Playing it with the band is hard work (6)

I believe the answer is:

tiring

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'is hard work' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'playing it with the band' is the wordplay.
'playing' is an anagram indicator.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the band' becomes 'ring' (a ring is a band of metal).
'it' anagrammed gives 'ti'.
'ti'+'ring'='TIRING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tiring that I've seen before include "Exhausting or tedious" , "Wearying, exhausting" , "Boring" , "Growing weary or bored" , "Causing weariness" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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