The Official Covers vs Originals Thread

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Hows that?

Unless I have the OPs premise wrong, were talking about why people play in originals bands.

Blue

Yeah - since you don't play in one, I'm not sure why we're hearing from you on the subject. I don't believe the thread was about why people DON'T play in them.

Maybe it has something do with...

Originally Posted by bluewine

For me, I love and need attention

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

"I want to be in an original band because I want to play original music."

Its really no different than "Because I want to".

Matt.

This I'll have to put in my " I don't understand file"

No problem

Blue

[Spectrum]

I played in a cover band a long time ago and quit for many years. When I started thinking about playing out again I really didn't want to do it unless I'm creating something. I have a day job that pays well, and music is a means of self-expression for me. Nor am I a professional, more like a dedicated amateur. My bandmates all have day jobs as well. I think to us it makes no sense to work all day and then spend our few hours of practice and gigging time playing someone else's music.

We do play a few covers, of course, because they are fun and give the audience something familiar to sing along to. And my hat's off to you pro guys who make a living playing covers. I'm embarrassed to call myself a musician around some of you guys; I'm just kind of a nerdy student-level player who fakes it well in front of a crowd.

But there is nothing like seeing something that started as a figment of imagination or a dream turn into a real live rock song and seeing people in front of us digging it. All the money we spent on gear and hours we spend writing, arranging, and reahearsing it pay off when just one or two random strangers tell us they liked it after a show.

(BTW I see that jive1 is now a mod, so I suppose he can no longer ignore that one special person who is on my ignore list. I feel for you, jive!)

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Matt.

This I'll have to put in my " I don't get it file"

No problem

Blue

Some things are just as simple as they seem, my friend.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

Yeah - since you don't play in one, I'm not sure why we're hearing from you on the subject. I don't believe the thread was about why people DON'T play in them.

Maybe it has something do with...

I played in 2 originals bands before my current cover band.

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Some things are just as simple as they seem, my friend.

Cool

Blue

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by Marial

1. creative outlet
2. the joy of building something from nothing
3. the joy of making music that is your own, not a performance of someone elses compositions
4. because I like it

I am fortunate. My current band just got named as one of the top country bands in Seattle for 2012 by the Seattle Weekly. We have no shortage of good gigs. We're getting some recognition. While I don't get paid I also don't have to put in any money for recording or promotion. All it costs me at this point is time. I get to write my own bass lines. I like my bandmates, I like the other bands in our musical community, and I like the venues we play.

All great reasons for playing originals.

Very cool


Blue

[BawanaRik]

Originally Posted by two fingers

Sweet! I'm glad you enjoy it. Seriously. It's all about what makes you happy. Here are a few reasons I LIKE to play in cover bands.

1) Generally no head cases. There are, of course, exceptions, but EVERY originals band I EVER played in involved very.... "creative" people who wound up being egomaniacs and control freaks.

2) Getting PAID. I don't need the money. But not getting paid, or even PAYING to play (another thread.... don't even get me started) seems like such a waste.

3) Crowd feedback. You used this as a reason to play originals. For me, it's a reason to play covers. Everybody likes what they know.

4) Marketing. I would rather my band's rep, and our set list speak for itself. I'm a forty year old guy with two kids. I ain't standing on the street corner handing out flyers begging anybody to come see me play. Seems like a ridiculous exercise.

5) Headache - Every time I have been in a original band, the band splits up and then the knives come out. Everybody thinks they own the music, the name, the club contacts, etc. Oy. Just not worth it. I have literally sat in a meeting with attorneys.


6) Club owners. They take advantage of you guys and you let them. You are so excited about sharing your "art" that you willingly let them. I would rather poke myself in the eye with an ice pick than try to put together a show that involved 5 other bands who have to sell so many tickets a piece to get on stage. And then AFTER you organize the basically free show and plan all the marketing you STILL have to talk the owner into it. And he acts as though he's doing you a favor? No thanks.


Nope. Put me in the column of people who like to play mostly covers and write a song just for fun every now and then. The whole originals band thing is a PITA from the start.

