Ian Perkins

just for the record, when i asked what the purpose was of having Ian playing with them live, i was genuinely curious if there was a reason, something maybe the musicians here would know better than me, i didn't mean it in a "WTF" kind of way.

They didn't write all of the old stuff with 3 guitarists, they're not going to really mess with something that isn't broken. I'm sure the new stuff live will be more appropriate with 3 guitars. Plus, Ian is a rad guy.

steph wrote:

just for the record, when i asked what the purpose was of having Ian playing with them live, i was genuinely curious if there was a reason, something maybe the musicians here would know better than me, i didn't mean it in a "WTF" kind of way.

Fair question. And I'd say the answer to that would be "no, not yet". It's possible the new songs require three guitars, but as of now there's not any reason, musically speaking.

Wasting Light by Foo Fighters is a good example of three guitars put to use really well.

I'd totally hang out with Ian and ask him to join my band.

ral wrote:

JohnnyC wrote:

I'm sure he's a nice guy and everything...

But really, he doesn't need to be there. Every time I've seen him play with Gaslight he botches his (quite simple, if we're being honest) parts. And for a guitar tech, he sure seems to be perpetually out-of-tune.

agree with all this. Ian is a super nice guy but he's not really adding a lot musically. I understand that Brian is looking for a bigger live sound (or whatever his wording was) but the screw ups don't seem worth it. It wasn't bad when Ian played Brian's part in Old White Lincoln or Cowgirls but just doubling the rhythm parts isn't helping the songs. Especially on some of the slower numbers where the extra guitar really just muddies things up.

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Three guitar players really are unnecessary. Any time there's three guitar players in a band it's generally because they're friends and they don't want to kick someone out. See: E Street Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foo Fighters, and now Gaslight.

Pearl Jam makes three guitars work but it's definitely overkill for most bands.

I missed this thread, and it's probably where my comments should have been from the other "practice" thread

As a guitar player, having Ian in the band is occasionally painful. He really is an incredibly mediocre guitar player, and adds nothing positive to their sound.

I know he's their friend, and I know he's a nice guy, but if Brian wants to have a big "Pearl Jam covering Tom Petty" live sound, it's not going to be achieved by having Ian struggle through playing rhythm at their live shows. If that's what he wants, they're going to have to get a different guitar player.

Harbortown wrote:

Honestly, Dan, I can see why you'd have some concern. It's usually kinda weird when a band gets a new member, but I've seen 'em with Ian and honestly I never thought twice about it. In fact the sound was pretty damn good, and I didn't feel like he was interfering with anyone.

Maybe someday down the road he'll try to be more involved with the audience but I didn't feel like he had to.

If you noticed Ian fucking up while at a show, it would have to be very bad. I'm pretty sure his amp is turned down way low.

It is, however, very clear on live recordings especially the ones from the Brooklyn webcast.

I echo Dan's comments from earlier, adding a guitar player should be for a reason other than "cause". If they want a fuller, more complex sound, it's going to have to come from someone a lot better than Ian.

Sample size is nowhere near great enough to make an educated opinion.

He was great with the Crowes... I think people are simply used to seeing Gaslight as a 4 piece, and are finding fault for no reason..

Who hasn't fucked up a note here or there playing live?

This is honestly rather ridiculous and based on simple opinions without much substantial evidence to support it.

rkirkpatrick25 - Spot on. The guy's played three shows and you see people like bakerfall come out of nowhere to knock Ian.

It just seems a little fishy.

rkirkpatrick25 wrote:

Sample size is nowhere near great enough to make an educated opinion.

He was great with the Crowes... I think people are simply used to seeing Gaslight as a 4 piece, and are finding fault for no reason..

Who hasn't fucked up a note here or there playing live?

This is honestly rather ridiculous and based on simple opinions without much substantial evidence to support it.

Time will tell, and he SHOULD be able to competently play rhythm parts for Gaslight.

What has bothered me more than the fuck ups, is that he's been out of tune on a bunch of songs. This is a guitar tech, whose out of tune.

Fuck ups happen, being behind the song and out of tune speak to a larger problem then I missed a note or I played the chord.

You're right about sample size, time will tell in that regard.

chaingangchorus wrote:

rkirkpatrick25 - Spot on. The guy's played three shows and you see people like bakerfall come out of nowhere to knock Ian.

It just seems a little fishy.

I'm not coming out of nowhere, and what exactly is "fishy"?? I admittedly don't post a ton here, but, this is a topic I wanted to discuss, and there aren't a ton of outlets for Gaslight discussions.

I really don't know why you guys are taking this so personally. Do you think Ian is a great guitar player? Do you think he's adding a lot to Gaslight's music? That's really been my only point.

chaingangchorus wrote:

rkirkpatrick25 - Spot on. The guy's played three shows and you see people like bakerfall come out of nowhere to knock Ian.

It just seems a little fishy.

One more thing, I joined in Feb of '10 and you joined in May of '12. Who came out of nowhere?

You joined in 2010 and I have twice as many posts as you. It's a little sketchy how you just popped up to trash Ian like that.

Not looking to wage war, just saying: I've seen Ian 2/3 times he's played with Gaslight. I've heard, and I can even say I'm not ready to form an opinion. How you, claiming to be a guitarist, are judging him already is beyond me.

I'm not taking your criticism personally, I am simply of the opinion that it's not fair to criticize Ian's playing given the limited # of times anyone has seen him perform.

