Covers - a dealbreaker?

Adam Bomb · #1 10-21-2008, 05:44 PM

Hey:

I am in a band that plays all originals. We have no problem writing songs. Lately, 1 or 2 members have been talking about throwing one or two covers into the repertoire.

I am dead set against this. Not entirely sure why. But here are parts of it:

1. I would happily be in a cover band. (I used to periodically Google "World's 'worst' Skunk Anansie cover band seeks bass".) But mixing covers with originals seems like a watering-down to me of what we are doing. A bad way of saying this - which is of course what I said to my band - is that if we do even just one cover, it makes all of our originals possibly covers as well. (Unless you get all, "We wrote this", which can IMO be pitiful.) Really instead of "watering-down" I want to say, "cheapening". Again, I would happily play all covers - I learned on covers, I can play a lot of them - but a mix? Doesn't feel right.

2. Unless we just mic a boombox and press play, we will have to learn the originals. Practice at rehearsal and some of us will practice at home and keep it sharp and fresh in our minds. This would absolutely come at the expense of the originals. As I said, we have no problem writing songs. In fact, we jam up more great grooves than we develop into songs. We already could be putting more energy into developing our own stuff, our own sound. We're going to put some of that energy - any of it - into playing someone else's stuff? That seems so very counterproductive to me.

3. There is a larger issue/conflict re the direction of the band. The new guy I guess is tired of his day job and I think would have us playing "Brick House" at bar mitzvahs just so that he could quit it. Before he got there, the rest of us were happy to create music and play, and sometimes play in front of people. That's the band I joined. (I'm dealing with the new guy. Separate issue. Not trying to jack my own thread. But that is part of it.)

I think I know some of the other side of the argument. But does what I have written here make sense to anyone? I haven't just come out and said this to the band - and I probably will - but I am completely unwilling to play even a single cover. The number of covers is not important, for the reason I stated above, and also because it's slippery slope. The simplest and surest way to ensure that I never end up playing "Sweet Home Alabama" at some law firm's Christmas party is to not play that one great obscure War song that I've been assured we would only play occasionally and, even then, always at the very end of the set. That is what was proposed, and, frankly, to me it sounded a lot like, "Just the tip."

Perhaps I've said too much.

--Bomb

broadblik · #2 10-21-2008, 05:56 PM

I like covers, especially covers in a different style, take some Reel Big Fish stuff, they do covers, but its in their own style.

DudeistMonk · #3 10-21-2008, 06:14 PM

I'm in an orignal band (granted we are just getting started) but we are doing covers as well for a few reasons:

1) they fill up a sparse set list so that we can get gigging as soon as possible even if we only have 5 originals done.

2) We plan on jamming them, making them our own, and not doing top 40, we are playing covers for US.

3) The have the potential to tighten the band, bring in ideas and give us a feel for each others tastes.

4) We need at least a few to audition a keyboardist

5) I feel that the crowd will associate you with the bands you are covering, it ads credibility. Play something by someones favorite band, rock it out and now you have a fan, who will talk up your band and your originals.

6) We can bill ourselves as covers + originals, get more gigs at bigger places, with bigger crowds who we can then expose to our originals.

baalroo · #4 10-21-2008, 06:16 PM

I completly understand, and mostly agree with the OP. ESPECIALLY, if the covers are of a similiar genre. As stated above, sometimes covers that are heavily reinterpreted versions can be pretty interesting and artistic in their own right.

bass'n it · #5 10-21-2008, 06:22 PM

If it doesn't affect the moral of the band?. sure why not do 3 or 4 cool covers played in your own style ..so it "fits" in with your sound........

Spector Bass club member # 109
Ampeg club member # 436

theshadow2001 · #6 10-21-2008, 06:45 PM

I would say don't do covers. Nothing wrong with covers. I gigged heavily for a year with a covers band.

The more important thing is to pick your venues. Hit the places where original music is expected. If you try gigs in your run of the mill pubs usually original sets won't go over too well.

I think it's better if original music is your focus to define yourselves as a band that plays original music. Not that band that plays a good cover version of whatever song.

As for filling out the sets as someone mentioned. Try getting half hour support slots with other bands. When you have more material try organize double headers. Keep building the repertoire and the length you can play a gig (although by the sounds of things you don't have a problem there)

Also people say it covers can help get a crowd on board. But it just gets them on board for that song. If your an original band you need to get them on board with your own music.

scootron · #7 10-21-2008, 06:54 PM

I'm thinking of the bands that I paid good money to see in the past weeks...Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers Band, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the Marshall Tucker Band.

Yep, they all played covers. Mostly originals, but a few covers.

All four bands were pretty good, as I recall.

Gov't Mule covered the Beatles, Tom Petty and the Bob Seger System.

I didn't see anything wrong with Gov't Mule playing covers. It added to the fun of the show, and I didn't have a hard time telling the difference between the covers and the originals. If your fans can't tell your covers from your originals, I'd say you have either chosen bad covers or you have pretty unsophisticated fans.

Bottom line...play covers or don't. But don't act like it's some big moral dilemma.

msquared · #8 10-21-2008, 06:58 PM

Even "established" original bands do covers. I don't get what the problem is.

