Is this normal coverband protocol??

[spade2you]

Since my guitard had a passive aggressive meltdown temper tantrum, I've been on the prowl.

I came across an 80's metal band looking for a lead guitarist. The setlist they gave me originally mimicked a typical bar band. When I told him I'm not a variety band guy, he sent me a revised list, but it had Talk Dirty To Me and Poison's cover of American Band.

I told the guy, that I don't do covers of covers and Talk Dirty is one of the songs that has been done so much that I can no longer stand it. He then suggested I don't try out, which is fine cuz I'd be more likely to hurt people if I had to play that particular song.

What struck me as really odd was that the guy doesn't have a full band (piecing things together) and he wants to play a 40 song set in about a month. Is this normal?

I guess swore off cover bands many years ago when the bands I was in were half-assing too many tunes instead of learning (and nailing) a few tunes before throwing more on the setlist, as well as booking gigs before the band had the songs ready.

[Busker]

Booking gigs before the band is ready is OK, IMO, if everyone in the band is on the same wavelength. It gives the band goals that must be met - to get the material down in a given amount of time, or crash and burn, or cancel gigs. But if you work a day job, its hard to learn 40 songs in a month. That's probably not realistic.

OTOH, I was with this band once, I lasted 6 weeks. We had about 8 cover songs learned in 6 weeks. That's moving at a snail's pace.

I learned about 40 songs in 2 1/2 weeks once, but I wasn't working at the time, and I had to practically lock myself in the practice room for days on end. If I would have been working at the time, no way would I have been able to learn that many songs that quickly.

As far as playing songs you hate, if I have to play Hard To Handle and Keep Your Hands To Yourself one more time....

[KsToaDangr]

A few year back, I replaced the bassist for a band, with the understanding that the guitarist would give me 2 weeks to learn the 15 songs that band had written. He decided to go ahead and book a show for 3 days after I joined, and I had to really push myself to learn enough songs for a 30 minute set, but I just barely pulled it off. As far as cover bands go, I've found that it generally helps for everyone involved to come up with the setlist. Each member picks a couple of songs that they already know how to play, and everyone works from there. If there are songs that more than one person already knows, it makes it a lot easier.

[logicman69]

Originally Posted by spade2you

What struck me as really odd was that the guy doesn't have a full band (piecing things together) and he wants to play a 40 song set in about a month. Is this normal?

Yep, perfectly normal. I had about 2 weeks to learn 50 songs four our first show. We recently decided to try to add a keyboard player to the mix. We gave her a 160 song list and a 3 month deadline.

[invader3k]

Originally Posted by spade2you

I told the guy, that I don't do covers of covers and Talk Dirty is one of the songs that has been done so much that I can no longer stand it. He then suggested I don't try out, which is fine cuz I'd be more likely to hurt people if I had to play that particular song.

You kind of come off as pretty snobbish here. I mean, if you're the one joining the band, it's not really your place to dictate the set list. Seems like it should've been pretty obvious very quickly that this gig wasn't going to be your cup of tea, which is fine.

[BassChuck]

I joined a band with about a 75 song rep. I had 2 weeks to learn them. I read music and the band doesn't, but they let me have a stand on stage until I got them all memorized. So I wrote out the lines and read them on gigs and had them memorized in about a month. Not too tough really.

My 2 cents.... if you're going to join a working cover band, be prepared to play songs that you don't like or maybe have not heard before. Giving the crowd what they want is an important part of being in a working band. Sometimes we have to swallow a little pride and play things that are not our favorites. Every gig we play a medley of "Walkin' The Dog" and "Mustang Sally". I'd be glad to see them both go, but its great to see people dance. Sometimes supporting Live Music means something different than supporting my playing career.

[barebones]

I had to learn 50 classic rock songs in two days once, because the guy I was subbing for was lazy about getting me the set lists and practice tapes until two days before the show. Luckily, they were all songs I had heard a million times, and, although I hadn't actually played them before, it was a simple matter of staying up late for a couple of nights and jotting down some cheat sheets for the gig. The gig went off without a hitch, but I certainly would have felt a little more relaxed if I'd had a little more time to prepare. Good learning experience, though.

To answer the original question, when subbing or joining an existing band with gigs already booked, I've found it extremely common to have to learn a lot of material in a short period of time. A month is actually pretty cushy in my opinion.

