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Am I the only DJ who HATES sets with live musicians?

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  • September 24, 2012 at 5:09 pm #1012544
    Fischkopp
    Participant

    A DJ and a bad musician are a complete mood-killer, I totally agree with you.

    But there are quite a few combos out there, which I enjoy watchin every time. My favorites are Goldfish and AKA AKA feat. Thalstroem. Seen only the last on live though. Yet… šŸ˜‰

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    [media=youtube]yr3QUraZRrI[/media]

    September 24, 2012 at 5:12 pm #1012545
    D-Jam
    Participant

    I say “it depends”.

    I’ve played with live drummers, and loved it. I mainly liked it because I try to play WITH the drummer. That means I’ll toss on tunes that compliment his drumming, use drop outs and other tricks to let him go solo, and really make him entertain.

    When it doesn’t work is when the DJ or the venue somehow wants normal big anthems WITH a live counterpart. So you might want or have to play “Call Me Maybe” and then you have some drummer or horn player going on top of it…thus you have a big mess.

    If one wants to do live musicians…then the DJ needs to have the freedom to play a performance with said musician, not be forced to play the normal routine. The DJ should also talk to and work with said musician so things are fluid.

    September 25, 2012 at 6:28 am #28833
    Terry_42
    Keymaster

    I think D-Jam nailed it.
    I have only once played with a live band and I was more like a “keyboarder” replacement and used controllerist routines with Ableton -> aka firing samples and synths.

    September 25, 2012 at 1:33 pm #1012575
    Gavin J
    Participant

    I saw judge jules play a funky set with a saxaphone player about 10 years ago and it was amazing, they were completley in tune with eachother and jules would cut the music, the sax would carry on the tune and then the beat was put back in and was in perfect sync. . .
    I have also heard people on bongo drums just beating the hell out of them with no clue as to what rhthym they are supposed to have. . .in this case I would totally agree with you

    September 26, 2012 at 2:46 pm #1012622
    Reason808
    Participant

    I realize that I was writing from a clubber’s perspective, not a DJ’s. (I had a day or so to chill from my tounge-in-cheek tirade :p) As a DJ, I think it’d be an interesting gig. But when I visit a club, I flinch when I see a musician on the stage.

    Maybe I’ve just had more than my fair share of sucky Musician/DJ combos? Or do you guys think “uh, oh its gonna be a loooong night” when you see this setup on your club crawls. I’m curious.

    September 27, 2012 at 1:56 am #1012700
    B.B. Koning
    Participant

    For the most part, I’m with you.

    I saw Oakenfold do a show where a local rapper showed up and decided to fill in over the top. Not only did it suck, but it completely killed the energy in the room. Seriously. The place was going effing nuts and then—zap. Deadspace.

    Also, during the “We Are Your Friends” craze of last year on the European scene, a soul singer got up and ruined a high profile night in one stab by singing impromptu chants off key during the set.

    On the flip side, I’ve seen it work to.

    Two examples:

    A jazz night at the Melkweg that was a perfect hybrid of actual musicians and old school soul classics from the decks.

    An ensemble called Royale With Cheese that spun at AIR. The place was packed (AIR usually is), and it did not hinder it at all.

    So I’d say you have to tread carefully. Very very carefully.

    September 29, 2012 at 4:52 am #1012841
    Reason808
    Participant

    So I’d say you have to tread carefully. Very very carefully.

    So true!

    @D-Jam: Never thought about the Promoter pushing the combo on a DJ. The collaborations I’ve seen seemed sincere. Horribly misguided, but sincere nonetheless.

    The Oakenfold story makes me wonder if headliners are the best judges of their opening/support acts. I saw James Brown in concert (one of his last). I couldn’t believe who he chose as his opening act: A super-lame, whitebread Christian rapper. Fortunately I only had to suffer for 40 minutes. If it was DJ set instead of a concert, I would heard him all night . . .

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