A large part of performing is about entertaining. I only watched the first video didn't read much of the thread, but it was pretty boring as far as the entertainment value goes.
You can have a song that's not very complex or musically technical, and make it entertaining just by how you present it. I understand this is just a camera in the corner of a seemingly small room while you're practicing, but the drummer can't be seen, which is fine because he didn't even seem to feel the music, and the guy on the left is pretty flat too. The only person who seemed to get in to it was the guitarist on the right.
You can have the most rocking songs on the planet, but if you don't make it enjoyable to watch, and if you don't look like your enjoying it at the same time, they won't get watched. I've performed everything from solos, brass quintets, all manner of classical music on euphonium/tuba/trombone/bass trombone/percussion, as well as several rock cover bands on both drum set and bass, and jazz on trombone, the more you get in to it as a musician and the more emotive you are in your body language, the more the audience responds. Especially in today's society. People love to listen to classical music, but nobody goes to the concerts under the age of 40. It's boring. A bunch of folks on stage still as day, everything's all formal; it's just a drag. That same guy I saw rocking out at house of blues listens to classical 60% of the time but hasn't been to a concert in ages.
Musically, it didn't pop for me, but that's mostly because I thought the drums had no life to them. If you rocked out the drums more, you could create a beat that everyone could thrive off of, musicians and audience alike. It felt more like a metronome then a drum set to me.
Anyways, that's my 2cp. I'm glad to see ya'll trying and hope you don't take my criticism the wrong way. I love to see people try hard, and even more to succeed. It takes a monumental effort to be good though, and an extraordinary effort to be great. One weak link can really kill it, but without honest criticism it's hard to find where those weak points are.
edit: just went back and read some of the other posts. How can you "zone out" while you are the drummer?!!?? You are THE most important person in any band. You provide the beat, you provide the energy, you provide the drive, the drum kit and what it can do works wonders for everyone - the players, the audience, everyone. You are the most important person to be in tune and in sync with what the band is doing. If the guitarist is dragging his feet, you're the one to get the band back playing together. If the bass player gets off beat, your energy and precision will help him find his place. Zoning out is possibly the worst thing any musician can do when playing in a group environment. How can you play together when you don't know what's going on around you?
Take it for what you will, maybe I just took what you wrote wrong, but that's my initial reaction at any rate.
