Thursday, October 16, 2008
National Skyline Computer vs. Banjo vs. Selling Records vs. Touring
Posted by Steve Haruch on Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:52 AM
If you're, like, trying to make records and sell them, or play shows and tour and stuff, then according to this article you're going about it the wrong way.
It's the story of Computer vs. Banjo, who, like a lot of bands you've probably never heard of, just spend their time licensing their shit to TV shows and commercials and don't bother with any of that other being-in-a-band shit, like selling albums, driving, loading gear, refusing to sign autographs after Oct. 20, performing in front of people or giving a shit about "selling out."
These guys told me a great story of getting a call from a production company working on a show for MTV. They were on a tight deadline and needed the song in four hours. Even though one of the guys was in California and the other in Nashville, they were able to write, record, and submit the material within that time, thanks to the power of the Internet.
Four hours. Most bands I know take that long to decide which mic to use on the snare. The power of the Internet. Think about it. Dude.
Comments (8)
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I'm not sure I'd advocate giving up playing shows and making records. What else would we have to bitch about on Cream otherwise?
It is nice to be able to hear an idea in your head driving home and then have it up for your friends in far-away cities within a few hours. Also the comfort of overdubbing on your friends' music in your own studio, at your leisure.
"Most bands I know take that long to decide which mic to use on the snare."
That's really funny I know a lot of people like that. And being the drummer it annoys me all to hell. I'm a first take kind of guy and I can't stand it when you nail a performance and they decide they didn't like the mike placement, then they fuss over it while your coffee buzz wears off and all the spontaneity is gone from your take.
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this sounds like a pretty sweet gig to me. somebody sign me up.
playing shows is pretty cathartic for me though. i dunno if i could give it up. it's not like people even show up to mine - i haven't been in a drawing band in years. but i still play like 20 shows a year for the fun of it.
Are you that shaved head guy I saw at the Basement with the 'The Drummer is Always Right' T shirt on? More concerned with your buzz or personal contribution to the pantheon of pop than what what you should be doing in service or the sake of the SONG? Be annoyed if you must, burrito licker. Continue to whip 'em like they owe you money (I am certain you believe they do). Someone sitting behind the desk, probably someone with an above room temp IQ, will be doing whatever he or she deems necessary to make you sound like the genius you believe yourself to be. Describing yourself as a first take kind of guy is just so fucking Nashville. Your drummerful pride in your skills suggests that no matter what anyone else is playing or contributing your first take is just going to be the most you are willing give. Awesome! Sure, the first notions of a skilled player are almost always conceptually THEIR best, but the really good drummers can deliver a seemingly spontaneous performance well past take one. Peace to you, but I am relieved that you were not on any of my sessions this week.
No. I have hair well past my shoulders and would NEVER wear a drummer shirt. And my 'buzz' is alot like Casio's. I play around 75 shows a year for a few local bands, and most of them are to the same half-dozen people. But that's ok, I'm not trying to be a star. I have a pretty awesome gig as a microbiologist, and I don't think I'm a genius, not by any stretch!
I can run a TDM rig with no trouble, and I can hug the click and deliver a near perfect performance every time. I have done gigs at scale and masterscale, and toured. It's just that I don't LIKE to. I enjoy playing mostly jazz and experimental stuff (you can have the pop pantheon), so the idea, for me, is usually to nail the improvisatory sections of the song, which is often best done during the first take. After that I find that I tend to be less creative. It doesn't mean I won't play until the 40th take (and I have many times.)
You're right about one thing: I AM very proud of my skills, I think I'm as good as any drummer in town. But in a town like this, that doesn't mean anything! EVERYBODY's awesome here. But I can also sequence DNA, biopsy a colon polyp, and run complicated cell-based assays. I think that's pretty cool, but I know it makes me a big nerd.
Being a pro at something besides music means you can CHOOSE the sessions you want, and so I don't often have to work with antagonistic assholes like yourself. I don't blame you at all though -- I know the type you are describing and they annoy me too. And I myself can get really antagonistic, especially concerning politics and religion and quarter notes.
Oh, and my favorite drummer joke:
How many drummers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
None. They have machines that do that now.
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