Starting a band in Bend?

I know this section is mostly for concert updates and stuff, but I wasn't sure where else to post this...

So, here's the deal: I'm a 20-year-old college student, I've been playing guitar for about 5 or 6 years now, and I’ve had my electric setup and amp for three years. Lately, I've been thinking about joining a band—not really to make a career out of it or anything, just for the hell of it and because I love music. I'm big into bands like Green Day, Foo Fighters, and some classic punk stuff... the question is, where can I find people who are down for that kind of vibe? And even harder: how do you find affordable places to jam or play? I tried getting a group together with my own friends, but honestly, money is tight right now. Trying to scrape together enough for a bass player, let alone a full drum kit, is a nightmare...

SuperCool said:(I'm just sitting here listening to some Azure, sipping a cold Budweiser, maybe some Green Day... etc...) ...

Don't. I am begging you.

Man, I used to be in a Bend...

It was just some folk music group😬
we barely lasted three weeks before everything fell apart😁

but hey, I’m more than happy to lay out all my experiences for you😬

boldscout72 said:Please don't.

I agree. 😁

Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.

Always a trip seeing hitchhikers out on the road...
😉

boldscout72 said:Don't. I'm begging you.

I'm with you on that one.

If you’d gone on about how "noisy" or some other cliché thing it was, I would've checked out.

But honestly?
Every amateur who picks up a guitar thinks they're a genius right after learning their first three chords.
Go listen to some Carcass or Napalm Death if you want actual grit. Or stick to that Nu Metal stuff if that's your speed. 😂

But this... 🙂

wiredfalcon2 said:It’s always nice to see a hitchhiker...
😉

👋 It really is 😁

But I don't get how DoorDash fits in with cold beer and Green Day... it just doesn't feel right to me 😁

Why not try playing something more mainstream? Like Linkin Park or Avril Lavigne 😁 😁

SuperCool said:I know this section of the forum is mostly for concerts and stuff, but I wasn't sure where else to post this...

So, here's the deal: I'm a 20-year-old student living in Chicago, I've been playing guitar for about 5 or 6 years now, and I've had my electric setup and amp for three years. For a while now, I've been thinking about joining a band—mostly just for the pure fun of it and the rush of performing, rather than trying to make a quick buck or anything (my playlist is full of stuff like Green Day, Foo Fighters, and classic punk)... but how do I actually find people who are down for that kind of vibe? And even harder, how do I find an affordable place to practice or play? I tried getting a group together with some friends, but let's face it, money is tight right now. Who can actually afford a decent bass guitar, let alone a whole drum kit?

Find me another guitar, a drum set, and a bass, and I'm in! I can handle vocals or guitar.

P.S. With the music you listed, we’d probably only be able to play if we were absolutely wasted. 😉

The band played Green Day; I know how to play Time of Your Life. 😳

Is it okay? It seems like having a woman in the band is quite the trend lately. 😁

boldscout72 said:Don't. I'm begging you.

I mean, seriously, why are people criticizing my music taste? That’s just part of who I am. Besides, playing stuff like this is actually better when you're first starting out while everyone is still getting their bearings. I doubt we could even pull off Metallica right out of the gate...
Then you have one random guy jumping in with a "please don't," while ten other people are sitting there going, "I totally agree."
Anyway, feel free to just skip these kinds of posts altogether....

SuperCool said:I mean, honestly, why does anyone care what my playlist looks like?

You've got a point there, man. Solid logic.

Melissa Collins41 said:Damn, we were playing Green Day, and I actually know how to play Time of Your Life. 😳

Can I join? It’s pretty trendy right now to have a girl in the band. 😁

So, you're our new rhythm guitarist? Sweet. You're in—as long as you can hold a beat, and if you can sing too, even better. 😁

SuperCool said:Look, I don't see why anyone feels entitled to critique my playlist. Music is just one part of the equation. In my experience, playing simpler stuff is the smartest way to start while everyone gets their timing down. Jumping straight into Metallica would be a disaster for most amateur bands...
Then you get one guy flying in with a "please don't," only to have ten others chime in with "I agree."
Anyway, feel free to skip these kinds of threads altogether....

The main issue is why anyone would bother covering those specific bands in the first place.😁

Believe me, we've all heard those same old covers played a thousand different ways (at least, I have).
Try doing something original for once. Start a band and play your own arrangements.

On a final note, good luck with your music career.😁

👋

Honestly, I’m feeling pretty disgusted by some of the absolute morons lurking on this forum lately. Why on earth are you even showing up to threads just to talk trash about music? Seriously—get lost. You guys aren't even worthy of having a conversation about something this profound. Your heads are completely rotten.

On a more productive note: just go for it. There is nothing stopping you. You can rent out a studio space along with all the gear—just grab some instruments, pick up some tools, and start playing. Mess around, have fun, whatever. Just create something. You don't need much besides your own creativity. Have a blast, and bring people along with you! 👍

Regarding the space and gear,
in a city like Chicago, there are plenty of spots where you can rent everything from the studio to the backline for rehearsals....

So just keep at it, 👍
I’d honestly join in myself, but my schedule is slammed—plus I’ve already got my own band I’m focusing on...

But seriously, just get a crew together and rock out.😁

Jason Chavez32 said:Honestly, some of you idiots on this forum are just driving me crazy. Why even show up to a thread just to talk trash about music? Seriously, just get lost—you aren't even worth having a conversation with about stuff this important. You guys are hopeless.

🤣 🤣 🤣
good grief, Jason Chavez32, Ti_Koji_Uvazavas_Sve_Ukuse... sorry if we pissed you off too much 😂

Jason Chavez32 said:I am absolutely disgusted by the sheer stupidity of some of the morons on this forum. Why on earth would you even show up to a thread just to trash music? Seriously, all of you—just get lost. You aren't even worthy of discussing something as noble as this... your heads are completely rotten!

On-topic: honestly, just go for it—it couldn't be any easier than that. You can rent out an entire studio space along with all the gear... so just grab some instruments, pick up some tools, play around, mess about, have a blast. Just create music; you don't need anything beyond your own raw creativity. Have fun, and bring joy to everyone around you! 👍

Look at all that joy, look at it... here we go, another Fire!

I think I might start my own parody cover band for Casual Elvis.😁
Long live the vintage vibes.😁 👋

Thomas Myers6 said:I’m actually thinking about putting together a parody cover band for Casual Elvis.😁
Long live the vintage era...😁 👋

Go ahead—just don't be surprised when you get a call from our lawyer. 😁

Jason Chavez32 said:I’m honestly sick of the moronic minds on this forum. Why even bother showing up to a thread just to talk shit about music? Get lost, all of you... you aren't even worthy of discussing something this profound. Your heads are rotten.

Then why in hell were you posting in the thread about The White Stripes? 🙂