Why, oh why, is it always the guitar players?

Tonight, I went on an audition in Westchester County in New York. This was a standing appointment I had booked from a Craigslist ad while the band I’ve been with for a year went on hiatus due to some interpersonal issues (read: drama). “The Known Offenders” are the band whose gigs I’ve blogged about in this new “Weekend Warrior” feature.

The good news is that The KO’s founding members came to a détente, which was kind of a relief because the edge was off finding a “rebound” gig and I could enjoy the audition as a “no strings attached” evening of playing music with strangers. With my wife IRL going ahead with the kids to a beach house in Maryland for a brief family vacation – to which I’ll catch up tomorrow –  this is a favorite way to spend an evening.

To my point – it’s always the guitar player.

One of the selling points is that this was not going to be a bar band, which caught my ear. I got an audition list in advance from the manager, and it contained primarily 70’s Disco classics. The Disco genre pre-dated me taking up my instrument. All along I played in rock cover bands, so I never tried to learn any disco. The only common ground was “Lady Marmalade”.

What subsequently occurred was quite simply, an epiphany. The bass guitar universally “carried” the genre, the way guitars or drums carry the rock genre. What’s more, while there are certainly examples of  simple compositions (“Ring My Bell”), a lot of arrangements are challenging = fun to play. If you think “Disco SUCKS” then you are clearly not a bass player.

So, I participate in the audition to the best of my ability. The band is good. Very good. At lot of talent by a group of musicians with which I have much common ground. Besides disco, we tackled McCartney and Stones effectively going “off-script” from the audition repertoire. I even got to play “Fire” by Springsteen for the first time in my life – with other musicians, that is. I make as much small talk as I’m comfortable with – a love of music is a great ice-breaker, so that wasn’t that hard. The characteristic of being a cool “hang”, the kind of band-mate that fits in – is a pretty important aspect of an audition.

Prior to all this, though, the guitar player starts in. “Showing” me the bass lines, which I fully know; and showing some downright wrong. It got to the point where, by the end of the two-hour session, he was correcting me on a note name, all the while thinking I play four-string. I play a fiver. I was able to say in a mock-funky voice “Don’t be telling ME what note I’m playing on MY instrument”. There were a few chuckles, but I meant it.

That may be the deal-breaker. Still, we played two lifetime favorites – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Maybe I’m Amazed“.

I called out the Stones. They called back “be specific”. I said “Let It Bleed”.

They knew it.

I’ll let you know how it shakes out. Would be a shame not to play music with this group.

Regards,
–T.A.D.

P.S. Since I’m driving to the MD beach alone tomorrow to join the family, I can’t guarantee there will be an update Friday, but I’m bringing my laptop and backup Wacom. I’ll try.