Looking for inspiration with how to play live with a 3 piece band?

Alnico

I thought it would be useful, especially for those who've never played live before, to watch some of the absolute professionals make a 3 piece band work really well by doing everything right.
Lets have your video's of 3 piece bands just getting it dead right and nailing every aspect of the song, the type of performance you would love to turn out with at your local jam night and take the roof off the place with.

I love this guy and his band and they've been discussed on here and loads of other forums pretty much constantly but here he is to start things off, Phil X and the Drills playing Highway to Hell pretty much perfectly and considering the way they're playing together AS a proper 3 piece band and not just 3 musicians in a room, i think it's stunning. Simple but still an easy song to ruin and really good to see it done this well. Enjoy this, a masterclass on how to play rock covers.

Wazmeister

Just watch The Jam...

Vaiai

Winery Dogs and Kings X.
I'd say Biffy Clyro too but they have Mike Vennart on guitar and a keyboard player so kinda not really a 3pc

octatonic

Try Freak Kitchen too.

not_the_dj

Plus one for Winery Dogs, the John Mayer Trio stuff is also pretty impressive for a 3 piece. 

One of the bands I play in goes out as a 3 piece occasionally (singing bass player) and I love playing in that format. 

Really helps to to have decent backing vocals. 

thomasross20

Good shout on King's X!

chrispy108

I loved being the bassist in a one guitar band, so much more room to do interesting things.

John_P

I know it's not the majority view but I'm not convinced about the lineup of the winery dogs - For me Billy gets carried away trying to fill the space when the songs are good enough already and would sound better with simpler lines playing for the song.     

Voxman

Cream, Police, ZZ Top et al

ESBlonde

Best live 3 piece I ever saw was 'The Ivy League', a sixties one hit wonder that then had decades as a succesful function cabaret band. Masterful musicianship, 3 good voices that they harmonised well and a stage craft that kept you engaged all the time. According to thier web site they have 15 gigs in Sept and 20 in October. They still have a great live reputation.
Another great british like institution was the Hampsters.

mike257

Vaiai said:

Winery Dogs and Kings X.
I'd say Biffy Clyro too but they have Mike Vennart on guitar and a keyboard player so kinda not really a 3pc

Before the addition of the extra touring guys a few years ago, they still sounded enormous live, always made a big noise for a three piece. Great use of dynamics and lots of cracking vocal harmonies. 

I think having strong vocals from multiple members really lifts a three piece that's probably the biggest thing you can do to make it sound great. Shame I can't do it!

monofin

One word: Rush!

viz

The Hamsters 

IvisonGuitars

Dynamics, Vocal harmonies and Volune! :-)

cj73

Someone, not that long ago posted a link to a Free (the band) thing from Granada tv from back in the day.   I can't find it now but it was a masterclass in theeepieceism

Alnico

cj73

That's the one.    

Alnico

Masterclass is the right word. Thanks i'd forgotten about this until you mentioned it.

IvisonGuitars

Alnico said:

Absolutely. The Masters. And the oldest member was barely 22.....if anything makes me want to play better and give up in the same moment, it's this.

slacker

and a bonus just two people

slacker

If I'm the band leader I'll always pick a trio format. The trick imho is to get a drummer that is rock solid and way better than the rest of the band. I've been lucky in that when I've led bands I'm punching well above my weight. Next up a bassist that can actually play  but doesnt overplay until needed. 

If you get the rhythm section right it is truly inspiring and one plays way better. 

I've done a lot of dep, scratch band, charity and church playing and sometimes the musicianship is truly appalling. There is nothing worse that a flaky drummer. Never put up with it. 

And finally your band needs dialogue or synergy or magic, whatever you call it. One doesnt play in a vacuum and conversations are more than one way. 

I lied finally finally you as a band need to connect with the audience. Years ago I played better in rehearsal, now after nearly 40 years I play better with an audience.