Please critique my band (positive constructive advice)

close2u

A follow up thread to this:

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/34002/1st-dress-rehearsal-for-gig

So, following our 1st full dress rehearsal, after several months of practice, we realise that we ain't all that ... not yet anyway.

Any feedback / critique from outside observers would be most welcome.

Cheers

close2u

http://youtu.be/jwxMCayXEYE

viz

Video's set to private.

close2u

try now - set to unlisted

viz

Really enjoyed that!

Maynehead

After a quick listen on the iPad, I think sound wise the guitar and bass need to come up a bit. The vocals and drums are very dominant.

Performance wise the biggest problem is not the mistakes (I make mistakes like that all the time) but it's the way you react to them (or not react to them). Often the audience don't even notice the mistakes, or thinks nothing of them, but if you start turning around, laughing, staring, pointing or reacting in other ways, it just looks very unprofessional and only serves to highlight the mistake to everyone watching and makes it stick in their minds.

If you cock up, just play/sing along like nothing happened. Even serious cock ups can be disguised this way, as you're probably the only ones who know about it.

There's nothing fundamentally wrong though, everyone can play/sing fine so it's just a case of tweaking and ironing out the creases. You'll be alright on the night!

close2u

@viz thanks

@Maynehead Yes, I see that too ... I asked that we do a 'dress rehearsal' meaning 100% pro and serious ... but we didn't manage it.

lloyd

Yeah dunno what you're worrying about, it's fine mate.

Dress rehearsals are never going to be exactly the same as a gig, you'll never recreate it.

Vocals struggled at the start but improved.

The only way to improve from here in my opinion is to gig gig gig.

John_P

Looks and sound ok to me - you can hear everything - I'd also up the guitars and bass a little but the usual mistake new bands make is not having the vocals loud enough so you're ok there.   

Looks like you're all enjoying it and that's infectious at gigs.   Just remember to enjoy it, look confident and crack on.   imo you just need to gig a lot now, to get super tight and feel relaxed about it.

close2u

Another one:

Moe_Zambeek

Not what I was expecting given your self-critique on the other thread.

I'd agree with all of the points above. Always hard to tell with YT but it does sound like out front you have plenty of vox and drums and could go with more guitar and bass.

Is your singer going to memorise the lyrics?

bigjon

I think the punters will have a good time, that's the main thing. My main top tip is for your good self - stance! Get in the habit of spreading your legs a bit wider - you'll feel like a prat but it looks so much better in photos / videos

close2u

@lloyd and @johnp .... gigs will make us tight for sure ... thanks for the boost

@Moe-Zambeek ... my guitar was backline only, not through the pa, bass was in the pa just a touch ... we have another pa rehearsal next week ... I don't know why she hasn't memorised the lyrics yet!

@bigjon Everything we have done is to try to give folk a good time when we play, so fingers crossed that you're right ... you noticed that I look a right prat! Damn,  Ithought I might get away with that! lol

I do tend to bop about in a silly manner, and sing along with no mic ... and it looks plain stupid. So, yes, note to self ... stop singing, check your dance moves and hit some cool rock 'n' roll poses!

markslade07

Agree with most of the above....looked and sounded pretty good to me, though my real big pet hate is singers who feel they need the lyrics on a music stand which, imho, just gets in the way and makes it look a bit unprofessional. Hopefully it's just for rehearsal!

Other than that, nice work!

close2u

I made a flub in the chorus here, and let the song come back to me.... here's another

http://youtu.be/Y1s-W-ltY7Y

Danny1969

The things that stand out for me is everything needs to be in time and in tune. So the first thing I notice is the drums ... the timings really dodgy so no one can lock in and it sounds a bit of a mess.  Need to tighten that and also don't have drum rolls where not needed ...... keep it simple and it will sound better

Lot of potential though to be a great band once things tighten up

Chuffola

Yes, I agree with Danny.

Basics seem ok but the timing is a bit haphazard! Not just the drums but the singer too - she's a bit rigid. Needs to loosen up - I guess that'll come with practice. Remembering the lyrics will help too - and they aren't exactly tricky lyrics to either song.

Overall though, think you've the basis for a decent band. 

Edit: Just watched the next too. Singer, for me, is the weak point - sloppy, forgetting (or making up / adding to) lyrics, very rigid with no swing. To be honest, I think there's a lot of work to do there.  

Easy for me to be critical though - I'm sat on my arse noodling in my room!!

close2u

@danny1969 @Chuffola

You're the first to mention drums ... anywhere specific you're hearing / seeing this?

Chuffola

I think it may be mainly be that the drums are so loud in the mix and there are a few fills that seem out of place. My main issue is with the vocalist really. 

close2u

Chuffola said:

Edit: Just watched the next too. 

Proud Mary or Perfect?

Chuffola said: ... To be honest, I think there's a lot of work to do there. 

okay, tricky conversation ahead

Danny1969

close2u said:

@danny1969 @Chuffola

You're the first to mention drums ... anywhere specific you're hearing / seeing this?

The first video I watched Blondie One Way & Teenage kicks  .... It's the timing, it's speeding up and slowing down not a constant BPM. Also I think until the timing things fixed the less fills the better ... the fills make the timing thing worse. 

Bear in mind I'm generally critical of timing on drummers anyway as a lot of my work is putting them in time