but sometimes variety is the spice of life........
I'm sure most of you out there know that I'm the drummer in Kingpin - we're an indie pop/rock covers band with a few classics thrown into the mix, and before I go any further with this I want to say; Keith, Chris and Paul, I love the music and thankyou for letting me on the bus.
However, i came to Kingpin from 8 years in a four piecs 'classic' rock band that morphed into a three piece (Freespirit) and a completely originals band (Johnny Gunn) with whom I released an album.
Yeah, i know, where am i going with this?
Well..........
I recently depped for Dyehouse, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It didn't make me want to go back exclusively to the classic rock scene, but playing (for instance) 'Panama' by Van Halen really did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and 'The Evil that Men Do' by Iron maiden allowed me to get my double bass skills back on track.
It also got me thinking that even in a band like Kingpin where we add new material on a regular basis, playing mainly one genre doesn't let you stretch yourself that much, and although you get a chemistry and almost telepathy with the guys in your band, playing with new people adds a twist (and a thrill) to playing live.
Also, I've met quite a few of you guys now, and also seen some of you live (although by no means as many as I want to - Kingpin are a busy band and that means not many free weekends), but don't really have any idea of what being in a band with you would be like. So in the interests of allowing people to try out new skills, and also to allow bands to find out who might fit in if the need for a dep arises, here's the idea:
(You'll need to help me out on this - I'm freeforming like jazz!!)
The 'NWB allstar line up band' !
The basic idea is:
A pool of musicians (say 10 each vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass. drummers)
A pool of venues (probably 12) prepared to put the band on one Friday or Saturday night a year.
A list of songs to form the set provided by the FANS on here.
I hope you're starting to get the idea - all the musicians involved learn the entire setlist, and then each month agree amongst themselves who will form the band playing at the NEXT months gig. (It could be a 3,4 or 5 piece - whatever).
The fee could be something like £30 per muso to cover expenses, plus a couple of drinks.
The musicians would get the benefit of meeting and playing with new people.
The venues would get the benefit of (probably) a cheapish gig with alot of advertising and probably a good attendance from NWB fans.
The fans would get the benefit of hearing the songs THEY want to hear from a slightly different perspective each time.
Now I know this needs alot of refining (making sure that no 'cliques' evolve - 'cos let's face it, that would just be a band!). and maybe I'm way off on this but,
let me know what you think - and I mean venues and fans aswell as musos. I'd be more than happy to do some banners and stuff to be put up at every venue. Maybe this could be the NWB jam night (in a slightly different form) that unfortunately didn't get off the ground. And it would be more than just a 'jam' night.
What do YOU think guys........?