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Location: Michigan | Yes or No . I think that after a few Brews I start sounding better,what about you?
Do some people start sounding better because they get a bit looser when they have a beer or a puff and loosen up when performing.
I tend to vapor lock when trying to play for the public straight or buzzed. GWB |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | The musician might think so , everyone else disagrees..
Vic
..heh heh ...cheers.. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I always thought the band sound better when I was drunk. I danced great when I was drunk, too. But, playing guitar? No way. |
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Location: Portland, OR | Depends on how drunk everyone else is. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | To be honest, I do relax after a couple of brews. Now once I start the third six-pack, all bets are off. 
As to MJ, I only had maybe six 'j's in my life and the last one was over 20 years ago. Actually I wouldn't mind trying another now that I'm back into guitars. 
As to dancing, anytime! 
WARNING: NEVER ask me to sing! |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | I spent 6 weeks in Austin for work a few years back. I had been looking forward to catching a popular local act, Toni Price, at the Continental Club. Finally made it over to see her and she got FUBAR very quickly as somebody kept handing her straight shots. The show went downhill fast and I left disappointed. I'm sure she's had her good days and bad.. just seemed to be squandered talent on that particular occasion. |
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Location: Jet City | Well this is a touchy subject, and I may get a vacation, but it's the truth. Usually, I would just pass this topic by, but It's funny, I was just contemplating this yesterday inside my own brain.
The reason? My creativity isn't what it used to be.
Now I grew up in the Bay Area, Drug Capitol of the Universe and I have to say that I indulged in many a mind altering substance back in the day. I remember coming up with some insanely heavy riffs and rhythms while peaking on mescaline, some tasty and soulful solos after smokin, or some wild and weird syncopations in the oddest diminished keys on mushrooms.
All of that said I cleaned up my act at about the age of 21, and left the wild drug induced musician life behind.
So initially, I thought yeah, the drugs helped with the creativity.
Then I thought...
Well maybe the creativity was always there, and the drugs finally ate away at enough brain cells that the creativity was lost.
Chicken or the egg sort of thing, who knows?
All I really know is that I'm glad my kids aren't reading this. :rolleyes: |
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Location: SF Bay area, California | John Fahey played good guitar when drunk and obnoxious, but at a couple of shows I saw it sure took the enjoyment out of it.
My favorite band in Portland in 1980-82 was called Cruise Control. Their '15 minute' breaks always included 2 trips out to the band van, and were never less than 45 minutes. Their music was hot. RIP Richard Burdell.
MarkM |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by Damon67:
All I really know is that I'm glad my kids aren't reading this. :rolleyes: Chances are, someones' kids will read what you guys wrote.
common sense: Sound judgment not based on specialized knowledge; native good judgment. |
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Location: NJ | wha? . . . |
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Location: Brisbane Australia | I saw Bob Dylan here in Brisbane about 4 years ago.
I don't know what planet he was on that night but it sure as hell wasn't Earth.
He was terrible.
The only thing that saved the concert was his band, they were fantastic.
AJ |
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Location: SoCal | Originally posted by dvd:
I spent 6 weeks in Austin for work a few years back. I had been looking forward to catching a popular local act, Toni Price, at the Continental Club. Finally made it over to see her and she got FUBAR very quickly as somebody kept handing her straight shots. The show went downhill fast and I left disappointed. I'm sure she's had her good days and bad.. just seemed to be squandered talent on that particular occasion. I went to college in Austin in the 70's. When you went to see ol' Scamp Walker, chance are he was higher then a kite. Sometimes he was good, most times not...... |
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Location: chicago | Pete townsend said it best smokin'works for creativity but will turn you into a softball.A beer or two is ok when I play a gig but Dobro will attest those Vodka martinis dont do anything for hand eye coordination!Jeff |
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| Ohh never mind |
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Location: Vernon CT | I like a beer or 3 when playing or not playing. :D |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Don't know if this is true, but someone told me Kenny Loggins showed up drunk for a concert at BYU, where presumably most of the kids were sober. He came running out for the opening number, slid off the stage and broke his leg. Alcohol certainly didn't enhance that performance. |
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Location: Utah | One beer, yeah it helps loosen me up a lot. If all I'm playing is rhythm, it doesn't make a difference at all. But if it is at all challenging, loosening up really helps a lot. Or, if I'm singing, it helps a whole bunch.
Too much, like more than one drink these days, and my coordination suffers, as does my ear. So, one beer=good, two or more=bad.
The more the audience drinks, the better!
Since my current gig is a church band, where we play on Sunday mornings, sipping a beer during the performance is out. And most of the audience is sober, too. So we all have to suffer through it. |
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Location: Michigan | I think Janis Joplin holds the title of QUEEN of Live Drunk Performances.GWB |
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Location: Berkeley, CA | From the musicians I've known, I'd say that in general being buzzed is a slight minus for really good musicians, and a slight plus for okay players.
