My band broke up last night

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

As some of you know, I’m a musician, and for the last two-plus years, I’ve been in a band based here in Maryland called Chance of Rain. Well, as of last night, Chance of Rain is no more.

The breakup was mutual among the three remaining members (Rebeccca, the lead singer, plus Lauren, the keyboardist/violinist/backing singer, and myself). It was very sad, though, as we’ve grown together as friends and musicians. But, it was necessary, as the problems we’re facing now are the same ones we faced a year and a half ago.

In that time, all we have to show for ourselves are a few new songs. It was painfully obvious that we were not making the progress we needed to justify continuing as a band.

So, we split up rather amicably. We all are going to keep in touch, as friends if not as future collaborators, but we all have our own directions we want to go in musically.

For myself, I was the main songwriter, so most of the songs are going to stay with me. I’ll work on them when I feel like it, and will probably call up Lauren to help me out with her great talents. Rebecca and I were friends before we formed the band, and will remain so. I’m going to do “my own thing” on a strictly part-time basis, and when I feel like it, I’ll look to find a band around Washington that is looking for a bassist. I was bassist, de-facto guitarist, songwriter, arranger, producer, webmaster, and manager of Chance of Rain, and what I really want to do is just play bass. So, I’ll find a new gig, hopefully, to allow me to do that, and work on my own songs on my own pace when I feel like it.

If you were at all curious as to what my band was like, the URL for my home page is to the band’s site, which I will be taking down sometime this week. That’s the final nail, I suppose, in the coffin, and as eager as I am to move on, it’ll be with great melancholy that I remove the site from the world. So, now’s your last chance to hear what was us.

Yes, this is mundane, and most likely pointless, but I feel that I must share it. Thank you.

2

:frowning: Sorry to hear that, Montfort.

{{{{{{Montfort}}}}}}

3

I feel your pain, Montfort…or at least I’ve been in a similar position myself. My own band, Katzi (pronounced cat’s eye) broke up early in 1999 after having been together since 1991. I was the drummer, primary songwriter and primary lead vocalist. This year I recorded a solo album and am in the process of trying to drum up some label interest. I’m in Maryland as well, currently in Catonsville (although Katzi worked primarily out of Columbia).

Good luck to you in your future endeavors. Your band might be no more, but I hope that doesn’t lead you to abandon hope in yourself! I hope you keep playing; I know I’d go nuts otherwise.

4

Every new beginning is some other new beginning’s end.

Fuck. I’m quoting Semisonic… Well, it’s the thought that counts, eh?

Yer pal,
Satan - Commissioner, The Teeming Minions

*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Five months, three weeks, four days, 2 hours, 31 minutes and 46 seconds.
7124 cigarettes not smoked, saving $890.52.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 3 days, 17 hours, 40 minutes.

*“I’m a big Genesis fan.”-David B. (Amen, brother!)

5

Well, at least your band didn’t sing “Western Union”…::shudder::

Sorry to hear 'bout the breakup. Were there any recordings of your music?

6

Hej Michael!

You alreaddy know I’m sorry about this.
But I tell you again.

I’m sorry that your hopes for your band
didn’t work out as you wanted and dreamed about.
I’m sure you’ll find a new one that you
will feel great about.

And remember the good times and the fun you had
with your old band.
That’s important too.[smile][smile]

{{{{{{{{Kram}}}}}}}}

7

Sad, Montfort! I listened to some of the MP3’s last night. Good stuff.

It’s not like you are going to stop doing music, so, good luck in the next thing you do.

8

I really appreciate the responses so far. The more I think about it, the more it does seem like I broke up with a girlfriend. I’m sad, but I know there are other fish out there in the sea.

Monster104: There are some dodgy-sounding mp3s on the web site, in the Songs/MP3 area.

JBirdman12: If you ever need a bassist, give me a yell…

magdalene: Thanks. It’s good to know that the music will live on after the band does. :slight_smile:

Satan: Yes, the thought does count. Thanks.

purplebear: Our meeting Monday night ended with a big hug session, so one more won’t hurt. Thanks, too.

