IS your band a cover?

[jarrydee]

Just wondering how many of us on here are in cover bands, as I read it almost seems like a bad thing to be a cover band...have any of you got that feeling? Also what type of music does your band play? we play mostly classic rock...from grand Funk to heart!

[bassgod0dmw]

I've got a cover band to gig with/get paid and I've got an originals band to feel creative.

Cover Band: More classic rock type stuff, but we play newer pop stuff as well
Originals: Progressive metal/rock

[Muttleybass]

Cover band here. Not your typical classic rock.

Been in tons of original bands. When you get to a certain age, it seems originals have to be Jazz, Blues, Country or boring. At 51, playing to a bunch of kids who don't get you just doesn't seem worth it.

[Phalex]

My band not only performs other bands music, but we stole our name from a band from my ex-drummers high school.

We do have a few original tunes too, but we are definitely a cover band.

[DiabolicLow B]

Cover band here, pop, rock, R & B, reggae, almost no classic rock, maybe two or three songs.

[essentre]

I played in original bands for most of my musical career until recently. Now I'm in a coverband. I'm not really crazy about playing covers or the cover "scene" but we have fun and make decent $$, so I can deal with it. We're also not doing all they typical tunes but more interesting hard rock/modern metal songs. People seem to dig it and are glad we don't play all the typical stuff.

For me, a coverband is nowhere near as fun, interesting, or satisfying as an original band. I still write and record music on the side, so that keeps my creativity fueled. If I ONLY had the coverband I'd feel like something was missing.

[LiamPodmore]

My band do both covers and originals. All pop/punk (Think Good Charlotte, Bowling For Soup, Blink 182, etc...) except the odd few classic punk songs (Ramones, Joan Jett, etc...)

Liam

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by jarrydee

Just wondering how many of us on here are in cover bands, as I read it almost seems like a bad thing to be a cover band...have any of you got that feeling? Also what type of music does your band play? we play mostly classic rock...from grand Funk to heart!

Always been a cover band bassist dating back to the mid 70's. Bad thing? Uh, no! Cover bands have been in existence since forever! And they ain't goin' nowhere!

There are a few TB'rs who have some strong negative feelings about cover bands and personally, I think they need medication!

I've always done the agent booked Top40 (all genres) thing as well as the Funk, R&B/Soul thing! Some songs tend to get stale but if you're a good musician, you find ways to spice up a tune and make it fun!

[jarrydee]

wow, thanks for replying guys! So if your playing classic rock are there any tunes that you guys do to mix it up a little, I mean, maybe an oddball tune that you dont hear other bands playing? We play a cool one I have never herd anyone in my town do, it is Kenny Rogers-What condition my condition was in. People get a kick out of it when we play it! There are a lot of songs I would love to do but we are only a 3 piece and a lot of the songs I want to do require keyboards! Do any of you play songs that may need piano or strings that you have to make up for on other instruments?

[SteveC]

Cover bands all the way.

[TBird1958]

Lovin' playin' covers!

[Ayce]

Played in cover bands only, with some originals thrown in.
IME, if you're going to do an original, don't let the audience know until after you play it. This worked in both the country bands I was in as well as the classic rock band. Got applause and "I haven't heard that in years" comments or "unusual song choice." The trick is, imo, write songs in the style of the music you're covering. IE: if your in a country cover band, don't pull out you're punkmetal style original........not gonna fly.

[lackthereof]

I've found that those who disrespect a musician for playing covers,usually have a hard time learning covers. Bad ears? Lack of understanding of common song structures? Whatever the case. Musicians play music, regardless of who wrote it.

Also cover bands are great for keeping your chops, endurance, vocals, etc... in shape.

[Metallized]

Well, we mostly play our own stuff, and write all the time, but we also play covers. Though, not exclusively.

[Gaius46]

2 cover bands. One doing an odd mix of classic rock, alt rock, pop, dance tunes, r&b and reggae that somehow or other works cause we keep getting hired and call-backs.

The other does strictly Motown covers.

[NoiseNinja]

No cover band, strictly originals... All though, I admit, do have a few numbers I would like to cover.
As for wether it's a bad thing to be in cover band, it really depends. I must admit that I personally find it a bit on the cheap side. But it really shouldn't matter if you are in it for the music 100%.

By the way wouldn't a poll make this a lot easier?

[Peace Cee]

When I want to be "original", I go into the studio and create. When I get a nice playlist together, I hire a band and perform it live. However, This is funded by the cover band that I play in; moreover, our perfomances have helped us to build relationships with the club owners. When we plan an original set (We {the band} have a nice playlist of originals as well.), they trust me/us because they know that we will deliver. Honestly, my song writing skills and live chops were honed in cover situations.

[shadowtippy]

Covers, mostly, with a few originals thrown in. We do anything from Hank (Sr.) to Hendrix, EL&P to Merle Haggard.

[ghiadub]

I play covers and a few originals - I like to think of it like painting;

Original music is like painting from your imagination
Covers are like painting while looking at your subject

Both can be amazing art, or a sloppy mess, its all in the artist's hands

[EricF]

70% covers, 30% originals. Some of the covers we play get our own spin rather than trying to copy the original version. To me, it's just playing music with some people I enjoy playing with.