Set list too varied?

The_D · #1 08-22-2006, 10:09 AM

I have been in a new band for about 2 months now and we are building up a varied set list to try and please the masses.
Is this just a bit too varied?

We will be mostly playing local pubs and clubs so we thought if we can play at least one song that appeals to each genre it will be ok.

Dont hold back now be honest

AC/DC - You Shook Me
Free - All Right Now
Green Day - Basketcase
GNR - Knockin on Heavens door
Snow Patrol - Hands Open
Hendrix - Little wing
Hives - Hate to say I told you so
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I love rock n roll
Led Zep - Communication Breakdown
Lynard Skinard - Sweet home alabama
Ramones - The KKK took my baby away
Bob Marley - Jammin
RHCP - Under teh bridge
Supergrass - Caught by the fuzz
Muse - Time is running out

Those are the ones we have down at the mo. There will clearly have to be more for a full gig.

Diggler · #2 08-22-2006, 10:19 AM

Just take all of the songs and do them in your own style; soften up some, make some sound harder, etc.

The_D · #3 08-22-2006, 10:30 AM

We are trying to play them as close to the Originals as possible. Some people would just think we cant do it right if we were to start changing them

I have band practice tonight anyway so will run it passed them all.

Oh and its a female singer we have so some will not sound the same anyway. Funniest thing is she prefers You Shook Me and stuff better than the female sung songs we suggested!

TheDarkReaver · #4 08-22-2006, 11:19 AM

it's so boring when people play covers exactly the same as the originals. so don't try. but the female vocals should make it different...i love female vocals though.

invader3k · #5 08-22-2006, 12:08 PM

I think that is a pretty good setlist. Varied, and not dominated by one or two artists like some cover bands.

Remember, you can always try a setlist out at your first gig, and if some songs just don't work or get good response, you can always replace them later.

Slater · #6 08-22-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by invader3k

Remember, you can always try a setlist out at your first gig, and if some songs just don't work or get good response, you can always replace them later.

Although, you may want to give a song more than one chance. I've played songs and heard crickets chirping when they were done. Then, the next week, I'll play the same song, in the same bar, and have the dance floor packed!

The_D, your setlist seems fine to me. Your band just needs some time to find out what it does well, then go with it! Song choice will always be subjective, but if you play the songs well, most people will like them...

Sundogue · #7 08-22-2006, 01:22 PM

Just keep what you have...and add to it.

The cover band I'm in has a set list of over 200 songs and it grows by the week. We are to the point where we can just pull out any song, at any given time appropriate to the mood of the crowd.

Don't be too concerned about a varied set list. In fact, the more varied it is now, the better! With a varied set list, you'll know after a few gigs what works and what doesn't. Then you can prune the list and replace as necessary. And I agree, what may not work with the audience over a couple of gigs may be THE killer song thereafter. You won't know until you've played them.

Thousands and thousands of songs to choose from to make the band and the audience happy. Think of your setlist as ever evolving. Nothing makes a cover band more boring (for the band and the crowd) than playing the same setlist gig after gig, year after year. If you keep adding to it and changing it, your regular fans will keep coming to hear the new ones and you'll eventually know enough songs to fit every gig you can imagine.

Your list is good so far. Just keep on keepin' on.

tZer · #8 08-22-2006, 01:34 PM

There are good songs from each genre in your set list - although I really don't find the genres to be all that varied - other then chronilogically.

It is not out of line today to hear all of those song on one radio station - so, no... I don't find it to be too varied.

If I am able to structure a set list the way I go about it is by putting the 'weaker' songs near the earliest part of the night with gradually building steam toward the later hours. You don't want to blow your 'sure things' before the crowd has a good head on, ya know? In my experience, the AC/DC is a great one to toss out when the crowd is good and buzzed! They really go for it - but as much as I love Led Zeppelin, unless you are doing a "Zep-Centric" evening and you know your crowd is there for the mighty Zep, "Communication Breakdown" would probably go early.

Dig?

Sundogue · #9 08-22-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

There are good songs from each genre in your set list - although I really don't find the genres to be all that varied - other then chronilogically.

It is not out of line today to hear all of those song on one radio station - so, no... I don't find it to be too varied.

If I am able to structure a set list the way I go about it is by putting the 'weaker' songs near the earliest part of the night with gradually building steam toward the later hours. You don't want to blow your 'sure things' before the crowd has a good head on, ya know? In my experience, the AC/DC is a great one to toss out when the crowd is good and buzzed! They really go for it - but as much as I love Led Zeppelin, unless you are doing a "Zep-Centric" evening and you know your crowd is there for the mighty Zep, "Communication Breakdown" would probably go early.

Dig?

Good point. You kind of have to gauge your crowds at gigs. Once you've played the same gig over and over, you'll get the hang of what they want...and when.

Typically, you don't want to put your best songs early on in the night. But you also want songs that get the early crowd going. You also might want to arrange your setlist in a manner that will help loosen you up and get you going. One big thing to consider with set lists is vocals. You don't want your singer (or singers) burning out their vocals by putting one difficult-to-sing song after another, or your singer might not have a voice left by the end of the night.

