What to play for Military?

[Brooks]

We just landed a gig to play at the local (Kuwait) military base for their Christmas bash. We are talking 2,000 soldiers (18 to 22) and officers, majority of whom are 25-35. They will be able to dance or sit around, and we are told that it will be a good male/female ratio.

I am sure some of you have played for the military, so which songs should we be playing? We are a 6-piece band - Keyboard/Vocals, Guitar/Vocals, Drums, Bass, Lead Singer/Percussion and a female lead/backing vocals. Band is pretty good, can play almost anything.

This gig could lead to quite a few more, and we are very keen to leave a great impression, plus we know how it is for the people there, stuck in the middle of nowhere, thousands of miles from home at Xmas time....any suggestions?

We need to do no more than 15 songs as they will also have a DJ and other entertainment during the evening.

Thanks in advance!

[BellBottomBlues]

Assuming they're American soldiers play popular rock songs from the US.

Fortunate Son would be an ironic and enjoyable song

[Brooks]

OOPs....guess I just assumed that people would realize that this is for the American military.

[Blake Bass]

I've played in Kuwait with a military band. We did rock and country tunes and it was well received.

[Brooks]

Thanks Blake..any specific songs? Would old stuff like 'Born to be Wild' work well, or should we look at Rock/Country Top 40?

[BellBottomBlues]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Thanks Blake..any specific songs? Would old stuff like 'Born to be Wild' work well, or should we look at Rock/Country Top 40?

Born to be Wild seems like it would work well. You don't have to play the current Top 40 but any easily recognizable songs would work well.

Just don't do what Slayer did when they covered that song...

[natbers78]

Being in the USAF Band, I find myself playing these gigs on a regular basis. I aways find that country goes over well, as well as any good rock songs from popular bands. Look to the what the radio stations are playing for guidance. I've also learned that trying to do hip-hop or any other thing that is very "produced" sounding, is extremely hard to do convincingly. I say this because my bass doesn't sound the "bass" that's on the record, nor do the drums. Also, you can never go wrong with the popular classic rock. I think you have a lot of options.

[Brooks]

Hehe..we do the original Steppenwolf version...no point in messing up a classic

[Brooks]

Thanks Nathan. Our problem is that we don't know what these kids are listening to on AFRT. We do some classic rock anyway, and some country too, but I was really hoping to get some specific song recommendations. We only have an hour to impress these people, and in the time we have until the gig, we can easily learn 10-12 songs.

[natbers78]

here are some songs we do that are well received (I'll leave the country tunes out since you already have some). This should give you an idea:

Sweet Child O' Mine- Guns N' Roses
Peg- Steely Dan
Superstition or Sir Duke- Stevie Wonder
Waiting on the World to Change- JOhn Mayer
Who says you Can't Go home- Bon Jovi
Some Kind of Wonderful- Joss Stone version
Best of My love
Hit me with your best shot/Heartbreaker- Pat Benetar
Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson
Brown Eyed Girl
Listen to the Music- Doobies
Wild Night- Mellencamp/Ndegeocello version
Put your Records on- Corrine Bailey Rae
Sweet Home Alabama
Real Gone- Cheryl Crow
I don't wanna be- Gavin Degraw
Harder to Breath- Maroon 5
Smooth- Santana
It's my Life or Spiderwebs- No Doubt

[Brooks]

Thanks Nathan! We actually do 5-6 of those on the list already, so cool..we don't need to start from scratch!

[meev992]

Playing "Spinal Tap" tunes come to mind. Don't know how accepted it would be though.

All else fails, you could play some good big-band/swing, as that will get EVERYONE dancing

[MyUsernameHere]

Originally Posted by Nathan Bersée

Being in the USAF Band, I find myself playing these gigs on a regular basis. I aways find that country goes over well, as well as any good rock songs from popular bands. Look to the what the radio stations are playing for guidance. I've also learned that trying to do hip-hop or any other thing that is very "produced" sounding, is extremely hard to do convincingly. I say this because my bass doesn't sound the "bass" that's on the record, nor do the drums. Also, you can never go wrong with the popular classic rock. I think you have a lot of options.

I agree with this. Don't worry too much about the people there only recognizing what's on AFR. Unless they have been stuck at some little F.O.B. for the last year they're pretty much going to have access to anything thats popular on the internet.
By the way, good for you for doing something to support the troops.

[Baryonyx]

Perhaps try playing all of Paul Simon's Graceland album.

[Chebass88]

Perhaps learning a cool version of the armed forces songs would go over well (if any of the forces know them)

Anchors Aweigh (Navy)
From the Halls of Montezuma (USMC) - I forget the real title
Caissons go rolling along (Army)
Off we go (into the wild blue yonder) - USAF

As a classic "march" style - it might go over as well as a fart in church - They are simple tunes, so you could probably get a cool arrangement from them!

imp

[Bulltrout]

Originally Posted by Nathan Bersée

here are some songs we do that are well received (I'll leave the country tunes out since you already have some). This should give you an idea:

Sweet Child O' Mine- Guns N' Roses
Peg- Steely Dan
Superstition or Sir Duke- Stevie Wonder
Waiting on the World to Change- JOhn Mayer
Who says you Can't Go home- Bon Jovi
Some Kind of Wonderful- Joss Stone version
Best of My love
Hit me with your best shot/Heartbreaker- Pat Benetar
Breakaway- Kelly Clarkson
Brown Eyed Girl
Listen to the Music- Doobies
Wild Night- Mellencamp/Ndegeocello version
Put your Records on- Corrine Bailey Rae
Sweet Home Alabama
Real Gone- Cheryl Crow
I don't wanna be- Gavin Degraw
Harder to Breath- Maroon 5
Smooth- Santana
It's my Life or Spiderwebs- No Doubt

Having been on the receiving end of these kinds of shows, I think this kind of set list would go over well; maybe add a couple of funk songs. I wouldn't believe the good ratio between males and females though.

In the end however, it really won't matter all too much what you play, they'll be thankful just for you being there and playing.

Cool of you to sign up for that kind of gig btw.

[jerome_oneil]

I've been a service member stuck in that sand box, and I can tell you that it really doesn't matter what you play, you're going to be playing to an appreciative audience.

Up tempo and fun. What these guys want is to forget for a few hours that tomorrow they're going to wake up and be in Kuwait.

Good on you for the gig, too.

[olaff421]

Just play a bunch of Sousa.

[BigOleBoogie]

Sweet Child Of Mine
Some Kind of Wonderful (not Joss Stone's version)
Can't Get Enough - Bad Company
Brown Eyed Girl
Sweet Home Alabama
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Brickhouse - Commodores
Rock and Roll All Night - Kiss
Old Time Rock n Roll
Boogie Oogie Oogie
Wonderful Tonight or Crazy - Patsy Cline or some other ballad
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry



Along with what Chebass said these are my suggestions on what to add to your list.

Go for a lot of broad spectrum standards. You'll be playing to guys (and their female guests) from different places and different demographics (just because it's local doesn't mean they all are from the same area), not just from that neighborhood like a lot of us cover band people get and you want to reach as many as possible as often as possible with your set list.

Have that one ballad in there about 4-5 songs before the end and the tunes all have a real party/get it on message/vibe to them. Good luck with what you guys choose and congratulations!

[Disco_Gee]

Born in the USA - Bruce Springstein