Musical life after bands...

[UlricvonCatalyst]

but if you still cling to the dream of 'making it' by the traditional route, be prepared to be disappointed.

I gave up on that 25 years ago

I expect I'll end up doing exactly what you describe. I'm a multinstumentalist anyway and can do my own drums, keys, bass, gtr, etc. enough to get me by anyway

Yeah, it's not a bad route to go down. Kind of equal parts satisfaction to frustration, depending on your mood when you think about it, but at least you're doing something.

[sal paradise]

Something that I’ve been toying with is writing songs with lofi drums & keyboard lines, then gigging with guitar & laptop/phone for backing track.

I’m only short a couple of things: writing the songs, recording them, and having the guts to play them live.

[Domm]

Truth. If you don’t make space for music in your life something else will come along to fill it.

J. is a big musical hero for me. Please ask him where he finds all of those incredible drummers.

For real! Beyond his own talent he definitely has an ability to find awesome drummers!! My old band recorded a record at magpie cage with J. almost 10 years ago. It was an amazing experience and he was a super nice dude. He even sang some background vocals on a song.

[welshywelsh]

I'm in a post-rock band so age isn't a massive barrier (I've just turned 40) as everyone is probably within 10 years of each other across the scene. Plus we all have beards and hold craft beer so we look the same.

We've definitely had the most traction over the past year - signing to a local label, releasing an album on vinyl, pro videos, supporting some of our favourite bands and headlining shows - which I must admit I didn't think would ever happen in middle age.

That said, it's still low level and I know it won't go on forever.

Appreciate it's a different genre entirely to yours Johnny, but how about composing/film scores? That's my plan. It's an excuse to still have different guitars and still play with all my ridiculous pedals.

[panoramic]

(sorry in advance for the rambling here)
well, this post hits home for me. I've been in various phases of this struggle for about 9 years. Back then I still thought I had an active band, I'd had a son and the band was getting awkward but I figured we'd get back there after I moved into my new house and we could practice there etc but that never transpired. Since then I had numerous short lived micro projects with a few groups of people that never went anywhere. I "jammed" with random folks here and there and even played some really big gigs with another band I was barely interested in playing with. I wrote an entire album or 4's worth of material and managed to forget about 80% of it over time. I have just gotten frustrated enough with all of it that I have started to down size my already small collection and just want to own a few really great pieces. I know you have already been going through this stuff, that is PHASE 1 of this movement. Later you'll get back into trying and buy stuff again and you just hit walls over and over again with inspiration and the struggle of this part of your life being over. I have had some late nights questioning all of it. I even talk to my GF about it from time to time. A large part of my personal identity is sort of an artist, if I am not doing my art I feel like something is missing and I get a bit maudlin.
A few times now I have entered the RPM challenge and gotten nowhere with it but at least I did some stuff. I keep hoping to get inspired enough to record on the set up in my bedroom but time, adulthood, parenting and all of the other factors of post band life get in the way. I write a fucking TON of music, like 10 songs a month but they are just for me. I put some up on IG so I won't forget them but for the most part I just write to keep myself proficient on guitar and to keep that skill going just in case a band happens to me again. I am planning to do a solo record this year for the first time in forever. Maybe that will change my perspective on it but I have really felt empty without a band or an active project.

[budda12ax7]

This post hits home too.....I loved playing live and going to band practice and writing, playing loud....funny...my very last "real" gig my GF now wife was at. For me it was finally a real career job and less time for going to band practice...it just sort of phased out.
BUT
This is NOT the end..... I kept 90 percent of my giging gear and vowed to never sell anything. SO, I spent time wood-shedding my chops, building a nice little recording studio at home, making pedal boards, writing and recording music all the time (mostly punk, chillwave and DoOm metal), I can crank up my amps in the garage and have plans record more and more stuff. I still colab with people through sharing files and working on music...got some soft synth stuff going....no this is not the end, but a new beginning. Embrace it and put out an EP of post rock music....colab with people on OSG...I can send you some stuff...

[welshywelsh]

We should totally do an OSG Collab song!

[UlricvonCatalyst]

A large part of my personal identity is sort of an artist, if I am not doing my art I feel like something is missing

Absolutely, and if you're with someone who gets this you're luckier than I've ever been.

[panoramic]

A large part of my personal identity is sort of an artist, if I am not doing my art I feel like something is missing

Absolutely, and if you're with someone who gets this you're luckier than I've ever been.

I am lucky this time around. My ex wife did not understand this and saw me playing as a hindrance.

[Jonesie]

I played drums in bands for the better part of a decade, and then I moved away during the pandemic which ended that. I've wanted to play guitar in a project for years and years and years and it just hasn't happened. I don't really know anyone where I am now, which has hampered things a bit. I met some guys on craigslist who seemed promising, and we hung out a few times and it was good, but then I sent over some songs of mine and it was radio silence. So I'm going to read the room and not follow up.

[budda12ax7]

We should totally do an OSG Collab song!

ya..ok....what style would you like to do???

[seenoevil II]

We should totally do an OSG Collab song!

ya..ok....what style would you like to do???

Outlaw Country

[budda12ax7]

We should totally do an OSG Collab song!

ya..ok....what style would you like to do???

Outlaw Country

Hank III???

[seenoevil II]

ya..ok....what style would you like to do???

Outlaw Country

Hank III???

Pronounced <<'ank trois>>

[budda12ax7]

I would like to add: it was an adjustment period....I spent 6 months just dying to play out and play loud....then just started recording stuff on my own....built up my little studio....I did let my chops slide for awhile, but then regrouped and started seriously wood shedding..