"Hey you guys....sing something..."

Spud

Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Posts: 666
Oz
3 News Pins

Posted on Sep 10 2007 06:01 AM

I think everyone should sing 'Apache Boy"

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=eTKL8MNH95Q

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Sep 10 2007 10:36 AM

My favorite is when people have the slightest, tangental knowledge of surf music, and want to show it off to their friends. So what song do they request???

"PLAY PULP FICTION!!!!"

I can't count how many times we've heard that. We did have one particularly enthusiastic drunk who kept requesting Guns 'n Roses at a show we should have never booked.

Ron, in direct response to your question, you explain to them, as Man or Astro-Man? did that you sing in a frequency so high that their puny earth ears could never pick it up, but if they bring their dogs to the show, they'd have a blast.

~B~

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surfer

Joined: Apr 12, 2007
Posts: 428
South Florida

Posted on Sep 11 2007 02:26 PM

Which brings up the stories of agents booking you anywhere they can make cent, and being paired with bands that were, well, not quite the same feel. Got booked to play "Hotdogs" sports bar, on redneck free beer night with a bad called "Dr. gonzo's psyco circus". No more agent, no more hotdogs, no more "FREEBIRD".

—

www.cutbacksurfband.com

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Tuck

Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
12 Calendar Pins

Posted on Sep 11 2007 04:47 PM

MattCrunk
Finally out of desperation I lead the band into a very comical rendition of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" ...

Always useful to know some off-the-wall material (relative to your genre) for odd situations. It allows you to follow that useful rule of thumb, "Play what they want to hear." (The corrollary is "find a place where they like what you play.")

I did ruffle some feathers by thinking it would be funny to inject the lyrics to Werewolves of London into Sweet Home Alabama. Seems the crowd didn't find it nearly so amusing.

Next time try the Werewolves of Memphis or something like that ... People like topical references, especially jokes at someone else's expense. It's a bit hard to get them into an instrumental, since you're pretty much down to the title, an occasional interjection, or that difficult art - the musical interjection. (I love the little tag end of Chief Whoopin' Koff in Pollo del Mar's Navajo Joe.)

Sounds like you did/do a fun show!

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Tuck

Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
12 Calendar Pins

Posted on Sep 11 2007 05:17 PM

casey
When we are asked to "sing something", I usually just say (truthfully) that we really don't sing so well.

Or "I'm afraid we all took a vow of silence." Or, "We used to do "Help Me, Rhonda" but then our voices changed."

Unfortunately, people who insist on vocals in everything usually don't have a very high standard for the singing. Now days a lot don't even insist on music with the vocals. There is definitely a widespread feeling that music without vocals is somehow deformed, incomplete, or maybe just "classical."

If they still press it we'll say OK, then play "Tequila", asking for a little help from the audience on the vocal.

Sounds good. I think this is why the Beloved Invaders interject an audience participation version of "These Boots" into most shows.

There are some old vocal standards for surf bands which traditionally don't require much singing, e.g., the "Surfin' Bird," or some of the Crossfires' material. Or anything you like with vocals that aren't too taxing and sound reasonable even if you don't sing well. Think Johnny Cash, Keith Relf, Ramones, etc. And you can do a lot with shouts, grunts, ad libs and voice-overs. They might not notice you don't sing if you're not solemnly silent. Movement is also distracting.

If they insist on vocals they probably really mean "not that sound." So it might help to change to something different in the instrumental line.

I remember a heckler who once kept yelling at at a local band, "Play something from the 60s!" I think he meant that he wanted something that didn't sound so "old." (As it happens, everything they were playing was from the 60's.) As a member of the audience who loved the old sound, I finally went over and engaged him in a discussion of dates. Fortunately he wasn't belligerent and was soon happily telling me all his favorite songs (mostly 70s covers of country songs from the 50s).

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kenposurf

Joined: Feb 23, 2007
Posts: 1650
Santa Rosa, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 11 2007 06:11 PM

Last summer we did this one outdoor gig and this fellow kept yelling for Bell Bottom Blues..at least not Free Bird!

—

www.northofmalibu.com

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pyrobob

Joined: Apr 27, 2006
Posts: 251
Auburn, CA

Posted on Sep 27 2007 11:02 AM

At a bar gig a few months ago there was this drunk fella who came up right in front of us and started yelling "play sumpin good! Sing sumpin! Whassa matter you Boys don't sing?" In a moment of sheer brilliance, The Brett Cole points his finger & yells at the guy, "What do we look like, a bunch of fuin Psys!?". So then the guy sulks off to the side somewhere & shows up 5 minutes later dancin up a storm.
It's all good until someone gets hurt? Right?
Bob Bitchin

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LRDrummer

Joined: Apr 06, 2006
Posts: 94

Posted on Sep 27 2007 11:31 AM

Great story Bob. The Brett Cole cracks me up.

