at the pub we have both been drinking at for many, many years.

This year our assault on the senses will occur on St Patrick’s day by sheer chance. Another friend who can actually carry a tune will be performing a few Irish songs just to assure the audience that my friend and I are indeed in need of sympathy.

I plan to introduce our performance with the statement that we have good news and bad news.

The good news is we aren’t any worse than last time
The bad news is we are not any better….oh and you suffer for our art.

Last time we played $3700 was raised for breast cancer research….mainly because we threatened to keep playing if the audience didn’t dig deep.

This time it is for a charity to supply needy children with a backpack containing stuff to make their lives a bit more tolerable. I hope the audience respond appropriately.

 

[Kandinskyesque]

I once was playing with my friends in the street, and this older couple gets out of a restaurant. The guy starts berrating us : don't you have music schools at your place ? We answer, yeah we do have some. He replies then you should go there quick because you guys are terrible, you suck ! He kept on for a while.

His wife was smiling at us like maybe he had a bit too much to drink or maybe he was having a senility fit or something. He was geniunely mad at us, like we had just killed beethoven, mozart and wagner right in front of him, just by playing music.
They then proceded to go away. It is a nice memory.

I will always remember the day this old guy took offense because we assassinated music.

I've a similar experience, with a band I formed with a friend from the mid 00s until 2012.
We were called Jailhouse Jock and played punk and reggae versions of Elvis songs, the Jock part was reflected in the kilts that we wore along with upper half Elvis lookalike appearance (the shirts, sunglasses and stick on sideburns).

Anyways, the singer had spent a few years working in Hereford, England and one of his friends from down there had asked us to play at his tennis club's annual Burns Supper. We were well paid and our expenses for the 700 mile round trip, food and accommodation were covered.

Half of the audience loved it, the other half were furious because they had expected a traditional Scottish music affair.

We were out at the back of the venue having a jazz woodbine after the gig, when a group of the angry half with their social convener came charging towards us, which looked quite funny to begin with, seeing angry English posh boys dressed like shortbread tins.

"You are a disgrace to Scotland!" was his opening line before going into a rant.
I can't remember what else he said because I was bent over double in fits of laughter, which sent the rest of the band into a similar state.

We let them rant at us for a good few minutes, before turning on the William Wallace act and assuring him that if we weren't paid, we'd be taking their wives in the van with us, back over the border for concubines.

That seemed to set him off into another rant, I've no idea why .

 

[notmyusualuserid]

I've a similar experience, with a band I formed with a friend from the mid 00s until 2012.
We were called Jailhouse Jock and played punk and reggae versions of Elvis songs, the Jock part was reflected in the kilts that we wore along with upper half Elvis lookalike appearance (the shirts, sunglasses and stick on sideburns).

Anyways, the singer had spent a few years working in Hereford, England and one of his friends from down there had asked us to play at his tennis club's annual Burns Supper. We were well paid and our expenses for the 700 mile round trip, food and accommodation were covered.

Half of the audience loved it, the other half were furious because they had expected a traditional Scottish music affair.

We were out at the back of the venue having a jazz woodbine after the gig, when a group of the angry half with their social convener came charging towards us, which looked quite funny to begin with, seeing angry English posh boys dressed like shortbread tins.

"You are a disgrace to Scotland!" was his opening line before going into a rant.
I can't remember what else he said because I was bent over double in fits of laughter, which sent the rest of the band into a similar state.

We let them rant at us for a good few minutes, before turning on the William Wallace act and assuring him that if we weren't paid, we'd be taking their wives in the van with us, back over the border for concubines.

That seemed to set him off into another rant, I've no idea why .

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDUM!!!

 

[elihu]

I wish I could just take a stage and play whatever without thinking much about it. I'm always too aware of the people and their opinion by their facial expressions or whatever. It would be great to just sit and play without having a clue about the room around me. Being sensitive is not always a good thing.

It’s taken me 40 years to get over my self awareness and sing a song in front of others. Somehow I just figured I was due, having played guitar for so long and that it wasn’t the end of the world if I screwed up. Music is about communicating and sharing (not sounding perfect) and all it takes is one other person to make that happen.

A friend of a friend one remarked that “not everyone is going to like you.” So play to the ones that do.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Did Stash say he has a RECORD???
What's the title, "Off His Meds Again"?

 

[thunderbyrd]

the guy in the OP has my respect for having courage but i do not want to hear it.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Actually I think we are our own worst critics; at least in my case

Those of us who are self aware are

That’s why I started recording our rehearsals and then (later) the early gigs with whatever band I was in.

-Some of the stuff we thought was “awesome”…wasn’t.
-Some of the stuff we thought was stupid was actually our better stuff.
-Then I had somebody take some pictures and video. Stage presence was a real issue—not just for me, but all of us. We started working on that, and the gigs went better.

I have learned where to push it and where not to push it (vocally). The greatest gift any vocalist can have is to learn his range and stick to it in a concert/live performance…work on expanding your range in private, not on stage.

 

[Fiesta Red]

I wish I could just take a stage and play whatever without thinking much about it. I'm always too aware of the people and their opinion by their facial expressions or whatever. It would be great to just sit and play without having a clue about the room around me. Being sensitive is not always a good thing.

Try this trick:
Look at the top of their heads—they’ll think you’re looking at them, but you won’t have to deal with any sour expressions.

I do this when giving a speech.

 

[THX1123]

At least his delusions were entertaining.

 

[Peegoo]

@trapdoor2

GREAT story! And you gave a...memory of it (I'll reserve the "good" descriptor for actually good memories).

