Fun group to watch ... VERY Well rehearsed ... just not sure how much is programmed ...

They have a pretty big following and fill venues with people who grew up with 50's, 60's, 70's music ... they play all winter in Florida ...

Tony......I can't believe you said that. I didn't mention names because I didn't want to point daggers. But, that's the group!

In all fairness, they put out a great sound, are extremely well-rehearsed, very talented...each member could play 2-3 different instruments and more. They have a huge following in these parts and they deserve it. They also landed a contract to work as the house band in a Las Vegas casino starting in September. Almost forgot, I met the one son on a job a few years back. Nicest guy you ever want to meet. I was real happy for him to see how talented he was. Does keyboards, sings, plays the drums (saw it with my own two eyes), plays guitar (I think), can dance, sing rap, and he's a natural showman. He could be doing his own act...another Justin Timberlake.

So, I couldn't care less if they put the act over with tapes and they're not playing everything. It just made me curious if the Milli-Vanilla acts never really faded.

I was in Asbury Park one day when I was a teenager. I watched the band. The girl was a looker so I was watching her as a musician and as a "temptress." She sang and played the keyboards. Then she switched to guitar and did rock and roll. On her break, I complimented her on her talent. She responded "I'm not really that talented. I can only play three chords and then only "strum" them. But they (the audience) don't know that!).

I got a lot of mileage out of that remark. Like when I learned my first and only Classical piece on the piano and someone complimented me on it. My answer? I have a whole repertoire of Classical music but "the boss" wants me to play strictly standards.

A little white lie. We all do it in this field. Someone calls. Can you do my wedding on November 10? Hold on please while I check my "book" to see if I'm open? You know the whole month is free, but you need to make yourself more busy and more appetizing.

The reality of it is that "enhanced" performances are a standard part of the music entertainment business, from guys like us using SMFs or even styles, to top 'pop' stars, to Broadway musicals, and on and on ... while the the Jazz, Classical, and most Folk music performers are still playing what you are hearing, many - dare I say most? - other acts have some programmed material ... now this can be due to many reasons, but I think it is mostly economics ... it is a lot less expensive to have a sequenced string section than it is to hire one ... at a recent local musical play production the 'orchestra pit' consisted of a bass player, a drummer and 3 digital keyboards playing all the string, horn and other parts ... In the video you can see the father standing behind a keyboard - singing, but not playing ... now he could have stood anywhere on stage, but at least he isn't pretending to play the KB ... apparently they are comfortable with what they do ...
I think 'TBW' gig in Vegas is from September through December, as their calendar shows them in Florida in January ... but good for them ... they found their nitch, are good at it and are entertaining a LOT of people ...

Who are we to judge?

I don't know if it is 'judgement' as much as it is conversation and opinion ...

It would certainly take an amazing amount of work to put that degree of "Fakery" across.

This discussion inspired me to post a song today with my Yamaha PSR S 750 without using any of the bells and whistles ("karaoke"?).
God Bless,
Don

Don ... as obvious as it was to me that they certainly were playing and singing live, it also seemed that in a couple of places - not many, just a couple - there was no one on stage playing or singing certain parts ...
As I said, they are very talented, well rehearsed, and excellent at what they do ...

But Tony, wouldn't you call that more of a 'show' or 'production', not strictly a musical performance?

chas

I agree, Chas. Among the best I've seen in this part of the world is a group called The Hubcaps, and at one time I knew their keyboard player quite well. Unfortunately, he is no longer with them and we have lost contact with each other over the past decade. The group always put on one Hell of a show.

BTW: In response about when is it time to hang it up, most of these guys are in the mid and late 60s. The lady is the youngster in the group, in her early 50s I believe.