Saetia · #9 10-21-2008, 07:21 PM

A cover or two won't hurt your originals band at all, and you wouldn't have to announce that every orginal song is an original, how about just announcing the cover songs in that manner "This next one is a cover song" or something along those lines.

I've seen many great original bands do a cover here or there without it detracting from the seriousness of their original music.

I currently play in an originals band and we're thinking of learning a cover song to throw in live every now and again, which will most likely be a song by Helmet.

In the past I've been in bands that were original bands that did covers. One of my older bands did a rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps by the Beatles and Happy Together by The Turtles. These we're definitely re-worked into a different genre of music and were a lot of fun, they also got a lot of attention from our fans.

Food for thought

-Benny

Herrlster · #10 10-21-2008, 07:35 PM

Seems selfish if one guy out of the whole band is against covers. If the other guys wanna do covers, do it. It'll make them happy, it'll definitely make the crowd happy. A lot of audiences wanna hear songs they know...

newbold · #11 10-21-2008, 07:45 PM

it's the only way you can play for 2+ hours a night and change up your setlist from night to night.

Do you want people to follow your band around the country or do you just want to rehearse in a garage somewhere?

mambo4 · #12 10-21-2008, 07:49 PM

Just be sure your own songwriting and part writing skills and are not dwarfed by the covers you choose.

I have seen a handful of original bands in the past that threw in a cover song or two, and walked away remembering nothing else about them.

Don't make the covers the most memorable thing you do, if originals are your 'thing'.

+1 for 'making it your own'

jimb213 · #13 10-21-2008, 08:45 PM

Covers can serve some good purposes for original bands.

You can use a cover to hoist a flag... play a song that only people "in the know" will know, and it can help you gain credibility among a certain crowd. Whether it's obscure punk or esoteric prog rock, when you play the right song, it will make some people say "hey they have the same taste in music as me, I'm gonna pay closer attention." I've watched this happen at shows.

you can make a song your own... How many radically different covers of All Along the Watchtower are there? I've been to really fun shows where the band would do a rock version of some bubblegum pop song by britney or whoever. I also knew a fantastic band that would break into Billie Jean in the middle of one of their songs. They actually played it pretty straight, but it fit in really well with their Incubus-by-way-of-Austin sound.

Covers can also pad a setlist. My band is about to release our 1st EP, and it's 6 songs. We haven't done much songwriting since we've been working on getting the record done, so we still only have 6 songs. That's enough for your average club gig or opening spot, but we're probably going to throw in a cover or two so that we can fill out a longer show if we need to.

I definitely understand not wanting to be a cover band, and not wanting to be known for your covers. I knew another band that the most memorable part of their show was a cover. Like others have said, make sure the covers don't overshadow your original material, and make sure everyone knows the role covers play in your band.

If everything else about the band is great, I wouldn't let this be a deal-breaker, unless someone really does want to turn the band into a full time party/cover band.

Jeb · #14 10-21-2008, 10:53 PM

This precious "original" band stuff just makes me cringe. The "original" bands that I've seen play one set, play for free, and the material appeals only to the band members and their friends/family.

Your favorite "artists" played covers at some point in their careers. Thats how they learned to perform and be profficient on their instruments. Cover bands that sneak in their GOOD original tunes are better than than all original bands that sneak in a cover. They may make a few bucks too. You "nothing but originals" guys should know better. You have to be able to play, just play. Otherwise you would have to look really good and follow orders (marketable). That is, unless all that you care about is playing to friends and family.

Munjibunga · #15 10-21-2008, 10:57 PM

Think of it as playing a few songs that people actually want to hear.

MattO · #16 10-21-2008, 11:01 PM

As long as you're not playing Mustang Sally it's okay.

I don't mind playing a cover or two especially if it's something, while not necessarily obscure, perhaps something that people don't hear much, like a B side that I always wished got more attention.

JacobE · #17 10-21-2008, 11:10 PM

just because its a cover doesnt mean you cant reinterprit it

Ric5 · #18 10-21-2008, 11:11 PM

For me I hate playing in all-originals bands. Why? There is an incredible abundance of semi-talented people who have a knack of writing songs with no hooks! I don't want to play for people and have them scratch their heads and say hmmm ... I am not sure if I like that or not ... Also one of my goals is to NOT make it in the music business ... I don't want the big pay cut and the downgrade in lifestyle ... so a cover band is a good fit for me ...

Ric5 · #19 10-21-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Think of it as playing a few songs that people actually want to hear.

+1

mfgl · #20 10-21-2008, 11:23 PM

Im not in a band yet, BUT ive been to at least 1000 hardcore/metal/other shows. If i dont know the band they might be great but after a song or two i dont recognize its time to go to the bar, or outside for a smoke break. Alot of times though ive heard said band play a cover of something i do know and like and been like hmmm, that pretty cool, bought their cd on the way out and listened for a few weeks. The next time they play i know the songs and and more likely to stay and watch/get into it. Unless its a tight local scene at a club known only for playing live local music that most local people know, i think adding a few covers in is pretty important if you want the people paying to drink there to have fun.