Backing tracks in live performance

[RayL]

the Disco came on, the Volume went up at least 100%, at least 40 guests then made a mass exodus to the Bar to escape the noise - and basically never went back in, leaving a few under 30s to it.

There is, of course, the reverse situation (not with Shads bands, naturally) where it is the live music that drives the wedding guests out of the room. For example, one member of the band is 'a friend of the groom' so they get the gig but the drummer doesn't understand about internal balance within a group of musicians and whacks the kit for all he's worth. This sets the base level and the rest of the band turn up to match. Exit the guests until the disco (familiar tunes, correct balance, controllable volume) comes back.

Back to backing tracks, and I'm surprised that this discussion is happening at all. Backing tracks have been in use by solos and duos in clubs and pubs since the 1970s. Emil Ford (of Emil Ford and the Checkmates) was a pioneer in the early sixties. After he had hits with What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For, etc, he got The Checkmates to record the backings, then sacked them and went on the road as a solo. You can read the story in Bruce Welch's autobiography.

One interesting aspect of playing to click tracks and full BTs is that amateur drummers often seen to find this harder than other musicians. If you are a lead guitarist like Justin, then a steady rhythm is what you want. Drummers like BB or Clem Cattini became top session musicians because they could keep a steady rhythm (whether they were playing to a click or not). Particularly tricky for amateur drummers is keeping a steady beat on the kick drum. In a live situation, this does not matter so much because the band will accommodate slight variations in the tempo but when playing to backings, or in a recording situation, it is a very good test of a drummer's 'metronome' qualities.

[MeBHank]

Hank has used click tracks in his concerts ever since going solo in 1994. There are some great bootleg videos of a Marvin and Bennett concert on YouTube, as well as of the 1997 and 2002 tours, not to mention "Hank Plays Live", and it's clear the shows wouldn't have been have been so impressive without the tracks. The intro to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was simply lifted straight from the CD, with the transition to the live band cleverly hidden by the inevitable applause as Hank walked onstage (though they carried on playing to the track throughout so as to include the chanting voices and other instruments which weren't possible to perform live). The Shadows had used tracks during the 1980s to enhance their shows. Click tracks are an integral part of large-scale gigs and have been for a long time.

Most of the reliance on tracks during 2009/10 was to add vocal harmonies (Cliff's voice was richly layered underneath Hank and Bruce's live vocals) and keyboards, but other bits were on there too, like a few extra "Hanks" on Singing the Blues. I'm not surprised about the inclusion of the bass intro to Living Doll. I can't detect use of click tracks during the Shadows' instrumental section of the show, but I always laugh when watching the "behind the scenes" footage on the DVD, when JJ James mentions "a couple of tracks that have got some bits and pieces going that run to a click"; just about every Cliff song of that show was played to a track.

I've got a feeling that Cliff actually mimed parts of his vocal to Singing the Blues; but what we hear in the final mix of the DVD may have been added in post-production (as happened on other songs to cover up a couple of what were obvious mistakes on the night). To be fair, considering the intensity of the tour and his age at the time I think he can be forgiven for having some backup for the trickiest parts of the repertoire.

Hank played to the Un hank riders in the sky on one of the guest appearances he made with cliff. I think it was the 40th tour or millenium concert.

I'm not sure about that, Steve. Cliff's band have always been good at backing Hank. It was certainly them backing him on the Millennium "Countdown" Concert, but there was a click track then, too. Hank has played to UBHank tracks, though, at his guitar clinics. When Jet joined him that once he played over the basslines on the track.

Justin

I've seen and heard you play, and my original remark on your other thread was mainly in jest- I just felt that with the high profile shows you have played (Shadowmania etc) that it was a bit strange that you needed to use backing tracks, but you also explained that you live off your earnings and needed the work and that it doing that way was the only way possible.

Once again, my apologies- and to everyone else- I did not mean to start an argument over this..

I don't have any personal 'rules' about me or other people doing this by the way- someone threw that comment in earlier...- it's just that I prefer playing with a band, rather than backing tracks- and on those occasions over the past few years when I've played a full Shadows music show, I've been very lucky to have been part of bands put together specifically for those gigs, who are experienced players and who know the Shads material intimately- and even more lucky that two of drummers I've played with were absolutely fantastic players and could go as far as emulating both Tony Meehan AND Brian Bennett! As we know, there are a lot of Hanks out there, and a few Bruces and Jets etc- but Tony and BB level drummers are very hard to find!

Seasons greetings and peace to all!

No need to apologise, John. We're not arguing. I only named you for context, I suppose I didn't need to, so it's me who should apologise. I haven't taken anything you've said personally but it was a good catalyst for me to bring up the subject as it had bugged me for a while (as I said, I'd already broached the matter on Facebook). I'm glad you did voice your opinion as I'm enjoying this thread.

