Forget your ‘Fleetwood Mac’ scenarios where
half of the band is sleeping with the other half, the real reasons why bands
break up are usually centered around weekly rehearsals, or there lack of.
Agreeing upon, committing to and
remembering to turn up for weekly rehearsals are just a few things that
musicians frequently struggle with. Shoelaces are often not far behind on that
list.
Some acts rehearse more than they gig, some
acts gig more than they rehearse (and it shows) but all will agree that they
don’t rehearse as often as they should. Weekly rehearsals are an absolute must.
This is the time to deal with the nuances of the songs and tighten up the
delivery of the performance. Unfortunately, this rarely happens.
One of my main projects, ‘The Barren
Spinsters’, is a two-piece with myself and a gentleman and scholar, Ben. Who I
also used to live with. This lead to a somewhat bizarre practice regime. Below
is a breakdown of a typical BS (both the band and the obvious acronym is
applicable here) rehearsal.
6:15pm Set
up gear, wait for Ben to come home from work.
6:34pm Wait
for Ben some more.
6:47pm Ben erupts
through the door, immediately starts proclaiming that tonight’s rehearsal will
be far more productive and deeply profound than any rehearsal that has come
before.
6:49pm Drinks.
6:52pm 17 minute
conversation on why John Fogerty is the greatest human being that has ever
lived.
7:09pm Ben breaks
another of my wine glasses. Laughter ensues followed by a clean up (sort of,
well at least the big bits of glass) and drinks top up. Ben is now drinking out
of a jam jar.
7:24pm The Barren
Spinsters rehearsal officially commences with a ‘warm up song’ (usually an over
extended version of a song we believe that we play well and effortlessly).
7:49pm Further
discussion on why The Barren Spinsters are the greatest band in the world.
7:53pm Drinks break.
8:01pm Start working
on new material, creative juices flow.
8:26pm We both become
sidetracked by empty glasses (or jars) and kitsch trinkety items from around
the house such as a singing barracuda that has been wall mounted for it’s Bobby
McFerrin impersonation.
8:35pm Drinks
break.
8:48pm Shirts off,
dancing in the hallway (not in a gay way, but not in what one would describe as
macho way either).
10.12pm Retire to the
portable, inflatable hot tub in the backyard for further self-congratulation on
the fruitful and productive evening and overall wisdom of joining the greatest
band in the world (all pretenses have been dropped at this stage).
3:12am Wake up to all
of the lights in the house still on and a debilitating craving for water.
Now I’m usually a fairly disciplined sort
of a chap, however getting drunk and pretending you’re a rock star for the
evening is somewhat satisfying. Having said that, we rehearse more than most
bands due to the fact that we get so very little achieved per rehearsal.
In conclusion, when it comes to rehearsals
make them fun, practice hard but party harder. Hangovers create great
music…FACT. If you don’t get a headache you’re just not trying hard enough to
make good music.
Until next time,
Brendon.
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