Scott, you mean I can't walk into School of Rock and come sounding like Dream Theater????
Bands like Dream Theater, stellar players from top to bottom, ruin music for a lot of people. I can play scales until the day I day but I will never play like Jordan Rudess. And guitar players can play scales until THEY die and not play like John Petrucci. Those are the kind of bands that when I see them, I am not inspired to work harder. They make me understand the futility of the whole game!! There are Rush copy bands everywhere. Thus, kids CAN learn to play the Alex Lifeson stuff. Same for Van Halen, Aerosmith...
Remember when everybody drooled over Van Halen doing "Eruption"? All I heard was "He is so great! He is amazing! He is the greatest player ever!!" I have heard at least 3 dozen players copy that whole thing note for note. Doesn't that mean they are also great and amazing? They are playing the same stuff.....
I do agree the guitar is now sitting at the back of the stage, but the John Mayer types, the John Scofield types, those players who play in a genre where the guitar IS the instrument, they will keep the guitar alive. Whether that is true across the board of genres or not is debatable. I watch Lollapalooza every year. The big draws the last few years were the DJs who play extended mixes of other people's stuff sampled. Not even AN instrument, much less THAT instrument.
So I think it comes down to where you are looking. That weird SkrillX person, whoever he is, doesn't really even know music. He is a computer whiz, but he isn't really a musician. But isn't he popular??
So, you can still find a guitar out front if you know where to look. The basic premise though I have to agree with. You are likely going to find it in older acts, but it's there.
Can you even TRY to imagine Joe Walsh playing with a computer on stage??
OK - Here's a lineup of my favorite youngsters playing great music with guitar-centric (or in the case of Vulfpeck, bass-centric) orchestration.
Vulfpeck (eddie, you might want to look away, these kids are from Ann Arbor as far as I can tell). Really tight funk. Everyone plays everything except for Joe Dart the bass player - he just kills it on funky bass and I don't mean slapping.
Some of my faves from them: https://youtu.be/w9COHCrwNQs (nice strat solo about 2:30-2:50) https://youtu.be/4dpvyZBKg6Q (insane strat playing on this one, with slide thrown in here and there) https://youtu.be/jRHQPG1xd9o (guest vocalist has some Al Green going, for sure - the guy playing the strat in this one also is a mean keyboard player, and drummer)
If you enjoy this straight up excellent soul and funk, subscribe to their YouTube channel - they'll get paid through the advertisement revenue they are now getting by having so many views on YouTube.
Colony House Just great pop-rock. No guitar pyrotechnics, but slick riffs and a great overall sound. These guys are getting huge press. Radio play, who knows - but they've been on the Today show. The riff they do on the back end of the chorus sections is great in this one. https://youtu.be/IBTB54ty-tc https://youtu.be/DkfBxIH0g0k (throwback sound on this one to many different eras inside of one song) https://youtu.be/Y4WkY30Sxd0 (same song, played live on Conan - lead singer busted a string on this one)
Silversun Pickups (these guys are more label supported and have been around for 15 years or so - lead singer's voice is a love or hate sound - everytime I hear it, it intrigues me and I listen more) https://youtu.be/XBdeNVb3SdM (video is a bit disturbing, but it does feature some of their unique modern riffy guitar sound) https://youtu.be/AG8fugqFn9Q (probably their most popular song - very heavy riff opening repeated at different points in the song)
Not necessarily favorites, but just more proof that the guitar is not dying.
Bruno Mars (is there a bigger star right now? - so glad this sound with it's funk guitar and keyboards is being appreciated by the kids of today) https://youtu.be/_8cK15Iv5qM (Live on SNL)
That SINGER in Vulfpeck!! Sounds WAY too much like Al Jarreau!!! And the old school Wurlitzer is cool. I'll probably pick up an album as well.
Though there IS that whole Ann Arbor thing... maybe that is a misprint and they are really from Columbus...
And Colony House sounds exactly like Neon Trees.
Death Cab for me kind of blended into the gray of alternative band sameness for me.