J

[Hank2k]

Hi Justin

This was the one i was thinking of so you may be right.

However to be honest with no band on stage etc he may as well be playing to a backing track though.

[fredkruger]

I have played in bands for 50 years, pro and semi pro, but sadly, these days there are not many venues left that will pay or can afford to pay for a live band and some of them want you to play for nothing, so going out solo with backing tracks is definitely a way of getting some gigs.... I see it as a sad fact of life that it has come to this, but if its a way of being able to perform then fair enough as far as I am concerned. Call it karaoke if you like, so what? although the Cambridge dictionary only makes mention of singing in relation to karaoke.

The key thing is to keep on making music....

Jeff

[cockroach]

I think that the aim of going out gigging as a specialised Shadows/guitar instrumental act these days - whether as a band or by using backing tracks- is going to be difficult for many reasons- not the least of which is finding venues which would book such an act..
This is what I've found here where I live in Australia..

So, I've been working with a group for the past 5 years or so, which specialises in late '50's/early '60's (pre Beatles!) era rock'n'roll- and part of that era was of course the heyday of the guitar instrumental phase (Duane Eddy, Shads, Ventures etc) so audiences which enjoy the music from that era also recognise and enjoy the guitar instrumental stuff. A similar sort of concept to what The Rapiers do,I guess, although they tend to concentrate on British material, whereas we play American, British and Australian songs and tunes from that period.

But people most enjoy the vocal material which they can listen and sing along to, and of course - dance!

So by playing this stuff, we can not only satisfy the audiences but also get to play our beloved instrumental music too. It's a compromise really, but better than insisting on playing only the music you like best but not being able to get a gig and get paid.

Regarding paid gigs, we have been giving pubs a miss and finding other for bookings- let's face it, people who remember and enjoy that era of music and are prepared to pay to hear it are, shall we say, of a 'certain age'...!;-)

[ecca]

You have to put your money where your mouth is.
In latter years in my band I would get a room for nothing on the promise to the landlord of the establishment that I would fill it with people.
We rarely got a fee and certainly never asked for one, you stand or fall by what you take on the door.
If you are good. and entertain people then they will come and watch you.
It's up to you.
It's certainly no good whingeing about things.
Backing tracks may be convenient but they're also sterile.

[Rosemary]

Hi
Backing tracks are great for practice and obviously very useful for professional performers for all the reasons mentioned - and there are some great live performances using tracks. There's a brilliant fairly recent live video on YouTube with Gary Taylor and Adam Van Der Brugghen and backing tracks that I absolutely love.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9smLOcy84

However as a new-ish player who will never be a professional like so many here, I much prefer playing with the live bands at our club. Our club members provide excellent backing, studying up parts for less well known songs and learning new parts and we really enjoy playing together as bands.

Also as a nervous player playing on stage to a backing track would make the nerves worse as all the attention would be on me rather than the band as a whole. It's great to have others there for support.

The bands are also great at covering up mistakes. They'll just keep playing while we catch up if needed or adapt if we lose our place and go on to another section by mistake. They'll transpose if someone starts in an unexpected key - all those sorts of things that a backing track can't instantly do.

For sure there are problems with live bands e.g. getting the balance right and that sort of thing but overall I think it's much more fun to play with other musicians and adds so much more variety though I know it's really hard for bands to get gigs these days so can see why backing tracks are then the preferred option.

Best wishes and happy new year!
Rosemary

[noelford]

Ah! You've hit on one of the best reasons for playing with a live band, Rosemary. When I was playing with my band, being the brilliant (and modest) player what I are, I hardly ever played a bum note. But on that rare occasion when I did, I just turned and glared at the other guitarist. Turning and glaring at my iPad just isn't the same! Happy New Year to you and all those down under!

[Stratpicker]

I'm beginning to get a 'feel' here that those of us who play to BTs are a lesser mortal.
One of the issues surrounding playing with an ad hoc Live band is the lack of mutual rehearsal time.
I believe that everyone who stands up to play, whether to BTs or with a Band, wants to perform the Best he / they can.
So, if practising to BTs it 'should' be good when it comes to the actual performance. But for those who are not part of an existing band and/or do not have access to a band, they are pretty much "on the fly" and utterly dependent on the guys, some of whom may not have played together either, for tempo, accuracy, sound balance, finishing together etc etc to make the performance by ALL a success. Its too scarey!
Just my two 'pennorth
Ian

[jimuc]

Just a thought.............

How many sound files would be on this site if it weren't for backing tracks..........not a lot methinks