Starting a Band?

16 February 08

Welcome to The Pier's 'Ask Weege' column. This is where the 880 South's front man and music scene veteran will be answering questions and providing tips for up-and-coming bands and musicians.

This week, Melissa asks, 'What's the best way to start a band? I play drums and am trying to find others to play music with? Any suggestions? Thanks Weege.'

Melissa,

That's my wife's name. So I already like you.

Craigslist - CL is a good resource to find like minded musicians. When you post an ad, just be open and honest about everything. Especially about your experience and your direction. Try not to be all over the place though. Be specific, genre is key. You don't wanna jam with some metal head who's not into your ska project do you? Well...then again it did work for No Doubt. Their guitarist was in a speed metal band. Still, don't be afraid to use names of bands you're influenced by. There is no shame in that. Just don't list like 100 or something ridiculous. Keep it down to like 5-10 bands you like at the most. Otherwise you'll get some confusion. Name any other influences as well.

State Your Goals - Make some light demands. If you're a songwriter, maybe have some sample work ready on disc or mp3s. If you wanna cover a few songs, and just jam them out. Mention that and what songs of course in your ad. If you have serious goals like recording, touring and gigging locally. Then mention that as well. If you've only been playing drums for two years, then say so. No need to exaggerate. The amount of time you've been playing doesn't make you a great drummer. I know plenty of drummers who have played for 10-15 years and they suck ass. But if you've been taught or worked with some great drummers, definitely put that in your ad.

I say "light demands" cause I think you should have some sense of flexibility. Your idea of reggae meets metal could be Bob Marley meets Metallica. But it could easily be to some folks The Police meets Pantera. I mean that's a huge difference in genres right there. I know...crazy huh? Your perception of a style of music is important. That's why mentioning the names of bands that you like is also key.

This is really important though. State everything you expect from a jam session or a rehearsal. Do you want a band that practices three times a week? Is drug free? Lives in a certain location? Has reliable transportation? Is willing to pitch in on the rent for a rehearsal space? Has their own gear? (You'll be surprised how many folks say, "I've played guitar for 12 years, but I left my guitar and amp is in Nebraska"). You need to state these needs, don't assume everyone thinks the same way. Musicians are fucking lazy. Pardon my potty mouth.

Your Bio - If you've been in other bands or just jammed with a few people you think are worth mentioning, you'll be surprised what networking can do for you. Mention it, just keep it short. Definitely mention if you've done any recording or studio work and say what album and artist you worked with specifically.

Local Live Music Circuit - Go see live music. Watch bands that you like or aim to be like. You'll find like-minded people at these shows. More than likely a lot of them could be musicians. Some might be related to some great musicians or went to high school with them. I met a lot of musicians this way.

Songwriters - I personally can't stand open mic night, cause it's usually a bunch of driveless and ambitionless musicians saying they are just about the music and just wanna jam. To me it's just laziness and folks who don't wanna get organized and take control of their dreams. Hoping someone discovers them. Although some folks with actual talent might just be looking for an extra gig to pass the time. I may have just lost some fans for saying that. Still...once in a while you might find a gem, or a diamond in the rough. You find yourself a solid songwriter you might wanna jam with, that could be your cornerstone. So definitely don't neglect any possibility.

Music Shops & Musicians - Post at music shops and record shops. You know those little flyers with rip away tabs? They are fairly effective. Most mom and pop music shops have bulletin boards and stuff you can post those flyers on. Talk to the folks working there too. Most folks who work at music shops have a huge network of musicians and friends. That's how we found our first drummer. Sorta.

Band's Websites - Frequent your favorite bands' chatboards, forums and websites. Talk up your intentions and ideas. The internet is a huge network and most bands have their own chatboards/forums. Post on MySpace and FaceBook. This is a huge network. You'll find some groups and other musicians looking for something similar. Again, networking is key.

---- End Of Advice, Beginning of a History Lesson

So I thought this would be a good time to mention how 880 South started. To relate to your situation I think it's important to reflect on what we've overcome to get where we are today. I'll try to make it short and painless but I doubt that's possible.

Greg and I took a guitar class our junior year in high school. That was 1994. We had already been playing football since our Freshman year. The two of us both played guitar and we were both just getting into grunge and alternative rock. Even though we were all about Easy E and Dr Dre at the time. I think I was more open minded at the time with my heavy metal and punk rock influence. But the one thing Greg and I both loved was Classic Rock. Since Greg was a lil quicker at learning tab, he started playing guitar and I decided to buy a bass. I traded in my Stratocaster knockoff for a sweet (sarcasm) Ibanez bass.