Anniz: Thanks for your support through all this. It’s helping a lot. Kram. :slight_smile:

9

Maybe you could join Sqrl Cub’s band. It is basically he, pldennison, and whoever else they get. I am considering joining, 'cepting that I don’t have much time and I can’t read music and I don’t play much besides rudimentary drums.

10

hugs

Ack, I’m sorry, hon…

11

Sorry to hear the bad news, Montfort. I’ve been there not once, but twice (thrice, if you count having to replace both a drummer and a lead singer in my last band). In both cases, lots of money had been invested in recording and promotion, and lots of time in songwriting and rehearsal and bookings, and it was never easy to simply say, “It’s over.” You know us musicians, though–we never stop working completely, we’re just “on hiatus.” :slight_smile:

12

Look at the bright side…

Soon you’ll be making beautiful music with a hot Swedish babe!

:smiley:

Yer pal,
Satan - Commissioner, The Teeming Minions

*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Five months, three weeks, four days, 14 hours, 27 minutes and 23 seconds.
7144 cigarettes not smoked, saving $893.01.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 3 days, 19 hours, 20 minutes.

*“I’m a big Genesis fan.”-David B. (Amen, brother!) **

13

Sorry to hear about the breakup, Montfort.

Just my little pearls of wisdom for you:

It won’t be your last band, and your next band will be better. It’s a good sign when you break up for musical differences reasons because it shows you learned something and feel the need to express yourselves creatively in different ways.

My first gigging band broke up the day after we finished recording our CD. We had saved gig money for 8 months to be able to afford 24 hours in the studio, production costs, etc.

We all felt like such failures when we realized we all wanted different things.

Of course I’m going to tell you it was a blessing in disguise. All of us went on to form new bands - two of the members are still playing regularly. (The two who aren’t - our guitarist, who now has 3 kids and me, who changed instruments)

Good luck to you!

14

Thanks again for the kind words, folks. What I’m going to do is lay off the music for a bit, and let my mind settle. I really need to get back to my other passion – writing. I’ll still pick up my toys from time to time, but unless someone knocks on my door, I’m not going to search for a new band until at least after my trip to Sweden.

iampunha: As much as I’d love to jam with the local Dopers, I’m going to look for a steady band to join or form, rather than something loose and unfocused (not to knock SqrlCub and pldennison, of course).

SaxFace: Wow, breaking up right after recording the CD? I was saving my money to record our album this fall at a studio friend of mine own up near Philly. But, instead, the money went to my Go-to-Sweden fund. I have a spare bass now, too, that I can’t possibly justify hanging on to. So, I’ll dump that as well.

Satan: And that’s what it’s all about!

15

I know the feeling, Montfort. My last band, 3-Day Blackout, was gigging within 6 weeks of forming, playing the best clubs in town, and had our first 3 songs on disc. Then the singer/songwriter announced that he was getting married to Yoko and moving to Raleigh. Hell, we played on the same stage as the Goo-Goo Dolls, REM, Hootie (OK, well, I’m in Columbia, SC, so I’ve played on a lot of the same stages as Hootie), Junior Brown, Robert Earl Keen–Jeez, Vanilla Ice played at the Elbow Room here a few weeks ago. OK, bad example.

Of all the bands I’ve played with in the last 15 years or so, very few have lasted, what with personality conflicts, professional problems (day-job crap), and then there was the drummer who got addicted to crack…

Now I’m torn between playing in a successful, constantly working cover band or working with a 17 year-old who, I swear to whomever, is Janis Joplin reincarnated. The thing with the cover band is that it’ll take time away from family and school (I’m not a songwriter, so everything’s a cover to me), but with the girl I have to build everything from the ground up.

Suggestions?

16

Personally, stofsky, I’d go for Janis Junior. I’m never one for cover bands, as I have too many creative juices to do stifle them to play covers. Then again, you’re not a songwriter.

I do love to play covers, though, but I couldn’t ever be in a strictly-covers band. Then again, that’s what pays these days, and I look as music as a hobby, not a profession.