I honestly haven't even noticed that he was the reason that they didn't sound tip-top at the Brooklyn show... TBH I thought the music was great other than a few missed notes, however Brian sounded a bit rough... much more so than the playing of the band

Have yet to hear some great difference between playing with and without Ian.

rkirkpatrick25 wrote:

Sample size is nowhere near great enough to make an educated opinion.

He was great with the Crowes... I think people are simply used to seeing Gaslight as a 4 piece, and are finding fault for no reason..

100% agreed. I saw THC in Los Angeles and he handled the guitar with great competence.

Ian's been playing guitar for a very long time but that's not always enough to perform well on stage, or even in a rehearsing room. Playing in a band isn't all about being a good guitar player, it's about being a good team player. A lot of bands sound bad on their first few shows after a long break. Ian is a new fish in a seven year old pond, it takes time to adapt.

Have some patience.

Don't want to fan any fires, but join dates and post counts do not equal to musical experience.

chaingangchorus wrote:

You joined in 2010 and I have twice as many posts as you. It's a little sketchy how you just popped up to trash Ian like that.

Not looking to wage war, just saying: I've seen Ian 2/3 times he's played with Gaslight. I've heard, and I can even say I'm not ready to form an opinion. How you, claiming to be a guitarist, are judging him already is beyond me.

I really don't think you having 24 posts and seeing them 2 times with Ian negates my opinion.

Here's my soundcloud page if you don't believe I play guitar: http://soundcloud.com/bakerfall

I've listened to the Brooklyn show enough to have formed my current opinion. One that can admittedly be changed, but it exists none the less.

I just don't understand why people are so offended or bothered by people, not just me, questioning the need to have Ian playing on every song. I just don't see it.

bakerfall - Listen, no one's offended, what everyone's trying to tell you is give it some time.

All we're saying is we're holding off on forming an opinion until maybe later in the tour or when the album's released.

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I really don't think you having 24 posts and seeing them 2 times with Ian negates my opinion.

It wasn't intended to, in fact you're right in saying I, nor you, have enough exposure to Ian with TGA to make a solid opinion.

bakerfall wrote:

-Here's my soundcloud page if you don't believe I play guitar: http://soundcloud.com/bakerfall-

Unrelated to the current argument, but your voice is pretty ace, man! Guitar's great too!

Yo, guitar guy, read this:

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Ian's been playing guitar for a very long time but that's not always enough to perform well on stage, or even in a rehearsing room. Playing in a band isn't all about being a good guitar player, it's about being a good team player. A lot of bands sound bad on their first few shows after a long break. Ian is a new fish in a seven year old pond, it takes time to adapt.

GROUP DYNAMICS, BRO

Agreed with Matt - I'm listening to Navesink Banks, sick cover!

chaingangchorus wrote:

Agreed with Matt - I'm listening to Navesink Banks, sick cover!

Thanks, both of you.

Harbortown wrote:

Yo, guitar guy, read this:

Quote :

Ian's been playing guitar for a very long time but that's not always enough to perform well on stage, or even in a rehearsing room. Playing in a band isn't all about being a good guitar player, it's about being a good team player. A lot of bands sound bad on their first few shows after a long break. Ian is a new fish in a seven year old pond, it takes time to adapt.

GROUP DYNAMICS, BRO

That's fine, seriously and it may be the case. I hope it is. We'll see, I'll let you know if my opinion changes

While it would be prudent to give Gaslight & Ian some time to coalesce as a unit, I don't understand why some people are getting so vehemently defensive over the issue. Look, there's a bunch of people who have noticed his mistakes in the limited amount of times it's possible to have seen him live. For me it was 2: one guest spot at Great Plaza in Philly where he played Old Haunts and was making audible mistakes. The other at the 45 video shoot when he was playing unnecessarily during the most hushed parts of Here's Looking At You, Kid while furiously out of tune.

My point being: Ian has not wronged us in the past. We are not out to get him. We are not being unfair and cruel to him. He very well may improve and soon fit like a glove, but so far he hasn't shown a lot of reason for him to be in the band while showing a great deal why he shouldn't. Now stop getting so worked up about it and jumping to Ian's defense any time a fair criticism is lobbed his way.

JohnnyC wrote:

While it would be prudent to give Gaslight & Ian some time to coalesce as a unit, I don't understand why some people are getting so vehemently defensive over the issue. Look, there's a bunch of people who have noticed his mistakes in the limited amount of times it's possible to have seen him live. For me it was 2: one guest spot at Great Plaza in Philly where he played Old Haunts and was making audible mistakes. The other at the 45 video shoot when he was playing unnecessarily during the most hushed parts of Here's Looking At You, Kid while furiously out of tune.

My point being: Ian has not wronged us in the past. We are not out to get him. We are not being unfair and cruel to him. He very well may improve and soon fit like a glove, but so far he hasn't shown a lot of reason for him to be in the band while showing a great deal why he shouldn't. Now stop getting so worked up about it and jumping to Ian's defense any time a fair criticism is lobbed his way.

Like x100% Exactly. That's all I'm saying, and the here's looking at you kid from the photo shoot was my #1 example too.

Quote :

This is honestly rather ridiculous and based on simple opinions without much substantial evidence to support it.

Exactly.

I'm defending Ian because as of right now, there's no evidence to support anyone's argument at all. Really what this all sounds like are people trying to sound like they know something about playing guitar through criticizing Ian.

I'd also like to know what compels anyone to count missed notes during a show. Is there a prize for guessing the correct amount?