Just had a great music festival here in Kirriemuir, celebrating all things AC/DC and Bon Scott since he was born here. lots of bands all playing different stuff etc happens every year so if you are an AC/DC fan book a trip to Scotland next year!
Anyway saw two bands play where I really wanted to throw a tomato, one metal band the music was really good, tight etc but the singer oh dear, no passion, hand in pocket, out of tune, no energy. Musicians practice their instruments daily, I got the feeling the only time this guy sang was at weekly band practice. he was young so maybe lacked the confidence, but his band members were spot on.
Another hard rock band the singer was great, out of tune a bit but he owned the stage so forgiven, but the guitarists just played like they were practicing in their rooms, dull
If you play in an uptempo original band you really have to set out to own the stage and entertain! if one guy is putting his heart into it and you are not it is you that looks like the plonka, if you are in a performing band you need to learn some stage craft, get a practice room with a big mirror, if you don't like what you see will anybody else.
Rant over
The AC/DC cover band and I saw on Friday night was bloody brilliant , and I am not a huge AC/DC fan
Comments
I once read a derisory review of an old band of mine that added "and a note to Mr Bass Player, flailing around like a maniac on stage does not equal passion". Frankly, given that he was writing a review for a short lived and fairly dreadful blog, and we'd sold out a 600 cap room for a headline show, I wasn't all that arsed. My MySpace profile (christ, that dates it!) proudly bore the slogan "All Flail, No Passion" for some time afterwards.
(formerly miserneil)
@stagestruck, I was perhaps been a bit too judgemental above, I didn't think the music was dull, but it needed some stage craft and confidence to make it believable and entertaining. Maybe there is no one teaching this stuff, maybe that's where having a good manager comes into play.
I do agree about many bands who don't engage the audience or put on a show as they should. I guess at some point in the past showmanship fell by the wayside. I suppose for an originals band, they may not perforn to an audience that often and it might only be 20-30 minute slots they get a chance to play. It's tough to learn to engage a crowd under those circumstances I suppose!