Original Post By: bassfiddlesteve Date: 8/21/2010 8:39:56 PM   (Updated: 8/21/2010 8:42:38 PM) Next weekend I am performing a solo set at the South Florida Ukulele Festival. It's usually just me and my uke at these types of gigs, but I'm considering trying something different. I've removed the vocal and ukulele parts from three Barnkickers songs and put them on an iPod to use as backing tracks. Most of my set will still be just me and my and uke, but I thought playing a few songs with full instrumentation might break things up a bit. Is this sacrilege? Too cheesy? Has anyone here performed with their uke in this manner? - Steve Posted By: PHMike Date: 8/22/2010 1:58:46 AM I haven't done it (yet) but I see solo musicians around Nashville using a guitar and iPod backing tracks all the time. Some of them are pretty good - some don't quite have the knack of it yet. Cheesy? - Not really if done well. But loosing your place in the song, spending a minute hunting for the song on the iPod, having the iPod freeze, etc can become a wreck. I'd prefer seeing a real band do the song live but sometimes ya just gotta do what ya can with what ya got. I play bass with some friends in our backyards (not publicly gigging yet) and we have some Caribbean steel drum sounds recorded to CD that we use in a few songs to spice things up. Posted By: mLKauai Date: 8/22/2010 2:51:52 AM PHMike has some good points. I do it all the time simply because the style i play requires backup; lots of solo choruses. I use Garage Band or Band in a Box tracks, but if you make your own back ups that would be even better if you get good sound. The iPod is great imo. actually i don't know about other hardware for that kind of thing. imo, unless you do lots of chord soloing, the uke needs backup; a guitar or bass minimum. some guys here use vocal harmony backing as well. Posted By: JETUKE Date: 8/22/2010 7:47:49 AM I say give it a try and see how it feels. I don't think it's cheesy at all. It's still you playing along with your band. If you use the backup tracks I'd be interested in hearing your opinion after the performance. Good luck! Posted By: ed w Date: 8/22/2010 10:23:32 AM I like the idea. I have seen it done and it works well. It would add some variety. You might set up the songs in a playlist so they are ready to access. If you needed to come in at the top of the tune I would add a click (perhaps finger snaps to avoid that mechanical fake effect) as a lead in. Posted By: Tom B. Date: 8/22/2010 11:12:52 AM Not cheesy. Brittni Paiva did the same thing at the New York festival in 2006. It sounded great. Posted By: Boswell Date: 8/22/2010 3:44:19 PM   (Updated: 8/22/2010 4:42:24 PM) Time to weigh in from the other side of the fence here, folks. I'm dismayed no one else has, yet. I am philosophically opposed to the use of backing tracks, and I refuse to have anything to do with them. To my mind, they are unethical, and immoral. Please don't sell your soul to the Devil, Steve. But, never mind the high, moral ground. You know the biggest reason to shy away from canned music tracks? They strip the performer of any option to use fermata as a means of spontaneous and impromptu adaptation to heighten audience interaction. ("What the hell did he just say, Martha?" "He said that he can't hold onto a note for longer than normal, so he can roll his eyes at you, and make us all laugh, dear." "Oh.") Posted By: ed w Date: 8/22/2010 5:57:28 PM To me it is not as if he is using canned music that he pulled off the net somewhere. It is his music. IF it were a big act at a major venue I might feel differently. Heck, I saw Todd Rundgren do it on a TV broadcast 30 years ago performing "Hello Its Me". Posted By: Dave Means Date: 8/22/2010 6:55:52 PM   (Updated: 8/22/2010 9:00:33 PM) I've got to weigh in on Boswell's side here. To me, the very essence of a performer and performing talent is the ability to be spontaneous, capable of reacting to and interacting with the audience, and generating the wonderment that everything he or she is doing is being created in front of you in real time. That's entertainment! No reflection on Brittni -- she's a talented, delightful girl -- but, unlike Tom, I thought her use of prerecorded iPod tracks at the NY Ukefest greatly detracted from her performance rather than enhancing it. I was disappointed and would far rather have heard her performing "raw", even if it meant simpler arrangements. Posted By: PHMike Date: 8/22/2010 8:40:24 PM I think acceptable use of backing tracks varies depending on the situation. If I paid to see a particular artist on stage I would not want to see them use backing tracks. If I went to a party, bar or restaurant that just had generic "live music" then I would not feel so bad about seeing the artist use backing tracks. I do love real live music and go see it very often. I see some of the same artists over and over singing the same songs over and over and every time it seems the performance is a bit different and is always (in my opinion) better than listening to it on CD. Posted By: Ukulele Crooner Date: 8/22/2010 8:58:03 PM I would also agree with Boswell on this... and Mike regarding "live music". But at a Ukulele Fest I would want to see