2 guitarists+Backtrack. Ways to put a good show? Opinions needed.

ruvann · 2012-02-23T15:35:19+00:00

Hopefully any info here can also help others. So... We started a casual project about a year ago, two guitarists just writing some songs while we search for members. So it's a year later, we got our material, but we've been dropped by so many other musos. No drummer... No bassist... No vox... So far... ☹ I've been playing for about 10 years, the other axe man for about 7-8 years I think. We've had our share of stage performance. We're a metal outfit. Not like brutal-blast-beats-&-impossible-to-understand-metal but rather grooving and melodic with some parts even leaning over to a "rock-ish" style and there are some melody lines on the guitar that you can even whistle. So there are some elements to relate to instead of just a bunch of riffing. Even my mom finds it easy enough to listen to, understand and even remember some melody lines ? hehe and we've been itching to jam our stuff live! We wanna have fun performing our creations and we just want people to hear it! SO We're prepared to take our drums and bass backing tracks, and just jam our tunes for some people and have a good time doing it. BTW the drums and bass doesn't sound cheap. It sounds decent, polished and fit for duty ? I KNOW there are some downs and it's not IDEAL, like you won't have the same "vibe" for the performance, etc., etc. BUT I would like to ask everyone for some tips, opinions, etc., how to minimise the cons and exploit the pros to put up the best performance we possibly can. We can't simply "perform", we're gonna have to "entertain". We still want to make it fun and enjoyable for anyone watching, make them have a good time and not wanna slit their own throats just to not have to listen to us ? haha We don't care what people think. We're just not accepting defeat and walking away from what we want to do. I'll be getting myself a Macbook Air soon (just waiting for the new Ivy bridge updates 8)), and I'll be playing the backing tracks from it, as well as using it to change the patches on my Axe-FX like we're doing at practice ATM (Our very own guitar tech ? hehe) For example, maybe I can get my hands on some lighting at some stage and we can sync that into our show, etc. I don't mind spending a bit of money to add some "effects" and stuff. I can't do backflips and I'm not a pyrotechnic ??? so any other advice, tips or suggestions how we can make it every inch more fun for the audience and still put up an entertaining show?

ruvann

stu wrote Ever heard of We Butter The Bread With Butter?

You should check out those two during their early years before the full band. Get some inspiration there ?

Read their info on Wikipedia. Already sounds inspirational that they just started as a duo hehe

Trying to find out more about their early stuff.

Thanks!

ruvann

Norman86 wrote Hey dude, i have emailed her your details!!
She does stay near to me in Kempton though, but she said she's willing to give it a shot!
So im sure you'll hear from her soon!

Hey
Thx for the help! Much appreciated!

Averatu

I can identify with your problem. 2 years after forming yet another band we still dont have a drummer, and we've tried constantly, we've even tried session drummers. Many industrial acts perform to backing tracks, but have additional performers and lots of visual ...stuff. Battery 9 had vocals, one guitar, a guy who pressed play on the sequencer and Hyser(rip) on metal work and public acts of destruction. Just remember, you cant rely too much on lighting when playing at 3 in the afternoon at a festival.
You'll need at least vocals, unlike us musos, majority of people identify with vocals first.

eric-vaxxine

My tuppence worth.
I live and gig in London and I think that one of the factors
that's given us a 10 year residency in Piccadilly and most recently
Victoria, is because we engage with our tourists and involve them
in our gigs by bringing a bagfull of toys for them to play with while
we play.

We have blow up guitars, crazy wigs (dreadlocks for reggae,
blonde wigs for Blondie covers, Afro for funky) a dozen
pairs of glasses available, Love Hearts for Disco, Helicopter shades, John Lennon
round ones, Goofy Geek ones etc etc.

We are not a pretty bunch to look at and we use the PA for
Vocals...!!! Guitars, Bass and Drums are for REAL !!
Backline all the way. But you know what? We have fun and
our audience notice it.....

Resident covers band in central London for nearly 15 years....
...and I love every single gig, every time.

Eric

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