It's usually geezers (I R one) that grouse about how performers using a laptop or iPad is somehow unprofessional or "cheating," because their bromance hero never used one onstage.

Geezers years ago railed against electric basses when they became popular: "I'll bet he can't play an upright." Music stands are another geezer gripe. Somebody go tell The Boston Sympathy Orchestra they're all amateurs I've never used a laptop or music stand at a gig (never needed one) but I'm not going to kick someone in the junk who's putting themselves out there doing it. It takes guts.

 

[Fiesta Red]

.

 

[Telecastoff1]

Yep, occasionally we get the arms-crossed type at our gigs. Never smiling or blinking. I think it's funny and downright humorous. If they come to judge or intimidate, they've picked the wrong band. We focus on them a bit more than usual during our performance, waiting for some reaction. We've been playing live gigs for decades and grew up in the era where the real problems were mean drunks. So long as we keep packing the bars and clubs, and keeping the dance floors full and the bar owner-managers is happy, it's all that matters. Besides, why aren't those arm-crossers out playing a gig instead of trying to brow-beat us? I suppose it's because they haven't learnt to play with their arms crossed yet!

 

[northernguitar]

I really shouldn't complain. We were starving and it was 6pm on Saturday night (tonight). The cupboard was bare, so we went looking for someplace to have a quiet meal.

Passing miles of packed restaurants, we settled on one of our "pretty good" bistros. There were empty parking spaces...looked good.

Until we walked in. I thought it was karaoke night for a moment. You know, that guy that can't quite hit pitch but thinks he's (insert real singer). Yah, there's a guy in the corner with a Wal-Mart guitar and a laptop. I can't quite catch what he's singing...but he's giving it the full gospel shout treatment. His guitar playing is limited to backbeat down-strum, thumb only. Rhythm, mostly improv. Certainly a different drummer.

We were seated before I finally figure out what he's singing: "Sweet Home Alabama". I look over at Miz Diane and she sez in a half strangled whisper, "Don't look at me! I'll laugh and squirt iced tea thru my nose!"

OMG, I'm going to hell for this. We almost lost it when we saw the bartender and barmaid doubled over as he started on a Sinatra tune. No guitar there, he just sang along with the computer band. Sounded like someone singing along with the radio in the car...faking his way thru unremembered lyrics, mumbling, flights of travesty, etc.

Then, "Wagon Wheel", of course...with more gospel shouts and hallelujahs. Incomprehensible. Inconceivable.

The food was good...and to his credit, he kept the volume moderate.

It really brought back memories though. Back when we were dating, we ate at a fancy restaurant that had a lounge singer. Big blonde gal at the piano in a sparkly dress...but we'd stepped into the Twilight Zone lounge. She was singing in Swedish or Icelandic or Inuit or something (although we were in North Alabama). We sat and listened for a few minutes...and Miz Diane leans over and sez...it's "Snowbird". No!...but she sang "spread your tiny wings and fly away..." except it was spelled: spredyrti nywi ngsa ndflia waaay..." All the accents were displaced, whole stanzas were run-on. We spent the evening playing "name that tune".

This is why I refuse to play out. I could be that guy!

Reminds me of a chanteur I saw perform in Quebec City. I'll never forget 'Stairway To Evan'.

 

[jrblue]

I don't think you're obligated to pretend to enjoy a terrible performance. It's not hard to be tolerable, as a performer, and most audiences are responsive to responsible performers (who are trying to please) because they want to enjoy themselves. In my experience, it's mostly the self-absorbed performers who are massively over-reaching or really doing "their own thing" and playing to themselves that turn people off, or even against them, and IMO they deserve that reaction. In a club or restaurant gig, you're supposed to be attracting people to the venue and giving them a good experience. When I finally learned how to read and play to an audience, and recognized that it was most important to connect and deliver, not impress or show off, not only did I become a more relaxed player, but I also consistently got, and get, the kind of response and feedback a person really appreciates. Musicians surely would rather hear something like "I loved how you did that song" or "that was beautiful" than "you sure can play fast" or "that looked very difficult."
But... regardless of how out-of-place or annoying a performance might be, it's never OK to be visibly hostile. The cross-armed Music Police are just self-identifying as jerks and, more likely than not, feeble performers themselves, because they need to dump on others so they can occupy a slightly higher rung on their fantasy ladder of musicianship.

 

[dougstrum]

I'm always watching the crowd for their reaction. At a winery, a couple was sitting at a table in the courtyard, the husband was obviously into the music and the wife just seemed to be putting up with being dragged along.
At our break as I walked by the wife asked where I'd gotten the arrangement for our last song, seemed surprised that I was just winging it. She wondered where I went to school. Said Iowa State,
she said, no where had I studied music~
I said all the wrong places

Sometimes you just don't know what folks are thinking or how your playing is affecting them

 

[Ron R]

I'm always watching the crowd for their reaction. At a winery, a couple was sitting at a table in the courtyard, the husband was obviously into the music and the wife just seemed to be putting up with being dragged along.
At our break as I walked by the wife asked where I'd gotten the arrangement for our last song, seemed surprised that I was just winging it. She wondered where I went to school. Said Iowa State,
she said, no where had I studied music~
I said all the wrong places

Sometimes you just don't know what folks are thinking or how your playing is affecting them

True, true. We played at a birthday party for a concert pianist. She was genuinely amazed that we were able to play hours and hours of music without having sheet music in front of us.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Ugh. Sounds like you caught me on a good night.