rustneversleeps + Musician in Burlington, ON

SEEKING

ABOUT

Hey! Thanks for checking out my Bandmix page! I have a ton of info here, but I feel it's all relevant & you may as well find out all the basics now! lol :)

1. I hate to start off with an issue that is potentially divisive (I'm a collaborator at heart)....but, right now, with CoVid-19 & all the new variants,
(a) I am fully vaxxed & will not meet with anyone who is not vaxxed.
(b) However, in such cases, I may wish to focus on collaborating online with some fellow musicians who'd like to record their parts live (on their own), mix down the audio & video from each person, then post the final product on Bandmix & YouTube. We could do this with our own DAWs, an app like "Jamulus", "SonoBus", "JamKazam",or use a free collaboration website like "Bandhug dot com"(a replacement for "Bandbug", which bit the dust a couple of years ago...)

Again...sorry, but I won't practice or gig with anyone unless they're fully vaxxed & keeping up with their booster shots.

2. I focus mainly on keys/synths/organ, but definitely can play rhythm gtr & do backup vox too....perhaps even some lead vox. I sold off most of my vintage synths & modern kbds...then upgraded my laptop so I can play keys/synths using VSTs/plug-ins. Nowadays, the latest VSTs sound great, plus they are reliable & a laptop is a lot more portable than most of the old synths!

3. Location: Anywhere in the GTHA. Cool with meeting near the 401, 407, or the 403 as far west as London. I'm retired & have my own transportation, so no problems driving a bit to get to/from practices/gigs.

4. Commitment: Practices once a week (perhaps more before big gigs?) & do shows a couple of times per month. Money is nice, but definitely not the sole purpose.

5. Experience: Haven't been in a gigging pop/rock band on a regular basis for the last few yrs (been focusing energy towards Christian rock music & other things). So, I don't have a huge repertoire memorized & I have a bit of rust. However, when I work with a band I'm enthused about learning/re-learning tunes & I have a good honest work ethic. I have a good ear & sense of rhythm, plus I "get it" in a wide range of styles of music.

6. If you don't have a premium membership, you can contact me at "blueznjazz" (at) "hotmail" (dot) "com

7. Attitude: I won't tolerate massive egos, pissing contests, or those who get totally wasted/stoned before/during a gig. Let's all respect the music & your bandmates, right? :-)

8. Venues: House parties, charity functions, park/festival events, pubs, clubs & corporate events are all cool. (as long as it's a place where body armour, armed guard, or a plexiglass shield in front of the stage isn't necessary, I'm good with it. lol)

9. Approach: FWIW, I prefer if everyone in a band works on their parts between practices, then during practices the gang focuses most on working on timing/groove/dynamics/etc. Multiple reps of each song on the practice agenda is important. Of course, there needs to be some flexibility, and a practice should not feel like boot camp either. Let's have fun, get to know each other, be patient, encourage each other & not rush the process, but at the same time, not lose sight of the goals & high standards.

10. My Role: I'm a team player (It's about the song, not about me), and I'm an excellent listener/communicator. I see myself as being in a supporting role during performances, not the focus of the attention all the time.

11. Input: Between performances, I like everyone to have the opportunity to offer their opinion & offer constructive suggestions/requests re: music, sound, and logistics.

12. Songwriting & Originals: I'm very open to performing/recording originals and/or providing input on writing/arranging. (I have written songs too)

Note: Everyone approaches writing lyrics/music in different ways. For me, if there was Myers-Briggs test for artistic personality, I would be called something like "Contemplative Creative", i.e. I come up with my ideas after hearing the song/concept & letting it 'ferment' in my noggin'. Then, at some point, stuff pops into my head and it usually turns out to be worthwhile. Jamming off-the-cuff isn't my thing.

