Big Chris & D'Bare Bones Band News!

Quote :

Hopefully you'll find some musicians

As I have said in the past, if you aren't trying to break into pop country or the CCM scene and are trying to start a band around Nashville, you don't stand much of a chance of finding musicians.  If you can't offer someone a paying gig right off the bat around Nashville, you don't stand much of a chance.  Lastly, if you live over 30 minutes outside of Nashville, you don't stand much of a chance of finding musicians.  Trust me--I have done a lot of musician referral boards and ran ads many times since 2003.  I can count all of my band members I've acquired for either MO1 or BC&D'BBB on ONE finger.

I redid some solo parts and did my vocals for song #9 called "Free".


Then, I laid the rhythm guitar tracks down for song #10 called "Lord, How I Love The Way She Walks".  It is both a confession of a weakness of mine wanting to look at other ladies and a prayer to be ever more faithful to my godly wife.  The title is meant to be controversial.  Even with what the song is about, I do expect some folks to not get past the 1st verse due to being a bit too uptight.

I will probably scrap the rhythm guitar tracks and just start over.  As I was playing around with the vocal parts, I realized that I have more music than I have lyrics.  LOL  While some would say to write more and just fill it in, I don't want to do that.  I've written more than enough to convey my thoughts and will just redo the music.  Unfortunately, this will trim the song down to under 3 minutes.

Nothing wrong with releasing a shorter song.  Not all songs have to fit within the 3-5 minute range to be good. CCR's song "Fortunate Son" is only about 2-1/2 minutes long, and it's fantastic.  Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" is actually just under 2 minutes, and I've never heard anyone complaining that it was too short.

Back in those days, a song over 3 1/2 minutes could be the kiss of death.  Radio wanted songs between 2 to 3 mins. so they could maximize the amount of songs played while still having plenty of advertising in between.  Nowadays, you are lucky to hear 3 songs before you go to the next commercial break.  This is why I am using mostly my MP3 player or Sirus/XM radio.  I don't want to hear all those commercials if I don't have to!

alldatndensum wrote:

Back in those days, a song over 3 1/2 minutes could be the kiss of death.  Radio wanted songs between 2 to 3 mins. so they could maximize the amount of songs played while still having plenty of advertising in between.  Nowadays, you are lucky to hear 3 songs before you go to the next commercial break.  This is why I am using mostly my MP3 player or Sirus/XM radio.  I don't want to hear all those commercials if I don't have to!

I almost never listen to the radio for that very reason.  I can't stand listening to commercials.
Same with television, nearly everything I watch is on Netflix or Hulu, anything I watch from television I DVR so that I can skip through the commercials.

I have the idea that someone is working very hard to finish a new CD.

rockerVu2 wrote:

I have the idea that someone is working very hard to finish a new CD.

I have been, but due to preparations this week for my summer youth trip next week, there won't be a lot going on.  Maybe I can get this done the following week as far as recording my parts go.

Staybrite wrote:

Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" is actually just under 2 minutes, and I've never heard anyone complaining that it was too short.

I think it's too short.

ishmael81 wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" is actually just under 2 minutes, and I've never heard anyone complaining that it was too short.

I think it's too short.

Fine, I've never heard anyone of merit say it was too short.

Staybrite wrote:

ishmael81 wrote:

Staybrite wrote:

Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" is actually just under 2 minutes, and I've never heard anyone complaining that it was too short.

I think it's too short.

Fine, I've never heard anyone of merit say it was too short.

Roasted.

If you think it's too short, just play it twice.  That way it's twice as long... 

Fundy wrote:

If you think it's too short, just play it twice.  That way it's twice as long... 

Then I could throw a couple of sections into the middle that have nothing to do with the song and say I am a progressive blues band!

I've talked to a couple of musicians.  One as I had already discussed didn't want to hook up as he thought the project was too secular.  I still laugh and shake my head at that.

I had a bass player tell me that he wasn't interested as he is into more progressive music but wants to work in CCM.  Progressive and CCM don't go in the same sentence.  Boring and mundane is more like it.  I'd rather be playing 3 barre blues!

alldatndensum wrote:

I had a bass player tell me that he wasn't interested as he is into more progressive music but wants to work in CCM.  Progressive and CCM don't go in the same sentence.  Boring and mundane is more like it.  I'd rather be playing 3 barre blues!

I'm totally with you there.  I would have to get paid a ridiculous amount of money to consider playing in a CCM band.

I'll give you $8 million... although I may not be able to pay you...

Fundy wrote:

I'll give you $8 million... although I may not be able to pay you...

That sounds like most bands on tour right now.

Really looking forward to some great new tunes from such a talented artist !

Here's a little aside...

I was at work today and I had the album playing in the background.  A colleague came across to talk to me, and after a while said "I really like that, sounds like really good stuff."  I know that's no sale, but he's never said anything positive about the music I listen to before, but he picked up on "When Your Time Comes" and enjoyed listening to it.

Very cool!

Fundy wrote:

Here's a little aside...

I was at work today and I had the album playing in the background.  A colleague came across to talk to me, and after a while said "I really like that, sounds like really good stuff."  I know that's no sale, but he's never said anything positive about the music I listen to before, but he picked up on "When Your Time Comes" and enjoyed listening to it.

That's awesome!!!

Tell him to "like" the Big Chris page on Facebook and have him send me a PM.  I will send him a free download link.

Since it is rainy today, I hope to spend some time redoing the rhythm guitar tracks on "Lord, How I Love The Way She Walks".  I've tried to come up with something to fill the music I have but just can't.  So, I will shorten it.  Then, it will time to work on Fundy's song!

I finished the song from yesterday except for drums.  That's 10 songs that are ready for some beats!

Instead of working on Fundy's song as I am still having trouble with the lyrical flow and will need to rewrite the piece to make it work with my music, I decided to have some fun.  I did a southern gospel tape back in the mid 90s.  One of the songs on it was an a cappella track that I did on it.  I thought it would be cool to resurrect that song, add a fourth part to the harmonies, and give the album some diversity.  I still have to redo the tenor part as I tried to do it way too high and it sounds terrible to me.  I will try to record these parts again tomorrow and finish the song.  If I get it right, I will record the track with my phone and post it for you all to hear.

Love acappella!  I'm looking forward to that!