Matt

[tycobb73]

I'd actualy be interested in that band because it shows he's looking for a work ethic. Its not unreasonable. My band even throws in songs we haven't practiced as a band before.

You should really expand yourself. I don't listen to Poison either, don't like the stuff. I'm listening to Lamb of God right now. My band plays out as much as we want to. Why? Because we play songs people want to hear. I'll be playing Talk Dirty to Me tonight. I never listen to anything my band does unless I'm practicing. But I think you're right, you're not cut out for the covers thing. Its more about getting the crowd hot and sweaty so you sell beer than it is about nailing the songs perfectly.

[logicman69]

Originally Posted by tycobb73

. Its more about getting the crowd hot and sweaty so you sell beer than it is about nailing the songs perfectly.

+1.. Nailed it!

[Steve]

I would be more than a little bit suspicious of any cover band couldn't get up and running in a month.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Busker

As far as playing songs you hate, if I have to play Hard To Handle and Keep Your Hands To Yourself one more time....

....and you named the 2nd song I can't stand (Georgia Satellites).


As someone else noted, I guess I'm too much of a "nail it" kind of guy. I'd think 40 songs as a bassist wouldn't be too difficult.....well, only because most pop tries to keep the challenge to a minimum, but learning 40 tunes on lead guitar seems like half-assing would be the only way. Then again, you might prefer having a pharmacist who gives you the right prescription than something close.....................

[oldrocker]

Originally Posted by spade2you

... I don't do covers of covers ...

i like that, I'll have to remember that one

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by spade2you

As someone else noted, I guess I'm too much of a "nail it" kind of guy.

Yeah, it really depends on what your goals are as a musician.
It it's to make money, then you play the songs people dance to, whether you "like" a song or not.

It would similar to a mathematician saying "I don't like that 2+2=4 and I'm never going to do that calculation again".

So if your goal is play only songs you like and nail every part, then I think starting/running your own band would be more inline with what you want to do. You may not play as many gigs but that may not be an over riding concern.

[Joe Nerve]

Originally Posted by spade2you

When I told him I'm not a variety band guy, he sent me a revised list, but it had Talk Dirty To Me and Poison's cover of American Band.

I told the guy, that I don't do covers of covers and Talk Dirty is one of the songs that has been done so much that I can no longer stand it. He then suggested I don't try out, which is fine cuz I'd be more likely to hurt people if I had to play that particular song.

I have a feeling you're going to go a real long time, possibly the rest of your life NOT finding a band you fit into if that's the attitude you've got. People enjoy working with easy going, open, agreeable, people. I don't know of any band that would take a member in that said, "I don't do that," to anything regarding the music.

I also think a band needs to get out ASAP. It ain't about getting it perfect, especially with covers, it's (as already said) getting the crowd going. Or bringing the crowd. 40 covers in a month is absolutely doable. For people who have been doing covers, one, or even no rehearsals is enough to get out gigging.

I think the guy was very nice in his response to you, and I think just about anyone would have said the same and/or worse.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Yeah, it really depends on what your goals are as a musician.
It it's to make money, then you play the songs people dance to, whether you "like" a song or not.

It would similar to a mathematician saying "I don't like that 2+2=4 and I'm never going to do that calculation again".

So if your goal is play only songs you like and nail every part, then I think starting/running your own band would be more inline with what you want to do. You may not play as many gigs but that may not be an over riding concern.

Is it that unreasonable that the band leader compromises on one or two songs?! I'm willing to play plenty of other tunes by Poison, just not those two. They've got like 3-4 greatest hits CDs by now, I'll assume there are plenty more songs.

Oddly enough, last night I went to a friend's wedding and they hired a cover band that did NAIL everything. It was all cheesy 80's pop, but it's the first time I've ever heard a cover band do a good job and not just mutter their ways through the songs. Definitely NOT from a round here. The funny thing was that it was cheaper to fly them here than to have a prominent cover band play the gig, AND not nearly as good.

Perhaps I'm not being clear, but most of the local bar bands are pretty bad. I'm fairly certain that you guys don't know how bad this is. They're abundant and their setlists are virtually interchangeable and executed equally mediocre at best. They do alright because the competition isn't that good. The money is ok, but nothing great.

