[Dixielandjazz] rock music and okom

[tcashwigg at aol.com]

G'day Jack:



Not all of them do Jack:  although yes, many of the Concert Rock bands  
do just that, but usually it take most of the time to get the visual 
and special effects set up.   Not to mention three hours for the SOUND 
GUY to get it right, :))  At least on the major concerts, The good 
bands also expend more energy in a 45-90 minute set than most okom 
bands do in a year.  :))

And believe it or not ( unless you don't consider my band an OKOM band 
which most of my pals on this list and in Traditional Jazz Societies do 
not ) and that's Ok with me,  Some rocking OKOM Bands can roll up, step 
out of the Van or off of a train and Play a three mile parade, or up on 
to a stage and knock out a high energy in your face, make you shake 
your booty and dance show for two hours non-stop before the first 
break, step off the stage and have a couple of beers and get up there 
and do it all over again.   Or get back in the van and drive an hour 
and get out and do it for an entirely different audience.   Some of us 
grew up working in the old days and do know more than thirteen songs 
and used to play six to eight hour a night gigs and weddings and bar b 
ques on the weekend afternoons as well.  OOps and lest I forget we also 
played all night after hours sessions on Friday and Saturday nights 
too.   when we do stage concert dates we usually have about 30 minutes 
to an hour to get our levels adjusted and get a sound check at a major 
outdoor venue.   The acoustics are different in all of them and so is 
the sound reinforcement equipment which can make you or break you sound 
wise.

Most modern day working bands show up for a four hour gig, take 40 
minutes to set up, play 35 to 40 minutes take a short 35 minute break, 
45 if the drummer goes outside with a woman :))  Gets back on the stage 
and plays another 40 minutes and take another 45 minute break,  (55 if 
the drummer goes outside again which he usually does :)),  then back on 
stage and plays as fast as they can for the next twenty minutes till 
the bar has to close.   That is the new normal four hour gig, since 
they can't get a raise from the club owner they get even by shortening 
the length of sets and how much music they actually play,  the dancers 
leave, and don't buy any more drinks and the bar loses money and then 
fires the band because they can't hold a crowd.   The band then bad 
mouths the jackass club owner and moves on down the street to close 
another live music club with the same attitude.  While the rest of the 
world works 8 to 10 hours a day to have enough money to come out and 
have a few beers with the band and hear some music.    Maybe it's 
better down under but that is pretty much the club scene here these 
days.

So not all Rock bands and musicians are the same some of us learned 
about playing live gigs from the older guys who played OKOM they are 
probably the reason we now play OKOM music right along side our Rock & 
Blues, Zydeco, R&B and Soul & Gospel and do it in New Orleans Brass 
Band style the way it was played before somebody took the punch out of 
it and changed the name to DIXIELAND.  :))

A lot of today's Dixieland sounds very similar to Smooth Jazz to me :)) 
    The so called Smooth Jazzer's have watered down the good old ROCK & 
ROLL AND R&B & SOUL TUNES to make them sound tired and keep folks from 
dancing.   It is the new elevator music from Musak me thinks.


P.S.  I usually have four drummers and it takes us about four minutes 
to set up, pull out three snares and a Bass Drum and pick up the sticks 
and play.  :))    Marching /Strolling band drummers do have an 
advantage,  Ok I lied it does take about fifteen minutes to attach all 
the percussion stuff on the snares and mount them on the harnesses.   
But in all fairness it can take three or four days to tune them all. :))


Cheers

Tom Wiggins



-----Original Message-----
From: jack wiard <jack_wiard at hotmail.com>
To: Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Sent: Wed, 08 Feb 2006 11:24:40 +1100
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] rock music and okom

    MR WIGGINS POSED THE ABOVE QUESTION...MY VIEW: A ROCK BAND TAKES 
FOUR HOURS TO SET UP AND PLAYS FOR FORTY MINUTES. OKOM BANDS TAKE FORTY 
MINUTES TO SET UP [20 MIN. W/O THE DRUMMER] AND PLAYS FOR FUOR HOURS. 
 JW 
 
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