DRUMS and the demise of country music

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 12 Apr 2003 3:03 am

Reminds me of the road-band I once worked where one of the band leaders "rules" was:

"If I ever hear anything being played on the stage by anyone before a show other than an "E" to tune by...your fired!" www.genejones.com

David Reeves · Post by **David Reeves** » 12 Apr 2003 8:10 am

Thats a good rule Gene!
And Chris, Like I said... that was the best band I ever played with, and it is too bad it didn't last forever. Because since then I have never been a tighter band. We were all fair musicians, none was a "Hot Picker", and we just played to make a good song. Not to fuel our egos. Yep, Yep, them mem'ries.... now and then I... er... ahhh... oh well I fergit!

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Stump Reeves

Eric Myers · Post by **Eric Myers** » 12 Apr 2003 10:02 am

You were in a band of GIs and one of them was blind?

David Reeves · Post by **David Reeves** » 12 Apr 2003 12:20 pm

Thats a good 'un, heh?... Our Drummer (the Blind guy) was a German feller.... Over the years we had a bunch of Germans play in our band. The last group I played with before returning to the States we were all Americans except for our bass player. The guy that was such a good singer was there in the early 70's, left in mid 70's, was back in the early 80's, left in mid 80's, returned in the late 80's and was there when I left in the mid 90's and I recently learned that he is still there today. I came here to Florida and met a guy that I played with in 1975! He lives just around the corner from me! Small and crazy world we dance in for this short while.

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Stump Reeves

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 13 Apr 2003 2:29 pm

<SMALL>...there is a sound man with his tales of Marshall Stacks that blow away anything...</SMALL>

Exactly! "Garbage in...garbage out". The "job" of a sound man is to make it sound better, not just louder. Sadly, most of them don't operate with that thought in mind. However, those few who have this unique skill are appreciated! The rest (sadly, most of them), are just frustrated rock musicians.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 13 Apr 2003 4:43 pm

Sound-techs must be knowledgeable of the various venues and be able to "mix" accordingly....realistically however, they are like musicians in that their level of experience and expertise varies considerably! They may have the technical expertise but if they don't know how it's supposed to sound they are lost! www.genejones.com

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 13 Apr 2003 7:20 pm

Last fall I was playing with a metal/noise band at a metal/punk? venue here in LA. The soundman, who is the guy with the power to "make you" or "break you", came over and introduced himself saying he was a fan of the steel guitar. I gave him the "tour" and he went back to the board and started playing his Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant cds over the sound system. You just never know.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 14 Apr 2003 3:52 am

Them damn liberal drummers!

Drew

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www.newslinkassociates.com
www.drewhoward.com

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Apr 2003 4:09 am

...alarm going off! Topic drift!

Eric Myers · Post by **Eric Myers** » 14 Apr 2003 5:05 am

<SMALL>....realistically however, they are like musicians in that their level of experience and expertise varies considerably</SMALL>

Yes this is true - in all things actually it relates. The best bet is to carry your own sound guy - make him an equal partner in the band if you have to -well worth the expense.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 14 Apr 2003 8:25 am

Eric,thats just what we do. Makes a BIG difference. We got our drummer a plexiglass shield. Sort of says it all. The drummer usually sets the stage volume level I have found.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 14 Apr 2003 8:55 am

We tried the plexoglass shield and then found that the drummer couldn't hear "us", so we removed it! ........We are still searching for the answer! www.genejones.com

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 14 Apr 2003 9:11 am

Maybe putting the drums inside a plexiglass cage......and leaving the drummer outside of it....

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 14 Apr 2003 9:28 am

Most of the rooms I play have the plexiglass around the drums. With some drumers it works but with most it just make them play louder becuase they dont think anyone can hear them over the plexiglass.