So we'd jam in class and after school from time to time. We fucking sucked. I ain’t gonna act like it was magic. That's all I can say. Two years later I decided to call it quits on my collegiate football career and got a job at UPS. I really missed playing with other musicians so I'd head over to G's pad on the ghetto ass side of downtown called the One Nine. For a while we'd play with a high school buddy Nate who would wail on the drums, he was a bit all over the place, but he could sorta keep a beat. Nate's lil sister Aja was a good friend of ours and she had this lil skinny dude named Steve she hung out with. She'd always brag about him being this rippin blues guitarist. At the time we didn't know what style of music we wanted to play, we just knew we wanted to play. If I could describe it, I would say Kool & the Gang meets Korn. Again...we sucked.

I decided to get focused with my job at UPS and really busted my ass for a whole summer, didn't get out much. After that summer in 1997 I came back to the One Nine and overheard someone rippin it up on bass. It was Greg, rippin it up on my bass and this lil scrawny ass kid named Steve playing some crazy blues licks and rock shit. Right then, I knew it was magic. Problem was...I wasn't part of that (hahaha).

Still I'm a man, I walked in and chilled and listened and I was blown away. Instantly there was talk of this other cat we knew who might be a singer. I fucking hated this guy already from previous high school drama, and I know that's petty of me but I was only 19. Still it motivated me. I've never sung in my life other than singing in the shower or getting drunk in a friends back yard and doing STP covers and Sublime jams on the acoustic. Nobody took me seriously, I still played guitar and bass on my own time and I'd attempt to sing with the boys as well. We'd also sub in and out with different rhythm guitarists and drummers. Nothing ever came in place right away.

A year went by, we'd jam a lot and Greg got a job at a music shop called Starving Musician and I started working at eBay.com. Greg and Steve started jammin with the original rythmn section for a band that heavily influenced us called Jalopy Taco Stand and at the time they were calling themselves LowFat (not the SF band). I'd hop in from time to time and do a cover song or what at the time were early Floppy Rods songs that Greg, Steve and myself wrote. While working at Starving Greg met my brother Joe's old buddy Aaron Liebelt. Aaron is a phenomenal bassist and I went and saw many of his shows with his band Sinister Sam when I was in high school. He also played in Jalopy Taco Stand before they disbanded in the 90's. Somehow, Greg and Aaron got around to talkin about Aaron playing drums.

1998 came by and we had our first official jam. It was Greg, Aaron and myself at 3B Studios laying down some weird shit. It was funk rock, no doubt about it, but with a drummer who understood the importance of chops, tempo and consistency it made such a huge difference. Playing with an un-selfish drummer was huge.

Eventually Steve got back in the mix and his blues influence turned more-so into jazz influence and really it was just mind boggling how much more we improved in a year. We added a 2nd guitarist named Jim Heeney and his credentials were also from the Jalopy Taco Stand camp, he'd also done some album work with Smash Mouth at the time. It was a perfect blend. I think Jim burned out on the three of us and our immaturity, but hey it was our first band. A year went by and we supplemented this another amazing guitarist named Scot Miller. Things were really rockin now and Floppy Rods were at a full peak playing shows with Fishbone, Slightly Stoopid, MIRV and WAR. Everything after that was sorta steam rollin downhill until the reincarnation of 880 South. You can read the rest in our bio. haha!

---- End Dramatic Bio Music

I'm telling you about this story because over a drastic amount of years, the most important thing I did as a musician was to keep scratching at the surface. It's easy to give up and say I tried. It's hard to take the punches and push forward, but in the long run it was rewarding. It taught me a lot about myself and life in general. How to interact and treat others with respect. You may have to make these kind of decisions someday. Never have too big of a head and never quit because someone tells you “you can't.” I had been told numerous times that I suck and I had no future in music. I've been told I was a dreamer, and not to quit my day job (which I haven't yet). Those things just made me better, made me tougher, and allowed me to overcome obstacles I may never have dreamed of overcoming.

I'm assuming you're a woman and I will say this right out. You're going to have a much tougher time being taken seriously in the music community. Just like it is in real life, women have to fight harder to earn their respect amongst peers. You're gonna be judged, stereo-typed, and probably gonna have a few harassing comments thrown your away. I admire you're will and desire and I wish you a prosperous journey. Just do me a favor and don't let anyone ever stray you from your dream.

Good luck to you. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you (weege@880south.com).

-Weege-

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