I would love some opinions.

[Tunes]

My band played a show recently, and we're fairly new. I found that someone recorded the last song of our set. I've reviewed the tape too many times to count trying to find out what we or I can improve. I would love for some fresh minds to take a listen and give me their opinions, constructive criticism, ideas, etc... there is a bassist, he just wasn't in frame unfortunately. I play lead guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1fVY-zXsR8&feature=g-all-u

oh yeah, i'm not too fond of the band name, it wasn't my idea. but tell me if you like the name because that might help me with how uncomfortable it makes me feel when I tell people what the band is named.

 

[Cognisant]

Not a particularly catchy name that one, sorry

Anyway it sounds good, and I'm not a musician myself or anything but if you really want my opinion I think if you want to develop your act maybe look into some voice training, not that you can't sing just fine just that from what little I know there's a lot more to singing than just being able to sing, e.g. Can you speak as you breath in? Can you yell from your diaphragm? Can you warble your voice? I hear some people can sound like a duet while singing by themselves, somehow making two sounds at the same time.

I don't know if you have to do that kind of stuff but this is mostly stuff I've heard about in popular science articles about how this or that famous singer makes the sounds that they do, so if you're looking to make it big I think it would definitely be worth exploring all available avenues for personal development.

Likewise the song's structure and lyrics seemed very "constructed", again it's not something I've personally looked into but I've noticed just from various songs I've heard how incredibly repetitive and nonsensical they can be, which isn't a good thing, but it just goes to show how the style/feeling/uh-something is apparently more important, the only musician I've know that successfully combined clever lyrics with a catchy tune was Dr Steel, I mean sure Tim Minchin's music is great for the one off listen but you don't have it playing on your iPod as you walk down the street.

 

[Tunes]

yeah its not too catchy, too many plurals and and its too long as far as names go for me.
I myself am not the singer, I'm playing the lead guitar, but i will certainly pass on the voice advice to him. We try to keep the songs structured, but also keep variety. this one being a little more structured. Thanks a ton, I am constantly searching for more opinions and trying to make everything as good as it can possibly get. Thanks again for the input.

 

[Cognisant]

Ah, well learn to sing, there's more money in it

 

[Meer]

The girl should have a tambourine to jangle during the exciting parts.

 

[Tunes]

Ah, well learn to sing, there's more money in it

ha, I know. I can sing and play the guitar, im just not particularly confident about my voice and/or writing.

and our percussionist is using a tambourine with one of his feet, you just can't see it.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

More dissonance. Keep it more unpredictable to keep the crowd interested. Using this particular song as an example, progressively speed and louden the verses and chords up until the point at 3:04, and I would even argue to make that part shorter if some of the songs seem to sound the same. Instead of the girl in the chorus repeating "just say yes", make her seem more uncertain. Use this to more obviously make the song tell a story with more suspense, i.e. increasingly excited guy seeking an answer from an undecisive girl. The lead singer needs a dose of Dave Grohl, IMO.

EDIT* After a few more videos, I'm thinking that yellow stuff....

EDIT#2* Just as an example of what I'm thinking, although I'm not thinking of something quite as pronounced: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjBeDJxBBQs

 

[Tunes]

the related videos don't represent the rest of our stuff very well. that's all old, we have about 10 new songs.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Ah, okay.

And sounds the same doesn't mean it sounds bad, just... the same

 

[Tunes]

I know, wasn't taking it that way. I just know the related videos aren't that great lol. they were recorded while i was away hiking this summer in California lol.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Who's the babe? I'd smash that.

 

[Tunes]

Who's the babe? I'd smash that.

lol, eloquently put sir. she's cool, but unfortunately it is my understanding that she isn't a part of the band anymore. oh well, shit happens.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Meh. I wouldn't really smash that anyhow, since I'm married. She did stick out, though, but mostly because it looked like she was there to look good. Her part in the music was minor at best.

The music... what was with that weird false ending? Why no kickass solo?

 

[Tunes]

we had yet to really rehearse an ending, and only had one practice before the performance, so we just went with it. i already had like, 3 or 4 solos in the song. I dont want to over do it.

 

[pjoa09]

we had yet to really rehearse an ending, and only had one practice before the performance, so we just went with it. i already had like, 3 or 4 solos in the song. I dont want to over do it.

YOU CAN NEVER OVERDO A SOLO.





You could reduce the distortion though.

 

[Tunes]

YOU CAN NEVER OVERDO A SOLO.





You could reduce the distortion though.

haha, yeah i just don't want the solos to start to sound too similar since I'm improvising.

 

[LarsMac]

I dunno. Hard to really base a serious opinion on one piece.
I like the guitar work.
and the lead singer has some projection. I like how he holds the ax. Like it's part of him.

I think a better finale would work to close the set. Something that brings the crowd into it.

If that video was the thing that I had to use to decide to book y'all for a gig, I'm afraid I'd have to keep looking.

