Your musician pet peeves

A little late to the party, but here's a gripe I'd like to share. It's really a complaint about other musicians--finding you fuckers is a real challenge. Especially if you're searching for someone local, and even moreso if you want to work with someone who is musically compatible.

I feel your pain. I am short on time to go to shows and meet new folks these days. Boom's suggestion worked for me as a 25 year-old recording engineer, but as a 35 year-old dad its not great. Even when I do get out, the people I meet are impossibly young and have no responsibilities and can be very intolerant of my weekend warrior aesthetic even if we manage to have a musical meeting of the minds! When I lived in MD it was really ugly. While Philly has the typical blues or metal syndrome of all second cities, there are a lot more good musicians with diverse taste lurking around than the Baltimore/DC axis had. I have never played with such a gaggle of losers in my life. These folks were my age or odler but apparently had never learned a damn thing about making music or even the basics of their isntruments. I had to change the strings on the rhythm guitarist's strat for her. She wrapped them on backwards when she did it herself.

But I digress, I think there should be a site that helps retired pros with families and legit 9to5 careers find eachother locally...

I feel your pain. I am short on time to go to shows and meet new folks these days. Boom's suggestion worked for me as a 25 year-old recording engineer, but as a 35 year-old dad its not great. Even when I do get out, the people I meet are impossibly young and have no responsibilities and can be very intolerant of my weekend warrior aesthetic even if we manage to have a musical meeting of the minds! When I lived in MD it was really ugly. While Philly has the typical blues or metal syndrome of all second cities, there are a lot more good musicians with diverse taste lurking around than the Baltimore/DC axis had. I have never played with such a gaggle of losers in my life. These folks were my age or odler but apparently had never learned a damn thing about making music or even the basics of their isntruments. I had to change the strings on the rhythm guitarist's strat for her. She wrapped them on backwards when she did it herself.

Yowza. I know jack and shit and that makes me feel like I'm practically a luthier by comparison.

On a related note, Jim, would you be so kind as to share more about your musical background? I'm intrigued as hell, and would love to hear anything you've worked on.

Edit: I suppose I could, you know, click on your Soundcloud link... Nevermind.

But I digress, I think there should be a site that helps retired pros with families and legit 9to5 careers find eachother locally...

Agreed. Someone mentioned Bandmix.com earlier, and it's a decent site, but their filtering sucks which makes searching based on specific criteria difficult (if not impossible). I think that's the reason why users are still thin on the ground, at least in certain geographical areas--like mine. Which is odd, given my close proximity to Boston. Although, again, my difficulty finding good collaborators might come down to wanting to play neither blues nor metal.

On a related note, Jim, would you be so kind as to share more about your musical background?

Oh wow. In short I was a jr high/highschool/college jazzband guy on guitar. I've played the violin, viola and cello (poorly) since grade school though I seldom do anymore. I got really into the guitar at age 10. In highschool I formed a band with a player who was really into working on his own guitars, gear and electronics and my love of physics and boyish desire to take things apart combined with his superior knowledge base got me into repairs and such. At the same time I was trying to learn to record and program synthesizers (I was finally getting good at piano), In art school I worked at a small studio/record label as the office guy and worked my way into the control room. I did some live mixing at home and on a major tour and then went freelance as a recording engineer. At this time Iw as (unsuccessfully) pitching songs in LA and Nashville and also did some soundtrack work for A&E and History channels. I failed tog et further into the LA thing because I hate it there and refused to relocate. Probably a mistake. I did a lot of live jazz and ethnic recordings at clubs all over the east coast at this time. I had a couple homebase studios for a while but as all the decent places in town closed shop so I decided to finally start my own rock band with this amazing singer my Dad had seen at an open mic and did Under Your Bed for 5 or 6 years before we had to call it quits due to an ongoing legal wrangle with our original manager that cost us more than one big deal. I was about to head out on the road with a country/adult contemporary singer, but she pissed off her booking agent and it all fell thru so I decided to quit professional music and get a serious day job. I was also working towards getting married at this time so it seemed like the sensible thing to do.

That's as brief as I can be.

But I digress, I think there should be a site that helps retired pros with families and legit 9to5 careers find eachother locally...

Agreed. Someone mentioned Bandmix.com earlier, and it's a decent site, but their filtering sucks which makes searching based on specific criteria difficult (if not impossible). I think that's the reason why users are still thin on the ground, at least in certain geographical areas--like mine. Which is odd, given my close proximity to Boston. Although, again, my difficulty finding good collaborators might come down to wanting to play neither blues nor metal.

