You’re in the room with The Coffis Brothers this week as Jamie and Kellen sit down with Dave to unpack the art of keeping a band tight—musically, emotionally, and logistically. From maintaining long-term chemistry with the same players to writing songs that leave space for bandmates to shape the vibe, you’ll hear how collaboration fuels creativity. Drummers, take note: the groove is the feel, and every quirky idea deserves a spin. The secret? Try everything, trust each other, and Always Be Performing.
Whether you’re wrangling song credits or managing egos, this episode dives into what makes a band work. You’ll get insights on touring tech tips (hello, splitter snake), surviving soundchecks with new FOH engineers, and the power of being kind to everyone—from the club staff to the crowd. The three guys share thoughts on navigating click tracks, choosing covers as an originals band, and how AI might fit into it all (or…not?). It’s a masterclass in band dynamics—fun, honest, and full of stories that’ll stick with you, just like those hooks The Coffis Brothers write!
- 00:00:00 Gig Gab 495 – Monday, August 18th, 2025
- August 18th: National Ice Cream Pie Day
- Guest co-hosts: Jamie & Kellen Coffis, The Coffis Brothers!
- Originally on Gig Gab 46!
- 00:03:23 Maintaining the same band for as long as you can
- The comfort level of having the same people in the band
- 00:05:52 Writing songs and bringing them into the band
- You write a song and bring the skeleton to the band
- You’re writing for a band
- The band very much informs my sensibilities in how I write, even when they’re not in the room
- 00:10:14 Navigating the drum parts as a songwriter
- The drums are the thing that can define the feel of the song
- 00:13:08 As a drummer, do you experiment with simplicity … or complexity?
- The drummer winds up trying everyone else’s crazy ideas…and sometimes they work
- 00:18:40 In the songwriting process, you’ve gotta try every idea and do it with conviction!
- Getting confirmation bias out of it
- “Everyone needs to be empowered to get to the place where they’re playing with that shared joy”
- 00:21:12 A band is a team
- You gotta make a few passes before you take that big shot
- Wait for the opportunity, don’t force it
- 00:23:47 Balancing credit so the public doesn’t pull you apart
- Bands who famously publicly-shared credit to avoid battles: Beatles, REM, Rush, more?
- It needs to be fun for everyone!
- Let everyone have their voice.
- 00:25:48 Someone needs to be in charge, but… a benevolent dictator is best.
- But you want your record to sound like five guys in a room having fun
- 00:27:24 When it’s fun… vs. when it’s not fun
- If you’re not having fun, ask yourself what you can change (hint: you can always change yourself)
- 00:31:56 Sometimes letting go is best
- 00:33:16 Managing your expectations
- When it comes to sound, travel with a splitter snake
- 00:40:00 Considering the move to In Ear Monitors
- 00:42:11 Traveling with the same FOH engineer for every gig
- Playing with John Craigie (and his FOH engineer)
- Negotiating a new relationship with Every. Single. Engineer.
- 00:47:28 Even if just for a few hours, we’re all on the same team
- 00:49:41 Developing camaraderie with everyone, even the waitstaff
- Curate a fun environment
- “Say please and thank you, a lot. And take responsibility for mistakes, even if they aren’t yours.”
- 00:53:44 Playing with nanny tracks, a click, and a guide
- “Kimmy” became our guide through a Taylor Swift Tribute
- Those songs are particular!
- 01:00:34 That first “Stumble Through” rehearsal
- Are we learning the song note-for-note, or are we taking liberties?
- And where’s the line to blend those two?
- 01:04:25 Playing an Abbey Road tribute
- Joined by Holly Bowling
- 01:06:16 Picking covers…in an original band
- No matter what you choose, it’s about the people performing AND the people listening
- 01:09:15 What do you think about AI?
- 01:10:22 Gig Gab 495 Outtro
- Follow The Coffis Brothers
- Contact Gig Gab!
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