Drinking & Drumming....

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 12:48 AM

....It doesn´t work

I totally failed to play a decent doublebass groove yesterday in the Band rehearsal. After 2 Beers all worked well, but after 4,5 NOTHING worked anymore. Damn!

What is your experience with making music and drinking?

xFkx · May 29th, 2011, 12:58 AM

2 beers is my optimum performance level live

the nerves go down, but the skills don't

3+ beers in and i'm starting to have problems with tricky guitar parts, so that's too much for me

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 01:14 AM

Yeah man, I hear you. Guitar wise I already knew my borders. But for drums I had to learn it yet. Remarkable moment for me yesterday

Perishh · May 29th, 2011, 01:45 AM

My best gig I ever played was with about 4 Jim & Cokes in me. Whether or not the audience thought the same is unclear.

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 01:48 AM

^Drums?

Gustavo_Loureiro · May 29th, 2011, 02:48 AM

Neither beer nor weed for my drumming! But whisky goes fine

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustavo_Loureiro

Neither beer nor weed for my drumming! But whisky goes fine

Really? Hmm so you think it´s a beer problem and not a general alcohol thingy?

Do you mix it with coke?

TheWinterSnow · May 29th, 2011, 04:35 AM

2 beers, or two drinks, I generally prefer Rosckstar and Jager. More than that, and I won't be capable of playing. Berr tends to not give the best buzz for playing, slows you down too much, the hard stuff just makes you feel good and takes away the nerves.

M.Lehto · May 29th, 2011, 04:59 AM

Not drumming, but sometimes when making acoustic music I compose and record at the same time and I do have few songs, that I can't remember composing or recording. And for one album we had to re-record all the vocals later again as I was skipping lyrics, because my eyes didn't work that well anymore

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWinterSnow

2 beers, or two drinks, I generally prefer Rosckstar and Jager. More than that, and I won't be capable of playing. Berr tends to not give the best buzz for playing, slows you down too much, the hard stuff just makes you feel good and takes away the nerves.

Okay that sounds good. Any other tips to improve the performance/power? Glucose or some shit? Energy drinks? Okay..some people could say, "don´t drink motherfucker!!" But I´m playing in a rock´n roll band so this is eliminated

joelplagues · May 29th, 2011, 05:17 AM

Guitar- I usually try stay away from it. I get nervous about my playing and start thinking about whether I am going to screw up or whether I am screwing up and just don't notice.

Same if I have a show to mix. did one last year after downing 4 Jack Daniel's and coke, stepped up to the console and started to worry. similar process as guitar, "what happens if I screw up?", "Is this fader actually doing anything or is it just me?", so on and so on...

Fragle · May 29th, 2011, 05:35 AM

guitar...depends on the music. with my tech death band i rarely drink more than 2 beers before the show, if any.
with other stuff....everything's fine up to 5. beyond that things go downhill FAST, haha.

but the thing is, as a guitar player you can get away with much more sloppiness than as a drummer. if you hit a bum note chances are people won't even notice it. but if the drummer fucks up the whole band might get into trouble. everyone will be like fuck, i'm early/late, and will try to compensate even though everythings perfectly fine.

still, playing TOO drunk is no fun. there's a certain point where things run smooth and you're really getting into it. past that point, you'll be struggling your way through the show, and that certainly doesn't make you enjoy it more ^^

Mago · May 29th, 2011, 06:24 AM

At a gig we organized by ourselfs with 2 other bands I had to stand on the entrance to check and sell tickets, and I did the hour before we played.
Since we played last pretty much everyone was allready there so I didn't have much to do and I was a bit bored so I had a few beers.
After extensive headbanging I had a bit of a problem to not fall over at the beginning of the gig

Have to say tho that I usually don't eat before gigs, even if I'm not really nervous anymore.
So the 3 beers felt like 6.
Was fun, but one more and I would have been in serious trouble

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 06:33 AM

Yeah haha

Cool postings. I think it´s super important to find the personal border. Alcohol helps a lot to get into that mood for doing a performance with attitude...at least for me. For guitar it wasn´t really that necessary to drink, cause I were concentrated as fuck. But as a drummer it´s different, it´s more kind of sports (depends on the style) where power and attitude is so important.

TheWinterSnow · May 29th, 2011, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix Neumann

Okay that sounds good. Any other tips to improve the performance/power? Glucose or some shit? Energy drinks? Okay..some people could say, "don´t drink motherfucker!!" But I´m playing in a rock´n roll band so this is eliminated

Energy drinks help keep focus, so that you aren't so dopey and as long as you don't drink too much you can keep the buzz and still be able to play.

And yes, if you are in a rock/metal band and you haven't been drinking, then you are doing it wrong.