I am so ready to start "weekendwarriormusicians.com"

You're near Boston? Do you know Jeff from Peerless Mastering?

Oh wow. In short I was a jr high/highschool/college jazzband guy on guitar. I've played the violin, viola and cello (poorly) since grade school though I seldom do anymore. I got really into the guitar at age 10. In highschool I formed a band with a player who was really into working on his own guitars, gear and electronics and my love of physics and boyish desire to take things apart combined with his superior knowledge base got me into repairs and such. At the same time I was trying to learn to record and program synthesizers (I was finally getting good at piano), In art school I worked at a small studio/record label as the office guy and worked my way into the control room. I did some live mixing at home and on a major tour and then went freelance as a recording engineer. At this time Iw as (unsuccessfully) pitching songs in LA and Nashville and also did some soundtrack work for A&E and History channels. I failed tog et further into the LA thing because I hate it there and refused to relocate. Probably a mistake. I did a lot of live jazz and ethnic recordings at clubs all over the east coast at this time. I had a couple homebase studios for a while but as all the decent places in town closed shop so I decided to finally start my own rock band with this amazing singer my Dad had seen at an open mic and did Under Your Bed for 5 or 6 years before we had to call it quits due to an ongoing legal wrangle with our original manager that cost us more than one big deal. I was about to head out on the road with a country/adult contemporary singer, but she pissed off her booking agent and it all fell thru so I decided to quit professional music and get a serious day job. I was also working towards getting married at this time so it seemed like the sensible thing to do.

That's as brief as I can be.

Oh wow, that's quite a tale of woe and intrigue! I'm listening to your posted recordings and there's a lot of variety to your work. It kind of makes sense now, reading your story. You've obviously been around and learned a great many skills. I appreciate that a lot. I envy your go-getter attitude and sense of motivation. It's really impressive.

Also, this track fucking rules.

I am so ready to start "weekendwarriormusicians.com"

Reserve the domain now. You've spoken it in public. If you don't, some idiot will come along and find a way to make tens of dollars using your idea.

You're near Boston? Do you know Jeff from Peerless Mastering?

I don't, actually. The band I'm in has typically used Andy Vandette out in NYC. It would probably be sensible to shop around for a local engineer. Would you recommend him?

You're near Boston? Do you know Jeff from Peerless Mastering?

I don't, actually. The band I'm in has typically used Andy Vandette out in NYC. It would probably be sensible to shop around for a local engineer. Would you recommend him?

yes, highly... and I've used Andy before for other people's stuff as well as Emily Lazar, the lodge,e tc

Jeff has a better room and gear than any of them, a set of equally golden ears, a great attitude, better rates... I could go on. He is also a great guy. If I recall he is in Newton MA which is a really nice suburb to hang in while working on your masters. I really like to use Jeff when a project was mixed down to 1/2", he has a great, modified Otari deck from their heyday.

Please link me to your band!

yes, highly... and I've used Andy before for other people's stuff as well as Emily Lazar, the lodge,e tc

Jeff has a better room and gear than any of them, a set of equally golden ears, a great attitude, better rates... I could go on. He is also a great guy.

Nice! Thank you kindly for the tip. I'll shoot him an email soon, we'll have some work lined up for him in the next couple of months, lord willin'.

Nice! Thank you kindly for the tip. I'll shoot him an email soon, we'll have some work lined up for him in the next couple of months, lord willin'.

just keep plugging away at those last few overdubs and the work will get done and get done well!

If you want to have someone fresh to the album mix it in a great room with great gear and a chillin' vibe contact Brian McTear and Jon Low at Miner Street recording in Philly. If you talk to Jon tell him Jim from UYB sent you.

just keep plugging away at those last few overdubs and the work will get done and get done well!

Heh. It's more a matter of writing some things worth recording, but yeah. Fingers crossed.

Which brings up another musician pet peeve: writing songs. Ugh :-)

Heh. It's more a matter of writing some things worth recording, but yeah. Fingers crossed.

Which brings up another musician pet peeve: writing songs. Ugh :-)

tell me about it.... sometimes you get inspired and compose an album worth of solid material, then years can pass without a single phrase of worth popping into your head!

