How many of you still play, plan to, or have left it behind?

[Mooncat]

This is inspired by the peak metal years thread. Not so much a 'post your band thread' but more of an interest in whether a group of people who are mostly in various shades of middle age are still playing in bands or writing music or not.

During the peak MI years it felt like the majority of the forum was in a band, and I recognize a lot of names here as people who were in bands at the time. Do you still play in bands or solo? Or do you plan to at some point if possible once life isn't so much in the way? Have any of you decided to just leave the playing aspect of it at this point? Doesn't have to be metal, any music activity at all.

For myself I've been in an alt-funk band for the last 10yrs (think Primus/Faith No more), am working on a post-punk project, and did a bit of synthwave over covid. So I'm still very much active and can't see that changing. My metal days may be over however. That said, if a great opportunity came up with the right people I could definitely be interested (the right opportunity being something really fun locally).

I sometimes get some paranoia about being a bit older in the local scene, but it's all in my head. There's tons of older folks along with all the kids in the local scene here and everyone is accepted. I play on regardless!

Also interesting, how was your live playing life back then compared to now?

[Eoin McLove]

As I mentioned in the other thread, I've a new album nearly done. Industrial/noise sort of stuff but with actual songs, at least to my ear. Maybe a mix of old Current 93, Trepaneringsritualen and electronic Beherit. I've the next project coming together in my head now as well. Living in Aus, I've made friends with some of the older metal heads here but they've all retired from activity and I'm not arsed getting involved in the active scene here. I just don't have the time or energy. I'm happy (for now at least) to keep ploughing away at my own stuff and I'm loving slowly figuring out the recording gear. Figuring out how to transfer the files back and forth will be the next thing to further enhance collaboration with old allies, but I need to upgrade my software for that. As for gigs, I haven't felt the urge since leaving Malthusian in 2018, but I'd never rule it out entirely. I have always preferred the creative side than the gigging side, but it can have its place.

[Mooncat]

I don't know what software you're using now but Reaper is free and is a full DAW. I've been using it for years. Very easy to export your project as stems if you need to send it on to someone, and also easy to import stems and music files into your own project.


Edit: How did you ingratiate yourself with the older metal heads in Aus? Just meeting them at gigs or what?

[Bürggermeister]

I haven't gigged in almost 10 years but am probably more musically active than I have ever been.

When I moved to South Tipp, almost 20 years ago, I was playing with Acrid Nebula and was commuting to Dublin at least once per week for practices, maybe more if we were gigging. By the time I did a year with TTOW, I was fucking sick of spending 4 hours driving for a four practice where, if you were lucky, you'd play music for maybe 2 hours and finished with them, and any urge to go to Dublin again, in 2016. Young me didn't mind all that driving, in the beginning, but I lost the grá for all that time in the car, the associated expense, and now that I'm in my 50's I have fuck all interest in driving and all the shite that comes with being in bands, despite the craic.

There is very little scope for original bands down this way but where you lose opportunities, you win in other ways. Living in the sticks has enabled me to set up a recording studio in one of the bedrooms, have a drum kit permanently set up and mic'd and can crank amps as the neighbours are far enough away to be out of earshot. I'm a few weeks away from finishing the fourth Homeball album, mostly rock but with the opportunity for weirdness as desired, and I've a couple of Metal albums I'm trying to finish this year too. One is a doom band I was in during the early to mid 90's which died before we got to record, I've recorded our songs from that time and the guitarist will come over from England to record his stuff during the year. The other one is more speed/thrash influenced stuff which I wrote after Acrid Nebula shit the bed and died about 15 years ago. I've all the music recorded, a full album, just need to finish the lyrics and get the vocals done. After that, I've a pile of other stuff in various stages of completion, just need to find the time and get it all done. Better than watching telly anyway   

[Goosebumples]

Ya as I said in the other thread, still active and it occupies a large amount of my waking thought. I took 5 years approx out from gigging, with the recent rotting christ shows as my return, and I felt like I was coming back alive if Im honest!

Had alot in the way for the aforementioned 5ish years, moving across the country, shitty work schedules, going to college at last & the associated lack of money, poor mental health etc. But I really cant see a break like that happening again, I did it out of necessity rather than choice. The entire time without playing in a band on the regular, I felt kinda, lost? So much of my personal identity over the years was tied to music, between performing, writing and earning a living with instrument repairs. When the rug got pulled and I took a step back, it was awful.

