Covers are fun ! Never knew...

[makkE]

Hey
not really a gig story, but whatever.

So, a couple of weeks ago I joined my first ever cover band (classic rock and stuff). I used to be "originals only" for almost 20 years (and about 25 bands)... used to think cover bands were sort of lame (when I was younger) and later thought "it's ok, but that wouldn't be my thing"..

I never knew it was such fun! I'm having a blast.

Just learning a new song - "Eddie Cochran "Twenty Flight Rock"

This is the first time I play this sort of Rock'n'Roll.
I always used to look down on this, despite the fact that I loved it when I was a child. The only records my parents had were rock'n'roll - shakin stevens, elvis, bill haley, etc.

When I started music, I was an arrogant little teenage prick - I thought this stuff was all "old fart" music... never shed a second thought on it. It didn't really help that I was in a scene where it was considered cool to not know the 12-bars. (late 80ies/90ies)

Long rant short, it's so much fun. Gonna learn more rock'n'roll now Makes me feel like a kid again. I feel I might have a knack for this kind of groove. How stupid of me to neglect this type of music for such unmusical reasons Oh well, live and learn I guess.

[rtslinger]

Yeah i hear ya I played and listened to metal most of my youth org bands never cover stuff when I was playing. Took lessons and in my eyes was forced to learn jazz and other types of music by my instructor. We had a deal he helped me understand the writing end of music "always wanted to write my own stuff" and I had to learn what ever he throw at me. young and narrow minded to say the least learned a ton of stuff in the 10 years I took lesson but was not interested in playing anything but metal. I got into a Classic Rock band in 2003 and learned some older stuff and wow were my eyes closed to what was happening in music other than what I listen to! Having a blast myself we toss in a view Ozzy tunes for good measure but, most of it is 60's 70's stuff that I would have never bother to listen to.

[mward69]

I was the same way back in my "dayz" I am 42, grew up with my sister's records like AC/DC, Zeppelin, Ted Nuget...then the hair band dayz, then I found Pantera!!
5 yr ago I joined my 1st cover band for the extra money and fell in love with it. Longer set list, don't have to fight for the best time slot, we have a HUGE list to pull from {70s- today} depending on what crowd we play for. No more playing to a dead crowd. I LOVE to see people on the dance floor.
I had the same attitude back in my original days of metal, looking back at it now, and giving any younger folks here some advice....DO NOT limit yourself to one style of music. By doing that, you limit your playing style and ability to learn more riff's/chops.

[baileyboy]

All I play is 60s, 70s, 80s covers... and I love it. I don't have the time, nor the talent, to write originals that anyone would want to hear.

[Gyver]

I love creating originals in the studio. I love playing covers live. People just want to hear what they already know. Jazz might be the exception...

[punkinfantry]

It is a really, really, really awesome feeling to play a cover live and have a room packed with people singing along. There's nothing quite like it.

[devilock76]

I was the same way, then decided two things:

1. I like playing for people, preferably lots of people, not a practice space wall and friends and family you cajole into coming to see you.

2. I like getting paid to play.

To meet these requirements it means covers, especially in this area. Not hanging up the original hat but will work them in here and there with the right covers gigs.

Ken

[CauliColin]

Originally Posted by mward69

DO NOT limit yourself to one style of music. By doing that, you limit your playing style and ability to learn more riff's/chops.

I agree. I play rock and metal, and I have gotten into jazz, and joined the school combo. It is probably one of the most relaxing things I do. Gets me in a great mood! Until I have physics...

[duff beer]

I'd rather play covers written by some of the best songwriters of all time than the same 12 soundalike songs night after night written by someone who can't write but thinks that their songs are truly "original".

[wake & Bass]

Yep, same thing here. I am 41 and for the past year or so have been playing in a cover band. It's a great feeling when people are dancing, having a good time and singing along. I was always in original bands and struggling to get people out and into what we were doing. It's funny, the band I am in now started as a jazz fusion project, but we couldn't get any gigs! (well...ones that paid at least) I was playing in a blues project that fizzled, brought the female into the group and we started playing covers....and now we are playing at least twice a month and having a blast doing it! Oh.....and making some coin, which makes it even better!

[Old Fart]

Not to hijack the thread, but what songs do your audiences like the best? What songs are guaranteed fill-the-dance-floor hits?

[Nev375]

I just had an experience which kinda contradicts this thread. My new band played a 9 song set at the local octoberfest, 5 of which were covers because we figured they probably didn't want to hear our originals.

The audience loved the originals better, there was not just a slightly louder applause after the originals, it was very much definitely louder.

Maybe we just suck at covers, maybe this town is just backwards from reality. I dunno, but I'm sticking with this group.

[JohnMCA72]

Originally Posted by Nev375

I just had an experience which kinda contradicts this thread. My new band played a 9 song set at the local octoberfest, 5 of which were covers because we figured they probably didn't want to hear our originals.

The audience loved the originals better, there was not just a slightly louder applause after the originals, it was very much definitely louder.

Maybe we just suck at covers, maybe this town is just backwards from reality. I dunno, but I'm sticking with this group.

Maybe you're just writing good material!

[baileyboy]

Originally Posted by duff beer

I'd rather play covers written by some of the best songwriters of all time than the same 12 soundalike songs night after night written by someone who can't write but thinks that their songs are truly "original".

+1, yup, lots of wanna be Bob Dylans out there...

[Floyd Eye]

Yes, playing covers is fun. It actually pays too. Pretty well.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by duff beer

I'd rather play covers written by some of the best songwriters of all time than the same 12 soundalike songs night after night written by someone who can't write but thinks that their songs are truly "original".

I'm sure those songwriters would rather have their songs played by some of the best musicians of all time and not millions of rubbish middle-aged blues/rock cover bands.

[bmb73]

Originally Posted by duff beer

I'd rather play covers written by some of the best songwriters of all time than the same 12 soundalike songs night after night written by someone who can't write but thinks that their songs are truly "original".

+1

[Edward G.]

Originally Posted by makkE

Hey
I used to be "originals only" for almost 20 years (and about 25 bands)

Wow! There's something wrong with that on its face, y'know.

[mward69]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

Not to hijack the thread, but what songs do your audiences like the best? What songs are guaranteed fill-the-dance-floor hits?

For us, it depends on the crowd. MOST of the 80's hairband stuff works GREAT for folks up to the 40's.
Def Leppard,
Bon Jovi,
Poison.
NickleBack works every time. {Figured you out/Animals/something in your mouth}
Buck Cherry Crazy bitch

Toss in some 70's funk keep's it alive as well.

[duff beer]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I'm sure those songwriters would rather have their songs played by some of the best musicians of all time and not millions of rubbish middle-aged blues/rock cover bands.

Well...if any of them show up at one of our gigs, I'd be glad to let them sit in.