Scott C. · May 29th, 2011, 07:48 AM

Man I honestly feel myself slowing down a bit even after one beer. no alcohol for me before the show(maybe one during the set) best thing I've found for me is have two redbulls on stage,(don't drink any during the day) slam the first one just before we start. drink the other one as you go. If I'm feeling rough from the night before might slam both. for me for some reason redbull opens up my sinuses and I can breathe better ... not sure why but none of the other energy drinks seems to do it. between that and the adrenaline from the show I feel great and on top of everything. haha

but if you overdo energy drinks that's as bad as beer for me too I get too shaky to play certain parts up to par. lol

Soultrash · May 29th, 2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix Neumann

What is your experience with making music and drinking?

i recorded a complete experimental-noise-psychedelic album this way!

El_Gato · May 29th, 2011, 08:44 AM

IME, you *think* that you're playing like a master, then you play back when sober and listen to that drumming non-sense.

No alcohol for me before, don't need it to play and I also forget my lyrics when singing.

Erratic · May 29th, 2011, 09:28 AM

Overrated, do coke.

kidding.

John_C · May 29th, 2011, 09:30 AM

I'm best with nothing, but 1 or 2 drinks is fine. If it's easy material then it can help loosen things up a little which is nice

Gustavo_Loureiro · May 29th, 2011, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix Neumann

Really? Hmm so you think it´s a beer problem and not a general alcohol thingy?

yeah man, like others said, beer slows down.. at least for me! and I need lots of energy behind the set. whisky lights my fire!

I have to try drumming on acid one day! and then some coke... and some horse shit and all lol

Felix Neumann · May 29th, 2011, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gustavo_Loureiro

yeah man, like others said, beer slows down.. at least for me! and I need lots of energy behind the set. whisky lights my fire!

I have to try drumming on acid one day! and then some coke... and some horse shit and all lol

Damn...I love me some Beer! I´m a goddamn German!!!

Okay since I were in Ireland I´m convinced to Whiskey, too

But yeah man, I hear ya...

This experience yesterday wasn´t really pleasent for me and my self - confidence. We had some audience at the rehearsal and I fucked it up a bit

Edit: And let me add...I´m a fucking guitarist and singer originally. Some people here know me. Drumming is something totally NEW for me (in a Band situation), but I enjoy it so much

Forceps · May 29th, 2011, 03:01 PM

I never drink alcohol before going on stage, it makes my mouth dry and I don't like that when I'm singing...

I remember we played with a pretty technical death metal band some years ago... they had to start their show, but couldn't find their guitar player. He was throwing up at the toilet.... but when he came out of the toilet, face white as a ghost, he entered the stage and started playing. Can't remember I heard him make any mistake and he's playing was tight as a baby's ass.....

Felix Neumann · May 31st, 2011, 03:34 AM

Hmmm I think I will try red bull & whiskey the next time. Is both compatible? I don´t wanna have some fucking heartburn, cause we ususally do some eating orgy after the rehearsal

J the TyranT · May 31st, 2011, 03:49 AM

Not to sound like a shit-talking moron, but I've got by far the highest tolerance of anybody Ive ever met... so I tend to drink 6 drinks before I even get down to brass tax... and since drumming has been my forte for over 20 years, I can do that shit backwards in my sleep.... even hard technical patterns...

HOWEVER... playing guitar? Not a fucking chance. Too many small muscle groups. I just cant fucking do it. Wont even try. Anymore than 3 or 4 drinks and attempting to play guitar is just OVER.

Vocals? Well that completely depends. I've found a few drinks in me loosens me up to optimal level... Im sure anymore makes me sound like a bag of fuck though

May 29th, 2011, 12:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
xFkx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Poland Posts: 1,760	2 beers is my optimum performance level live the nerves go down, but the skills don't 3+ beers in and i'm starting to have problems with tricky guitar parts, so that's too much for me __________________ http://www.cgm.pl/aktualnosci,30309,...inie,news.html - VOTE ODC (takes 3 seconds, no bullshit, pretty please) Yellow is the new Red™

May 29th, 2011, 04:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
TheWinterSnow Den Mørke Natt Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,882	2 beers, or two drinks, I generally prefer Rosckstar and Jager. More than that, and I won't be capable of playing. Berr tends to not give the best buzz for playing, slows you down too much, the hard stuff just makes you feel good and takes away the nerves. __________________ Corvus Audio -Now Available: Loadboxes w/ active line out -Now Available: 5150/6505 Bias Mod Kits -In the works: DI + Reamp box -In the works: Cabinet Impulses and Reactive Load Impulses -For custom electronics, mods and repair, email: CorvusEngineering@gmail.com My band's Facebook Download our EP

May 29th, 2011, 05:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
Fragle Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 1,987	guitar...depends on the music. with my tech death band i rarely drink more than 2 beers before the show, if any. with other stuff....everything's fine up to 5. beyond that things go downhill FAST, haha. but the thing is, as a guitar player you can get away with much more sloppiness than as a drummer. if you hit a bum note chances are people won't even notice it. but if the drummer fucks up the whole band might get into trouble. everyone will be like fuck, i'm early/late, and will try to compensate even though everythings perfectly fine. still, playing TOO drunk is no fun. there's a certain point where things run smooth and you're really getting into it. past that point, you'll be struggling your way through the show, and that certainly doesn't make you enjoy it more ^^ __________________ www.retaliationdeath.de www.final-breath.de www.myspace.com/inceptionofficial www.myspace.com/mainblaststudios Last edited by Fragle : May 29th, 2011 at 05:39 AM.

