Hmm.
I had one relatively bad overall experience. If these guys are reading this, this is not an attack, but just a recount of my experience (or as I had remembered it), I have no intention of flaming you guys (although I might have to admit that I will KPKB).
I had approached a guy on this forum who was looking for lead singer. Since my band at that point in time not really working, I decided to give this band a try. He was the lead guitarist, and he told me that they wanted to do a few songs, namely GnR, RHCP and AC/DC. I asked him if they wanted me to sing ONLY (because I play guitar also mah), he said it's ok... just learn the songs and sing only.
I added him on msn, and we chatted. I did the routine thing of asking more in-depth details on who the band members were, and turned out they all below 16 years old. I was thought to myself *okaaaayyy...*
During conversation on msn, I asked him (lead guitarist) about his playing experiences, but he tended to gravitate towards talk on what gear he had, how fantastic his guitar teacher was and anything but how well he could perform as a guitarist. And during those conversations I discovered that everyone in that band had less than one year and a half's worth of playing experience. In other words, they were noobs. But the guy said they could play fairly well. I decided to give them the benefit of doubt, and soon settled on a set list (4 songs: Sweet Child o Mine, Welcome to The Jungle, Highway to Hell, Californication) and a timeslot to jam.
On the day we were supposed to jam, the lead guitarist asked me to meet them at 4pm although the jam started at 5pm. I said ok, because I was under the impression they wanted to chat or makan or whatever. So I met him at City Hall at 4pm, maybe I was slightly late I forgot. But we walked to G77 to meet up the rest of the band. Turns out the bassist was having his bass evaluated by Beez at G77 for a possible pickup replacement. So there I was, carrying my laptop and bag (I had come from school) and standing around waiting for them to finish. I shook hands with the rhythm guitarist, said hi to the drummer and the bassist almost completely ignored me. I was kinda turned off by his behaviour, but I chose to stick to waiting.
Eventually, we went off to 4tones, where they proceeded to 'set-up'. I found myself being fascinated by the fact that out of the whole band, only the lead guitarist bothered to bring his own instrument (except bassist who had sent his bass to be repaired). So the jam started, and the band played, I sang. Now I have to admit these guys were noobs, so I couldn't expect too much of them but man it was just so... irritating:
Lead guitarist: overplays waaaay too much. Also over-usage of effects. During 'welcome to the jungle' he stopped halfway and the rest of the band inquired, to which he replied: "Oh I haven't finished learning the song".
And there I was, listening to the song over and over again before the jam to get the vocal style right.
Rhythm guitarist: likes to pose whle playing. It had no effect on his performance, but it sure gave him that 'guitar sticking out of crotch' look.
Bass player: over-ambitious. tries to play the studio's bass low-slung, in the end cannot reach and thus playing affected. Has the gall to ask me to sing with more energy.
Hello, I was at school doing my 3rd-year project. I'm tired, and I'm not exactly inspired by the band's performance.
Drummer: not too bad, but somehow gave me the impression that he wasn't interested in the song choice.
Overall: can play 60% tight, but songs are affected due to lack of musicianship.
Another factor was that they booked 4tones for 2 hours, and gave me a song list of 4 songs. Obviously the number of songs hard to fill 2 hours right? In the end, i took over on guitar for a while, and we managed to do more songs with the lead guitarist doing the vocals (not a good job, btw).
In the end, I was tired, fed up with wasting my time. I paid my money and walked away with a goodbye. Sorry to take so long reiterating this experience, and once again: no offense guys, just an honest recount.
