Yeah, but I do others for Mardis Gras parties that seem to go over very well. Just not one I would be using for MY audiences.

Gary

Mine would say ... "thanks for all the work, Davey!"

Maybe it would say 'When do I get MY cut?!' LOL

Mine is probably going 'What? Can't find a REAL drummer again?!'

Hee, heee .... only had to pay him once, and he STILL shows up!
"Good little Brucie ..."

Ha...good one Dave.

We had a drummer named Jack who always managed to get drunk at the wrong times, and we lost a few gigs due to his rather nasty demeanor and sloppy playing when inebriated.

The bass player, Gary, bought a Roland drum machine (I forget which model) and we fired Jack.

At the next gig, Gary introduced the drum machine as "Jack in the Box".

Besides keeping nice steady time, it didn't drink, never came late, and never threw up in the van on the way home.

Ian

Pretty low expectations for the drums part if a machine was an acceptable substitute..!

It's kind of sad that the pool of quality players is so bad in our areas (or the pool of good drummers willing to play with US is so small!) that, rather than fire the bad drummer and hire a GOOD one, we'd go and get a machine!

You know, ever seen a live band use MIDI tracks for all the keyboard parts? No keyboard player... Ever thought it sounded good? I doubt it. Same with fake drums. Nobody without a vested interest would ever admit it sounded even a fraction as good as a good real drummer.

But if we can't get one to work with us (they are out there!), I still think that says far more about us than it does about the drummers...

Unfortunately, at the time, we were sort of forced into getting the drum machine, for the reason you stated above, which was, in our case, the lack of quality players available. The good ones were already working steady.

Even sadder was our old former drummer, Jack, wound up in a wheel chair and is presently on methadone.

Living in an area with a relatively small population does have it's disadvantages.

The next group I played with, a 6-piece, called Sir Edmund, was fortunate enough to have a fine drummer, and, of course, having that interaction was wonderful.

However, the experience with the drum machine was very helpful later on when I started playing/teaching using the Yamaha Electone and eventually,the arranger keyboard.

Ian

Sorry to see the subject hijacked but for the original question, No, I wouldn't try to do that song. I'd feel ridiculous sitting behind my keyboard singing Na Na endlessly. I can not imagine a situation where I would want to do it. Madi Gras party? Saints Go Marching and a few more that people recognize and then off to the same stuff they want all the time.
IE: Are we going to do the Cuban Shuffle ? AKA-- Cupid Shuffle ! HA ! JMHP

As for drummers. I had a great duo with a drummer who sang most of the songs. I took voice lessons and began to sing a bit and when he announced he was moving from NJ to Fla. I just switched to the Korg Drum Machine I had been fooling with at home. Took it to our regular Sunday night gig and no one blinked, just kept dancing. Never looked back. I kept upgrading machines up to the Roland CR80 and then started looking into arrangers. From two keyboards, bass pedals and drum machine to one board that does it all. Ain't technology great!
I am now also gigging with a 5 piece Blues Band and enjoy the "Live" playing but damn, the drummer is loud !

Hey, that's right, Bill...we have drifted from the topic.

I doubt if I'd do the tune either, although I must say, I like the beat.

Perhaps we could use a sample on our keyboards to do the "Hey, Na Na" part?

Ian

You guys need to get down here for Mardi Gras some time... Oh When the Saints? Please! Maybe at the game (Who dat?!)

Try some Professor Longhair, some Meters, some Galactic, some Dirty Dozen, the Nevilles, some Henry Butler...

The Saints Go Marching In? If that's what you think Mardi Gras is all about, better stick to senior homes!