This past Saturday (9/8/12) was my last gig with LIFE IS DRAMA. We played at Shark City (Glendale Heights). We played here a couple of months ago opening for Hal Spark’s band. This time we were playing with our bass player’s brother’s band, Bad Day. We opened for them earlier in the year at America’s Bar and that gig was a lot of fun. This time they said they wanted to do something different. The idea was both bands would be on stage all night taking turns playing our songs (they’d play 3 songs then we’d play 3 songs) and we’d play all night w/no breaks outside of the 3 songs break. The stage was HUGE so we were able to have 2 drum kits and all the amps etc on stage at the same time. When I got there we set up and my band was set up stage right & I was far stage left which was fine with me. Didn’t matter to me one way or the other as long as I could hear what was going on.
Shark City had a benefit going on & it was PACKED so our start time of 9pm was kicked back to 10pm and they were doing a raffle starting at 9:30 which lasted for ½ hr. Seriously a half hour of reading numbers off pull tickets was long enough to drive me nuts!! So they finished and I walk up the stairs on the side of the stage and the guitar player was standing there with our female singer...they BOTH had eye liner on. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I just saw him earlier and no makeup on and now his whole band was wearing it. I said to our singer “I think he has the same shade of eyeliner on that you do.”
So Bad Day started the show playing the first 3 songs of the night and I didn’t know what the plan was for us. Are we standing on the stage? Off to the side? Hanging out in the crowd? So I took the lead from our drummer who was standing on the side of the stage. Then our bass player went up on the stage w/the other band & started dancing around. Then I saw our drummer acting all goofy behind his kit with a white tie tied around his head bandana style. It reminded me of frat party antics. I thought ok, I’ll just hang out by the stairs on the side of the stage till its time for us to play. They finished their songs and I fist bumped them as they walked off the stage & we launched into our 3 song set. This was how the whole night went. When we finished our set I’d either go hang out with the audience, buy a beer or hit the bathroom and walk up and grab my guitar on the side of the stage during song 3. Then I’d walk up the stairs, fist bump the band exiting the stage and play our next set of tunes. I got distracted with the other band walking around behind me during Sweet Child O’ Mine & when it came to the 1st or 2nd guitar solo I didn’t remember if I played the first one yet or not so I played the 2nd one. So what I did was either fine…or I cut the song REALLY short. The band followed me from that point forward and it sounded fine to me.
So we finished playing and I packed everything up and we walked outside together and then the band told me that they were kicking me out of the band because they “didn’t like my guitar sound & that they want someone w/more ‘stage presence’”. They said that they told me this on more than once and I’ve never tried to change it. This is true. As far as the “more stage presence” goes, I tried to dance around on stage while playing and I feel its just an “act” and honestly, it’s really not “me”. I’m a guitar player, I’m not an “entertainer”. It’s my belief that role should be filled by the front person. At this point, as I was standing on the sidewalk w/the band outside the club I was COMPLETELY content with not being in the band anymore. I was getting REALLY tired of playing the same material over & over again and it seemed no matter how many MORE people were coming out to see us we still weren’t making any more per gig than when I started last year.
So since our split I’ve been enjoying my weekends off w/my wife and I haven’t even looked at ads for guitar players. I figure I’ll wait until I get the “itch” to play with a band again but I’m not interested in playing the same material I’ve been playing for the past 5 years. I'm just burned out on that stuff. If I do start playing gigs again I’ll be sure to post more gig reports.
Thanks for reading and all the great comments KEEP ROCKIN’ !!!!
Tommy Gunz
Ambition is the path to success...persistence is the vehicle you arrive in!!!
Wow! No matter how you process that, it has to hurt a bit.
Taking a break and relaxing sounds like a good plan. I'm sure you'll get back into playing out again at some point.
Best of luck.
Having seen you guys play, I didn't find anything wrong with your playing - or tone, or presence.
I guess they just have a different vision. It happens.
Guitar teacher offering lessons in Plainfield IL
Thanks for the compliment Noteboat!! Yep, they have a different "vision" and I told them I wasn't interested in lighting myself on fire and run around the stage like an idiot just to get attention. That's just not me & that's why it doesn't bother me that we've gone our separate ways.
This was the first time I've ever been "fired" from a band before. Usually they just split up about now (1 year).
Ambition is the path to success...persistence is the vehicle you arrive in!!!
Hey Tommy sorry to hear it. I'm sure you'll find something when the mood strikes.
It's hard to keep a band together I'm finding out. We had to tell our drummer the same thing Monday that we have to move on without him and he is not a happy camper.
But his situation was totally different, he's on the road for two weeks at a time and could go at a moments notice. Because of that we haven't had a show since July, couldn't do a demo and really can't book any shows since we never know when he'll be around. It's no one's fault and we want him in but this clearly can't work. We gave him all summer to see what would happen with his schedule but nothing changed.
Now he's mad at all of us.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
Sorry to hear that, but sounds like it wasnt a good fit anyways. Frees you up for the next better band!
Paul B
Frees you up for the next better band!
yeah. it sounds like the ending wasn't much fun, but not totally bad news. I bet they will miss your guitar.
@ Cnev - yes its hard to keep a band together that's for sure!! I can't understand how your drummer can be mad. If I had that type of schedule I wouldn't be in a band. I wouldn't want to put others through that.
@s1120 - I have a keyboard/guitarist coming over on Monday night to jam a little. Tossing around the idea of creating an 80's band (not arena rock) like everyone else is doing in my area. More synth/new wave covers that people know & can dance to. Something that's different than all the other cover bands on the circuit. Might just try to market the fests, casinos & corp gigs. But first we'll see how Monday night goes.
@ dogbite - Well they won't be missing my guitar since they auditioned people w/o my knowledge and his debut was the following Friday gig I was scheduled for. Now it makes sense why there was a gig on the website in that I didn't know about. I found it by going to the website & asked the drummer who said "I didn't tell you??? I thought I sent it to everybody???"
Ambition is the path to success...persistence is the vehicle you arrive in!!!
@s1120 - I have a keyboard/guitarist coming over on Monday night to jam a little. Tossing around the idea of creating an 80's band (not arena rock) like everyone else is doing in my area. More synth/new wave covers that people know & can dance to. Something that's different than all the other cover bands on the circuit. Might just try to market the fests, casinos & corp gigs. But first we'll see how Monday night goes.
that IS diferent. OK... not my thing... but I can see it being a big it at the kind of gigs your going for. Kinda strange hair, first wave, new wave!!
Paul B
Hate to hear that. Hope you form a new band soon so we can get more of your awesome gig stories.
Thanks JW!!! :D
Ambition is the path to success...persistence is the vehicle you arrive in!!!
they pre auditioned a guitar! :shock: you were set up.
They don't deserve you. Best of luck with the new project!
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
@ Dogbite...totally setup. Looking back at the last gig I was on the FAR left side of the stage and the other band was BETWEEN me & my band. I thought that was kinda weird at the time but now it makes complete sense.
@ TR, THANKS man!!! :D Onward & Upward!!! :D
Ambition is the path to success...persistence is the vehicle you arrive in!!!
That's awful! I can't believe they treated you like that :?
I hope you enjoy your break, and something better comes along for you.
