First gig with the "new band" this past weekend.

[Bonhomme Richard]

A little background. When I say new band it's a bunch of non-professional musicians I pulled together just to play and have fun at my place. I got tired of playing out but wanted to still play regularly. I was the only one of the bunch to have played out (about ten years) and all the guys were just at home players. I really believed the only difference between them and me was confidence.
Well, I worked them as is they were in a working band and with zero intentions of playing in front of anyone but we were asked to play a party. Saturday packing up the equipment to head out I felt like it was graduation day for my students because this was going to be a first for all.
We went to the gig and played for more than 4 hours and blew everyone away. They were really good and acted like professionals (except I did allow them to keep the lyrics in front of them). What impressed me the most is that there were professional musicians in the audience and they too were impressed, enough so that they were telling the guys what clubs they should be playing.
We played a lot of oldies ( a lot of Beatles) but some highlights were American Girl, While My Guitar Gently Weeps (the jam at the end was awesome), Man on the Moon, and something no one expected to hear, the Guess Who's Laughing segued right into No Time.

I just had to send this post because I was so proud of what they accomplished that I wanted to share.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Great For You, BR

We have the opposite situation. All of us had played so many gigs over our time that we are not that interested in playing live anymore. Then, with my MS, moving all the gear is not an option.

So, we play benefits, jam nights, and just record in the basement. But, it's a hobby worth having, that's for sure.

Glad things went well.
The Professor

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. I had a chance to see a video of the gig...............

last night. After seeing it (reality check) I told them that everyone did a great job for the first time out but it wasn't working quality yet. The instrument work was pretty good throughout but the harmonies needed to be tighter. Maybe I will push them too much but I want them to do it right even though I don't want to play formal gigs. A party once in a while, on our terms, suits me just fine.
Hah, I told them we are going to have to do a circle of shame with one acoustic sitting around doing harmonies.
Without the stress of working gigs I believe I have my cake and I'm eating it too.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Somebody Has To Push

Me and my boys have been together for so long that no one of us has to be the critic. We all hear the same things, and we all know how good things should be, so we don't need any one of us to say "That's not good enough." or "that needs work." We just all know. It's a comfortable situation to be in a band that tight and on the same page.

Sounds like you're heading there too. That's cool.
The Professor