either a solo performance or a small combo. Unless you're Troy Fernandez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-F1xBVWMvo&feature=related Posted By: bassfiddlesteve Date: 8/22/2010 9:40:18 PM Thanks for the feedback. Good points were made both for and against. I should mention that the backing tracks are not midi or band-in-a-box. They are live acoustic instruments: steel-string guitar, clarinet, upright bass and snare drum with brushes. They are actually remixed tracks from our CD and all of the instruments were played by me and my daughter except for the snare drum. I will be singing and playing ukulele over them and there is no click track or count in. I would only use them for about three songs. - Steve Posted By: UkeJon Date: 8/22/2010 11:45:39 PM I use a looper on some of my live tunes to round things out a bit. Doesn't solve your problem with backing vocals but it does allow for harmonizing and lead playing.....and it all is laid down live. Posted By: PHMike Date: 8/22/2010 11:47:39 PM   (Updated: 8/22/2010 11:54:32 PM) Another option is to use a looper pedal. That way you can still be "live" and have some backup too. I saw Phil Keaggy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Keaggy do some songs with an acoustic guitar and a looper pedal that impressed me probably more than any solo performance by anyone I've ever seen. Here is a Youtube vid of Phil. At about 3:00 in the vid he begins using a looper pedal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-pHF-raadU Posted By: Dave Means Date: 8/23/2010 12:42:28 PM Maybe it's the Luddite in me, but I'm still far more impressed by what is done by four fingers and a thumb on the fretboard and strings in real time on an acoustic instrument than by all the gadgetry in the world, be they effects, pedals, loopers, prerecorded tracks, whatever. Production values?... meh! Give it to me nekkid. Posted By: Tom B. Date: 8/23/2010 12:47:21 PM I can understand the objections to using backing tracks, especially if they're canned midi tracks or used poorly. But given the situation you describe, Steve, using your own backing recordings for only a few songs, I just don't see the audience having a problem. If they're Barnkickers fans -- and who isn't? -- they might welcome hearing some of their favorites performed in a familiar way. As for Brittni Paiva's use of backing tracks, I think the situation was comparable to yours in that she played most of the parts herself. But it was different in that she relied on the backing tracks for every piece she played (if my memory serves me.) I can see how that would have ruined it for some in the audience, although I recall enjoying the performance quite a bit. In the end, I suppose it comes down to what you, as the artist, feel most comfortable doing in terms of getting your music across. Posted By: ukrazy Date: 8/23/2010 2:00:07 PM Nothing useful to add. Just wanted to vote. No Backing Track. I'm sure you could recruit a guitar player from around the festival to back you up. So what!!!, if it comes out a little rough. Posted By: John in Fla Date: 8/23/2010 3:34:52 PM Steve, I have heard you live and you don't need it. Personally, when I go hear something live, be it in a bar or concert hall, I want live, warts and all. And if you are one performer, one instrument is fine. Mussorgsky's Pictures at an exibition sounds great as an orchestra piece and just as good as a piano solo. Posted By: Unknown User Date: 8/23/2010 7:05:51 PM The use of the fermata or any other of several tempo altering devices is not the only way to imbue a musical performance with expressivity. It really all does depend on the situation, or rather the "goal" of the performer. Discussion forums are great, but one of the downsides is that they can have the effect of keeping us all in our little purist silos, addressing every issue from the highest possible moral and philosophical high ground, often unaffected by the real world. Not every performer, in every situation, is trying to -- or needs to be -- an artiste. It depends on the situation. I'd be disappointed too if I paid money to experience a great performer's artistry and they did something to cheapen it. But, in other situations, and assuming it's done to the best possible ability of the performer and his/her equipment, I think it's okay in small doses. Like for parties or events where someone has the good sense to at least pay for SOME live music, rather than go with the crowd and hire a DJ. And I think it is a matter of degrees. A solo player shouldn't have the sound of a whole band as backup. But maybe a subtle rhythm section, some color here and there with certain instruments, why not? Of course, not if they're presenting what they do as art, but how about entertainment at a level at least higher than the boob tube (or a friggin' DJ)? Make some folks happy, show what kinds of things can be played on the uke to some people who may not yet know. Then play your "recitals" when the situation calls for that. Posted By: AlanJ Date: 8/23/2010 7:22:57 PM Steve, why don't you try practicing with the backing tracks and recording it. Listen and see if you're happy with the results. Posted By: mLKauai Date: 8/24/2010 4:43:50 