-Taylor

—

drummer-Lava Rats

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RickshawRecords

Joined: Mar 07, 2006
Posts: 80
San Diego, CA

Posted on Sep 27 2007 12:00 PM

The Brett's story is the best. I'm gonna use it.

Usually, if people ask us to sing, I'll step-up to the mic and do my best Oscar Meyer theme song ("My baloney has a first name...") and subsequently tell people:

"<u>That</u> is why we do not sing."

Rickshaw

—

Complete DIY Ribbon Microphone plans available from:
www.RickshawRecords.com

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Ruhar

Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
United States

Posted on Sep 27 2007 12:05 PM

I don't know Rick, you do a mean backup harmony vocal

—

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook

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pyrobob

Joined: Apr 27, 2006
Posts: 251
Auburn, CA

Posted on Sep 27 2007 11:02 PM

So Rick, you like to sing about your bolgna in public? HEE HEE
What's even funnier about that story is that I've actually seen The Brett sing a few verses of The Naked Song!!! Hoowee, I tell you what, that was some good times.
Bob Bitchin

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spskins

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3763
tn
United States

Posted on Sep 28 2007 08:22 AM

One time Dave broke a string at a bar in Milwaukee (this is like 12 yrs ago) and there was this uncomfortable lull as he didn't have a backup guitar ready to go. I got the crowd clapping a surf beat and started singing "Shake Hands" by ZZ and de Maskers, but I changed the lyrics for Wisconsin to : "Shake Hands, Shake Hands, Shake Hands with Jeffrey Dahmer. Shake Hands, Shake Hands auf wiedersehn, goodbye." Everyone was singing along by the 2nd verse. Beer can do wonders sometimes.

—

http://www.satanspilgrims.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553
https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.surfyindustries.com

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MikeG

Joined: Mar 29, 2006
Posts: 309
Springfield, Oregon

Posted on Oct 01 2007 12:12 PM

We usually sing probably 3-4 songs per set anyway, it keeps non-surf aficionado audiences interested, and allows us to expose them to the real shit.

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Spud

Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Posts: 666
Oz
3 News Pins

Posted on Oct 01 2007 06:07 PM

Good plan, attack from concealment.

