Hopefully as your already now in the band this might take care of itself, most rockabilly has a swingy loose feel to it, a long time ago I used to have quite a collection of original rockabilly/rock n roll, including the sun recordings, I suppose you can be quite organic with these grooves maybe playing on the rims sometimes instead of hi-hat/cymbals for a different effect, tricky thing to answer about feel but listen listen listen to all the stuff, get it into your body and soul.5 years ago I was in an Andrew sisters stray cats type swing band I was worried at first as well. Anyway I wish I was off on tour, so good luck. Sean.

There are some great video tutorials on technique specific to music styles.... Google it. :) or find an advanced instructor and grab a week of lessons specific to the style your working on. Ideas from a total novice. :)

> How do i go about/working out both feel&groove&correct tempo for a song?

There has always been only one way to do that and that is to completely immerse yourself in the music for awhile. Put yourself on a steady diet of rock-a-billy, old, new, variations of, you get the idea. After you get the music in your ears and your head, the groove of each song will dictate what you play on the drums. Find an appropriate basic groove for each song and then practice elaborating on it. Find the fills and breaks that the groove is asking for, find where you need to make hits. You just have to be a good listener, you'll get through ok.

John

Listen to a lot of recordings. Just take it easy at first and focus on the groove. Fills and hits will come. Ask for positive feedback from your band members. The closer you can work and communicate with the bass player the easier it will be. Try not to get flustered. Relax and you will do fine. Congratulations on getting the gig. You must already be doing something right.

MASSIVE thanks for ALL of the advice&ideas/suggestions! i'll indeed take them on board!.

I actually didn't "audition" for the band as far as playing in front&for them i met both the bass player&singer(they're a couple married) at a pub &i obvisouly did a great job selling myself because i got the gig that night! :).1st practice/rehearsal was last wednesday night i did tend to both slow&speed up "drag/rush" the tempo but after a 1hr or 2 found my feet.Yesterday spent 2-5 hrs just playing along to&practicing to both our original songs&Wanda Jackson (as we're a Wanda Jackson tribute band) btw the bands name is:Cherry Divine.

That's awesome! One thing to keep in mind is that getting along with each other is the most important and the most difficult aspect of being in a band. Treat each other with respect and do your best to help each other to look and sound good. Sounds like you have a good start to something good. Best of luck to you.

Gerald, what you say in that statement is blindingly obvious, but it's incredible how many musicians who get into and form bands have no idea. Your right, that's easily 90% of what a band should be to stand any test of time.

Well in the end she didn't treat me or the other band member with respect! :(.DIDN'T KNOW HOW to relate to us in terms of both feel, groove, tempo.What she's happy at rehearsal didn't transcribe to her feelings at the recording session.Both her&her husband(bass player) were ALWAYS arguing/bickering/fighting&squabbling! :(.Not too mention the fact that despite knowing it's my 1st EVER recording session didn't make ANY effort at all to make me feel comfortable!.It took 2-3 weeks before i received a "dear john"answer/reply/response NOT from a phone call, BUT thru FB messenger! She sacked both me&the guitarist as she wasn't happy/pleased with the quality of the songs&scrapped the band/project&used another one she's "moonlighting"with as her lackeys/slaves &took them to Vegas instead of us! :(.She attacked me personally in the FB message&despite promising to pay both of us blocked me from here cell phone&FB account!, left a extremely bitter taste in my mouth , caused massive anxiety&depression! :(.I saw her twice after the aborted recording fiasco&she ignored me as if i didn't exist! :(, oh well lesson learned:NEVER EVER play with a couple &ALWAYS get paid 1st&BEFORE you play a gig&do a recording session! :).

In Dutch there's an medieval expression that goes something like: When it's ripe quickly, it will rot quickly.

When I started reading this thread I kind of knew how it was going to end. The couple immediately promised recordings and a gig, and that sais a lot about them, maybe the're impulsive, under a lot of pressure, pains in asses to work with so they don't get musicians easily, etc, etc. They should have asked to come and play once, try it out, see if works out on personal level, etc. And then, maybe, go further.

Gerald and Geckobeats are right: relation is 90% of the thing. It's strange to commit to people and promise things so fast. Be weary when that happens.

Why not take your time looking for a nice band that suits you and build up somthing steady?