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It's when the instrumental performance is so inadequate that it's distracting you have a problem. Nobody expects Grammy performances from a covers band, but anything less than "solid" is going to detract. Especially for vocals, but it does apply to the rest of the band.
Having said that yeh it's not a top vocal performance and the drummer does let you down as well. From what we've got not hard to imagine this as a fun pub band, wouldn't make the leap to something better paid/ more prestigious and adding a better vocalist is the obvious way to up the ante.
Decent keys players are hard to find ( especially those who understand how to play in a band rather than taking their home versions into the arrangements) so I suspect you'd find another gig without any issue if this band isn't worth pursuing.
I've been in semi pro and pro covers bands for 30 years, in general I've been lucky and been surrounded by some great musos. I've watched a lot of other bands, seen some great ones, seen some so bad I can't believe they are actually gig'ing.
Here's some general thoughts
One of the most important things as a band is to play together. You can get a situation where everyone is actually generally competent but everyone is playing their own little show, not locking in and complementing each other. Not playing as a band unit basically.
Unfortunately it all starts with the drummer. You have to have this solid foundation unpinning everything, the tempo needs to be rock solid and the hits consistent and then the bass player can lock in and groove and that's actually the sound of a band ... the drums and bass.
When the drummers not very good then no one is gonna sound good because no one will be playing in time. Now you don't need Neil Peart mega complex fills in a covers band but you absolutely have to have a good solid drummer who keeps time well and hits consistently
Vocal wise you gotta pick your battles .... there's not many non pro singers with a large range capable of singing everything suggested by everyone in the band. You have to know your range and don't attempt anything that needs 100% of your vocal ability as some nights you might only have 90% to give due to illness, being tired, poor monitoring etc.
You have to get gigging regularly to get really tight but some things have to be sorted out first otherwise they get overlooked and treated as the "norm" ..... as in shit timing poor vocal tuning etc.
Not being sexist about it - but it will make all the difference. Firstly it will make the band far more versatile, especially if the bassist still does lead vocals on songs that don't work with a female singer, secondly it will be less of a perceived threat to him, and thirdly bands with female singers are just more attractive to audiences, especially outside the harder rock format.
From experience, and contrary to popular myth, female singers are also usually less ego-driven and problematic than male ones. (Though it has to be said not all!)
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I have tick boxes when I'm looking for singers, and although gender isn't one of them I mostly end up with female singers because they mostly tick all the other boxes.
Currently our lead singer and both of our deps are female.
Would also mean starting pretty much from scratch and most songs we want to tackle are male led. Not all but most.
No point in playing anywhere if your not enjoying the songs.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Experience doesn't equate to skill or talent. I've seen dozens of people who play at supposedly top levels whose actual ability leaves a lot to be desired. N.B. The Kinks is not an especially high bar for instrumental competence.
If your only criteria for a drummer is that he supplies some kind of a beat to play over, then I guess he ticks the box. Otherwise I don't know what to tell you.
How do my keys skills stack up here? again timing and the odd bum note at this point, but overall. What level I am I really at?
Im quite under confident really. Ive played bass originally at 14, then guitar from 19 - which is now 33 years. Ive also run desks for about 25 years as well. Ive been playing keys for 2 years....and this is my first foray where ive felt I can start gigging on the ivory's.
Your bassist would make an acceptable relief vocalist while the "proper" one nips off stage for a costume change or a crafty ciggy.
If the bassist's principal motivation is money then, surely, 20% of a big fee trumps 25% of a titchy one. Also, if your band gets work through an agency, I am surprised that the agent has not met with you to discuss finding a serious singer.
Id agree that the drums and guitar aren't much ahead of the vocals in quality, and you might struggle to get further than pub level with them given the competition that's out there.
I think if I were in your position I'd carry on to see what happens if you enjoy it, whilst keeping an eye open for what other opportunities come up elsewhere.
And I am actually really enjoying it at this point, apart from the frustrations the others arnt "finessing" the sounds and parts like Im trying top. Its my era - and I Love almost every song we play.
I really enjoyed working out the sounds, and the parts - working how to try to play little bits as well as the main parts without messing the main parts.
This is something i recorded, learning a song they wanted to play, that I adore, only to find they couldnt do their bits (at least not yet).
Again a couple of errors - but this was a sunday night, and I started working out the sounds Fir night, then the parts sat. Keys are all me, backing is minus the key parts from the interweb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXhUrUZT1ho
The guitarist is clearly a beginner as well, but audiences don't notice that so much.
You seem to have a lot emotionally invested in this, but personally I've got a lot shorter patience with bands these days. There's loads out there, what's the point in investing loads of time when the fundamental ingredients are weak?