Also consider that most people don't want to dance early in the night. Guys won't dance at all unless they've had quite a bit to drink. So leave your best dance songs for the middle of the night, don't play them too early.

In a nutshell, play some good, fun, grooving, easy to sing, easy to play songs earlier in the night and put your dancing tunes in the middle (leave a few for later too) and keep your show stopping rockers for the end of the night. In general that is.

The_D · #10 08-22-2006, 05:31 PM

Well I am just back from practice and it went really well.

Those songs are not neccesarily in order we will be thinking about what to start with and what to finish the night off with.

We all feel we will need to have like 25-35 songs for a 2.5 to 3 hour gig. We also dont want to sing too many songs from the same artist, that was a conscious effort. We prob will have to start doubling up if we want people to know what we are playing. But should be fine for a while yet.

So thanks I just wasnt sure if Bob Marley would fit in a set with ACDC or Hendrix you know!

But the radio thing was a good point. I have prob heard most if not all on the radio at work in 1 shift so yeah I suppose they do fit.

Sundogue · #11 08-23-2006, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_D

Well I am just back from practice and it went really well.

Those songs are not neccesarily in order we will be thinking about what to start with and what to finish the night off with.

We all feel we will need to have like 25-35 songs for a 2.5 to 3 hour gig. We also dont want to sing too many songs from the same artist, that was a conscious effort. We prob will have to start doubling up if we want people to know what we are playing. But should be fine for a while yet.

So thanks I just wasnt sure if Bob Marley would fit in a set with ACDC or Hendrix you know!

But the radio thing was a good point. I have prob heard most if not all on the radio at work in 1 shift so yeah I suppose they do fit.

Yeah, it's amazing how people can listen to the radio all day long at work, and hear the same stuff over and over again all week long. Yet they still want to hear it all over again from a band. Go figure.

DaftCat · #12 08-23-2006, 02:13 PM

Sundogue,

That is because people don't know what they like....they like what they know.

AbbeyRolled · #13 08-23-2006, 02:18 PM

My band regularly jumps from Pixies, Medeski Martin and Wood, to the Beatles, to Radiohead. There's no such thing as a set list that's too varied. Just play 'em with authority.

Sundogue · #14 08-23-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaftCat

Sundogue,

That is because people don't know what they like....they like what they know.

Ah yes...but doesn't familiarity breed contempt?

One would think the opposite to be true, but alas we are like shepherds tending to our flock.

chakah · #15 08-23-2006, 03:35 PM

My bands setlist. We played about a 3 hour set at a friend's house in seabrook, tx. it helps to have a bit of variety and i think this went over well (everyone loved our female singer on the tedeschi tunes).

set1
My Worst Enemy
Are You Gonna Go My Way
Gimme 3 Steps
You Need To be With Me - tedeschi
Girls Got Rhythm
Cumbersome
Driven Under
Jenny
You Really Got Me

set2
Figured You Out
Never Again
American Woman
Always on the Run
She Hates Me
Mustang Sally
Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
Play That Funky Music

set 3
Hella Good
Cold Shot
U Shook Me
She Talks To Angels
It Hurt So Bad - susan tedeschi
Remedy - seether
Brown Eyed Girl
Hey Joe
Paranoid

MakiSupaStar · #16 08-28-2006, 02:12 AM

Man... I don't think it's varied enough.

In one night we'll play funk, reggae, blues, bluegrass, ska, and Pink Floyd.

We try to make every show different. Here's one of our nights. Some of these songs are our originals. But you'll recognize the covers.

Set I
1. 5446 > Ball and Chain (We start it out like Toots and end it like Sublime)
2. In A Funk (Original uh... funk)
3. Psycho Killer (Talking Heads)
4. Jambalaya (Original reggae)
5. This Ain't Livin' (G-Love)
6. Grateful Man(Original dirty blues that ends in an improvised funk jam)
8. Where Is My Mind? (Pixies)
9. Nino's Revenge (Original groove rock with slight bluegrass mentalities)

Set II
1. When The Levee Breaks (Zep. We play it with a doboro tuned to open E)
2. Escape# (Original rock with reggae sections)
3. London Calling (The Clash)
4. Shove Off (Original Sublime rip-off)
5. Pressure Drop (Toots and the Maytals)
6. Grass Stains (Original instrumental funk in the flavor of The Meters)
7. Concrete Jungle (Bob Marley)
8. Long and Bumpy Road (Original rock with latin stylings)
9. Redemption Song* (We play it sped up and kind of surf guitar style - kind of weird but works ok)
10. Get On The Bus (Original funk improvisation)
11. Ptarmigan's Tunnel (Original - Straight up bluegrass with a mandolin and banjo)
12. Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash - bluegrass picking style)
13. 9" Tall
14. Cissy Strut > Soul Island > Cissy Strut (The Meters)
15. Train In Vain (The Clash)
16. Let's Pretend (Tonight We're Old Friends) (Original with a kind of latin groove jam at the end)
17. 40 Oz. To Freedom (Sublime)
18. Mota Mexicana (Reggae with Dancehall sections)
19. Cripple Creek (The Band)
20. Pigs (Pink Floyd)
enc. Stir It Up (Bob Marley)