Live Music at the bar- is the band having fun too?
Posted by Adam Mavrikos on Tue, Sep 02, 2008 @ 10:57 PM
So it's a Thursday night, you're a little tired from work but your friend is calling and thinks you should go meet him for an ice cold beer after a long day. "There's a live band that's about to start," he persuades you.... "Sold," you tell him, "why not?" You love live music, a cold beer sounds great, and it's always good to share some laughs and catch up with your knucklehead buddies. So you get there, and the band is so loud you can't hear a word your friend is saying. The music is ok, but it's all the band's original stuff and after a while it just becomes loud background noise. Not the vibe I was looking for after a long day. Sound familiar?
It's something I've noticed wuth alot of bar bands in Boston: a lot of bands take themselves so seriously! They turn up the volume and shove their originals down your throat, almost expecting you to buckle at the knees in awe of some great musical statement. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing new music and have a ton of respect for bands that experiment, but c'mon, know your audience. I don't know about you, but when I show up to a pub, it's to let loose a little and have some fun. Wouldn't I want the band playing at that bar to be doing the same thing?
ChillSet is a great example of a talented group of musicians, that don't take themselves too seriously and always appears to be having a good time. These guys give you a perfect blend of chill, infectious originals mixed with unexpected covers that are sure to make you either crack up laughing (Gangster's Paradise, are you kidding me!?) or move to the rhythm (Stevie Wonder's ‘Superstition' is always a crowd pleaser). And what's more, I think they make the unbelievable realization that you're actually at the bar to have a good time...because so are they! That's why they keep you laughing in between songs, with a comedic whit that works naturally in their performance and complements their music.
ChillSet is just one example of good live music to hear at a bar, I'm sure there are others out there. One reason I started this blog, was to discover other like-minded music fans in Boston and the chill bands they follow. If you've got a band you think I would dig, leave a comment...