Looking for input on a free concert performance

[Uhtrinity]

Myself and some friends got together and played on a free stage last Saturday. We have been playing for less than a month, maybe 7 rehearsals total, and only 3 - 4 times on this song. Just looking for some constructive criticism, ie where do you think we need to improve. I for one know I missed a few queues somewhere near the middle to the end, the same with the guitarist. Btw, I am the drummer.

Here is one of the songs, Bullet With Butterfly Wings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVSXUoeX2eQ

edit: The other 4 songs are on the YouTube account.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

How much would you be paying me to attend?

 

[Uhtrinity]

How much would you be paying me to attend?

Free means I don't get paid, but neither do you

 

[Eli]

I didn't know you were a drummer. Will check out at lunch(no youtube at work).

 

[Uhtrinity]

I didn't know you were a drummer. Will check out at lunch(no youtube at work).

A 20 yr amateur, honestly I don't play as often as I should

 

[Ns1]

dear god don't let that singer ever sing this again

 

[Uhtrinity]

dear god don't let that singer ever sing this again

Most of the criticism I have received has been on vocals. That song is probably out out of his range. It has also been suggested to leave the megaphone at home.

 

[Nik]

1) you take too long to get started, the singer is BORING the crowd. You're there to play music, tell him to stfu and play

2) you need more ENERGY. Look like you want to be there

3) your guitarist needs a PICK

I didn't make it past the 2 minute mark.

In 2 minutes, the song should have been almost over instead of just starting.

 

[NoCreativity]

leave the megaphone at home.

the singer is BORING the crowd

These.

 

[Malak]

Vocals are usually the toughest part of a band. You are either fantastic or horrid.

 

[CRXican]

not a good song for that singer

 

[Uhtrinity]

Thanks, now we are getting somewhere.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Your drumming is almost decent, the singer sucks and doesnt even know the lyrics. You are very salvagable, the singer needs to be put out of his misery, the megaphone thing is even worse...


You guys need to work on staying together as a band

Sorry, trying to be brutally honest.

 

[Ns1]

edit: The other 4 songs are on the YouTube account.

he actually sounds better with the megaphone on machinehead

 

[Uhtrinity]

Your drumming is almost decent, the singer sucks and doesnt even know the lyrics. You are very salvagable, the singer needs to be put out of his misery, the megaphone thing is even worse...


You guys need to work on staying together as a band

Sorry, trying to be brutally honest.

No worries, this is exactly why I posted the video. What was my drumming lacking? I'm hoping that the the "staying together as a band" part comes with practice. The Bassist is new, as in 2 - 3 rehearsals, the rest of us have only been together for twice that. This whole 'opportunity' was last minute and I felt barely ready as/is.

 

[stargazr]

Your drumming is almost decent, the singer sucks and doesnt even know the lyrics. You are very salvagable, the singer needs to be put out of his misery, the megaphone thing is even worse...


You guys need to work on staying together as a band

Sorry, trying to be brutally honest.

This. A song has a beginning, a middle and an end. That was very uneven, especially the ending. You (drummer OP) are the timekeeper. Take responsibility. You should be doing something through the whole song to keep the rhythm going. Even in the quiet parts, if it's just a soft quarter note cymbal beat or the hi-hat on 2 and 4 it will help anchor the rest of the band, and will help you stay in time.

I would concentrate on keeping it simple with the drums at first. Keep time, keep it steady. Practicing alone with a metronome is a very helpful.

Keep working on your fills, but when playing live make sure you can pull it off without disrupting the flow of the song, or else don't try.

You guys have something though, don't get me wrong. I admire anyone who has the balls to get up there. It's not easy.

Keep at it, playing together is the best thing you can do. It takes time. You're young - go for it.

 

[Imyourzero]

You did a much better job of making me forget that Jimmy Chamberlin was not on the drums than the singer did of making me forget that Corgan wasn't on vocals.

No other band will ever be able to sound exactly like the Smashing Pumpkins, but even as a reinterpretation/cover of this song I thought it was lacking...especially in terms of the vocals and grunge-y feel of the original.

I hate to be critical but SP was my favorite band during the mid-late 90s and this just doesn't do them justice.

Please don't let him attempt Geek U.S.A....have you guys ever tried playing Cherub Rock? Or Zero. That might be more in his range.

 

[Uhtrinity]

You did a much better job of making me forget that Jimmy Chamberlin was not on the drums than the singer did of making me forget that Corgan wasn't on vocals.

No other band will ever be able to sound exactly like the Smashing Pumpkins, but even as a reinterpretation/cover of this song I thought it was lacking...especially in terms of the vocals and grunge-y feel of the original.

I hate to be critical but SP was my favorite band during the mid-late 90s and this just doesn't do them justice.

Please don't let him attempt Geek U.S.A....have you guys ever tried playing Cherub Rock? Or Zero. That might be more in his range.

We were actually going more the style of this version:
Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet with Butterfly Wings (Live NYC) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ8_dswW-18

We hadn't tried any of the others. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Nik]

I think all of your (band's) issues can be solved by putting more hours on the clock together and replacing vocals.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

You had me singing along. I think the lead singer would sound killer on Danzig /Mother. gonna check out the other songs

 

[herm0016]

vocals are not good.
get things moving. i was bored before the song started.
if you need to bring it down a octive, do it. don't try to make it just like the orig. it is a cover.
find a sound person that can work with you. a good sound person can make a mediocre band sound pretty good.

it could be an issue of monitors too, even great vocalist sounds like crap if the monitors are not mixed correctly.

i have recorded and mixed live

i have worked with the guys that mix for Alan Parsons and many other groups.

 

[Nik]

lol... if it's one thing I've learned over the years it's that the sound guy always thinks he's the only one that can fix it xD

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Listened to other songs. Machinehead pretty cool, Snow Patrol song was awful due to lead singer totally screwing it up. Singer has a deepish voice. Have you guys tried any STP, maybe some more Bush songs, Creed?

 

[Uhtrinity]

lol... if it's one thing I've learned over the years it's that the sound guy always thinks he's the only one that can fix it xD

Very little time was put into sound setup, not that I'm saying that would have solved the issues.

Listened to other songs. Machinehead pretty cool, Snow Patrol song was awful due to lead singer totally screwing it up. Singer has a deepish voice. Have you guys tried any STP, maybe some more Bush songs, Creed?

Machinehead was one of the first songs that we tried that seemed to click. They have Glycerine down, but it doesn't have a drum part and didn't want to mess it up by adding one on such short notice. Since we ran out of time Glycerine was dropped. We have STP on the lists of want to do's, just haven't gotten that far. Not a huge Creed fan myself, but the other members have mentioned it. Before this I was more interested in originals or complete reinterpretations. I always hated trying to fill someone elses shoes.

 

[herm0016]

lol... if it's one thing I've learned over the years it's that the sound guy always thinks he's the only one that can fix it xD

that's not what i said

if a singer can not hear him or herself clearly they usually try to compensate when in reality they are singing fine and just cant here themselves.

maybe get a drum shield to help the guy out?