The Official Covers vs Originals Thread

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Freez

What?!?

When guys are making this decision or faced with going the cover route or originals, you have to clearly define what it is your looking for out of a band experience.

Cover bands and originals bands offer different things to us.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Because you want to.

True Matt,

However, I think you have to be able to articulate ;

I want to be in a cover band because of;

Or;

I want to be in an originals band because of;

Blue

[TwinBass]

I've played in both original and cover bands and I much prefer the original bands. I play music not for the fame and the glory (although I wouldn't turn down either), but for the satisfaction of creating something I love. If I happen to strike it rich doing so I'd be thrilled, but I'm not going to rest my future (and my family's future) on the hope that everyone else likes my music as much as I do.

[jive1]

Out of respect for the OP, and his intentions for this thread, let's not make this YET ANOTHER originals vs covers debate. He pretty much said that in his opening post.

[ThudThudThud]

I actually 'retired' from bands for a good few years based on my discomfort with the politics that can happen. I was happy enough recording my own tunes in my garage. A buddy 'insisted' that I play with his cover band. I realised then that I liked playing out, but the covers left me soul-less. I joined an originals band instead. Now I'm as enthused and excited as I was when I was a teenager. I get to do all the things the kids do, but with the benefit of life experience and without the unnecessary pipe-dreams.
I'm having a blast. I didn't have a blast playing covers.

Apart from the recovery rate these days, and the aches and pains of shifting gear about, it's huge fun. There's creativity with no egos; there's complete democracy; everyone is given total artistic freedom; there's people cheering at the gigs.
Love it.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by bluewine

True Matt,

However, I think you have to be able to articulate ;

I want to be in a cover band because of;

Or;

I want to be in an originals band because of;

Blue

What elaboration needs to be made? I want to play in an original band... can't that be reason enough?

I want to be in an original band because I want to make original music. That, to me, is no different than "Because I want to".

[jive1]

Since this seems to be a hotly contested topic, and one that seems to come up again and again, here's s thread solely for that discussion. Hopefully, we'll have less thread derails and not have every other thread become a covers vs originals debate.


So have it folks! Covers or Originals?

[baba]

Primary reason - it's a creative outlet. Money has never been the motivator in any original band I've been in. Money has always been the motivator in every cover band I've been in. This difference has a direct effect on creativity.

Unfortunately, I'm in cover band world now and likely for many years. I can't justify putting in band time without coming home with a pay check.

[BuffaloBass]

When given an original composition, I typically ask the composer to tell me what they are feeling. From there, I literally "hear" bass lines in my head.

Wish I could make enough $$ doing it for a living. Even when we did cover tunes, my mates would often say, man your bassline is way better than the original. We were, however covering 80's rock tunes, so wasnt really trampling on any great bass lines.

Point is, I couldn't even help myself with covers - like sit back cop the lines and drone it. Not me. Particularly for the very "plain and white" songs where I tried to interject a wee-bit-o-color.

Mellencamps "Pink Hosues" done in slap, for example. And other tunes are so, uh, "rigid", there wasnt a darn thing I could do with them. I still have a mental block on this tune called 'Jenny" or 8675309 or something like that. You cant put any soul in that "stuff", its so nasty and 4/4'y.

Then again, a 51 yr old bald white guy cant really make any money covering metal, stoner doom, acid funk either. Or I could really tick off the local union bassists who do it for a living ( and have great chops!) by telling the few local soul/RB/funk bands with a horn section that I'd do it all for free. Just for the experience!

Trapped in creative anonimity and therefore poverty........ and I don't mind. Heck man, not to get too poltiical, but I live in a society that seems completly whored out. From politics to religion. All whored out. And I mean no disrespect for honest working girls. Maybe more trustworthy than any eRected representative. Nor do I mean that cover band junkies are "whoring out". No.

Only that I am fortunate to make a living otherwise, and therefore have the luxury of staying true to my ideal of Mother Music, with no regard for any others acceptance of it. Free from judgement, other than my own.

[bluewine]

I say it's a simple discussion.

At it's foundation is understanding and being honest about what you want out of a band experience then determining where your most likely going to realize your wants and needs, with a cover or originals band.

Blue

[pklima]

Kinda internally debating this at the moment. I've got a chance to work with a singer/guitarist who's great and looks great, the only problem is she mostly wants to mostly do her own songs. My track record at getting along with people who write songs isn't good, though it's better with women who write songs, so maybe it's worth it. Eh. Not sure.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by pklima

Kinda internally debating this at the moment. I've got a chance to work with a singer/guitarist who's great and looks great, the only problem is she mostly wants to mostly do her own songs. My track record at getting along with people who write songs isn't good, though it's better with women who write songs, so maybe it's worth it. Eh. Not sure.

Gets back to what do you want and if she can provide it.

Blue

[DWBass]

Whatever floats your boat. Just don't slag on those who don't do what you do!

Me.....I'm an official covers guy although I have been in a few originals bands in the past.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Whatever floats your boat. Just don't slag on those who don't do what you do!

Exactly this.

[lowfreq33]

I don't know why everyone acts like you have to choose one or the other. Playing covers gives you a chance to slip your originals in for an audience that's already paying attention and having a good time. Just have to make sure your originals are as good as the rest of the set.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by lowfreq33

I don't know why everyone acts like you have to choose one or the other.

Because in reality true originals bands don't want to play covers and cover bands don't want to play originals.

Blue

[backup]

i like original more. because i dont need to play other peoples bass lines while i can make my own.
and the end result is always a surprise and is more unique.
but then again im young and need creative output. i can completely understand when people in their late 20s stop caring for these things

[charlie monroe]

Originally Posted by backup

im young and need creative output. i can completely understand when people in their late 20s stop caring for these things

Wow. Just wow.

[jaxom]

I usually find myself in a covers band (haven't been in many) when I find myself doing nothing at the moment. Currently in one now, probably with the best collection of musicians I've ever played with, We all came from mostly original bands. Just got together and said let's have fun, not doing anything else..

[deepBassie]

Both, of course.

My band does about 80% covers. The other 20% are originals that must be able to hang, with some degree of success, with the musical standard set by said covers.