80s coverband suggestions?
 

Im building a few sets of songs to learn, all closely related to 80s NewWave/Darkwave, stuff like Berlin, Tears for Fears, Bauhaus, a few Joy Division tracks (released in 1980), The Cure, Blondie, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cars, The Pretenders, Devo, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, etc...

Im looking for some more tunes to build a better set, as some of my selections will likely get cut (if they dont test well) and as a coverband I think its best to have an ever-expanding repertoire.

So I ask you, my TB friends, if you were to see an 80s NewWave cover band, what songs would you want to see/hear played?

Matt,

You might want to google some of the bigger agencies and take a look at some of the set lists other new wave 80s bands are doing.

Blue

Yeah, Ive been building some sets based around that, but I also would like the opinions of my bass-playing brethren!
What songs would you like to hear if you were to go and see such a band, blue?

C'mon...Rick Astley...Never gonna give you up!

One obvious crowd-pleaser would be some Human League. Cheesy as all hell, but then ...

On the "what would I want to hear from an 80s cover band?" front - probably more material in the Killing Joke / PiL direction. Maybe learn a few from that area as well to keep in your back pocket for the right crowd?

A couple off the top of my head:
INXS
Men at Work
Missing Persons
The Tubes

I dont know how that one even slipped my mind! Thanks, its on the list (probably will be used sparingly, though).

Human League will definitely get on the list!
I know of Killing Joke & PiL, but Im not that familiar with their music. Would you consider their tunes to be danceable?

Definitely a good idea.

XTC

No Thugs in Our House
Senses Working Overtime
Mayor of Simpleton

Squeeze:

Pulling Mussells from the Shell
Black Coffee in Bed
Tempted

"Love My Way" Psychedelic Furs

"I've Got You" Split Enz

early Police like "Message In A Bottle" or "Can't Stand Losing You."

BTW, there is a band here in the Denver-Metro area called That 80s Band. A little softer than you're planning Matt, a bit more Madonna, Prince, Duran Duran, MJ, etc. But still a very popular concept, these guys (and gal) dress the part and they pretty much write their own ticket at venues and private upscale gigs. But they pull it off with both the visual and lots of help (sequencers, samples, sound processing, etc.). But, that 'twas the 80s.

Um,
Duran Duran
Aha
Flock of seagulls
Eurithmics
Frankie goes to Hollywood
Wham
Level 42 (your time to shine)
Loverboy
Paul Young
Thompson Twins
Spandau ballet

That should give you a few

KJ I'd say veers between the moshpit and the dancefloor depending on song and era. There's probably a youtube mix out there. PiL gets more danceable round about the "This is What You Want" era.

Police?

You can never go wrong with "Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds

The Cure - Last Dance
Lullaby
A Letter To Elise
From The Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Plainsong
Fascination Street
Love Song

Love and Rockets - So Alive

Mazzy Star - Blue Flower (I know it's technically the early 90s, but it fits the genre)

The Smiths - Barbarism Begins At Home
How Soon Is Now
William It Was Really Nothing
What Difference Does It Make

Siouxsie - Little Sister

Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Mad World
Everybody Wants To Rule The World

A-Ha - Crying In The Rain
Scoundrel Days
The Sun Always Shines On TV

The Church - Destination
Under The Milky Way

XTC - Dear God

Well, seeing as you said you're doing some joy division songs, I would recommend tossing a song or two by New Order in there. Possibly "Blue Monday" or "Shellshock" (just two personal favorites)

Blue Monday is definitely on the set, you can't do 80s without it.
Funny enough, when I started making my list I kept in mind "what did they play at the 80s club I used to go to?".
The name of that club (well, one of them) - Blue Mondays.

Who's Frankie and where is he?:)

Blue

Some of this isn't New Wave, but thinking back to some of the stuff that was on MTV a lot in its early days:

The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

Madness - Our House

The Tubes - She's a Beauty

Devo - Whip It

Adam and the Ants - Goody Two Shoes

Billy Idol - anything from Billy Idol.

Duran Duran's "Rio". I rarely hear a cover of it because no keyboard player seems to want to work out the programmed synth arpeggiation with the drummer.

Regardless, that John Taylor bass line is fantastic and really fun to play.