Playing LIVE With Backing Tracks?

[watelessness]

I find myself in a situation where i really miss performing but retired from my last performing band four years ago. I was thinking of doing some open mic nights but i'm a horrible guitar player and even worse singer so i don't see that being too pleasing for me or the audience.

I was thinking of slapping some backing tracks on my digital 8-track recorder and singing/playing solos over the top of them.

Does anyone bring backing tracks to live gigs? If so, does it go over effectively? What gear is used?

Thanks!

 

[Greywolf]

We don't allow them

 

[watelessness]

what if they're all for original songs and i've played all the parts?

 

[veinbuster]

At least one singer in the area plays with some recorded parts. I was disappointed at first, but it worked nicely and as well received.

 

[d4rkst4r]

We've seen Doug Doppler do so, and it was great.

 

[gush]

The band i had been recording for used to do it.

The songwriting/singer Brothers suck at guitar so they'd play the tracks i recorded at their live shows.

It was actually kind of cool.

 

[alantig]

I've seen more and more acts doing it. You'll no doubt have some detractors, but most people don't seem to care.

 

[gush]

That band doesn't do it anymore though.

The drummer they had at the time was the mastermind behind all of their recording efforts. He was like a human metronome. They haven't done any recoding since he left and I'm guessing their current drummer can't play to a click track.

 

[Bogner]

We don't allow them

Good For You! That Is The Way It Should Be In My Opinion.

 

[d4rkst4r]

I've seen more and more acts doing it. You'll no doubt have some detractors, but most people don't seem to care.

Facts!

'sides folks, we live in an era of A.I., C.G., over-sampling, on and on....it's now the trend not the exception.

 

[Moondog Wily]

We don't allow them

What about loopers? Are artists at the open mic allowed to use those? I believe Ed Sheeran got his start using the loopers bigly! I personally do not want to go either of those routes (looper or pre recorded tracks) but if others can entertain doing so, I say let em roll!

 

[Greywolf]

I don't allow ANY outboard gear for Open Mic. Now if they get booked they can use anything but the backing tracks.
We tried that before and the boss HATED it .
I'm biased towards talent over tech, there are hundreds of great artists that play(ed) with just a guitar , amp , chord and talent

 

[Mark Ray]

One of the busiest bands in east Tennessee uses plenty of backing tracks. Three guys + several ghosties.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

I say do what you want. If the audience receives it well, you’ll know it’s OK. I do (completely) disagree with full bands using backing tracks because they can’t play or sing their parts, then getting on stage and pretending to do so. But if you have backing vocals on a track for a full band, I’m OK. If you’re a person or two and need others for full band sound, if the audience is OK with it, it’s OK. Last cruise we were on had multiple small bands playing in rooms that were a bar. It also had one guy that played and sang with a laptop. All the parts he couldn’t do and background vocals were on his computer. He played electric guitar well and sang well. He put on a great one man show, because he was good!

Some people don’t have the time to commit to a band, and refuse to get up there and slop through a set because of lack of practice OR playing with people who aren’t good just so you can have a band.

So, do what you want. if the audience digs it, it’s ok.

 

[alantig]

I say do what you want. If the audience receives it well, you’ll know it’s OK. I do (completely) disagree with full bands using backing tracks because they can’t play or sing their parts, then getting on stage and pretending to do so. But if you have backing vocals on a track for a full band, I’m OK. If you’re a person or two and need others for full band sound, if the audience is OK with it, it’s OK. Last cruise we were on had multiple small bands playing in rooms that were a bar. It also had one guy that played and sang with a laptop. All the parts he couldn’t do and background vocals were on his computer. He played electric guitar well and sang well. He put on a great one man show, because he was good!

Phillip Michael Scales by chance? Just saw him a month or so ago, much like what you described. Kept things moving and entertaining, and the laptop tracks were a compliment, not a distraction.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Phillip Michael Scales by chance? Just saw him a month or so ago, much like what you described. Kept things moving and entertaining, and the laptop tracks were a compliment, not a distraction.

Don’t remember his name. All the bands had their own “bar room” area to play in, except this guy. He played out in the open in one of the area’s near the casino and he had a big crowd around him every night

 

[watelessness]

<snip>
I'm biased towards talent over tech, there are hundreds of great artists that play(ed) with just a guitar , amp , chord and talent

i only have the guitar, amp, and cord

 

[Greywolf]

While I can certainly empathize with the sonic crutch, it comes down to what works for that venue.
For Our venue, as 2 of 3 nights it's Singer ~Songwriters, and Our crowd enjoys that simplicity, the times we've allowed it weren't well received. We've had two booked artist use backing tracks , one was OK but everyone commented he didin't need it .
The other had loopers and vocal processing to the point the vocals were uninteligble.

I do have a Boss acoustic drum machine for use as a percussive back up , it has lot of latin drums and is super easy to use.
We typically only engage it for the jams.

 

[Stephen J.]

What about loopers? Are artists at the open mic allowed to use those? I believe Ed Sheeran got his start using the loopers bigly! I personally do not want to go either of those routes (looper or pre recorded tracks) but if others can entertain doing so, I say let em roll!

I have an old Boomerang II that I use at home. I have thought about using it in public, but I don’t imagine people would have the patience for it. I have layered drums, bass, and rhythm guitar, but usually I just play a few chords and play over them. I have seen it done live, and it is interesting, but the novelty wears off after a while.

 

[sergiodeblanc]