Grateful Dead Music Forum

https://soundcloud.com/august-west-band

Just curious what y'all think?

It is only available for download, that I can see. Why not use a host that streams?

I'm not using any host...it's a link a friend of mine sent me. I will ask him why he's chosen to host it there.

FYI the clip is of my band...just looking for feedback from folks who like this type of music.

The link streams for me btw.

Try pressing download...it should start streaming. I agree it's a little misleading.

jackaroo wrote:I'm not using any host...it's a link a friend of mine sent me. I will ask him why he's chosen to host it there.

FYI the clip is of my band...just looking for feedback from folks who like this type of music.

The link streams for me btw.

Try pressing download...it should start streaming. I agree it's a little misleading.

Yep. You guys sound great! Lot's of energy and the fun of playing shines through.

Nope. I tried your suggestion of clicking "download" and it downloaded. It's not deceiving. Download is download. Just as I suspected.

A lot of people won't bother to download. Just tryin to help ya out.

Sorry. I appreciate the help. Im on an iPad...perhaps it's different?

Not too picky about downloading something and then deleting it if I don't want to keep it.

So...seeing as how you downloaded it, did you listen?

Sure, fun band. But I don't think I'd last all night with the drummer playing on 10 the whole time. The Dead had a dynamic range from 1 to 10, and when they really built the mountain and took it to 10, it was dramatic. But playing on 10 all night long is just fatiguing and makes it hard to go anywhere, almost impossible to have a musical conversation. 10 becomes small after a while if it never drops below that. Just a little bit of study of Billy Kreutzman should fix all that bombastic overplaying and bashing. He's clearly very talented, but perhaps just not well versed in Grateful Dead dynamics or Lesh/Kreutzman's grooves. Billy's right foot and amazing restraint can teach any drummer quite a bit. But I'm nitpicking.

Fun band, yeah I'd go.


Brad

Yes I did and I would agree with Brad.

Brad,

Thanks for the insight. Very thoughtful reply.

This is something I've been talking with the guys about...while trying not to single out the drummer.

He get excited and stays that way...At least on uptempo stuff. He's really quite good at ballads and quieter songs. I understand though. It's hard to make it fast/uptempo without making it a little too frantic. I think he thinks the Dead were a "rock" band...but really Bill always struck me as this wonderful blend of jazz and blues. Oddly that's our drummers roots too...so I'm shocked he's not better at staying on 6 rather than 10. He isn't very familiar with the band though. He just started listening when we got together this fall. I think he sees the me digging in and just goes harder.

The dead were hard workers in that they played and (at first) rehearsed a lot, but they really were great at taking their time and taking it easy. The vibe is a little lazy...I tend to like a little more intensity and energy than the band put out most nights though.

100% agree with the observation. That said, it works live. I mean, we aren't going for a spot on reproduction or anything.

Cheers,

J

Well, that's what I gather, that he's very talented and very capable of whatever he'd want to do, just not real versed in the Dead's intensity levels and WIDE swing of dynamic range. That can definitely be learned over time with more exposure and study. Even if not trying to clone the Dead, it's that dynamic restraint that makes the explosive moments SO special, don't wanna over do it.

B

Thanks...

I took your advice to heart, and had some more of the tunes uploaded to Soundcloud (no download?)

Brokedown
Scar~Fire
Truckin~the Other one ~Wharf Rat
Sugaree

There's more...