imported_Paul

Any memorable moments any of you from playing live?

Personally, i don't have any. Just playing something in McCormacks music was an achievement. Though i'd really like to add to that by gigging somewhere.

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Paul MacDonald || Site Founder & Co-Admin

h22s

Sometimes I step out my front door and practice and neighbourhood kids come up and listen. It's really not that big of a deal, but I'd imagine having a band behind you or a large audience in front of you would change things.

Tim

Playing live is a real buzz, an old band I was in played at the Schools Rock night, was really good, in frotn of people we knew, played two covers and 2 of our own songs, great atmosphere and the best feeling ever.

imported_Paul

*jealous* lol

I'd really like to start up a band and play live, although we have a serious lack of drummers and bassists in our area so it's quite hard really.

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Vampiro

I haven't played live for just under a year. But I found it to be both the best and worst experiences I've ever really felt. I used to feel really, really sick beforehand, but once you're out there it kind of all goes away. I still felt somewhat sick, but it's fun, loud, and enjoyable.

Unless you play in front of a crowd that doesn't like your music (like when I played in Hamilton), then it's just awful the whole time. All you really want to do is leave as quickly as possible.

Tim

Yeh if they arent into you, you feel awful, your playing goes downhill and you want to just get off the stage straight away. When I played I got the awful feeling inside too, but once into the first song it was really good.

imported_Paul

Wow.

Two polar differences.

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Shaun

ive managed to sing part of a song live during a stage invasion of a Good Shoes gig. It was cool.

imported_Paul

I suppose that is the reason though that people get all of their friends to come to gigs, to show a bit of support. I don't think many local bands these days have a huge 'following' (though saying that, some do...) I think most people just feel as if they HAVE to turn up to their mates gigs, so do so.

Shaun - Haha, brilliant. I've not heard much of the Good Shoes, though Barry (Protege) has been ranting on about them for a good while. Must check them out, as that's two people who like them. Barry's taste must not be that bad then

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Vampiro

Yeah, friend's are good for support. It helps to know that there's going to be at least a few people you know there. Also, it's just another way to generate more fans - since chances are your friends are going to spread word if they enjoy your band, or you can nudge them into doing so.

But it's surprising how large of a following local bands have. Assuming you play music that's "in" with scenesters, you'll likely have a following after your third show.

imported_Paul

Were you in a band yeah, Vampiro?

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Vampiro

Yeah, for quite awhile. But "quit" sometime after I broke my guitar. I didn't like playing a borrowed one, nor not having one to practice on.

imported_Paul

You never bought a replacement? If my guitar broke i'd work my ass off to get a replacement, as I don't think I could live without it now.

Think we should start up a rockdebate fund lol

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Vampiro

Trust me, I've been dying to get my hands on a new guitar. I even have one picked out and waiting for a purchase. It's just I lack money right now. I'm probably moving soon, so most of my paychecks go towards helping to pay for house renovations and whatnot.

So, sucks shit. But oh well, soon enough I hope.

Leonardo

This topic is interesting, so I'll bump it back up.

Playing live in front of a larger crowd seems to be very different for everyone. Some people get sick, some people euphoric, some nervous and others not. My first ever gig, I think I was 14 years old and the band was called Tetracoil, our drummer almost pissed himself he was so nervous. And to make it worse, the bassist was sick with a flu. We couldn't cancel, it was the first gig! I had to convince the drummer to actually come on stage, he just wanted to go home. Eventually he did, but he was a wreck and made countless mistakes until he was literally booed off the stage by the merciless crowd. I finished the concert with a alone, with just a single guitar and me. And we were a rock band, so it was ridiculous. I doubt we impressed anyone except maybe my mum, who was on the front row.

Except for that time, I quite like being on-stage. I've been grabbing at every opportunity to play for people ever since I started playing the guitar. When I was in 8th grade, I made an agreement with the music teacher we had that I could play a song at the end of every music class. After three years, I must've had nearly 120 miniconcerts. Great experience.

My favorite ever gig was about a year ago. It was some sort of anti-drugs setup with a coverband, through a friend of mine who was a teacher at a music school. I was asked to sing Trouble, by Coldplay, and Play That Funky Music White Boy by Wild Cherry (though maybe you've heard the Vanilla Ice or KC and the Sunshine Band?). I didn't think it would be a big thing, so I practiced with this band a few times and got the songs down, and showed up at the concert. And there must've been 600 people there. And my heart leaped out of my chest and ran around the block while I contemplated if I was going to pass out or not. Noone told me about this! But I went on stage, asked the stagecrew to please point one of those spotlights in my face so I couldn't see the crowd, and sung the songs. And I don't think I've ever sung better. It was truly euphoric, and suddenly all the stories about how playing live was the best adrenaline kick, the strongest drug, the greatest ecstacy, started to make sense.

After the show, a kid and his mum approached me and asked if I could sign his hand. He must've been like 7. I didn't have a pen, so I brought them with me to the reception of the concert hall we were in and asked to borrow one, but they had closed, or were out at the moment. We had to go across the street to the library to finally find one. And then I signed his hand, and he winked at me. I don't think I've ever seen a 7-year old wink before, but I'll never forget that.