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Screen name:

rustneversleeps

Member since:

Aug 03 2012

Active within 24 hours

Level of commitment:

Committed

Years playing music:

20

Gigs played:

10 to 50

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

1 night a week

Most available:

Days

Influences

1. Preferences: Right now, I'm on a real "late-70s & 1980s" binge, so New Wave, Post-Punk, Ska, Alt-80s, Electro-pop, Synth-pop, Synthwave, 80s Rock, Euro-pop, Italo, and some Goth are my main passions. Second place would be great music from the early/mid-90s (Grunge, Alt-90s, Power Pop, some dance, etc.). At the moment, I'm not looking to focus on 60s/70s 'Classic Rock', although I grew up in that era, have a zillion albums from then & I still do love it.

2. In General, I've been heavily influenced by
* Classical, Blues & Jazz (not "lite" muzak jazz!)
* British Invasion, Classic Rock, and Jangly-ish Power Pop.
* Punk, Post-Punk, New Wave, Mod, Ska, and Reggae,
* Grunge, Alt-rock, most 90s rock music, Garage rock,
* 'Heartland Rock, Folk & Gritty Country, and
* Contemporary energetic/soulful Christian rock.

3. Specific Project Ideas: Got the itch to be part of a cover band project based on one or more of the following, with (a) & (b) being my highest priority (the two combined would make for a very eclectic & energetic show!):

(a) snappy, witty New Wave-ish pop/rock/ska (The Jam, The Cars, Talking Heads, B-52's, Joe Jackson, The Smiths, Madness, early Elvis Costello, Blondie, The Beat, Missing Persons, The Pretenders, The Specials, etc),

(b) a band performing interesting & inspiring 80s music that can get people dancing (Talking Heads, Simple Minds, Madonna, The The, Bowie, Sandra, Iggy, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, Prince (& Sheila E), The Cure, Pet Shop Boys, Talk Talk, Parachute Club, New Order, Depeche Mode, The Box, Level 42, Peter Gabriel, Italo-disco, etc., etc.),

(c) a band backing a gutsy female lead with talent & musical 'attitude' (eg. Shirley Manson, Pat Benatar, Patty Smyth, Alannah Myles, Carol Pope, etc..) and an interest in projecting that talent/stage presence onto an eclectic mix of tunes,

(d) a Power-Pop/melodic rock band with crunchy/jangly guitars & great harmonies (Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub, Sloan, The Grapes of Wrath, Jeff Buckley, Foo Fighters, Cheap Trick, The Smithereens, Big Star, 54-40, Gin Blossoms, Weezer, Matthew Good, The Pursuit of Happiness, The Knack, etc)

(e) a 'Manchester-sound' band (Charlatans UK, The Verve, Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, etc...& Oasis without the egos & fights! lol,

(f) a garage/retro sound (The Black Keys, the Love Me Nots, The Clique (UK), The Chevelles, The Woggles, The Boss Martians, Dandy Warhols, The Mooney Suzuki, The Sonics, etc)

(g) a band focusing on what I call 'Heartland Rock' - Petty, Mellencamp, Springsteen, The Triffids [for the Aussies out there :) ], John Hiatt, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, etc.,

(h) or I could totally get into a tribute band for Simple Minds, Black Keys, the Foo Fighters, R.E.M., or U2....

4. Cover Band Caveats: Although I respect bands in the following genres (esp those that do the socio-political commentary thing), I'm not suited to playing 'hair metal', speed metal, doom, thrash, most rap, most current hip-hop, or non-stop, sugary-sweet country.

5. Originals Band: Totally open to being in a band focusing on originals. If the music you've written resonates with me, I'd love to support you & even assist in the writing/recording process.

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Instrument experience:

Rhythm Guitar:

Moderate

Acoustic Guitar:

Moderate

Keyboard:

Moderate

Bass Guitar:

Intermediate

Trumpet:

Intermediate

Piano:

Intermediate

Background Singer:

Intermediate

Trombone:

Beginner

EQUIPMENT

* a midi controller keyboard, an audio interface, a laptop with dozens of top-quality VSTs/plug-ins that do a GREAT job of reliably emulating vintage/modern synths & vintage/modern drum machines, plus a mic & stereo keyboard amp.

* Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Godin guitars

* really nice 'boutique' clones of Vox AC30, JTM-45 Marshall, Fender Blackface & Fender Tweed (all are tube amps).

* ....and other stuff that I probably have lost sommmmmwhere in the house. ;-) lol !
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