"Start The Band!!"

The name of this blog comes from a Jandek song, an instrumental atypical of the band's signature tunelessness.  Sterling Smith, the songwriter for whom Jandek is, for all intents and purposes, his alter ego, has a knack for plain-spoken profundity.  I love the simplicity to that imperative.  "Start The Band"-as if instuments don't need to be bought, lessons taken, members auditioned and selected, or songs written so that the band has something to play. 

As easy as Mr. Smith makes forming a group sound, I have always had great difficulty starting a band. Maybe it's because I'm nerdy and don't cut a convincing a "rocker dude" visual, or perhaps it's because I provide so little in the way of direction when I play music with others.  The people whom I ask to join my band reply nonverbally, with a facial response equal parts skepticism and mild revulsion. They make me feel like I'm scamming them, as if I were some modern day Harold Hill.

All I can do is reassure prospective bandmates that I am in earnest, and have something of substance to bring to a music project.  I'm a good guitar player, work hard at writing decent songs, I don't try to dictate to other band members the parts they play, and, when put in the role, try to be an encouraging bandleader.   

This is my attempt to avoid the traditional problems and simply, without depending on others' less enthusiastic responses, "Start The Band".  That's why I chose a band name, the spelling and pronunciation of which is the same in the singular and plural (more on that later). If need be, I can be the band until others get interested in joining.

As for joining, how about you? Do you play drums or bass? Do you sing?  Are you from Louisville or surrounding environs?   Are you into experimental music at all?  If not, does it sound fun to play?  Do you have any problems playing an instrument you don't know how to play?

C'on, give it a try.  It'll be fun, and, maybe, we can play a few shows to small audiences, make small-volume runs of CD's to sell to our 3 die-hard fans, and maybe write our story large in the annals of relative obscurity.

How 'bout it?