The girl seems extraneous, and her dress style separates her from the group. This can work if she is the lead, and does most of the vocals, and y'all are backing her.

Suggest she find clothing that kinda fits with what the rest are wearing.
It is not just about the music. How you present to the audience visually makes a difference.

As for the name, well, I reckon it can work. Names are hard to come up with.
Good luck

 

[Tunes]

I dunno. Hard to really base a serious opinion on one piece.
I like the guitar work.
and the lead singer has some projection. I like how he holds the ax. Like it's part of him.

I think a better finale would work to close the set. Something that brings the crowd into it.

If that video was the thing that I had to use to decide to book y'all for a gig, I'm afraid I'd have to keep looking.

The girl seems extraneous, and her dress style separates her from the group. This can work if she is the lead, and does most of the vocals, and y'all are backing her.

Suggest she find clothing that kinda fits with what the rest are wearing.
It is not just about the music. How you present to the audience visually makes a difference.

As for the name, well, I reckon it can work. Names are hard to come up with.
Good luck

we felt the same about the end of the song, were working on a big ending now. this is usually the last song of our set. well, the girl doesn't seem to be in the band as of a couple days ago if i understand correctly.

 

[LarsMac]

That might be a good thing.
But again, I only see one piece, so hard to tell a lot.

I have some friends in Tally.
Let me know where you will be, and I'll pass it on. They are really into the local music scene.

 

[Tunes]

That might be a good thing.
But again, I only see one piece, so hard to tell a lot.

I have some friends in Tally.
Let me know where you will be, and I'll pass it on. They are really into the local music scene.

well, this saturday were playin at the all saints all day music fest. were on at 7:30-8:30pm.

 

[Hadoblado]

You are the chap on the left yes? I would say you need to try and interact with the audience a little more, it's kinda expected of guitarists. The lady could take note too, but if she is not in the band any more then that's probably unimportant.
If you feel uncomfortable with crowd interaction, it entirely acceptable to approach it with satire, most people can't tell the difference, and those who can probably appreciate it.

Your singer has charisma and good presence, but could probably do with some lessons or practice. I'm no singing guru, but a diverse vocalist can make or break a band, and there really is no limit to how inventive a singer can be.

The percussionist does has no obvious area of improvement, a percussionist is generally not expected to do much but keep the beat and volume where it needs to be. If he is looking to improve, I would suggest he looks to juggling more bells and whistles in his repertoire. The style he uses now will fit in most mellow bands, but if he wants to add something more to the performance he needs to take it up a notch and do more. I would emphasise that there is nothing actually wrong with his style, but he would perhaps be more suited to a bigger band where it is expected to have some background musicians.

You are being remarkably mature in your asking for and acceptance of criticism, it's admirable.

 

[NinjaSurfer]

INTPs may not be the best music critics to assist you

But also, they could be the best.

 

[snafupants]

yeah its not too catchy, too many plurals and and its too long as far as names go for me.
I myself am not the singer, I'm playing the lead guitar, but i will certainly pass on the voice advice to him. We try to keep the songs structured, but also keep variety. this one being a little more structured. Thanks a ton, I am constantly searching for more opinions and trying to make everything as good as it can possibly get. Thanks again for the input.

I knew within five seconds that was an INTP back there!

 

[Tunes]

You are the chap on the left yes? I would say you need to try and interact with the audience a little more, it's kinda expected of guitarists. The lady could take note too, but if she is not in the band any more then that's probably unimportant.
If you feel uncomfortable with crowd interaction, it entirely acceptable to approach it with satire, most people can't tell the difference, and those who can probably appreciate it.

Your singer has charisma and good presence, but could probably do with some lessons or practice. I'm no singing guru, but a diverse vocalist can make or break a band, and there really is no limit to how inventive a singer can be.

The percussionist does has no obvious area of improvement, a percussionist is generally not expected to do much but keep the beat and volume where it needs to be. If he is looking to improve, I would suggest he looks to juggling more bells and whistles in his repertoire. The style he uses now will fit in most mellow bands, but if he wants to add something more to the performance he needs to take it up a notch and do more. I would emphasise that there is nothing actually wrong with his style, but he would perhaps be more suited to a bigger band where it is expected to have some background musicians.

You are being remarkably mature in your asking for and acceptance of criticism, it's admirable.

yeah, im not too big on crowd inter reaction. i have no problem with performing on stage, im confident about my ability to play. just not so good with people. and the percussionist plays a drum kit as well. just didn't have the time to bring it to this particular show.

 

[Hadoblado]

Probably my most favouritist performance ever was by an old-school metal band called Anvil. To tell you the truth, I did not enjoy the music so much (not really my style), but the bass player was so charismatic I was enthralled for the entire 50 minute set.

 

[pjoa09]

INTPs may not be the best music critics to assist you

But also, they could be the best.

I think we can't critique it to make it a billboard top 10.