Leilani and I have been learning new songs, and I've been recording the backing tracks for them (first sequencing them on a DAW). I know I can buy karaoke tracks like most of the other duos, but I play drums, bass, guitar, sax, flute, wind synthesizer, and enough keys to make fixable mistakes, so why let someone else have all the fun?
Besides, they come out in our key, and I can tailor the arrangement, so I get to improvise a solo in there somewhere.
Also, karaoke tracks have vocals, where I can play the vocal parts on a synth and not sound so canned. And I can do what I call a 'live mix' - meaning I can pump up the bass and snare. After all, when you go to a place where live music is happening, as you approach, what do you hear first? Usually bass and snare.
We are practicing on our porch, serenading the birds, squirrels, snakes and lizards in our backyard, but it isn't the same as playing for an audience of humans. After we get our second Moderna jab, we are going to start looking for outdoor gigs. We miss our audience.
I'm sure once it's safe to go out again, a lot of people are going to be looking for live music as much as we are looking to play it.
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