Reading this thread put me in mind of Johnny Cash's "Sunday Morning Coming Down". Now it's running through my brain, and it won't stop. :) So now my iTune is playing "The essential Johnny Cash" album. Good stuff.
So, what is a "Tennessee flat-top box"
I'm not a total country music fan, but I really, really miss Johnny Cash. Any of you know him in person?
knuckles
Sorry about the off-topic tribute. ;) |
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Location: Maple Shade, NJ. | I guess I could elaborate on this subject a bit,......but, just follow the link below. |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by guitarwannabee:
I think Janis Joplin holds the title of QUEEN of Live Drunk Performances. I totally agree. But that was when she was at her absolute best, contrary to the norm! |
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Location: NJ | personally I think a beer or mixed drink to take the edge off often works for me. I am not very confident as a player so it helps.
I have worked with people that were so stoned that I had to unplug their instrument or put their volumne down on the PA. I have also worked with people that were inspired while messed up.
The creative mind is something that has yet to be defined. what sparks that creativity can be from within or from use of other substances. I think that you have to determine what works best for your own state of creative mind. |
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| For me, more than 1 drink & my coordination suffers, although I perceive that my singing gets better ;) . But that 1 does loosen me up a little and makes my playing easier in front of others. Haven't tried playing music stoned since my college daze.
For others, altered consciousness can be liberating. Think Allman Bros (Live at Filmore East) or with Clapton (Ocean Blvd sessions). For the gifted the inspiration stays long after they sober up (Clapton Unplugged, From the Cradle, etc.) |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | 
"When I listen to what I did under the influence - 10 years of work - I don't think it either enhanced or impaired me. It didn't have that much to do with it"
-KR |
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| He's no longer "under the influence"?!?!?!?! |
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| it certainly does nothing for my playing. took me about 30 years to realise it. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | That's funny - it took me one Tour. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | RIM SHOT... |
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Location: closely held secret | CAPS LOCK STUCK AGAIN, JEFF? |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | could be the cheese... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I thought Wease was commenting on Schroeder's ability.... not his own... |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | I was.
Took me about an hour about mine. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | i'll have to stop drinking before I can make any accurate . . . hic . . . assessment. |
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Location: Scotland | You know, they put legal limits on alcohol if you're driving. Maybe they should do the same before you're allowed to walk onstage when people are paying good money to be there. What would happen to your ass if you continually showed up for work drunk or stoned, outside of the music industry? |
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Location: SoCal | There was a guy on youtube, higher than a kite, who sang Amazing Grace. It was maybe the worst thing I ever heard...... |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | ...next! |
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Location: Eaton, Indiana | We had a saying when I was young: While you partyed, I practiced. I did get a lot of fill in gigs for those who were drunk on their butts or had their heads in the clouds.
42 years on the road, nearly 6000 performances, still doing 100-150 a year plus recording gigs.
The fun never ends! Stay upright! Scott |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | At least the Ovation player in this clip seems sober. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by muzza:
At least the Ovation player in this clip seems sober.
Which is why I play Neil Young and cowboy chords... :cool: |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | That's what they have Karaoki bars for.
Waitress in Karaoki bar: Can I help you?"
Me: Yes, get that singer a bucket.
Waitress: What?
Me: So she could carry a tune.
Waitress: What?
Me: Never mind. |
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Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | From experience back in the 70's, I'd say yes and no. Sometimes there would be some great ideas come up, but the buzz would make it harder to actually play them. Then again, sometimes you just get in the zone, tune out everything else and the magic happens, but hey you don't really need the drugs or booze for that! I agree a drink or two may loosen you up if you're nervous. Everybody usually thinks they sound better stoned or drunk, but once you tape it, you get the real story... |
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| " Everybody usually thinks they sound better stoned or drunk, but once you tape it, you get the real story..."
My personal epiphany. |
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Location: closely held secret | Wouldn't that be a "stupiphany" ? |
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| No, I was playing an epiphone at the time. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | To answer the question, NO.
Maybe like Al says, 1 to smooth the edge but that's it. |
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Location: Chicago | Yeah, I hate to admit it, but I fumble ALOT when I get in da ZONE, even a little. It almost seems worse when I'm just a tad buzzed: Hardly know I'm impaired but the damage is audible. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | No, it does not help in a perfomance. As stated above, one drink or a toke or three takes the edge off, but that's it.
Jamming with friends who are also all buzzed up, I'd say you could go up to the equivalent of three beers over an hour and half. More than that it's sloppy, sloppy, sloppy. Though you may not know it at the time. |
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Location: SoCal | Of course, then there's the lobby jam in CT...... |
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Location: closely held secret | Using a slide for a shot glass doesn't necessarily help your playing...
...though I'll say Temp seemed to make it work. At least until he dropped it and couldn't pick it up again... |
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Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | .....BUT, if you DON'T put your finger over the bottom you'll drink a lot less.....
....or is that a shot glass for a slide?
(A half full longneck makes in interesting slide too!) |
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DOES GETTING HIGH OR BUZZED MAKE YOUR PLAYING BETTER??