Ideas for covers, alt rock bent...

[agreatheight]

OK, I am just starting a solo gig, it'll be my first foray into singing lead and actually my first time playing guitar live (I am primarily a bassist playing for over 20 years, but I having been playing guitar as well for about 5). So I am looking for suggestions for covers to play. I don't have a very big range and cannot hit anything too high, I think the highest I can go is A in my chest voice (specifically the A on the high e string, 5th fret) and I am not much for falsetto. It is not an acoustic gig, but amplified single guitar, so I am looking for songs that sound good on their own, with no backing.

So far I have rounded up the following:

The Fray - Over My Head
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Something's Always Wrong
Tracy Chapman - Talkin' About a Revolution
Hum - Stars
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Anyone have any ideas? I am looking for about 15 total. Thanks!

[anderbass]

Here's a bunch of covers that might give you some ideas.

Cover bands: post your set list
Origanal bands that do some covers: Post your covers

[Jezz8me]

the fray and snow patrol are not alt rock they are alt rock tryhard sellouts who are so not cool. try arctic monkeys, franz ferdinand, the frattellis, kings of leon, kaiser cheifs none of their vocalist are xeptional but there music is awsome and the vocals fit in a cool different way

[agreatheight]

I did not mean to say that the Fray or Snow Patrol were alt rock, I meant to say that I have an alt rock bent. But really, I'd like to thank you for insulting me for enjoying their music. It really made my day.

[Jezz8me]

:P sorry im verry opinionated when it comes to pop, dont worry heaps of my friends listen to that stuff, and i like showtunes so you have all the reson to bag my music

and what exactly is a bent? i know tonns of alt rock but i dont understand this bent thing

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by Jezz8me

and what exactly is a bent? i know tonns of alt rock but i dont understand this bent thing

From Dictionary.com:
Bent – noun: direction taken, as by one's interests; inclination: a bent for painting.

[Jezz8me]

ah ok i understand, go to the tripple j website and look up practicaly every band they mention

[anechoic]

"Stars", while a great song, might get a bit repetitive after a while without a full band. What about "Apollo" from the Downward is Heavenward album?

Nirvana's "Polly", "Something in the Way" or "All Apologies" would probably work with a single guitar.

A lot of good candidates on Guided By Voices' Alien Lanes, if that's not too obscure.

Others that come to mind would be Social Distortion's "Story of My Life" and Sebadoh's "Not Too Amused".

[agreatheight]

^^^

Some good suggestions, thanks much.

I realy like the idea of a Nirvana song - I think I'll work up Polly or Something in the Way and see which one I sound better on.

The Social Distortion and the Sebadoh tunes are cool, but I don't think I have the vocal quality to cover either of them.

As for Hum, I was originally thinking of playing Green to Me, but Stars is so much better known I went with that instead. I did tighten the arrangement (it is kind of repetitive).

I have added some new songs in the past few days, so here is my new list. I'm up to 10!

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
Stars - Hum
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Is it Any Wonder - Keane
Something in the Way - Nirvana
The Fray - Over My Head
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Something's Always Wrong
What Sarah Said - Death Cab for Cutie
Long Day - Matchbox 20
School Night - Ani DiFranco

So I am looking for five more! Anyone else?

[theshadow2001]

If you can hit A on the high e string your doing pretty well in terms of vocal range. I can't hit open e without using flasto

[agreatheight]

I'm doing OK rangewise, but there is a lot of cool stuff I can't sing... most Soundgarden / Audioslave, Incubus, Sunny Day Real Estate, Muse... all out of my range in spots.

Oh well, you work with what you got!

[anechoic]

Hey, the last couple of posts mentioning Nirvana and Sunny Day Real Estate just gave me another idea. How about "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters? Pretty recognizable, and I've heard Grohl do a pretty good solo acoustic version of it.

Or, if you go back another decade or so, how about some Husker Du? I'm thinking Grant Hart's (another drummer who would later switch to guitar when his band broke up) "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely".

If they dig that, check out "Grant Hart" by the Posies (one of whose bass players would end up in SDRE for a while - see, it's all connected).

[anechoic]

Originally Posted by agreatheight

^^^

School Night - Ani DiFranco

If the F-bombs in the chorus aren't an issue, how about "Napoleon"? Aside from being a great song, I think it's one of the few Ani does in standard tuning (sometimes I think she's trying to give Sonic Youth and Joni Mitchell a run for their money in that department).

[smperry]

Some random thoughts

• "Under the Milky Way" - The Church *Definitely fits in with others on your list
• "Walk in Fire" - Doves (maybe)
• "Lights" - Editors (maybe)
• something from the Elliott Smith "Elliot Smith" album
• something by Ted Leo, like "Me and Mia", "Counting down the hours", "Bridges, Squares", "Under the Hedge"
• something by Aimee Mann if it's in your range - "Fourth of July", "Deathly", "Invisible Ink", "Red Vines"...
• (obvious) Radiohead - "High and Dry", "No Surprises", "Kharma Police"..
• Pixies - "U Mass", "Waves of Mutilation"
• Flaming Lips - "Do you realize", "Yoshimi..." "Race for the Prize", "Waiting for Superman", "She don't use jelly"...

some are probably out of your range but just thinking aloud.
Marshall

[Embryodead]

Originally Posted by Jezz8me

the fray and snow patrol are not alt rock they are alt rock tryhard sellouts who are so not cool. try arctic monkeys, franz ferdinand, the frattellis, kings of leon, kaiser cheifs none of their vocalist are xeptional but there music is awsome and the vocals fit in a cool different way

and none of that is Alt Rock..most of it is considered Indie..

Alternative has been dead since the 90's gentleman what you guys call "Alternative" is mostly crap..

[agreatheight]

Originally Posted by Embryodead

and none of that is Alt Rock..most of it is considered Indie..

Alternative has been dead since the 90's gentleman what you guys call "Alternative" is mostly crap..

I truly appreciate your assistance. You are an invaluable asset to talkbass; your wisdom shines on us all. I am bettered for having heard your words. Thanks for helping, friend.

[Embryodead]

SURE

[a-1wave]

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel

Amazingly easy to play and a beautiful song too.