There’s an interview out there – somewhere – that notes musician Thom Yorke as a bridge player who occasionally plays on tour with the members of the band. As far as I know, there aren’t other interviews where he mentions this, and I haven’t been able to confirm that he’s still an active player with anyone else (but of course, I like to think that the answer is yes. I further like to imagine that he might even be a lurker on BBO.
But as a further thought, what if bridge is the ideal game for accompanying musicians on tour?
Here’s why I think more musicians and bands should be getting into bridge.
Bands and Cards: A Long Tradition
There’s a long tradition of bands playing cards (and occasionally board games) together. Other than what they’ve revealed in biographies, memoirs and band snaps, the simple fact is that it’s easy to carry a card deck around (and that you end up with a ton of time on tour that you don’t know what to do with).
It’s great to get together and play cards, games can reveal a lot about people, it helps pass the time on tour – and bands have been continuing in the tradition of getting together, getting stoned, playing cards and writing songs for a long time.
Poker is imagined as the default Touring Band Card Game, but why not bridge?
You Need Four, But More (or Less) is OK
Bridge is a partnership game played with four people: I think everyone on BBO Prime knows this (unless you’re very new here – and welcome if you are). There are many four-piece bands out there – but you’re also not alienated from the game if you have any more or less people at the table. There are enough varieties of bridge to accommodate you regardless of the amount of members in the band (and gaps can be filled in with robot players and online play).
It’s All Rhythm
I’ve watched enough bridge games to see that there’s a certain rhythm to it, and most partners develop a coordinated rhythm that needs to be just as on point as the link between your drummer, bass player and the rest of the band.
Playing bridge can certainly help you develop a better rhythm as a group – and beating each other at the bridge table can mean you’re less likely to be a love-and-hate or Noel-and-Liam situation.
Groupies? We Have Those, Too
Bands and groupies: Talk about it, don’t talk about it. Some bands indulge in the local fruits of the state, while other band members are going to be married. Simply, there also happens to be a long tradition of card games, board games, bands and groupies: Have you seen the movie Almost Famous?
Bridge is played with four, but more people are welcome to join in: As for what happens from there, it’s fair to say that a card game can lead to anything on tour.
It Helps You Stay Sharp
Bridge can help players to stay sharp: There’s enough research into the topic to more-than support this theory – and yes, the game is good for you. Being on tour can get tedious, too, and you have to keep your brain going. Sometimes you’re recording and need to find some inspiration, other times you need to distract from a huge gig that’s a-coming in an hour’s time.
Keep your brain busy and thinking. Never stagnate. Play bridge: It can (and will) boost every other area of your life as a result.
Stage Fright? Bridge Conventions
Stage fright is common, and it can affect everyone. Lifelong musicians can get just as nervous as a stage novice. One of the best ways to counteract stage fright is simple distraction: Get into it and forget about the crowd or possibility of screwing anything up. It’s muscle memory, mostly, and you shouldn’t let your nerves get in the way.
Bridge conventions can be a great way to counteract stage fright. Run through a few: Your brain instantly moves to trying to figure out cards more than worrying about the crowd.
Capping Rehearsal and After-Gig Games
After rehearsals, there’s usually a gap of time where the band takes some time to unwind. This is the perfect time for a few hands: The same can be said for the time after a gig, when you’re still wired from the energy of the stage and need to find something to come down from it before you move back home.