I thought I was emerging from a massive slump recently, but the well dried up in 3 tunes :-(

Here's a pet peeve! guys who think that if you gig a pile of mediocre songs 1000 times they will miraculously get better. You will play them tighter, you may refine the arrangements, but if the song lacks good hooks and engaging themes/structure then it is what it is! Better to go back to the drawing board, take that one cool bit out of the old tune to use in a god one and wait for inspiration to strike (this does not mean noodling on the fretboard or keyboard until you stumble on something that isn't too derivative). Also people who think that the inspiration for music needs to be the same as the inspiration for the lyrics! Hate that. If the mood is the same, then you're golden.

Here's a pet peeve! guys who think that if you gig a pile of mediocre songs 1000 times they will miraculously get better. You will play them tighter, you may refine the arrangements, but if the song lacks good hooks and engaging themes/structure then it is what it is!

THIS. /thread 105,000 points to Jim.

speaking of good songs and bad songs, I am listening to your band and solo music and I really dig your killers meets psychedelic furs aesthetic

but under the arrangements there are some really memorable melodies with cool hooks that will stick in my head, the poppy sensibility is more American than the arrangements have me expecting, 'breaking my heart' has a chorus that would be at home on the 1st gin blossoms album (I showed my age twice in this post)

If you are unaware of Jon Bryon and Jason Falkner's 90s band, check this out: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-grays-mn0000060078

I think it will be right up your alley... sadly the album is out of print, but it can be had thru illegal file sharing (I didn't say that shhhhh)

speaking of good songs and bad songs, I am listening to your band and solo music and I really dig your killers meets psychedelic furs aesthetic

Ha! Much appreciated comparisons. I feel like I should have been born British. Ian McCulloch should have been my dad.

but under the arrangements there are some really memorable melodies with cool hooks that will stick in my head, the poppy sensibility is more American than the arrangements have me expecting, 'breaking my heart' has a chorus that would be at home on the 1st gin blossoms album (I showed my age twice in this post)

That band is another proposition altogether. It's definitely 90s alt-rock/pop influenced, though that has to go away on the next round of tunes. It's been a fun ride, though, and I've been lucky enough to work with some cool people--including the Replacements' touring guitarist, who runs the studio where we record. He's rad. So at least there's that.

That band is another proposition altogether. It's definitely 90s alt-rock/pop influenced, though that has to go away on the next round of tunes. It's been a fun ride, though, and I've been lucky enough to work with some cool people--including the Replacements' touring guitarist, who runs the studio where we record. He's rad. So at least there's that.

Aww hell, I love the replacements! Lucky SOB....

People who know your a musician but expect you to pull off a Jack Butler intimidation lick.

Auto Tune. Everyone feels they are 2 steps away from replacing Celine Dion because of this stuff.

When you order something as simple as a 1/4 cable and it's manufactured out of order / ruined.

Rack Cases. It bothers me that I cannot ever find one that has the exact number of unit I want, with the same features I want, with a price I want. For the price of some of them, I'm sure I could make my own and have it a lot more secure.

Plastic everything. Remember how the 80's were the Age of Wood or wallpaper and tape that LOOKED like wood? Now it's the age of cheap plastic. I don't dig it. Have you ever seen a custom cabinet that is all well built wood? It's sexy. No more plastic.

Tolex - Why would anyone want a thin piece of plywood to be covered in a rough feeling wall paper material? Wouldn't it be better to use a spray on liner like Rhino Liner?

Auto Tune. Everyone feels they are 2 steps away from replacing Celine Dion because of this stuff.

aww hell I hate Antares! and locking to grid in pro-tools too.... and unlimited overdubs! Just get in there and play a fucking take, you ponce! The stones would just put shit out warts and all and it was great.

Rack Cases. It bothers me that I cannot ever find one that has the exact number of unit I want, with the same features I want, with a price I want. For the price of some of them, I'm sure I could make my own and have it a lot more secure.

I dunno, I had a really nice Calzone touring rack for a decade or more. I assure you that even though I am quite handy I could not have made a more sturdy case for less money and mine wouldn't have been airline approved for fly dates. It had more spaces than I used, but they were handy for ventilation.

I wish the stores here were mindful enough to carry the shock ones. I want to see this inside of one and see what exactly is anti-shock. I figured it was a box suspended in a box by rubber or something but from what I can see, it's just a konex set on the inside that is bolted to the sides.