Steel Notes Magazine May 2014 | Page 30

Roman ’ s Rant

Booze FIRST ! THEN Musicianship !

By Roman So I showed up on the scheduled night , arranged a good month

Hmmmm ... do I want to be in a cover band and get or so in advance , to be seen and heard . I ’ m on time and start on the money ? Or do I follow my muse , be original and time . I brought people with me . I notified my people in the area creative , and be a starving artist ? Hey ! They ’ re both fun , and some of them came . I had even more people from much as long as I can play . further south come up to support us . They supported us and the place , buying food and booze .

If you are hired to play a place that wants covers , you play covers . If they want blues , play blues . A rock joint ? Rock ! Punk And honestly the band was particularly hot that night . I was place ? Original music ? You ’ re smart to play the place that impressed by my guys . They were tight and sounded good appreciates you . But you have a job to do if you are just making despite the weak “ House ” PA system ( two big main speakers a paycheck . And the job you ’ re being paid to do is none of the that the drummer was never gonna hear , and no monitors .) We above . It ’ s SELLING BOOZE . all played exceptionally well to cheers and applause from out friends and the regulars , with some of our friends saying it was

But integrity , insanity , and crowd pressure are all factors . best we ’ ve been yet . Sometimes the lines blur , and I play my ass off for drunken masses that are happier hearing the same songs the ( clever We did some covers with some really creative slants , some band name here ) did the night before . Sometimes I comply but overplayed-but-expected covers ( the few that WE liked ,) and sometimes I don ’ t . some originals . We moved and shook it down and we

And I usually don ’ t . I ’ m were all over the stage , constantly taking the creating a vibe and engaging hard road by playing the audience . We worked my heart out to people hard and gave a great who don ’ t get it , only to performance . We were told discover that I could do immediately that they wanted less work , use up less us and would contact us . energy , and basically just play popular

But they didn ’ t . I called back , favorites without giving and they replied that they a crap and actually were already booked all year . be more successful . What is that really saying ? It

Below are some instances where I stood at the intersection of tells me they ’ re saying forget

Originality & Integrity Streets to stare the Devil Of Cover Music in it . What happened ? the face and threw caution to the wind . ( Often a paycheck went Second scenario : I ’ m asked to fill in with a mediocre cover band with it .) for a two night commitment . They are playing all the songs that

First scenario : I recently auditioned for a local venue . That ’ s right , every cover band knows , but I don ’ t . They knew of me , and “ audition .” It was actually the 2nd one this month . It ’ s a trend I ’ m were glad to have gotten me at the last minute , assuming that seeing more and more of in these times of everybody scrambling because I was known to play well I must know cover setlists . But to play no matter how little it pays . In this case , the venues have having come from punk rock , blues , jazz , and originals I never so many knocking at their door that they have the option of practiced signature riffs from Bon Jovi or Guns ‘ N Roses songs . making them come in first to see up close and in person what ( Guess what songs I ’ m referring to .) they ’ re getting . I truthfully can ’ t blame them . Especially with me ! Now this band wasn ’ t very good to begin with and I was only

30 | Steel Notes Magazine www . steelnotesmagazine . com | May 2014