Back in the saddle

So our band finally got together in full force for the first time in like 5 weeks.  I'd gotten together with the drummer since then, but either the guitarist couldn't make it or it was on a day I had to drive downstate to pick up my son.  But finally all 3 of us got together in one place, and it was a blast.

I'm still learning their songs, so normally we'll play the 3 I know and then work on new stuff or just free jam for a bit.  Since we hadn't gotten together for a bit I offered that maybe we should just keep up with what we knew and go from there.  I had also asked the drummer (who hosts) if we could record a bit, since the versions of these songs I have don't have me playing bass on them.  So he had the setup ready to roll, and after we had a good mix for everyones sound we went ahead and jammed away.

It was probably the best we've played all 3 of those songs, ever.  We're more comfortable with each other now so I think that helps.  As I mentioned I had recordings of these songs I'd been playing along to, and the problem I'd run into when we got together is that the tempo and arrangement had been changed on them since they were recorded.  So of course I'm playing what I'd been listening to while the guitarist would start into something else lol.  But we'd keep going til the song was over then discuss what happened and decide on the arrangment.  The funny part was on the one song where the recording is a fast tempo, the guitarist wants to slow it down.  Not just a little, but quite a bit.  I think slowing it about half speedis a good idea, but not quite as slow as he wanted.  So we would start off at the tempo he wanted and me and the drummer would kick it up to where we liked it by the end of the first verse.  Couldn't be helped, and the rhythm section always wins.  :)

I think the plan is to get some more originals down and then some covers, and then actually do some proper recording.  I mentioned in my last blog about the Maiden song I thought we could pull off as a 3 piece, and the drummer and I played it for the guitarist last night, then we found the youtube video and played the actual song for the guitarist, and he's totally onboard.  So there's another cover, which I think is 3 and about as far as we want to go with covers in our set.

Anyway, once we get some tracks "officially" recorded I believe we're going to do a myspace page for our band.  Once that happens I'll link it so you guys can check out our tunes.  Whats cool is that all of us 100% believe in our original stuff, that its good and has an audience.  Not that we're going to get any kind of deal or anything, but we enjoy what we play and are looking forward to getting feedback from people in general.

So overall a good night last night.  Its amazing how good you can feel after something like this.  Work can completely suck and you can be literally dragging your ass out the door when you leave, but by the time you strap on your instrument and get finished jamming, everything is rosy again.