Alabama Shakes I never liked. Something about that girl I can't handle.
Bruno is the bomb, but his act is pretty much James Brown redone, and I was a huge JB fan. Bruno updated that theme and whoever writes for him does a great job.
As a musician, it has always been like this for me: I'll hear a song and come away wanting to sound like that. I uxed to joke, if I had a dime for every hour I spent trying to capture the vocal feeling of Tammy Wynette, I coul retire. All, it turned out, in vain. My point is, as long as kids and adults listen to music and make their own, the six blade knife will have a place in our lives.
Here in another to listen to. It is a wild Knoxville George Jones show, 1994, with this very unsual intro. The band and sidemen hold this rhytmic, instrumental round, while George chats up the audience in time with the band. Then, they seamlessly go into the spoken intro to "No Show Jones," and literally the audience has gone nuts by the time the song actually starts.
Now, it is a given that this backup band features the most amazing musicians in the field, as well as the Maestro. But still, as I say, figure this one out and you'll really have something.
Listening to something on Austin City Limits called Arcade fire. Very interesting band. There's like 8 of them who change instruments from guitar to mandolin to accordion to keyboard to fiddles to some weird instrument one of the girls played where she seems to be turning a crank with her right hand. Picture an oversized guitar with a jack in the box crank on the strap button. That's what it looked like. All versatile players. Music is like Dexie's Midnight Runners meet alternative meet Enya on meth.
Edit: I have identified that weird thing as a hurdy gurdy.
One of the things I noticed in the article was how 6 string acoustic guitar was growing in users and listeners who wanted the sound of the acoustic guitar and other instruments in an acoustic setting as close to a back porch as they could get it!
Been there! Done that!
Back porch is better. (Live music is better! Bumper stickers should be issued!)
I notice in your youtube link that the drummer has headphones on .. a click for a country show?? Some would call that cheating .. Or maybe he just needed to hear the rest of the band <grin>
I watch for stuff like this; and I analyze. If we are doing a 'show' there WILL be a click. Good on them.
If we are jamming at a local small time pub, maybe not, but I assume at this level the show is planned/timed/clicked. Just noticing
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
I can't imagine recording a song where the guitar wasn't considered .. can't even think of many recordings here where it doesn't exist in the end result. It ain't going anywhere soon.
Quote:
I'll probably pick up an album as well.
Though there IS that whole Ann Arbor thing... maybe that is a misprint and they are really from Columbus...
Really? We're a few hours apart. We could be friends, and this is what eats at you? yer funny
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Really? We're a few hours apart. We could be friends, and this is what eats at you? yer funny
O-H, baby!!!
Buckeye Nation.
As I was selling gear, I had interest in my guitar from a girl in that city up north. I almost didn't sell it to her because I didn't want it to go "there". I relented though so I could buy my RV.
Here's another band that is pretty danged popular right now, that I forgot about but that I am enjoying and one could even argue that they have guitar solos:
The War on Drugs
They have a new album coming out soon. I have recently bought their last album.
This is a pretty touching video promoting one of the new songs.
There are fair comparisons between the singer and Bob Dylan, but this guy sings a little better; some 80's synth treatments, a driving bass guitar line, nice little figures at the ends of phrases.
Nothing in music is really "dying", the overall market is huge and diverse. Jazz is dying, the guitar is dying, piano is dying etc, etc. Not true in a literal sense because there are successful young, new artists in all those genres but that's not what this thread is about.
This thread is about the overall marketplace from a manufacturers pov. If a market has shrunk down to say 20% of what it used to be then given cheaper overseas competition 20% isn't enough to keep Fender and Gibson in business. Look at this thread about the top 100 downloaded songs:
There's not much of what we're talking about in that list. Some, sure like I said but nothing like it was 30 years ago. Again, it's the overall market as a whole that we're talking about not the exceptions. It's like classical music. It used to be the hot, trending thing 200-300 years ago. Is it dead no, but it's not driving anybody's market either.
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana, Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes, MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano, Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
Playable RealTracks Set 4
RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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