[Eric Perry]

When I joined one of my past bands, I had 3 weeks to learn a *lot* of songs. Many of which were DMB songs. Not cool, having to learn that kinda stuff in such a short period. Stefan ain't an easy bassist to emulate. At ALL!

[nsmar4211]

Unless the song goes against religious or moral beliefs, why not just suck it up and play it? It's only 3 minutes of your life...10 tops. Once you're in a group, *then* you can start requesting other songs.....and quietly drop the ones from the setlist. If you want to play with an established group, you have to play what they are. The fact that he even sent you a revised setlist means they were flexible... because not many people would've .

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Eric618

When I joined one of my past bands, I had 3 weeks to learn a *lot* of songs. Many of which were DMB songs. Not cool, having to learn that kinda stuff in such a short period. Stefan ain't an easy bassist to emulate. At ALL!

Very good point. I could have seen myself learning all of those 80's metal tunes on bass inside of a week or less....cuz it's cake. Learning all of those solos is a bit different, especially since a lot of them are a tad difficult. A majority of the lead guitarists around here will simply half-ass everything. I know musicians get cocky and say, "yeah, I could do bettter," but it's 100% true here.

Originally Posted by nsmar4211

Unless the song goes against religious or moral beliefs, why not just suck it up and play it? It's only 3 minutes of your life...10 tops. Once you're in a group, *then* you can start requesting other songs.....and quietly drop the ones from the setlist. If you want to play with an established group, you have to play what they are. The fact that he even sent you a revised setlist means they were flexible... because not many people would've .

For the tiny pay, if the bar owner doesn't nickel and dime us to death (very common here) I really don't see how playing crappy covers in a dive bar will help me in the long run. Essentially my scene is oversaturated by this. Attendance is nothing to boast of, either. Groupies..........yeeek! I'm not single, but if I was, I would NOT hit that.

I thought about e-mailing the guy and saying I'd reconsider, but I don't have a feeling that the guy in charge has it together. Looking back, the story seemed to change every e-mail. His original ad stated Motley Crue, Dokken, et al. Then he sends me a variety band setlist. He once talked about just needing the lead guitarist, then it sounded like he was missing half the band. I also think he was feeding me a line about the band's drug habits since one of the guys they recently had was a coke and meth addict.

Above all, every band should have a degree of compromise. As I said, there are tons of other Poison songs they/he? could do. With the lead guitarist and singer the central focal point of this type of band, you'd think they have some sort of pull.

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by spade2you

Very good point. I could have seen myself learning all of those 80's metal tunes on bass inside of a week or less....cuz it's cake. Learning all of those solos is a bit different, especially since a lot of them are a tad difficult. A majority of the lead guitarists around here will simply half-ass everything. I know musicians get cocky and say, "yeah, I could do bettter," but it's 100% true here.



For the tiny pay, if the bar owner doesn't nickel and dime us to death (very common here) I really don't see how playing crappy covers in a dive bar will help me in the long run. Essentially my scene is oversaturated by this. Attendance is nothing to boast of, either. Groupies..........yeeek! I'm not single, but if I was, I would NOT hit that.

I thought about e-mailing the guy and saying I'd reconsider, but I don't have a feeling that the guy in charge has it together. Looking back, the story seemed to change every e-mail. His original ad stated Motley Crue, Dokken, et al. Then he sends me a variety band setlist. He once talked about just needing the lead guitarist, then it sounded like he was missing half the band. I also think he was feeding me a line about the band's drug habits since one of the guys they recently had was a coke and meth addict.

Above all, every band should have a degree of compromise. As I said, there are tons of other Poison songs they/he? could do. With the lead guitarist and singer the central focal point of this type of band, you'd think they have some sort of pull.

I wasn't tooting a horn or anything when I posted what I did. Sorry if it came across that way. I hacked up many of those songs but good for the first few weeks (or longer!) I approached it as a challenge though. Not only to learn so many songs in a short period, but to expand my knowledge base. I was never much into DMB and the whole jam vibe, so it was cool (in hindsight) to see how I switched gears.

[Bass Viking]

Originally Posted by spade2you

I also think he was feeding me a line about the band's drug habits since one of the guys they recently had was a coke and meth addict.

He probably wants a pharmacist in the band.