Hey, you said you were bored. There's something to occupy your mind. I'm really glad you like doing the originals thing. Really. I wish everyone here the very level of success they desire in whatever their endeavors. I have just reached a point in my life where the whole "starving artist for the love of music" thing isn't worth it. I really enjoy playing with the right PEOPLE. The music, oddly enough, is almost secondary. I'll play music that I don't ever listen to if the band is easy to get along with. Playing live with some good people is reward enough in and of itself. Playing public festivals where my three year old can dance in front of her daddy, wedding where the gratitude of all involved (not to mention the $5K paycheck) is great, club gigs where you are able to help people get their troubles off their minds, help them celebrate birthdays and other joyous occasions...... These are enough for me.

But, hey, I'm glad you guys are out there. If you weren't there wouldn't be ANY new music, right? Keep at it and best of luck!

Ah Number 1. It's a pain. And the people who most talk about sharing are the ones who can't. Mick Taylor left the stones because they wouldn't respect his input. Bill Wyman left for the same reason. Bill was BL in every band he was in until the Stones.

And then there's George Harrison. I can't think just how great the Beatles would have been of they respected his abilities as a song writer. Allegedly the most played Beatles song is Something. I have a Lennon McCartney song book and couldn't find it in that book.

That was a big lesson on life and the Beatles.

[Crystalman85]

I couldn't agree more. I've always enjoy playing originals because it's really awesome to play. in the past 2 years with my previous bands, I've always been playing cover songs and honestly I'm getting sick and tired of playing covers. that is except for my friend's band. his band is an iced earth tribute band. that band is awesome. but the cover songs that I play in my brother's band before it recently disbanded(due to dissatisfaction with how things are going with the band and developed interest in being in other bands) were songs that many typical cover bands play and quite frankly it's making my brother's band go soft. my brother's band use to play originals. awesome originals If I may say so. and also some cool covers on the side. covers that's more fitting to the band. and the band was really awesome. that is until my now ex-drummer(who's a real drama king by the way) has converted the band into a typical cover band. and the band hasn't been the same since until it disbanded. honestly I was displeased with how things are going with the band. and what's worse, he hired a female lead singer who apparently doesn't fit in the band at all. and it's because of that and the band's new musical direction is the very reason why the band was going soft. I mean the lead singer is really nice girl and we're still good friends, it's just that she doesn't really fit in with band. my brother and I are not satisfied at all on how things are going with the band and neither is the female lead singer. and now we're all in different bands now. I play in my friend's iced earth tribute band and I've recently started a new band of my own. my brother plays in a punk rock band. they do really awesome shows. and the lead singer started her own thing. I'm guessing by now, the drummer started his own band. we pretty much have our own thing and things are going pretty good. I'm just glad that I have my own band where I do play originals. and I've come up with some awesome originals too. I will be performing live with my new band real soon.

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

Yeah - since you don't play in one, I'm not sure why we're hearing from you on the subject. I don't believe the thread was about why people DON'T play in them.

Maybe it has something do with...

Attention would be a reason for me to be in a cover or originals band.

But you make a good point because when I was in originals bands it wasn't creativity or anything like that I just liked and loved playing the material.

Blue

[Crystalman85]

Playing originals is something I always enjoy doing. I've recently started a new band where I write awesome originals. my new band is very innovative too. my band is a video game inspired heavy metal band. I write heavy originals inspired by classic video games like mario, zelda, castlevania, mega man, etc. I've recently recorded a few songs and I will be working on more songs and pretty soon I will be performing live with this band. here are the links to my band's websites.

www.soundclick.com/retromaster

www.facebook.com/retromastermusic

www.reverbnation.com/retromaster

Feel free to check it out. if you guys like the idea of my new band, like us on facebook, become a fan on reverbnation, and tell your friends about us.

[JohnMCA72]

At least playing covers, you're starting out with proven good material. Just because something is "original" doesn't automatically make it any good.

I've played in original-material bands where I had less input & flexibility on my own part than I did in any cover band. Not everybody works the same.

[Bassist4Eris]

Cool thread! For me, it's the whole creative process.

When I first started playing, it was the concept of being able to write my own songs that got me interested. I learned covers as a newbie (and still do, 23 years later) but more in the spirit of educating myself on songwriting than as an end in itself. Literally a lot of my technique comes from having heard something in my head, having insufficient technique to play it at first, and then hitting the woodshed.