AM   (Updated: 8/24/2010 4:45:56 AM) some music just needs backup to get a different audio-musical perspective. i.e. everybody has seen Jake perform and for the sake of economics, solo is, well, where it's at economically. Have you seen him with a combo (live musicians, but bear with me here) that he has picked out and arranged parts for? I did, when he brought a drummer and bass player from Oahu to Kauai one night... he did his solo set of course, but we would not have heard the creativity he arranged and performed in group, playing off the sounds (percussion/bass) and pauses and I loved it tremendously! He got standing o's btw... he did for every song actually (the solo part of the set too). I am arguing against my point by admitting it wasn't "canned" backup, but nonetheless I like hearing the uke accompanied. And if it's just a couple songs, Steve, how can your audience experience the BarnKickers flavor without some of your unique backup? They can't really. I say it depends on what you want to put across to your audience, and if what you wish to share goes beyond 4 fingers, a thumb and a voice... for a few tunes out of the set? Go for it... it's fun too. Posted By: Gerald Ross Date: 8/24/2010 3:10:03 PM When I give lap steel guitar demos I typically use Band In A Box pre-recorded tracks stored as mp3 files on my Droid phone. The lap steel is not a solo instrument. I can't always find backup musicians who can read the sheet and play immediately on stage. Most of the time I am lucky. I find a fellow performer at the festival I am appearing at. We have a five minute rehearsal and then we hit the stage. But many times I am forced to use canned tracks. BIAB sound the most realistic. Posted By: bassfiddlesteve Date: 8/25/2010 9:43:18 PM Gerald, I agree that BIAB does sound good for what it is but I thought your electric bass playing on "Ukulele Stomp" was very well done. - Steve Posted By: kekoa Date: 8/25/2010 10:05:02 PM   (Updated: 8/25/2010 10:08:02 PM) Yes, I agree that we can't put everyone in the a box and an artist needs to try what works best for them. If not careful in using the backing tracks, it can sound karaooke or cheesy as some put it, but not always. Seeing Brittni's performances recently she uses them quite effectively with some songs that just need it. And she performed some pieces without it and just simply the ukulele is heard. In my opinion, it brought a depth of interest to her performance making it a great performance. Standing oviation at the recent one I attended here on the mainland. I think she brings musically to the non-ukulele player's ear as well. And she sure sells a heck of a lot of cds too. Posted By: mLKauai Date: 8/26/2010 2:31:49 PM just my opinion, if i were to go see Lyle Ritz, if i were that lucky, i'd hope he would play the songs on his No Frills CD... they are tops, and all have accompaniment; bass mostly. that's where he is "nonpareil" (?) ... "no ka oi" "numbah one" Posted By: looney tunes Date: 8/27/2010 12:03:43 AM Tonight I was with Steve at Aug. Uke Jam at the Whisle Stop Rest/Grill (it's located next to a train track and trains go by --drowing out our ukulele players---true) in Safety Harbor, Fl and was able to listen to Steve play back and forth, solo and the backtracks......Drum roll........ the Backtracks win and have it by a mile. Much more depth and the crowd becomes much more engaged. Posted By: mLKauai Date: 8/29/2010 4:16:26 PM there you go... there are reasons for both. another reason for tracks; say the crowd is not intently focusing on you... a restaurant, bar, whatever... you have a nice back track, sets the mood, pervades the space and your playing adds uke-spice to the mix... if you did use tracks Steve, how'd it go? Posted By: Ukeguy Date: 8/29/2010 5:39:43 PM   (Updated: 8/29/2010 5:42:20 PM) Steve, I don't want to pop your bubble but I really don't like any type of backing tracks, even if they're acoustic instruments played by real people. Whenever I see someone use them it automatically turns me off. Of course, this is subjective an maybe just a plain old character fault. Some do it very well but they stll drive me nuts. I'd much rather see what someone can do all by themselves. Break a leg at the gig, --Mark Posted By: bassfiddlesteve Date: 8/30/2010 2:24:58 PM I used the the backing tracks at the last TBUS open mic and at the ukulele festival. It worked pretty well, although the iPod gave me some trouble during the festival and broke up the flow of my set. For the kind of music I perform I think I'll just stick with live instruments only. - Steve Posted By: bassfiddlesteve Date: 8/30/2010 11:28:27 PM On a related note, two of the performers at the festival were using vocal harmonizers and I have to say that I didn't care for the effect. They both had nice voices and I would have preferred to hear them without the synthesized harmony part. A few people in the audience seemed to share my opinion. - Steve

E-mail: info@fleamarketmusic.com

Home Online Store    Events Calendar 
Mailing List    Ukulele Links    Marketplace     Bulletin Board 
Player Directory   Collector's Uke Yak    Ukulele Tuner

© 1997-2026 Flea Market Music. All rights reserved.
Web Design by Web Solutions, Inc.