Weekly rehearsal for a well oiled gigging band? Really?

I don't know--practice isn't about learning the songs for us. That's what we do on our own. Practice is about rehearsing our set together, stretching out a little, and trying new things. Now, when have a gig every weekend, we don't really have time for that. But I like band practice. It's fun. Not as fun as a gig, but I'd rather be playing with my band, even if it is just practice, than sitting at home watching TV.

 

My bass player occasionally pops round for a cup of tea to go over something she's not sure about or try out some harmonies which she'll record on a little zoom.
Apart from that there are certain venues we can turn up a bit early to run through new stuff but in ten years we have never had more than a few proper rehearsals.

 

Don't worry so much, there's probably someone else better suited for that gig.

 

It depends how often you are gigging, how many songs are in the tank, how often you rotate them and how often you add new ones.

 

If you feel you have nothing to learn or rehearsal is more hassle than fun, it’s time to quit. Last Wednesday our drummer was away, soooooooo



Crab feast.
This is me and 5 of my best friends and band mates. If you ain’t having fun, you’re doing it wrong.

 

You would be fired from my bands in a wink.

First, you are missing the FUN. The fun of play together, the fun of Rocking with a band, make it kick ass instead sounding "just like the record".

You must be MUCH BETTER than the record!!!!

How do WE achieve this? Playing and playing the hole set list two or three times. Play it from the first to the last, from the last to the first, play it sober, drunk, stoned, lit up, fast, slow rockabilly style, reggae style, metal style until the band is ONE and just have to look each other to know what is going to happen

This you don't get it by just learning the songs at home and getting together at the sound check of a gig

Well is just my humble opinion and the way I do it

 

Completely agree

 

I never understood “musicians” that don’t like to practice. I play with other people as much as possible, or did before our current situation.

 

More than likely it’s the leader that needs the rehearsal , or he’s a control freak....

 

No matter how good you are...
Man that cowbell player needs encouragement, tempo help, and a few bucks for a samich, or a 20?

come on man have a heart...
Muhahaha

 

Nice recording. Top notch.

 

Well, this totally changes things for me. I wouldn't agree to rehearse an hour away either, unless the gig was for big bucks.

I did that for about about 6 months with a band that was an hour away, once a week, but not again.

 

Rehearsal is where you bond with your bandmates, and become tight as a unit. In any new band, I expect to rehearse at least once a week until the set list is solid and the show is tight. Before the first gig, I expect to run the entire show front to back, breaks and all. With a band that has been gigging for a while, regular rehearsals aren't always necessary but helpful to keep things from "drifting."

 

For the record I agree that a well-established gigging cover band with (it sounds like?) a set list that is never changing, should not need to rehearse weekly.

I disagree on playing covers exactly as they were recorded though. Boring. (to me)

(EDIT: Listened to your demo-- I dislike that song a lot, but that is a VERY impressive job!)

 

I drove about 40-45 minutes for rehearsals for several years, but I was younger then. In the past couple of years I've turned down a few offers that would require that kind of drive. I guess I just don't want to do it badly enough any more.

 

I'd say it depends on the material and the motives. Miles recorded "Kind of Blue" without rehearsals on mostly first takes. Tower of Power puts in hours of rehearsal per week. They are both killer music, and fruit of the approach.

In any case, if it were a bar band playing covers of common tunes with little variation, a ton of rehearsal would be annoying to me unless the parts were tough. If the approach doesn't suit you you should move on.

 

I watched a special on James Taylor. This is what he said about doing covers. " If I can't change it enough to make it interesting to me I see no reason to do it." Professional national acts don't even play their songs as recorded. Music is a moment in time and can't be truly recalled.

 

A few observations:

• While mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery, with live music, not so much, IMHO. Music is interpretive, like all other art forms. Make it your own.

• A rehearsal is "organized" practice. It's used to gain a sense of others talents and abilities, in such a way that each "voice" is complementary to its counterparts.

• Regarding the frequency of "full band" practice sessions, professional musicians know what they need, and when they need it. Ask them.

• Finally, if you're not having fun, then you're doing it wrong.

 

I’m not sure I understand the original post. He wants the songs to be well-rehearsed, but doesn’t want there to be rehearsals?

If you’re gigging all the time, then no, you don’t need to rehearse just to play the same songs you gigged with. Unless it is to tighten down the arrangement or fix some part that didn’t click. With my low-level cover band, we rehearse mostly to learn new material.