Here's how I work (or more correctly, play) the creative process in my main originals band, a funk/rock/blues/jazz instrumental group. Each of these following steps is immensely satisfying to me:

1. The moment when I find a cool riff on the bass and know I'm on to something.

2. The moment, usually several weeks later, when that "something" has taken on enough life to have several sections and a preliminary structure, at which point I proclaim it ready for band practice.

3. I announce to the band that I have a new idea. I play it for them. The drummer starts grooving, and the guitarist begins to create parts. These initial jams are often chaotic and raw, but have the fire and enthusiasm that comes with the birth of something new and exciting.

4. The moment we decide that the song has reached a point where it is ready for the stage and can be added to our regular set list. A real feeling of accomplishment.

5. The first time we play it live. How is it going to go over? Will we mess it up or do it justice? Hearing it get real, sincere applause for the first time is gratifying.

6. Recording the song and hearing it back.

[thudfromafar]

Originally Posted by lfmn16

If someone doesn't feel the satisfaction of playing music that they wrote, or had a hand in writing, I doubt you could ever explain it to them.

It's like owning a Harley, if you don't understand, I can't explain it.

For the record, I don't think there is anything wrong with cover bands. I'm playing in one now that I'm very happy with.

Agreed with this post. (Except for the very last sentence )

[bluewine]

Originally Posted by thudfromafar

Agreed with this post. (Except for the very last sentence )

Would you share with us what is wrong with being in a cover band?

I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with being in an originals band.

Blue

[bassbully]

Allot of good points and reasons here guys..thanks!

I think one of reason I prefer originals is it allows or allowed me to craft "My sound" as a bassist.
I played in one cover band where I switched from a 4 string bass to a 5 to cover the songs we were doing. I felt I needed to get the sound the band was covering from Alice in chains to Bush,hole etc. I never liked a 5er to play it all night so down tuned or heavy songs it was the 5 and I stuck with the 4 the rest of the time. I tried to model bands we covered.

One day when I was in my originals band it hit me I now play the bass and style that is me and it works for the music I want to play.When I went to the heavier band I am in I went another direction..same bass but new head ,effects ,volume etc...it's fun and my creative juices are flowing.
I play like me and what I need to sound like...my tone, my style ,my music.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by bluewine

Would you share with us what is wrong with being in a cover band?

I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with being in an originals band.

Blue

Blue, I beg to difer but you make have made it quite clear many times why you don't like Originals bands and prefer covers. Jive as well as I do not want this thread to go this way. You like covers Great! but this thread is about good reasons you play in an originals band not another covers v.s originals pissing contest.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by bluewine

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

Blue

In my experience this is not true at all. My covers bands worked and played originals in our sets and we loved them. My originals bands play covers and we enjoy them to.
I have seen national bands all original who throw in a cover or two at their shows many times.

It all comes down to what you dig and what kind of band fits you. My originals bands gig as much as we want and it is all we can handle. We get paid enough to keep doing it and it's all good.

[jazzbill]

In a couple of weeks it will be my one year anniversary with the originals band I play with. We get lots of opportunities that are not available to cover bands.
We have played several festivals ( Texas Music Revolution, Tommy Alverson's Family gathering, Greenfest); we've gotten to open for some well known acts ( Marsha Ball, Gary P Nunn, George Ducas, Larry Joe Taylor, Ray Wylie Hubbard ); We recorded a CD; I heard myself on the radio; We made a couple of best of lists andPlayed regularly at some great music venues. My previous cover bands played bars for drunken dancers. I get much more satisfaction from the originals.

[prd004]

Originally Posted by jazzbill

In a couple of weeks it will be my one year anniversary with the originals band I play with. We get lots of opportunities that are not available to cover bands.
We have played several festivals ( Texas Music Revolution, Tommy Alverson's Family gathering, Greenfest); we've gotten to open for some well known acts ( Marsha Ball, Gary P Nunn, George Ducas, Larry Joe Taylor, Ray Wylie Hubbard ); We recorded a CD; I heard myself on the radio; We made a couple of best of lists andPlayed regularly at some great music venues. My previous cover bands played bars for drunken dancers. I get much more satisfaction from the originals.

Nice! I love playing original music, without it I'm not sure how much interest I'd have in playing.

My band has been together six years, same four guys. And while we've had our differences, we love writing together.