i've always felt it is, since you can't really turn down drums, and you need to be able to hear all of the instruments at the right levels. not playing that way would kind of defeat the purpose of practicing. maybe you could convince them to soundproof things a bit? or at the very least yell "get off my lawn, kids!" at them?
Interesting point about the drums - I had never thought about that. Even more interesting in this case since they use a drum machine, which presumably has adjustable volume, and no live drums.
I will speak to them about soundproofing. And getting off my lawn. But they are about to go on tour for 5 weeks, I learned from their website, so I don't care that much. They seem only to practice when a show or tour is impending, so I really only have to hear them once in a while. With this tour coming in 2 days, they have only practiced the past 3 days, which is really quite reasonable.
I was going to say the drum thing too, but it's weird since they have a drum machine. That said, it's a lot more FUN to play loud and if they're practicing for tour, it makes sense. They would want to play the songs like they're going to be playing them on the road.
But yeah, if you're hearing it as being loud from next door, they need to at least do some basic soundproofing. That's common courtesy.
I used to live in a house where a few different bands practiced in the basement (and we had regular shows). That sucked. It was impossible to get anything done when the bands practices. Plus the bands sucked, making it even worse.
Oh man. So over living in a house with regular shows and band practices that I am tainted forever. We even had a fair number of good shows, though the practices often sucked. Still, I believe I exhausted a lifetime's patience in a few short years.
I (and quite a few of my friends who are in bands) consider it pretty fucking important to rehearse at live volume. It makes it very difficult to adjust to what you hear/don't hear on stage in a live venue if you're not used to practicing at the same volume levels. Other things still change live, but at least there's one factor that you're somewhat used to.
Haha no I wasn't picking a fight. I never used to understand it, why some bands just can't seem to "hear" anything on stage, why they're always asking for more of (whatever) in their monitors and stuff. I always thought it was bad sound or a sound tech who isn't listening, but people I know who are in bands say no, it's usually that the band doesn't know their own songs at that volume.
Regardless, where you live soundproofing efforts of some kind seem like a must.
hahaha, my roommate loves genghis tron... i can imagine they're pretty annoying to hear practicing (or against your will in general). i thought they were from upstate NY or something.
anyway, yeah, the drums are the problem. if you've got loud drums, everything else gets cranked to compensate. ho hum...
I think they used to go to Vassar or some shit. But now they are my neighbors. Generally unassuming, unnoticeable neighbors, except for a couple of afternoons a month.
Anyway, given that the drums are a small machine, I cannot understand the drums explanation in this case. But I suppose the "louder is just funner" and "loud practice is closest to live performance" explanations hold up. Still, as icki says, no reason not to throw up a couple matresses, or some eggshell stuff.
If they are practicing in a basement at venue volume they are all going to suffer hearing loss unless they are wearing very good earplugs and headphones over those. I know plenty of musicians and former musicians with hearing loss and/or constant ringing in the ears.
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i've always felt it is, since you can't really turn down drums, and you need to be able to hear all of the instruments at the right levels. not playing that way would kind of defeat the purpose of practicing. maybe you could convince them to soundproof things a bit? or at the very least yell "get off my lawn, kids!" at them?
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I will speak to them about soundproofing. And getting off my lawn. But they are about to go on tour for 5 weeks, I learned from their website, so I don't care that much. They seem only to practice when a show or tour is impending, so I really only have to hear them once in a while. With this tour coming in 2 days, they have only practiced the past 3 days, which is really quite reasonable.
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But yeah, if you're hearing it as being loud from next door, they need to at least do some basic soundproofing. That's common courtesy.
I used to live in a house where a few different bands practiced in the basement (and we had regular shows). That sucked. It was impossible to get anything done when the bands practices. Plus the bands sucked, making it even worse.
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But you present a good explanation - practice should be as close to the real thing as possible, especially right before tour.
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Regardless, where you live soundproofing efforts of some kind seem like a must.
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but all this points to the major plusses of being in a ONE PERSON BAND that can practice WHILE BIKE RIDING.
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I wore my The Motherfucking Clash shirt to a party the other night, and people were confused and appreciative in all the best ways.
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anyway, yeah, the drums are the problem. if you've got loud drums, everything else gets cranked to compensate. ho hum...
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Anyway, given that the drums are a small machine, I cannot understand the drums explanation in this case. But I suppose the "louder is just funner" and "loud practice is closest to live performance" explanations hold up. Still, as icki says, no reason not to throw up a couple matresses, or some eggshell stuff.
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