band issues
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 7:50 pm
idk if this is the right forum for this, but here goes.
I'm getting frustrated with my drummer. He's a good guy and a great drummer, but it feels like he isn't taking my band too seriously. One thing I can see contributing to that is one of the other bands he plays in got signed to a pretty big indie label shortly after I let him join my band; that band hasn't gotten much publicity (you won't see them on Pitchfork or anything, but they're on a label that Pitchfork-type bands are on), but they still play shows in Brooklyn and at European festivals sometimes, while I'm still just playing locally at bars (and in a city that's sort of isolated and not really known for having much of a music scene).
I've been trying to record an EP with him, and he's been simultaneously very self-conscious and very flaky about it. A few months ago, we tracked drums for all but one song, but he said he wasn't feeling good that day and messed up a couple fills, so he doesn't want me to use those takes. The thing is, I thought they were great, usable takes. Sure, maybe there was a fill that was a bit "eh", but it wouldn't be that noticeable once all the other instruments were tracked. I tried telling that to him, but he wouldn't hear it.
The next time I was able to talk him into trying was yesterday (at least three months later). The day before, he said he wanted to finish some demos for his solo project then try to do some of my stuff, and that he wanted to start at 11 am. No big deal. I was late leaving and got there at noon, and I ended up waking him up because he'd pulled a near all nighter for no reason. We ended up starting at 1; he finished his songs, then told me he wanted to practice our new songs more before recording them, and we practiced (minus our bassist) and that was it. No recording for my stuff, but I guess he hadn't exactly promised he would in the first place. He also told me he doesn't want to work at his place because he feels like he can't get anything done; the thing is, he has a legit home studio there and he's the only member of my band who does.
So the feeling I get is that he's a bit too much of a perfectionist and that he's not really dedicated to my band. I don't really know any other drummers, and I want to get this EP recorded by April and keep this band together at least until August or so. What should I do?
I'm getting frustrated with my drummer. He's a good guy and a great drummer, but it feels like he isn't taking my band too seriously. One thing I can see contributing to that is one of the other bands he plays in got signed to a pretty big indie label shortly after I let him join my band; that band hasn't gotten much publicity (you won't see them on Pitchfork or anything, but they're on a label that Pitchfork-type bands are on), but they still play shows in Brooklyn and at European festivals sometimes, while I'm still just playing locally at bars (and in a city that's sort of isolated and not really known for having much of a music scene).
I've been trying to record an EP with him, and he's been simultaneously very self-conscious and very flaky about it. A few months ago, we tracked drums for all but one song, but he said he wasn't feeling good that day and messed up a couple fills, so he doesn't want me to use those takes. The thing is, I thought they were great, usable takes. Sure, maybe there was a fill that was a bit "eh", but it wouldn't be that noticeable once all the other instruments were tracked. I tried telling that to him, but he wouldn't hear it.
The next time I was able to talk him into trying was yesterday (at least three months later). The day before, he said he wanted to finish some demos for his solo project then try to do some of my stuff, and that he wanted to start at 11 am. No big deal. I was late leaving and got there at noon, and I ended up waking him up because he'd pulled a near all nighter for no reason. We ended up starting at 1; he finished his songs, then told me he wanted to practice our new songs more before recording them, and we practiced (minus our bassist) and that was it. No recording for my stuff, but I guess he hadn't exactly promised he would in the first place. He also told me he doesn't want to work at his place because he feels like he can't get anything done; the thing is, he has a legit home studio there and he's the only member of my band who does.
So the feeling I get is that he's a bit too much of a perfectionist and that he's not really dedicated to my band. I don't really know any other drummers, and I want to get this EP recorded by April and keep this band together at least until August or so. What should I do?
