Rock Star Status

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Alright Rock Stars and Juke Box Heroes, how far did you make it before winding up in this dark corner of the internet? What was your favorite venue? Were you ever in a house band? Headliner or Opening Act? What did/does your average size gig look like during your peak run? Did you win the school talent show or lose to the Karate Kid like Steve Vai?

 

[japetus]

I played some local festivals at the Ampitheater (Pointfest). Played all the small/mid/large clubs around here.I would say my favorite overall place to play is the Pageant in St. Louis. The sound is just incredible.

 

[rsm]

Under 1000 for me.

Largest crowd I played to was probably max 700, it was an all day outdoor, many bands, "festival" type thing...I think if we lucky we may have had around 100 people paying attention to us during our set, and at least 20 of those were our friends, but other 600 or so there heard us and simply ignored us.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Performed a lot at Double Down, Huntridge, and House of Blues in Las Vegas.
Lots of ONE Raves as a DJ.
Neptune in Seattle pretty often.
Opened a few times for a mainstream industrial/goth band or two along the west coast in amphitheatres/festivals.
That was my peak before settling down with my eventual career and family.

 

[jabps]

Numerous Bars/Nightclubs doing original music (3 different bands starting in the early 90's time frame to 2012) around most southern states along with small venues upwards of 5k plus a few amphitheater second stage shows. All bands were based out of Nashville. My first serious original band was in talks to be signed but the label didn't like our singer. Had we replaced him we probably would have been signed. Same band was was offered a small Euro and Japan tour with support dollars, in fact our running band joke was we were huge in Liechtenstein. The next serious band I was in was in talks with a big producer who really liked our stuff but the dollars to produce was fairly high. He was going to produce and pitch. Same band was in talks with a somewhat famous guitarists to produce as well. Same band had a label kicking tires. Unfortunately while musically that was the best band I was ever in, it was also a train wreck. Drugs, ego's, alcoholics etc... Had we been signed at least one member probably would have od'ed before we ever released anything.

Most fun band I was in, my last band I toured more with them than any other band before combined. Musically it was my least favorite even though we had some cool stuff but hands down the most fun I ever had in a band. Everybody got along, everyone liked each other and everyone carried their weight. That's basically the extent of it.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Under 1000 for me.

Largest crowd I played to was probably max 700, it was an all day outdoor, many bands, "festival" type thing...I think if we lucky we may have had around 100 people paying attention to us during our set, and at least 20 of those were our friends, but other 600 or so there heard us and simply ignored us.

Too funny, played at an UFO convention as a hired gun (bassist) for a band once and pretty much exactly the same thing.

 

[DanTravis62]

I've played a handful of huge festival gigs (warped tour dates) in front of thousands and thousands of people, but the vast majority of concerts i have played have been theaters and clubs throughout my life

IMO playing bigger venues is a lot easier as long as youre prepared and know the tunes

 

[rsm]

Too funny, played at an UFO convention as a hired gun (bassist) for a band once and pretty much exactly the same thing.

it's how I imagine those one man bands in the restaurant lounge feel.

at least we had a few people enjoying it, so I tried to focus on that IIRC. My guess is that most of the people there were there for a friend's band, that's it; only some were there to enjoy the day, experience and all the music.

 

[thegame]

Even though we sucked I’m still kind of proud that my band (with two other even shittier bands) put on our own little field fest (w/generators lol), printed then completely sold out several hundred tickets for it.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

I've played a handful of huge festival gigs (warped tour dates) in front of thousands and thousands of people, but the vast majority of concerts i have played have been theaters and clubs throughout my life

IMO playing bigger venues is a lot easier as long as youre prepared and know the tunes

Y'all ever make it to the other side of the mountains?
Would love to check y'all out and have a slumber party afterwards!

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Even though we sucked I’m still kind of proud that my band (with two other even shittier bands) put on our own little field fest (w/generators lol), printed then completely sold out several hundred tickets for it.