Currently, Im still in university on the way to a lvl 10 degree and a very exciting career, but in terms of vocational fulfillment nothing will ever touch writing riffs, lyrics (a recent passion of mine), and just grinding out hours playing tunes with your best mates in the jam room!

Oddly enough I quite enjoy the long commute that killed it for some of ye, for now at least, 2hrs on the motorway to contemplate, listen to tunes, enjoy silence or even an audiobook is nice!

[The Great Cull]

Not done anything since Acrid Nebula ended almost 15 years ago. Had kids in the interim and now that I'm mid 40s I can't ever see myself getting back into anything (the drive from Mullingar to Dublin every weekend is beyond off-putting now).

Frankly I also don't know if I'd be able to dedicate enough time or energy to a project either. I'm 5 nights a week chauffeuring kids to their activities so I'd need to have a band dedicated to driving to rehearse in my own garage and that's not bloody likely to happen down this neck of the woods!

[ldj]

I've been working on a traditional HM project the past year or so which has been creatively very exciting, was/am still hoping for it to become a proper band but that is proving a bit more difficult than expected.

Was hoping to have a demo out and be gigging by this summer but that would be ambitious, but still work goes on  .

[Pat Twisted Wrath]

Would love to get back playing even a couple of times a year.

Two young kids at home rules out the regular gigging. I wished I had done more when I was younger and not tired all the bastard time! 

[Eoin McLove]

Edit: How did you ingratiate yourself with the older metal heads in Aus? Just meeting them at gigs or what?

Darrah put me in touch with Ryan Marauder when I came over and I got to know some of the heads through him. I seldom go out to gigs and haven't bothered joining a local forum so I'm otherwise out of touch with what's going on here.

[Circlepit]

I was in a band years ago and it fizzled out.
During one of the lockdowns the guitar player sent me music and asked me to write lyrics and sing over it as a once off.
About 3 years ago we went back at and have continued to do so.
2 eps recorded and released digitally to little or no fanfare. the next one we are
currently writing should be called just that.

Still it's more than just fun, it allows us to make noise whilst having some form of creativity.

[Emphyrio]

For health reasons, unfortunately, my band days are likely behind me. That said, this has also allowed me much more time to do my own stuff from the bottom up. There's a lot to be said for being responsible for it all. There is great satisfaction in that. Obviously this means you don't get that magic in the practice room when things "click". That feeling and excitement about trying it out live, it being received well....ya,, there isn't much better than that.

Doing the live thing got to be a real chore though. Outside of the 40mins on stage, most of the rest of it is hassle. I can't but miss it, however. Friends, pints, giving it welly. Ya, fuckin magic!

Glad to still be able to tip away myself and have that creative outlet. It's still class.

[Eoin McLove]

It's cool to go for it and try to get a band out there, get noticed, get gigs, tours and festivals. Definitely a buzz around doing that and a sense of achievement if it happens. Family life changes that for many people, I think, but having that creative outlet is such a life enriching thing. Whether that's in a band setting where you're bouncing ideas off each other or you're trying to do it all yourself, it's an adventure every time. I always find it fascinating how you begin with an idea and you end up with something which may or may not approximate that original idea. But the first idea is the catalyst to get the thing moving, I reckon. I'm really getting a lot out of doing the solo-ish thing.

[Pentagrimes]

At this point I will drop dead with a guitar in my hands, it's been the thing I love most in life since I was a kid, and while I've had periods where playing music has burned me out a bit, it's been the one real constant in my life. I love going in to the practice room with the lads every week and writingnin my current band. I love making stuff on my own at home. The older I get the more I want to collaborate with people on things that are a challenge to me musically, and that are outside what I usually do. Im looking forward to going full Kenny Rogers in my 60s though.

Having said that, I've reconciled myself at this point to the fact that it's highly unlikely I'll ever play in a metal (or hrdcore) band ever again, and I'm fine with that. I'd also be fine with never playing in front of an audience again too.

[Trev]

I always loved the songwriting side, but I think I've played a grand total three gigs in my life and that was back as a teenager. Life stuff got in the way and never felt the urge to join up with a band and make a go of things after that

The last while though myself and three mates will meet up a every few months, rent out a practice room for a night, and just make a load of noise with a pile of cans. No intentions of gigging, or even recording anything, just a purely social outlet and it's great

[Circlepit]

I've played one gig since we got back together.
It was brilliant but as I was helping lift an Ampeg 8x10 up the stairs in Fredz I realised that I'm more cut out for being a rock star over being a roadie.
Who needs an 8x10 upstairs in Fredz?
Apparently we do.
I believe we are playing another gig this year.
The tour that never ends.