The Funkstank Trio

So I'm thinking about stripping the band down to a party of three. For over 10 years I've been in big bands; bands with more than the typical 4 members of drums, bass and two guitars. When you've got 5 members in your band, it's easier to do these blues-bar 4-hour shows because everybody can take solos and you're not running out of ideas. The downside though is that the money spreads thinner, managing volume is a bitch, and working up new songs requires more work for everybody to get on board.

And even more issues with everybody getting along, etc. But I've done it because really I enjoy it. You can work up more complex grooves, lay in some subtleties that you aren't afforded as a trio, because (somehow in my mind) there's so much more empty space when there's just the three of you.

And I'm uncomfortable with empty space.

It's not that I hate it. When i remember it, when I think about it - I can use that empty space and really dig into the sparseness of it all. But when I want that wall of sound kind of vibe, it's damn-near impossible as just a trio. I need to go find some funk trios and listen to their approach to delivering the stank with such limitations in place.