Boo you might be on to something..I worked a job for Donny last night, a traditional senior ballroom type dancers..I did a country tune and created interest in more country..sure some liked the country for line dancing, while others seemed to like the popular country ballads... Hope I didn't ruin your dance fans Donny..

Living in "Takes-us", country is pretty gosh-darn big round here y'all !!

My band ( http://www.aintmisbehavinband.com ) - which often plays for a pittance [good thing we've all got real gigs] - is marketed as playing "Country, Rock and Oldies", tho' it tends to be more like Country, Oldies and Rock. The country stuff ranges from Shania Twain (we got a cute gal as one of the lead singers ?? maybe that's why we get those gigs LOL !!), Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson to Willie and Hank (senior).

Still, the rock is defintely "Southern", with the likes of Skynyrd, Kentucky Headhunters and ZZ Top on the list.

Country is a much maligned, mis-labelled too broad 'genre' - IMHO. If we talk Waylon, Wille and the boys, sure... pure tradional 2-step, waltz and boot-scootin' music. Not really my cup of tea.... However, when you get into the more 'modern' country, most of it is light [and not so light] rock. 12-bar with a twang !! Cross-over country IS definitely the most popular music hereabouts and they ain't afraid to let you know how they feel about it neither.

So... we play what the crowds want to hear. It's a lot of work keeping up with the latest stuff, but when you play cover music -you have to do it !!

We try to analyze our audiences too, but in my experience you never can tell. It depends on their age, how their week went, are they tired, are they there to party or just relax. Do they want to dance or just want background music to sit and listen to. Sometimes, it's ALL of the above, and the challenge is to make 'em all happy. Many times we've played thinking we did not 'gel' that night and had great feedback. Other nights you get off stage and go "WOW.. AWESOME gig dudes !!", yet the feedback is "You guys seemed a little off tonight" Duh ????

So I don't worry too much about it anymore. Folks hereabouts (as I said) ain't shy about coming up and letting you know how they feel, or make requests, so we tend to rely on crowd feedback as much as 'reading' the audience.

Just my $0.02
Regards,
Steve

[This message has been edited by S0C9 (edited 11-03-2003).]

[This message has been edited by S0C9 (edited 11-03-2003).]

[This message has been edited by S0C9 (edited 11-03-2003).]

Hey Steve,

There's no mention of a Keyboard in the list of instruments you guys play. So, what; you play the Guitar on the Keyboard?? or something??? I think maybe you're in the wrong Forum?!?!? Shouldn't you be in a Guitar Forum somewhere? Or do you really play the Keys and you just hide that fact on your web site? You know Steve; playing a Keyboard is nothing to be ashamed of. People won't think less of you guys if you let em' know up front there's a Keyboard/Keyboardist in your line-up too. Don't tell me Texans think Keyboards are for sissies now?!?!? I've got relatives in the Dallas and Houston area and I've been to Texas on many occasions and you couldn't prove it to ME that they think Keyboardist's are wussies. I know otherwise. So if you play the Keys or one of the other members plays the Keys why don't you do the rest of us and even your potential customers a favor and be proud of that fact and wear it on your sleeve why don't ya? Either that or go join some Guitar Forum and be amongst your kind.

Best regards,
Mike

PS: You can tell by my smilies that I'm saying all this in a lighthearted manner but I think you SHOULD let the people know you have a Keyboard/Keyboardist in the Band too. That is if indeed you DO have a Keyboard/Keyboardist in your Band. If you don't I still say your in the wrong Forum Steve.

Mike,
I don't generally play keyboard in the band - tho' I have been known to on occasion !! LOL

My primary instrument(s) are guitar and bass, and I also use a Roland GR-33 guitar synth along with the guitar. I get the strings and piano sounds mostly from it. Not that they are better quality than a keyboard, but more for being able switch back and forth with relative ease - if you've ever had to play keys with a guitar hanging off you, and need a quick switch back from keys... you know what I mean !! It can get ugly real quick !!

I actually own FIVE keyboards - a Roland XP50, a Korg PA80 (hence my presence here ) and Korg Triton Studio. There's also a diddy Yamaha and a Casio toy floating around here somewher.... So - despite my lack of live playing experience - I'm in the right place !! LOL

Regards,
Steve

Steve,
I do the guitar/kb switch every now and then, and my guitar of chouce is the Parker Fly .... it's SO thin and light(less than 5 lbs) - no trouble at all reaching around it to tickle the keys.
It's also a concave shape so it "hugs" your belly instead of protruding outward like an Ovation roundback. Sweet instrument. 2 humbuckers and a piezo transducer under the saddle. The acoustic sound is amazing.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by keybplayer:
[B]Hey Steve,

I think maybe you're in the wrong Forum?!?!? Shouldn't you be in a Guitar Forum somewhere? Either that or go join some Guitar Forum and be amongst your kind. [IMG]Best regards,
Mike


I don't care how many smilies you use that post was in poor taste. I'm so tired of list cops telling others they don't belong. I thought this list was different!
Just the way I see IT
Smokey

I don't care how many smilies you use that post was in poor taste. I'm so tired of list cops telling others they don't belong. I thought this list was different!
Just the way I see IT
Smokey[/B][/QUOTE]

Hi Smokey, Please, judge this forum as a whole, with all that it has in it.
Grandma would say, take the bitter with the better.

This is a good forum, if it were not, I would be elsewhere.

Smokey, have a good day,
Life is good,John C.

His singer Shanna can be in my forum anytime.

Tom,
she's happily married with 3 kids !! LOL

I guess that qualifies you Steve! Come to think of it I now remember you mentioning the GR-33 Guitar a while back and since it has Keys it qualifies too. I guess I was a little hard on you in my previous post; at least I guess it came across that way through my rather lackadaisical choice of words although my intent was a harmless one. I guess I was trying to defend our Forums purpose which is discussing Arranger Keyboards and Keyboards in general with Keybordists and those that play them. I got taken back I reckon when I saw your web site with no mention of a Keyboardist or a Keyboard. The light bulb didn't go on about the GR-33 either until you mentioned it in your last post. I guess I should investigate further before I make quick assumptions. Maybe it would help if you post more often Steve, then I can be more aware of your playing habits and the Gear you use. Sometimes things get jumbled around with different members in trying to keep track of the Gear they use and don't use especially when members don't post that often. Take UD for example: I never know from one day to the next what Gear he has and is using or has just gotten rid of, etc. But he has a HUGE advantage over you Steve in the number of posts he manages to post. In some ways I feel Dave is like a Brother and it's like I've known him for years when in fact it has only been about a year and a half since I started posting to this Forum. The reason that is is because UD makes his 'presence' known here by his frequent and also highly informative and intelligent and interesting posts. That's not to say that yours aren't Steve.

Best regards,
Mike



[This message has been edited by keybplayer (edited 11-06-2003).]