Awesome! We used to throw generator raves 1.8 miles past Blue Diamond Road on Las Vegas Blvd, turn left after the bridge follow the desert road into the valley. Those were literally the word of mouth directions because lots of minors would come and we didn't want the cops coming if we had flyers. I miss flyers, btw.

 

[DanTravis62]

Even though we sucked I’m still kind of proud that my band (with two other even shittier bands) put on our own little field fest (w/generators lol), printed then completely sold out several hundred tickets for it.

I think everyone should attempt this sort of thing at some point, simply so they have an idea of how much work promoting and having a show is.

You can always tell the bands who haven't, because they expect unreasonable things

Y'all ever make it to the other side of the mountains?
Would love to check y'all out and have a slumber party afterwards!

Yeah we still do a couple times a year! We just recorded in Olympia last weekend, and I think we're going to play a couple shows there this fall.

 

[Findthetone1]

Bars and a few small festival gigs on flatbed trailers. The closest I've come to opening for a big name was opening for Clint Lowrey's first band, Still Rain, a few times. This was all in the the 90's.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

I played some local festivals at the Ampitheater (Pointfest). Played all the small/mid/large clubs around here.I would say my favorite overall place to play is the Pageant in St. Louis. The sound is just incredible.

Forgot to add my favorite was Neptune in Seattle as it was an old Opera house that was cozy but decent size crowd, so great crowd interaction. There was this fake castle in Las Vegas that I can never remember the name of, but we kinda started there opening for bands like Hemlock and Kickworm. House parties are where it was at, tbh. Everyone is there, your friends, etc... and everyone thinks you're a rock star and having so much fun overcrowded and having people sing your songs.

 

[spguitar]

Here's my resume. I need a touring job.

2024 – One of 9 out of 11,000 called to audition for The Smashing Pumpkins in
LA

2023 – Hired as full time head of A&R by Night City Publishing. Will have
complete control to shape it’s musical culture and dive deeper into growing both
technical production skills,scouting and general A&R work.
Songwriting/composing for multiple projects.

2021-2022 – Songwriting for various projects and self producing a SP tribute
album under the moniker Pure As A Lie.

2018-2019 – Released single “Allyria – 50 Shades of Crazy” to radio to reach
#33 on the Billboard Rock Indicator. Played a few shows as a reformed version
of that band in the MS/TN area as a tribute to the original singer that passed
away.

2016 – Played many shows in a local cover band. (Not a fan of the cover band
thing but it pays down here in Mississippi.)

2014-2015 – Wrote and recorded all guitars and bass for 6 songs over 2 days
with grammy nominated producer Justin Rimer(12 Stones) at Crosstrax studios
in Memphis,TN for the reformed Allyria project. 3 songs went on to be on the
727 EP. (50 Shades of Crazy/727/Disappear) Played 2 shows with temporary
reformed Allyria opening for 12 Stones at one of them.

2013-2014 – Co-wrote with a DIY pop punk act named Leave Her Crying.
Released 2 self-recorded Eps.

2008-2010 – Played countless regional shows with the band Allyria. Headlined
the Tupelo,MS Elvis festival on June 5, 2009. We went on to tour opening for
Sevendust and Taproot in late 2009. Opened for Taproot for 2 shows in MS after
the Sevendust run. Recorded in Burbank,CA at Ocean Studios with producer
Mark Wolfson(My Big Fat Greek Wedding Soundtrack) before Allyria went on
hiatus.

2004-2007 – First serious band that got some regional attention. Vysion was the
precursor to Allyria. Recorded in Nashville,TN. We played countless
local/regional shows and would eventually travel all the way up to Michigan
and Wisconsin regularly. Recorded the Breath of Life EP in Florida with
producer Justin Thomas(Dark New Day) Opened for Saliva at Tupelo Elvis
Fest 2006 to 5000+.

Pre-2004 – Cover bands for money and honing guitar skills and stage presence.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Yeah we still do a couple times a year! We just recorded in Olympia last weekend, and I think we're going to play a couple shows there this fall.

