By Marty Houlroyd, Cosmo's Moon

Maintaining the chemistry inside a band is a very delicate operation at best. Within the band framework is a collection of individuals who bring their skills, talents, opinions, and desires to the table. That’s the way it should be. It’s the controlled tension and competitive fire that brings out the artist within us. Without that tension we are nothing but a collection of mindless robots, void of passion and flavor, musically useless.

Most of the time within the band, differences of opinion are worked through with relative ease among members, since it serves the mutual interest of all involved. It’s merely the formality of dotting the ”i”s and crossing the “t”s.

Then there’re those times that bring out the fire and the subsequent fury....

When we’re not musicians, we resume our normal daily routines. Sometimes the wires get crossed, and the issues that put us into a really bad mood carry over and affect our objectivity regarding band issues. Simple miscommunication regarding the handling of band matters become mistaken for conspiracy. Misunderstanding becomes suspicion of an agenda, and add the handling of money and the fury is unleashed.

Within seconds, all that has been built is destroyed by a single key press of a resignation email; friendships are stomped on, momentum is lost, and the fragile glass jar containing the band chemistry is smashed against the wall.

Take a deep breath, and observe the carnage. It ain’t pretty. It's senseless and stupid....

Sometimes the story ends there, with everyone reposting their search on Craigslist and you begin all again.

Or

If you’re smart, and you value your relationships with fellow bandmates, you take a night off from playing, gather all the band members and invite them to sit down and work out the problems.

A Phoenix Rises Again.

Marty Houlroyd is the Bass Guitarist for Cosmo's Moon, from Mineola, Long Island.

• Commentary
• Indie