Newer cover song ideas?

invader3k · #1 08-16-2010, 07:32 AM

So my best friend and I are trying to get our old band together again (still trying to see if the original drummer is going to be in or out), after being on hiatus a couple years. Right now it's just him on guitar/vocals, and myself on bass.

Previously, this band had been a fairly cliche "meat and potatoes" cover band. We did a lot of the standard stuff by the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, some 12 bar blues songs, and a lot of early '90s grunge/post-grunge type stuff we're sort of tired of. We've decided we're going to drop a lot of those old songs that basically every cover band in the area does.

We're trying to update by adding some newer stuff...like songs written after 2000. So far we've tentatively decided on:

"Here it Goes Again" - OK Go
"Paralyzer" - Finger Eleven
"I Want You To" - Weezer
"Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand
"12:51" - The Strokes

If you get the gist; newer, fun, higher energy type stuff. Any ideas for other songs? Hopefully stuff that isn't terribly hard for a three piece band to do, but will still appeal to a fairly diverse crowd?

Thanks in advance!

Vakmere · #2 08-16-2010, 07:52 AM

I'd rather work on my golf game. At least there I can have control over the results.

Phalex · #3 08-16-2010, 08:01 AM

We added "Life Is Beautiful" by Sixx AM and it goes over really big. Same with "Second Chance" by Shine Down.

Can't miss with either of those tunes IME.

EdHunter · #4 08-16-2010, 08:08 AM

A bit of Muse normally goes down well. A lot of people have caught on to them recently, and there's enough musicality there to keep you interested.

john_martin_sai · #5 08-16-2010, 08:08 AM

'Tidy' by Dressy Bessy

invader3k · #6 08-16-2010, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john_martin_sai

'Tidy' by Dressy Bessy

Haha...that would be good if our singer was a chick.

skwee · #7 08-16-2010, 08:25 AM

Buddy Holly by Weezer (but do it faster than the original!)
I'm gone by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant

DB10 · #8 08-16-2010, 08:34 AM

We're in the same boat, I'm trying to drag my guys out of the 70's and 80's. We've added Use Somebody by Kings of Leon, and some of the songs off the new Pearl Jam album. Also going to try some White Stripes and Green Day stuff, not that difficult and high energy.

troy mcclure · #9 08-16-2010, 09:34 AM

sex on fire, bad girlfriend, paralyzer, anything thing by nickleback ( sorry )

tycobb73 · #10 08-17-2010, 01:02 PM

Steady As She Goes

essentre · #11 08-17-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

"Paralyzer" - Finger Eleven
"Take Me Out" - Franz Ferdinand

These have also been played to death...

BassMaster4s · #12 08-17-2010, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

We added "Life Is Beautiful" by Sixx AM and it goes over really big. Same with "Second Chance" by Shine Down.

Can't miss with either of those tunes IME.

I'm amazed "Life is Beautiful" works that well. I would expect it to be more of a niche song. This gives me hope.

On topic: unfortunately Lady Gaga tends to go over well if you make decent arrangement. Nickelback too.

GingerJuggler · #13 08-17-2010, 01:39 PM

Some bands to have a look at
Wolfmother
Feeder
The Darkness (if your singer can hack it and you want some cheese)
I suppose if all else fails have a look at the playlists for GuitardHero or Rockband plenty of tracks that people know and will sing/airguitar/dance along to.

pasta4lnch · #14 08-17-2010, 01:49 PM

funny how newer covers are "written after 2000"

if that's the criteria here's some of the tunes we do:

crazy bitch is always a crowd pleaser
the fray - cable car, or you found me (might need the keys in that one)
anything from the all american rejects - catch frigging hooks!
oar - shattered
the script - shattered
jason mraz - I'm yours
train - if it's love and souls sister (kill me!)

ncbassman · #15 08-18-2010, 09:03 AM

beverly hills - weezer
pretty fly for a white guy - offspring
7 nation army - white stripes
any Foo Fighters will go over well in my experience
There are some good songs from the Peppers' Stadium Arcadium album too
And as someone said, any Nickelback, sadly, goes over well (sorry)

Phalex · #16 08-18-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster4s

I'm amazed "Life is Beautiful" works that well. I would expect it to be more of a niche song. This gives me hope.

The first few times we played it out, the reaction was kind of shock and awe. No one really knew what to make of it.

Now, they dance and yell, and really seem to like it.

Disco Batman · #17 08-18-2010, 09:26 AM

As sick as it may sound a good friend of mine's band does Poker Face by Lady Gaga with a pretty decent rock arrangement. And the audience eats it up every time.

pasta4lnch · #18 08-18-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disco Batman

As sick as it may sound a good friend of mine's band does Poker Face by Lady Gaga with a pretty decent rock arrangement. And the audience eats it up every time.

yeah - in an old band I was in we would do "waking up in vegas" and invite a few chicks from the audience to sing (if my wife didn't run up and grab the mic first

) it was a great idea. the crowd loved it!

Atticus · #19 08-18-2010, 05:53 PM

Plug In Baby is a good Muse song for what you're after.

New Fang- Them Crooked Vultures
Treat Me Like Your Mother- The Dead Weather
Fearless- The Bravery
Weapon of Choice- Black Motorcycle Rebel Club
Learn to Fly- Foo Fighters (okay, 1999, but in November so close enough)
I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor- Arctic Monkeys
Joker and the Thief- Wolfmother

That should give you a little bit to go with. Not all perfect choices for your criteria, but not bad, I think.

invader3k · #20 08-19-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by essentre

These have also been played to death...

Not so much around here...the vast majority of bands in our area are stuck in the '70s-early '90s type stuff. That's what we're trying to at least partly get away from.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. Some of 'em may be out of our singer's range a bit, but we'll see. We may add another singer eventually, anyway.