Hits for money/misses for fun

[Glenn Barton]

Started 60s cover band- The Shreds Of Evidence about 3 years ago. Went thru a few members to get a group that worked. Been gigging since Aug. 2011. Doing well known hits, radio neglected Nuggets and a couple comp type things like Choc. Watchband, Rabbit MacKay. This band has helped with the bills, hence the "mostly known" play list. Being close to Chicago, I could play all Hideout-hip stuff and get paid nothing or do Love/Prunes/Amboy Dukes/Seeds/Beatles/Stones/DC5/Yardbirds and make some decent scratch and still throw in a couple obscurities a night. First time we played Misty Lane the crowd got up and danced to it despite the ocassional tempo changes. Nobody in the audience knew it. Next up, a few more obscure cuts after my band decides what they like from what I turn them on to. I'm gigging with a 1964 Fender Vibrolux Reverb, 4th off the line, 1st month made. Purchaesd from Judy Z. of local 60s all girl group- The Same (name coined by Paul Samson of Cellar fame). Plus '66 SG I've had for 30 years and a '76 Tele custom (orig. owner). Also Conrad 12 string electric that looks like Hoffner bass. Having a lot of fun. Gotta' get more biz cards and scrounge some more gigs.

  

[Glenn Barton]

Oh yeah, when you play in the city, you make next to nothing, play the suburbs and you can actually make a little dough. There are exceptions but that is the general rule. You can play whatever you want in Chicago but ya' gotta' play the hits to get booked in the burbs. We sneak in a few oddballs anyway. That was my plan.

[John Battles]

That's true....Some Chicago bands give up ,  and focus completely on the suburbs , while other , suburban , bands that could do well in Chicago , don't want to bother with it. Chicago has this great , great history of Garage Rock , but , I'm being KIND when I say I've seen 10 , maybe 12 bands that fit remotely into that category in the 25 years I've been here.....BUT , give 'em a band that sounds like they're playing their guitars with their dicks , and they'll be on it like untalented on Keanu Reaves.

[Glenn Barton]

Great analogy! It's too bad you can't make money playin' more obscure stuff. I will try to push the envelope out here, though. Remember The Sindells, Bob Buchholz' band? Killer comp set lists!

 

[John Battles]

 Glenn , Well , if it's GOOD music , it ought to stand on it's own , but the burbs are tribute band territory. A few original bands slip thru teh cracks , I guess.....

My friend , Mark (Now , part - time , with The Fuzztones.) had a band called The Crookshanks , maybe you saw 'em. They did all covers of some largely obvious Garage standards , but he said enuff people in the suburbs LIKED them , but , did'nt really understand it.....when quite a few of these songs used to be on Oldies radio , in rotation.....But a lot of 'em would be obscure to non - collectors ,that's a given. But , today ,with You Tube and MP3 , THERE'S NO  EXCUSE , especially if you're starting a band , for being clueless.....

Sure ,The Sindells were too below the radar , never got to play the higher - visibility clubs , that I recall..... I only ever saw 'em at places like the old Lower Links , and The Gallery. But , Bob fronted The Havox , several years later, and they got around.I have'nt seen him in two years or so. I saw him at a party , and , before that , at a Roky Erickson gig at The Abbey , which must have been about 6 years ago. Roky liked Bob's "Art Van" !

[Glenn Barton]

Yeah, couldn't remember The Havox name. Got a cd by them. I also know Mark of The Crookshanks and have a dvd of them live, I think. We are doing a lot of the hits from then that are now obscure Nuggets if you go by Major radio. There is a very good audience for those here in the burbs and people remember them. I have a post card or shot of the art van, dig it, too. I have to get off my butt and make a tape of obscure garage psych comp cuts for the other 3 band members so they can each choose one or 2 they'd like to do. They've been pretty receptive so far and dig the ones we already play.