Dang, wish I knew! Where did you record at? What venue(s) are y'all playing? I love Capitol Theatre even though it's gross.

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Here's my resume. I need a touring job.

2024 – One of 9 out of 11,000 called to audition for The Smashing Pumpkins in
LA

2023 – Hired as full time head of A&R by Night City Publishing. Will have
complete control to shape it’s musical culture and dive deeper into growing both
technical production skills,scouting and general A&R work.
Songwriting/composing for multiple projects.

2021-2022 – Songwriting for various projects and self producing a SP tribute
album under the moniker Pure As A Lie.

2018-2019 – Released single “Allyria – 50 Shades of Crazy” to radio to reach
#33 on the Billboard Rock Indicator. Played a few shows as a reformed version
of that band in the MS/TN area as a tribute to the original singer that passed
away.

2016 – Played many shows in a local cover band. (Not a fan of the cover band
thing but it pays down here in Mississippi.)

2014-2015 – Wrote and recorded all guitars and bass for 6 songs over 2 days
with grammy nominated producer Justin Rimer(12 Stones) at Crosstrax studios
in Memphis,TN for the reformed Allyria project. 3 songs went on to be on the
727 EP. (50 Shades of Crazy/727/Disappear) Played 2 shows with temporary
reformed Allyria opening for 12 Stones at one of them.

2013-2014 – Co-wrote with a DIY pop punk act named Leave Her Crying.
Released 2 self-recorded Eps.

2008-2010 – Played countless regional shows with the band Allyria. Headlined
the Tupelo,MS Elvis festival on June 5, 2009. We went on to tour opening for
Sevendust and Taproot in late 2009. Opened for Taproot for 2 shows in MS after
the Sevendust run. Recorded in Burbank,CA at Ocean Studios with producer
Mark Wolfson(My Big Fat Greek Wedding Soundtrack) before Allyria went on
hiatus.

2004-2007 – First serious band that got some regional attention. Vysion was the
precursor to Allyria. Recorded in Nashville,TN. We played countless
local/regional shows and would eventually travel all the way up to Michigan
and Wisconsin regularly. Recorded the Breath of Life EP in Florida with
producer Justin Thomas(Dark New Day) Opened for Saliva at Tupelo Elvis
Fest 2006 to 5000+.

Pre-2004 – Cover bands for money and honing guitar skills and stage presence.

I heard Kiki Wongo took the spot. That's awesome that you got that far! I went to audition for NIN in the 00s after Robin Finck went over to GnR for a while and was told I was too short before I even got through the door despite having sent demos and back and forth and driving to California for it. I'm about 5'10" and over 6' with my Doc Martens and was told I was too short. Trent Reznor is like 5'6.

 

[DanTravis62]

Dang, wish I knew! Where did you record at? What venue(s) are y'all playing? I love Capitol Theatre even though it's gross.

We recorded at Chad Yenneys house by long lake in lacey - he has a full on guest house (so we didn't need to get a hotel) and has really cool vintage gear.

He's also a really amazing artist

https://www.instagram.com/chadyenney/

I actually don't remember where and when we're playing that far out, there's too many gigs before then

If I knew every concert date we were playing I wouldn't have any room for anything else in my head. Even on our facebook we only do it a couple months out.

I can find out for you though!

 

[spguitar]

I heard Kiki Wongo took the spot. That's awesome that you got that far! I went to audition for NIN in the 00s after Robin Finck went over to GnR for a while and was told I was too short before I even got through the door despite having sent demos and back and forth and driving to California for it. I'm about 5'10" and over 6' with my Doc Martens and was told I was too short. Trent Reznor is like 5'6.

Yep she got it. I'm still praying for another shot one day. That's wild about Reznor wanting super tall people for NIN.
Let me tell you, playing Jellybelly with Jimmy Chamberlin is something not of this world. Just insane.

 

[DanTravis62]

@NowYou'rePlayingWithPower