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Spud Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 666 Oz	Posted on Sep 10 2007 06:01 AM I think everyone should sing 'Apache Boy" http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=eTKL8MNH95Q Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Sep 10 2007 10:36 AM My favorite is when people have the slightest, tangental knowledge of surf music, and want to show it off to their friends. So what song do they request??? "PLAY PULP FICTION!!!!" I can't count how many times we've heard that. We did have one particularly enthusiastic drunk who kept requesting Guns 'n Roses at a show we should have never booked. Ron, in direct response to your question, you explain to them, as Man or Astro-Man? did that you sing in a frequency so high that their puny earth ears could never pick it up, but if they bring their dogs to the show, they'd have a blast. ~B~ Top
surfer Joined: Apr 12, 2007 Posts: 428 South Florida	Posted on Sep 11 2007 02:26 PM Which brings up the stories of agents booking you anywhere they can make cent, and being paired with bands that were, well, not quite the same feel. Got booked to play "Hotdogs" sports bar, on redneck free beer night with a bad called "Dr. gonzo's psyco circus". No more agent, no more hotdogs, no more "FREEBIRD". — www.cutbacksurfband.com Top
Tuck Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 3166 Denver, CO	Posted on Sep 11 2007 04:47 PM MattCrunk Finally out of desperation I lead the band into a very comical rendition of "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" ... Always useful to know some off-the-wall material (relative to your genre) for odd situations. It allows you to follow that useful rule of thumb, "Play what they want to hear." (The corrollary is "find a place where they like what you play.") I did ruffle some feathers by thinking it would be funny to inject the lyrics to Werewolves of London into Sweet Home Alabama. Seems the crowd didn't find it nearly so amusing. Next time try the Werewolves of Memphis or something like that ... People like topical references, especially jokes at someone else's expense. It's a bit hard to get them into an instrumental, since you're pretty much down to the title, an occasional interjection, or that difficult art - the musical interjection. (I love the little tag end of Chief Whoopin' Koff in Pollo del Mar's Navajo Joe.) Sounds like you did/do a fun show! Top
Tuck Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 3166 Denver, CO	Posted on Sep 11 2007 05:17 PM casey When we are asked to "sing something", I usually just say (truthfully) that we really don't sing so well. Or "I'm afraid we all took a vow of silence." Or, "We used to do "Help Me, Rhonda" but then our voices changed." Unfortunately, people who insist on vocals in everything usually don't have a very high standard for the singing. Now days a lot don't even insist on music with the vocals. There is definitely a widespread feeling that music without vocals is somehow deformed, incomplete, or maybe just "classical." If they still press it we'll say OK, then play "Tequila", asking for a little help from the audience on the vocal. Sounds good. I think this is why the Beloved Invaders interject an audience participation version of "These Boots" into most shows. There are some old vocal standards for surf bands which traditionally don't require much singing, e.g., the "Surfin' Bird," or some of the Crossfires' material. Or anything you like with vocals that aren't too taxing and sound reasonable even if you don't sing well. Think Johnny Cash, Keith Relf, Ramones, etc. And you can do a lot with shouts, grunts, ad libs and voice-overs. They might not notice you don't sing if you're not solemnly silent. Movement is also distracting. If they insist on vocals they probably really mean "not that sound." So it might help to change to something different in the instrumental line. I remember a heckler who once kept yelling at at a local band, "Play something from the 60s!" I think he meant that he wanted something that didn't sound so "old." (As it happens, everything they were playing was from the 60's.) As a member of the audience who loved the old sound, I finally went over and engaged him in a discussion of dates. Fortunately he wasn't belligerent and was soon happily telling me all his favorite songs (mostly 70s covers of country songs from the 50s). Top
kenposurf Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 1650 Santa Rosa, CA	Posted on Sep 11 2007 06:11 PM Last summer we did this one outdoor gig and this fellow kept yelling for Bell Bottom Blues..at least not Free Bird! — www.northofmalibu.com Top
pyrobob Joined: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 251 Auburn, CA	Posted on Sep 27 2007 11:02 AM At a bar gig a few months ago there was this drunk fella who came up right in front of us and started yelling "play sumpin good! Sing sumpin! Whassa matter you Boys don't sing?" In a moment of sheer brilliance, The Brett Cole points his finger & yells at the guy, "What do we look like, a bunch of fuin Psys!?". So then the guy sulks off to the side somewhere & shows up 5 minutes later dancin up a storm. It's all good until someone gets hurt? Right? Bob Bitchin Top
LRDrummer Joined: Apr 06, 2006 Posts: 94	Posted on Sep 27 2007 11:31 AM Great story Bob. The Brett Cole cracks me up. -Taylor — drummer-Lava Rats Top
RickshawRecords Joined: Mar 07, 2006 Posts: 80 San Diego, CA	Posted on Sep 27 2007 12:00 PM The Brett's story is the best. I'm gonna use it. Usually, if people ask us to sing, I'll step-up to the mic and do my best Oscar Meyer theme song ("My baloney has a first name...") and subsequently tell people: "<u>That</u> is why we do not sing." Rickshaw — Complete DIY Ribbon Microphone plans available from: www.RickshawRecords.com Top
Ruhar Joined: Jun 21, 2007 Posts: 3909 San Diego, CA	Posted on Sep 27 2007 12:05 PM I don't know Rick, you do a mean backup harmony vocal — Ryan The Secret Samurai Website The Secret Samurai on Facebook Top
pyrobob Joined: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 251 Auburn, CA	Posted on Sep 27 2007 11:02 PM So Rick, you like to sing about your bolgna in public? HEE HEE What's even funnier about that story is that I've actually seen The Brett sing a few verses of The Naked Song!!! Hoowee, I tell you what, that was some good times. Bob Bitchin Top
spskins Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3763 tn	Posted on Sep 28 2007 08:22 AM One time Dave broke a string at a bar in Milwaukee (this is like 12 yrs ago) and there was this uncomfortable lull as he didn't have a backup guitar ready to go. I got the crowd clapping a surf beat and started singing "Shake Hands" by ZZ and de Maskers, but I changed the lyrics for Wisconsin to : "Shake Hands, Shake Hands, Shake Hands with Jeffrey Dahmer. Shake Hands, Shake Hands auf wiedersehn, goodbye." Everyone was singing along by the 2nd verse. Beer can do wonders sometimes. — http://www.satanspilgrims.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Satans-Pilgrims/8210228553 https://satanspilgrims.bandcamp.com/ http://www.surfyindustries.com Top
MikeG Joined: Mar 29, 2006 Posts: 309 Springfield, Oregon	Posted on Oct 01 2007 12:12 PM We usually sing probably 3-4 songs per set anyway, it keeps non-surf aficionado audiences interested, and allows us to expose them to the real shit. Top
Spud Joined: Jul 23, 2007 Posts: 666 Oz	Posted on Oct 01 2007 06:07 PM Good plan, attack from concealment. Top

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"Hey you guys....sing something..."