Band Evolution: Explain It To Me

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Since songs don't exist in a vacuum, many bands tend to go about changing the ways in which they execute them over time, particularly if the band in question is around for awhile. Sometimes this involves taking an old song and reworking it; other times, it just involves an overall sense of progression and evolution in the overall sound of the band in question. Sometimes it's a cynical move, and sometimes it's a natural progression.

With that in mind, I want someone to explain to me (with examples!) about "good" evolution vs. "bad" evolution.

(F'rinstance, why's everyone dissing Data Panik but creaming themselves over Waiting for the Sirens Call? ;) )

</jumping out of the frying pan>

― janni (janni), Thursday, 24 February 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

It's boring to play a song the same way for years, even if it works. Gotta keep yourself entertained.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 24 February 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

I completely agree, but it seems some people don't see it that way, and I'm curious. :)

― janni (janni), Thursday, 24 February 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

not everyone's dissing data panik - i don't even know what it is.

― jed_ (jed), Thursday, 24 February 2005 18:29 (twenty years ago)

see this thread.

― janni (janni), Thursday, 24 February 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

Being in a band, I'm doubtful that it's usually a "cynical move". If anything it seems more cynical to keep playing the same song the same way for years and years to please a crowd. But that's not fair either -- Jacob Slichter from Semisonic (the guy that wrote that book recently) said in an interview that he enjoyed playing "Closing Time" the same way every time and never got bored, because the crowd response was always so enthralling.

Maybe because we're not getting that kind of crowd response yet, we tend to get bored easily and tweak our songs a lot.

― Hurting (Hurting), Thursday, 24 February 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

I don't usually think it's a cynical move either*, but since that does seem to be a perception some people have, I wanted to know why. Speaking as someone who's also in a band (and I'm sure we're so unique on this board XD), there's always the line to consider between what's fun for us to play and what's fun for the audience to listen to, and trying to find out where those things converge.

* = with obvious exceptions, such as, oh, say, Rob Van Winkle. XD

― janni (janni), Thursday, 24 February 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

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