Performing Music Live

I thought I'd give me experiences with performing live and let others share theirs as well.

The first time I performed in public was on the piano at a recital. I was only 7 or so so it kind of sucked, but I can't remember much of it. I performed in front of some other audiences on piano, but I didn't get much feeling into it.

The first time I performed live and actually was able to get into it was the first time my band performed. We played at a talent show at my school and we only had a couple days to practice it. We were playing "Bullet in the Head" by Rage Against the Machine. I was playing bass guitar for the song. Playing in a band is an incredible feeling. I'm not totally sure why, but playing just seems to get you adrenaline going and I feel so good afterwards. I watched the performance afterwards, as someone recorded. The drums sounded like pure shite and one of the guitars had their distortion way too high and the timing was way off. We may not have done that well, but it felt great. We've gotten much better since then, and have had a couple live performances since then, but the first time playing live is great.

Does anybody else get this feeling when playing live.

Mm. First song I ever played live was "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" by Radiohead. I was informed (to my abject surprise) afterward that I can sing, on key no less. That was a bit of a painful experience, stage fright, and uncertainty, and lack of confidence, whatnot.

The first song I ever played as part of a band was "Time" (see my post in "Floyd tribute bands"). That, I must admit, was an amazing experience. Even though I was doing vocals and guitar then, as well (Still terrifies me...), I knew I had an excellent band behind me who could cover for me if I blew the solos (which I didn't! Yay!).

Well, etc.

My first gig was two weeks ago. my band plays classic rock and we played a 50 minute set in a 5 hour local bands concert. the second song we did was Time, although the jackass bassist and drummer cut my solo short by going into the slow part too soon. i am the sole guitar player in the band. i was nervous as hell playing up there.

Perceive, when you played Street Spirit, were you playing guitar and singing as well? Street Spirit is one of my favorite songs of any band.

Radiochair, I find it amazing that a school talent show allowed you to play that song.

Well, there's a little "legacy" with Bullet in the Head in our school. It's not really a legacy, but anyways. A couple years ago, an "air band" (lip synch) was held. A group decided to do the song. At the time, they didn't review the songs before hand so they went up and performed, and you know how the song goes. They then started reviewing songs from then on. When we said we were going to perform it, she wouldn't let us if we used swearing so we said we wouldn't. We were planning on using them anyways, but we didn't have a vocalist by then anyways, so it turned out to be an instrumental.

The first song we performed with a vocalist was, unfortunately, "Between Angels and Insects" by Papa Roach. It wasn't my choice, so don't go insulting me. We also played "Freedom" by Rage Against the Machine at the same performance. That was definitely the best song we've performed, the energy was incredible. On Freedom, I mean. It was kind of funny, because at the end of the song the singer goes a little wild, and the singer's grandmother showed up. But he still jumped around and all.

Ok so you said no swearing. But still in this day and age of Columbine and over-reacting, the title alone would scare off most school officials, but then you didn't perform the vocals so I guess its all good.

Columbine. Phhh. I hate how they try to blame it on everything but the people themselves. Oh, they listened to Marilyn Manson and played Doom. That must be the reason. I know a lot of cheerful people who listen to Marilyn Manson. Things are stereo-typed far too much today.

I agree, just amazed that school officials also agree.

Radiochair: I was. Playing guitar and singing, I mean. It's what I do :smile:

Not all of the teachers in my school are straight out of the Wall, but some of them are pretty close.

There isn't much worry about that kind of stuff in our school. But there has been about 4 cases of arson committed to the school in the past year, so I think tension is building.

Perceive, do you play Street Spirit with a plectrum or fingerpicking?

I've never performed any instruments live.