May 29th, 2011, 06:24 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mago Austrian Blech Machine Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,788	At a gig we organized by ourselfs with 2 other bands I had to stand on the entrance to check and sell tickets, and I did the hour before we played. Since we played last pretty much everyone was allready there so I didn't have much to do and I was a bit bored so I had a few beers. After extensive headbanging I had a bit of a problem to not fall over at the beginning of the gig Have to say tho that I usually don't eat before gigs, even if I'm not really nervous anymore. So the 3 beers felt like 6. Was fun, but one more and I would have been in serious trouble __________________ www.harpiaproductions.com HARPIA DEIIS - Melodic Death/Thrash Metal FACEBOOK \| BANDCAMP

May 29th, 2011, 07:48 AM	#16 (permalink)
Scott C. 666 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago/Milwaukee Posts: 155	Man I honestly feel myself slowing down a bit even after one beer. no alcohol for me before the show(maybe one during the set) best thing I've found for me is have two redbulls on stage,(don't drink any during the day) slam the first one just before we start. drink the other one as you go. If I'm feeling rough from the night before might slam both. for me for some reason redbull opens up my sinuses and I can breathe better ... not sure why but none of the other energy drinks seems to do it. between that and the adrenaline from the show I feel great and on top of everything. haha but if you overdo energy drinks that's as bad as beer for me too I get too shaky to play certain parts up to par. lol __________________ www.myspace.com/lupara www.myspace.com/mercenarydigital http://www.facebook.com/pages/Broken-Hope/44591166983

May 29th, 2011, 01:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Perishh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brisbane AU Posts: 242	My best gig I ever played was with about 4 Jim & Cokes in me. Whether or not the audience thought the same is unclear.

May 29th, 2011, 02:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gustavo_Loureiro Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 327	Neither beer nor weed for my drumming! But whisky goes fine

May 29th, 2011, 04:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
M.Lehto Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,573	Not drumming, but sometimes when making acoustic music I compose and record at the same time and I do have few songs, that I can't remember composing or recording. And for one album we had to re-record all the vocals later again as I was skipping lyrics, because my eyes didn't work that well anymore

May 29th, 2011, 08:44 AM	#18 (permalink)
El_Gato I love this gain Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Spain Posts: 1,243	IME, you think that you're playing like a master, then you play back when sober and listen to that drumming non-sense. No alcohol for me before, don't need it to play and I also forget my lyrics when singing. __________________ Don't ask what your gear can do for you, but what you can do for your gear

May 29th, 2011, 09:28 AM	#19 (permalink)
Erratic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Montréal, QC Posts: 176	Overrated, do coke. kidding. __________________ PC Rig: Intel Quad2Core-Q8400 4 Gig Intel Extreme DDR3 ATI HD5850 1gb 2x Philips 19' Flat Monitor FastTrack Pro (Pro Fire 2626 in a month) Rode NT1-A Pro Tools 8.0.5 Cubase 5 Reason 5 Guitar: Ibanez RG320 (Dimarzio Evo Bridge) TubeSreamer7 Electro Harmonix MicroMetal Muff 2 Classical Guitar Marshall Regenerator Boss Delay DM-3 MXR Dime Disortion http://soundcloud.com/fastworker

May 29th, 2011, 09:30 AM	#20 (permalink)
John_C formerly Skeksis268 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Coventry, UK Posts: 3,438	I'm best with nothing, but 1 or 2 drinks is fine. If it's easy material then it can help loosen things up a little which is nice __________________ Contact me for: Tracking Editing Mixing Session guitar and bass playing

May 29th, 2011, 03:01 PM	#23 (permalink)
Forceps John - Spiralcove Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Netherlands Posts: 725	I never drink alcohol before going on stage, it makes my mouth dry and I don't like that when I'm singing... I remember we played with a pretty technical death metal band some years ago... they had to start their show, but couldn't find their guitar player. He was throwing up at the toilet.... but when he came out of the toilet, face white as a ghost, he entered the stage and started playing. Can't remember I heard him make any mistake and he's playing was tight as a baby's ass..... __________________ Spiralcove - Modern Heavy Rock - Download our singles for free! http://www.facebook.com/spiralcove

May 31st, 2011, 03:49 AM	#25 (permalink)
J the TyranT Thats just how it is... Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NY'er in Houston Posts: 2,783	Not to sound like a shit-talking moron, but I've got by far the highest tolerance of anybody Ive ever met... so I tend to drink 6 drinks before I even get down to brass tax... and since drumming has been my forte for over 20 years, I can do that shit backwards in my sleep.... even hard technical patterns... HOWEVER... playing guitar? Not a fucking chance. Too many small muscle groups. I just cant fucking do it. Wont even try. Anymore than 3 or 4 drinks and attempting to play guitar is just OVER. Vocals? Well that completely depends. I've found a few drinks in me loosens me up to optimal level... Im sure anymore makes me sound like a bag of fuck though