Joe the banjo guy - Posted - 03/20/2013:  08:07:08

My band has a handful of tunes that are pretty slow and sad.  I love that kind of song, personally.  Some of my favorite songs of all time would fit that description.  The songwriters in my band (myself included) are influenced by guys like John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan...alll of which have some truly great slow, sad songs. 

I wonder if anybody has any advice about how to deal with these sorts of songs for live shows?  Rarely do we play a sit-down, quiet theater.  We're mostly playing at bars and restaurants and outdoor concerts:  people are not usually in the mood to sit quietly and listen to a slow, somber tune. 

Should these songs be reserved for recordings only?  Or...or what, I guess?  How would you treat these types of songs? 

mike gregory - Posted - 03/20/2013:  08:59:55

Adding a heavy weight to my banjo bridge gives it a sustain, almost like a Dobro(TM) for Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne".

Anyway, go ahead and TRY a slow one in whatever venue you're in, and if it sinks, don't do any more in that venue.

steve davis - Posted - 03/20/2013:  10:07:50

You never know what someone is going to like or dislike.

I agree with Mike.
Cast it out there and see if you get a bite.

John Allison - Posted - 03/20/2013:  10:38:26

Agree with Mike and Steve on this issue. Our band has done a number of slower songs, especially on the gospel side of the fence. To me they sound good and they seem to be well received. Throw it out there and see what happens.

eagleisland - Posted - 03/20/2013:  10:44:04

We always play several weepers in each set.  Done well, they add a tremendous amount of intensity to a performance.

Several general rules of thumb:  we don't put them too close together; we generally try to get the audience laughing before the song starts, and we always follow it up with a barnburner.

munchausen - Posted - 03/20/2013:  11:06:33

People in a bar usually welcome a few slow dance selections every now and then.  I guess I would test it with each crowd.  Responses could even vary on different nights in the same venue.