playing Dave for an audience

gravesRR7 · Unread post by **gravesRR7** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 9:29 pm

ok guys, i really really appreciate the advice, it has really helped. Here is what i've decided to play....
i just found out that we can only do one act. in my case thats one song. so i made a medley of daves songs. they all have transitions which i've made up myslef, and i think its pretty good, tell me what you all think please.

#40----->
lie in our graves---->
tripping billies--->
grey street--->
satellite---->
the stone---->
big eyed fish---->
crash---->
ants marching---->
pantala naga pampa---->
warehouse (stop-time intro)

this is an 11minute medley, focusing on LIOG for 2.5 minutes and stone and warehouse are substantial chunks too. i sing parts of all of the songs except for big eyed fish, and crash. i thought warhouse was a great closing, i do the intro then go into "thats our blood....." at the end, into that very last slowly picked chord. tell me what you think

KevinGTArch · Unread post by **KevinGTArch** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 10:00 pm

While I have to admire your tenacity and enthusiam for playing so much of Dave's work I do have to ask - are you sure you want to do that?

It's hard to pick JUST one DMB song to play when there are so many great ones. But that's 11 DMB songs in 11 minutes - not really enough time to do any of them justice even if you do devote more time to some over others.

My first question would be are you playing and singing? If you're just playing then that's one thing. I would say you're on the right track with changing up songs but I would offer this advice. First, cut down your list to give yourself a little more time to dig into each song. Since you just figured out the list, you may not realize it but 60 seconds really isn't a long time. Give yourself and the audience/judges time to really get into each song clip..don't be afraid of improv or adding your own little creative twists. Second, make sure you play with some of these segues a bit. I can technically see the logic in switching from Billies to Grey and Satellite to Stone but you may find out that musically it just doesn't happen. My first reaction is to be a little weary of something like PNP into Warehouse. Maybe without the stop-time intro it would be fine but that's just my opinion. This is your show - it's up to your creative aspirations.

Ok, if you are planning on singing I would plan on doing no more than one MAYBE two songs. A lot and I mean A LOT of Dave's guitar work is complimented by his lyrical writing abilitiy. To only sing 60 seconds of a song, again in my opinion, is to do them a grave injustice. For example, Dave burns me that he's stopped singing the third verse to Grey Street as many years as he spent perfecting it. Part of the talent would be to capture the emotions in each song as conveyed by the lyrics and vocals and that just can't be done in a minute. Not to mention it would be akward as hell singing about a monekey sitting up in his tree and then belting out crash into me, baby.

Again, this is your show so it's entirely up to you but since you asked for advice I am going to lay it aaaaalll out. I've never really done a talent show persay but I've been doing the open mic and club circuit for awhile....I guess that's experience.

Good luck and I'll be happy to offer any other suggestions!

Kevin

Der-ak · Unread post by **Der-ak** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 11:15 pm

IMHO If you only have one act/song to show your stuff, and want to play Dave, I don't think an epic medely is the way to go. It is far better to play ONE SONG and play it WELL than to bust out 11 minutes of Dave droppings. First of all.... Only the hardcore Dave fans in your audience will get what you're trying to do and secondly,... if they do follow you... you're not giving them enough of a chance to get into the grove of things. Thats one of my favorite things about playing/listening/dancing to Dave: THE GROOVE!
If you want to appeal to as many people as possible, judges, teachers, Dave fans, and non-fans alike... it's best to play something with a little more cohesion. From my experience, if you want to get people into you,... make 'em want to dance, tap their feet or even sing along. Pick something like Billies or WWYS or So Much to Say. Billies and SMTS are my personal fave's in that not only do they have a kick-ass continuous groove but they're super-fun to play and are really awesome to watch being played as well. The movement of your hand up and down the fretboard in these two songs looks really impressive to guitarists and non-guitarists alike.
FINALLY: The MOST IMPORTANT aspect to WHATEVER you play,.... is be sure to FEEL it. If you're having a blast with what you're doing and smiling and feeling the joy that these songs are overflowing with... it will spread like wildfire. Good luck man, and remember to have FUN. Playing for people who are there for the show and there to support their schoolmates is a blast... it's nothing like playing a bar-show to drunken imbeciles who won't stop asking for Skynard or who insist on burping in your microphone.

Best of luck graves. :wink:

D*

KevinGTArch · Unread post by **KevinGTArch** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 12:01 am

Well said, well said - hahaha dave droppings.

But seriously, I completely agree with THE GROOVE.

If you want to play for 11 minutes I would highly recommend just doing the #40 -> LIOG or even try the new Blue Water -> LIOG.

You can really play LIOG forever, it's definately got a good groove, and there is a lot of room to spice it up and change up the jams to make it more interesting. If you want I can help you with this one.

Just an idea.

snoopdoug1 · Unread post by **snoopdoug1** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 6:59 am

I agree with you guys too. Any non-hardcore dave fan isn't going to understand.

gravesRR7 · Unread post by **gravesRR7** » Tue Apr 08, 2003 6:33 pm

ok, i did have a gut feeling that i was doing something a bit akward. it may be a little strange to try to do all those songs. i made some good transitons and i think they sound good, but i agree that people who aren't dave fans won't know what i'm doing, and people who are will want to hear more of one song. I've always loved LIOG, so i'm rethinking my setlist and i think i might just go #40-->LIOG, and perhaps into billies. but not more than that. i just got caught up in the momont.

Kevin, yes i would deff love to have some help with LIOG jam. i've come up with my own jams on it, but i love the song so much, i'm always open to suggestions. can you tab some of those out?

KevinGTArch · Unread post by **KevinGTArch** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 12:41 am

You bet, I'd love to help you out.

How soon is the talent show? I'll more than likely be pretty wrapped up until the weekend but at that point I'll have some free time to tab out and maybe even do a sound clip or two for ya.

Most of the stuff I do to spice up LIOG is in the long jam. If you're playing it solo you can add in some really subtle slides, variations of the chords used (adding 4ths, etc), and gradually changing the rhythym.

I do a couple of other things throughout the song that me and a piano player friend and I have worked on that I'll try to tab out.

Just one thing you have to agree to before I help you - you HAVE to finish with the "till we dance away" that Dave TOO often leaves out. That song just BEGS for that ending every time!

billywestom · Unread post by **billywestom** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 1:31 am

gravesRR7 wrote:ok, i did have a gut feeling that i was doing something a bit akward. it may be a little strange to try to do all those songs. i made some good transitons and i think they sound good, but i agree that people who aren't dave fans won't know what i'm doing, and people who are will want to hear more of one song. I've always loved LIOG, so i'm rethinking my setlist and i think i might just go #40-->LIOG, and perhaps into billies. but not more than that. i just got caught up in the momont.

Kevin, yes i would deff love to have some help with LIOG jam. i've come up with my own jams on it, but i love the song so much, i'm always open to suggestions. can you tab some of those out?

that sounds cool, cause the LIOG jam can go smoothly right into the billies intro...im sure you already thought of that

gravesRR7 · Unread post by **gravesRR7** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 6:23 am

lol, we think alike. i was fully planning to do the "till we dance away" at the end, i like it. and the show is in a month from yesterday. plenty of time, and i learn fast. i really appreciate your offer to help me though, and i know there's a lot you can do with that jam, i add a lot of palm mutes and slides too, maybe we can help eachother. but i look foreward to hearing more from you

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