Playing a bike show any tips?

[tom once dead]

I've got a gig at an annual bike show this weekend, expecting around 500 bikes with owners not to mention the people coming to see some big bands. Awesome stage setup etc I'm really pumped for it. Only Problem is my band is quite a lot heavier than everyone else and apparently the bikers aren't too fond of growling vocals and 220bpm songs.

I've heard bike shows can have tough crowds being what they are so anyone got any tips to handle the crowd and some storeys of any bike shows you've played at?

[codeinedreams]

I've noticed that bikers (Harley dudes) in my area tend to like covers like classic rock and blues. anything they can't get a grip on or don't recognize they don't seem to like. I don't mean to stereotype these fine folks, but that's been my experience

[plankspanker13]

Stick to the old warhorses, and "Creedleback" stuff, and you should be OK. Break out some Gaga, and you'll leave the gig in a body bag.

[dmusic148]

There's really nothing to be worried about. I've done my share of them- they're just like any other crowd except they tend to listen more. Based on your description of your music, though, they probably won't pay much attention to you at all.

[Jeff K]

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

Stick to the old warhorses, and "Creedleback" stuff, and you should be OK. Break out some Gaga, and you'll leave the gig in a body bag.

[Stanley Pugh]

My band has played four large bike expos the past few years and we had a blast.
Being a biker myself I can tell you classic rock and southern rock is received well at biker functions in Pennsylvania.
There is no good way to try to handle a crowd if they don't like you, however I can't imagine they would have hired you if they thought you would bomb.
Enjoy yourself and play your ass off

[T-Bird]

Hi.

If the bikers in Australia are like the bikers in Finland, and if they're not coming to see YOU, it doesn't really matter what You play as long as it even remotely fits the other music. They are there to have fun and the music just helps in that.

This is in no way to assume they don't appreciate the music, any music, the biker parties we played in had the best crowds. I was in a biker band so that may have had something to do with it though .

Be polite, go there without an attitude, play as well as You can, and you'll do fine.

Regards
Sam

[tom once dead]

One of the Headliner bands is a Finish biker band, Baton Rouge Morgue if you know them.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by tom once dead

One of the Headliner bands is a Finish biker band, Baton Rouge Morgue if you know them.

That's as cool as hell.

I don't know them, as a matter of a fact I had to Google 'em to take a peak .

The "artist names" don't ring a bell, but especially the rythm guitarist looks very familiar. They look to be a bit younger than me and my riding has been on hiatus for a while, so I haven't catch them on any parties either.

Oh and I forgot on the earlier post: Congrats on getting the gig.

Regards
Sam

[tom once dead]

Thanks, it was a playoffs between 32 bands or something and top 6 got to play the bike show. We won so we got the Main Support.

[petersenbass]

I played Thunder Beach Bike Rally in Panama City Beach at Club LaVela. It was with my Led Zeppelin Tribute Band. They ate it up! The night before they had a great AC/DC Tribute.

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by tom once dead

Playing a bike show any tips?

Uh...wear a helmet?

[fmoore60]

Do you guys know any Culture Club?

[MN_Bass]

Learn Born To Be Wild, and some CCR, but your bands twist on it.

[Blue Moose]

I'm playing a bike rally this weekend. We're crankin' up plenty of late-60 classic rock: Stones, CCR, Jefferson Airplane, Cream, CSN&Y, etc. We played this same gig last year and that kind of list worked well. Definitely a classic / Southern rock crowd.

[Bassdirty]

Yes, BORN TO BE WILD is a must.If you're not doing that, don't bother with the gig.



I think if you stick with 60's/70's/ early 80's hard rock.that might work.


perhaps things like -acdc/steppenwolf/bad co./lynyrd skynyrd/neil young/..etc


I found this list somewhere...
Some I do not agree with...some ideas tho.

(holy stereotype tho , huh?)


1. Man With A Harley - Sir Edward (DISC 01)
2. Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
3. I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister
4. Flirtin With Disaster - Molly Hatchet
5. Cum On Feel The Noise - Quiet Riot
6. We Will Rock You - Warrant
7. Viva Las Vegas - Z Z Top
8. Rockn Roll Children - Dio
9. Dirty Dog - Ian Gillan Band
10. Stroke - Billy Squier, The
11. Wheels Of Steel - Saxon
12. Cryin - Vixen
13. Race With The Devil - Girlschool - Race With Devil
14. 2-4-6-8 Motorway - The Tom Robinson Band
15. Harley-Davidson 2003 - Diesel Dahl & Friends Feat. Jorn Lande
16. Just Between You And Me - April Wine (DISC 02)
17. Flame - Cheap Trick, The
18. Wild World - Mr. Big
19. Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
20. Missing You - John Waite
21. Without You - Harry Nilsson
22. Lady In Black - Uriah Heep
23. Dust In The Wind - Kansas
24. Lonesome Looser - Little River Band
25. Ride Like The Wind - Christoper Cross
26. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
27. Highway Song - Blackfoot
28. Keep On Rollin - Pat Savage Band
29. Leave My Heartache Behind - Doobie Brothers
30. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
31. You Aint Seen Nothing Yet - B.T.O. Bachman Turner Overdrive (DISC 03)
32. Black Betty - Ram Jam
33. Rockin All Over The World - Status Quo
34. Easy Livin - Uriah Heep
35. All Right Now - Free
36. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
37. Since You Ve Been Gone - Rainbow
38. Smoke On The Water (Live) - Deep Purple
39. Doctor Doctor - Ufo
40. On The Road Again - Canned Heat
41. Jessica - The Allman Brothers Band
42. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
43. Wheel In The Sky - Journey
44. Cats In The Cradle - Ugly Kid Joe
45. Rebel Yell - Billy Idol

[Mo'Phat]

Learn the theme from Sons of Anarchy!

[Spraeg]

Speaking as someone who has played a bike rally being in a death metal band (I'm kind of assuming thats what you mean by growling at 220bpm), you may have a slightly less than warm reception. Everyone here has given some good suggestions, but it sounds like you probably aren't in that range of music. Granted, when I played, we were our own seperate show, not part of the rally, but we were far less than welcome. Most of the bikers didn't take too well to music that wasn't in their chosen style, and we had the cops called on us to shut us down. After alot of bad noise between the authhorities and the promoter, we packed up and left halfway through our set. As always, YMMV, just relating my one experience, but it might behoove you to get real familiar with the "Bob's Country Bunker" scene from Blues Brothers.

[tom once dead]

Yeah, all original Speed/death metal. Sounds like it could go either way, this could be interesting.

[somegeezer]

Don't pull any ponytails and they might leave your faces alone from their fists.