- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 1 month ago by
.
-
Topic
-
Never really asked you guys your opinion of my (read also: our) stuff on this site, but I”ve figured (as well as had enough pops tonight to build up the courage…..or as they say “liquid courage”) to ask you your opinion:
We posted a new song on our page at http://www.myspace.com/heavydime and maybe it’s because I have nothing better to do at 2 a.m. before I go to bed, but I figured I’d ask your opinion anyways on our older stuff, as well as our newest addition to the audio tracks. It’s a Trey Anastasio (Phish guitarist) cover of “Drifting” off of one of his solo albums. (this is the cover project I’m in called Heavy Dime). I’s be the one singing and playing lead.
On a side note, I think I’m finally starting to realize (which might be interpreted as “maturing to the point of realization of”) what it takes to not only form a band, but to make it “work”.
Basically, it takes a shittttload of work, and if you aren’t surrounded by folks that are willing and able to put in the same sort of effort you are, there’s a good chance you may be dissapointed. Also, if you’re doing the cover thing, there’s only so far you can go, and if you’re approaching the original front, good luck, especially with the type of musc we (I) play, which I guess for a lack of a better word is considered “jam band” music, though I don’t agree with some of the conotations that sometimes get attached to it. I like to think of it as more “exploratory music” than any type of label, but that’s because I enjoy feeling out the moment as it comes wihout knowing what’s around the corner. There’s something to be said for putting 5 musicians in a room and having them just go off on an un-arranged musical roller coaster and having it come together. It’s a very symbiotic relationship that I find very cool…..and very hard to find. I think I feed into more of the unchartered territory because it’s more in the moment.
I’ve got a tangent (not bad, more philispohical, I guess) to go off on, but 7 a.m. is comin’ mighty early…..
Benny…..out!
-
Replies
-
-
Tim, thanks much for the kynd comments man, much obliged. I do agree with you on the “Cortez” (even though I may be biased) – I fukking love that version (sorry for that….I am that passionate about it). By far the best we’ve ever done, and glad we were taping that show.
I have taken off the “Hush”, not just because of the reaction, but the guy singing it is no longer in the band, so it doesn’t really make sense to keep it on there, I guess.
In it’s place I’ve put an oooooooold song from way back when (so far back it’s artist is listed as “Traditional”) called “Timber Ho! (Jerry)”, which I sing. A cool song about a mule who gets his ass handed to him (no pun intended) and then turns on his owner. Very ominous song, a strange yet attractive beat and dark conotations in terms of the melody (song is in Bbm, key is G#/Ab). I love it. Can’t get enough of it. It’s not the best version we’ve ever done, but it’s the only one we have recorded (again, this is a live version).
Any takers/thoughts on this one?
Thanks again guys!
-
Bathtub Gin: very cool, kinda good-period Bowie-esque (live stuff that is) like the second half, very much in my head-space.
Cortez…sweet, cranked on headphones, got headache now but love the atmosphere. I think for this track the sound effects pushed up to breaking point works, not always but works well here.
Drifting: song’s cool, live recording so levels a bit hmm… Bass player knows when to fill or leave space, very nice. You all seem to click in the second half which makes it good to listen too. I love hearing a band that sounds like they want to be doing what they’re doing.
Hush: similar problem to Lee, I had the Deep Purple version from my dad and Kula Shaker myself and loved both, I like it with loads of grunt (the song that is!)
Burning…Cool, I’d like more of the improv stuff, that was cool. Man I’m sounding like Beavis now, this happens about 10pm.
You are so lucky if you’ve found a unit you can jam with (especially a five piece) I’m not even good (read confident) enough to jam myself yet but the few times its clicked have been ‘kin awesome.
Not the most useful ops as I’m a bit ‘refreshed’ myself but all in all, excellent. (Waynes World! Party Time!) I’m like a walking cliche tonight sorry…
-
Thanks for listening & for the reply Lee. 😀
All the songs are covers, and all versions were recorded live at either this party we do every year in a big ol’ field or at a bar (we don’t do any studio stuff being that it’s a cover band). Everything regarding the jams (like in Bathtub) and solos are made up on the spot – we literally have no idea where it’s going to go once we get into it. We try to do it differently every time out for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that we find it more fun & challenging that way. It gives us a chance to shoot for the moon and go places we’ve never been, though sometimes you inevitably get into a place you don’t want to be in :lol:. But that’s the beauty of live music. You can fly as high as the stars or fall flat on your face. It’s real.
Drifting is by Trey Anastasio (former Phish frontman) and Bathtub Gin is by Phish as well, and those are the only 2 songs I am singing lead on; the other guys take the other 3 songs.
-
Bathtub gin – i like it a lot, bit overlong, i love odd unpredictable things happening in songs, Bathtub has it all, very nice thought out solo, great vocal, i like the vocal harmony at 3:50 unexpected and lifts the song, i also like the sloppy feel to the song. if i was presented with that as a first track on an unknown CD i would be very happy.
Cortez the killer – A little bit predictable, great vocal, very listenable, i like the guitar work. The sound effects kind of take over in the mix.
Good song though.Hush – Umm.. sorry but i like the original too much.
Drifting – Sounds like ‘skateaway’ or ‘tunnel of love’ is Drifting a cover? it sounds very mainstream in it’s composition, which isn’t a bad thing.
Burning down the house – Back on form! i like this cover!!, has a lot of odd sonic turns in it, sounds live too!!, you put your own stamp on it, you do actualy sound like David Byrne, i thought that on the first tune i listened to. Someone does a very good take of The Stereophonics right at the end!!!
(Might have been the PA)Out of all the tunes i liked ‘Gin’ the most, thought that was excellent, ‘Cortez’ and ‘Burning’ were very good, but the other 2 were a bit umm.. for me.
Anyone else have any thoughts??
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.