I’ve been asked to audition…

So back in September, I talked about wanting to make a new rock band because it’s been a long time since I’ve been in one. Well, last week, I was approached by Doug, the leader of a Salt Lake-based rock ‘n roll band named Switchback and asked to audition as a replacement for the keyboardist they have been missing for a long time.

I went to see them in Tooele on Friday night at Tracks… and they definitely don’t suck 🙂 I’d looked up the band on their web site, and noticed that one of their faces was new. I also noticed that, although Doug, Ed, and Randy (Bass, Guitar, Drums) were really tight and had obviously played together a lot, Mark was struggling here and there with getting the right chords and seemed a bit nervous. I later learned that this was only Mark’s second gig with the band, with just a few rehearsals of the setlist

Makes sense. His licks are solid, but he just isn’t used to the playlist or his fellow band members yet.

Anyway, they put on a really fun performance to watch and listen to. Interesting to me, though, that the young crowd at Tracks danced a lot more to the VJ during breaks than to the band. I’m not sure why that is, but it was a pretty plain difference. The band remarked that they liked playing at Tracks a lot because it’s one of the few regular gigs where people do actually get up, dance, seem really into the music, and give some applause and tips now and again. Other places, apparently, people just sit around and watch, with just scattered applause.

Anyway, so I’m looking at the setlist… Holy crap, I’ll have a lot of work to do if I make it. About 150 songs as part of the regular set list, and apparently it changes all the time. It’s been such a long time since I played cover tunes on a regular basis, I’m a little intimidated.

So what would you do to get ready for an audition with a local pro band if you hadn’t played professionally for twelve years and felt rusty as all hell? Apparently, keyboardists who play rock and improv are few and far between. Ones who sing well and can also hold their own on rhythm guitar are a bit rarer. So I am not terribly worried about passing the audition/jam session… but I’m a whole lot more worried about being competent with the set list afterward!