Your ideas on picking songs

[Skel]

For those of you in a cover band, just wondering what criteria you use, if any, to pick which songs to do.

As my band has evolved, and I saw something that talked to this in another thread, we need our singer's seal of approval. At first she would go along with stuff, and now she's more outspoken about what she'll sing and what she won't. I'm glad she feels comfortable saying what's on her mind. If she likes the song, and is comfortable with it, she sings it really well.

We started out thinking we might want to be a blues band, then as we got further on up the road, it became apparent that 98% of the clubs we were playing were not blues clubs. We were just shooting from the hip, taking any gig we could get, plus we had worked up songs that were not blues, but our singer thought they were - she's new to a lot of this. So by the time we had enough songs to gig, we were part blues, part blues/rock, part classic rock, and a few new things.

So here's the $64,000 question. Do you think that, given that most of the band's gigs will be just generic clubs that aren't real specific about the genre, that danceability should be a big part of whether a song is chosen or not? I do. I think everybody wins if you find good songs you like, that also happen to be great songs to dance to. I think it's okay to mellow out and give people a chance to just talk, while you play a slow blues song or something a little mellow, but that you just can't loose if the song sounds good, and you can dance to it.

So, just wondering how you other guys manage this aspect of your cover band set list - the danceability factor. And looking for opinions as to what percentage of a cover band's songs should be danceable, given that you are being books as a classic rock band, more than anything else.

Also, I don't mind doing 5 or 6 ridiculously cliche songs that get people dancing. I'll do "Cocaine", "What I Like About You", "My Sharona", "Keep on Rockin' Me Baby", etc. Almost everybody in the band will do this kind of stuff. Almost - if you know what I mean.

[Phalex]

I'm horrible at song selection. I like obscure B sides that people don't play much. Other bands seemed to dig it, but the everyday bar patrons didn't.

To be successful in a cover band you have to throw all self respect out the window. People like cheese. The cliche songs you have listed are perfect tunes for a bar band. Throw in some Poison, Bon Jovi, maybe a little Skid Row...... Keep it all interesting with a little Zeppelin and some GNR, maybe a little Crue......

And there you go!

[Skel]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I'm horrible at song selection. I like obscure B sides that people don't play much. Other bands seemed to dig it, but the everyday bar patrons didn't.

To be successful in a cover band you have to throw all self respect out the window. People like cheese. The cliche songs you have listed are perfect tunes for a bar band. Throw in some Poison, Bon Jovi, maybe a little Skid Row...... Keep it all interesting with a little Zeppelin and some GNR, maybe a little Crue......

And there you go!

I don't think it's horrible at all to like "B" sides. I love that stuff. And just because it's "B" doesn't mean it's not danceable. That other stuff you're talking about is making me puke to be honest. I just want to temporarily and partially sell out while we find obscure replacement stuff, and build up a following. But no matter how obscure, I just think people have way more fun and get way thirstier, and buy way more booze, resulting in a way happier bar owner if you play songs you can dance to.

I was searching for just songs sung by female vocalists and came upon "Strutter" by the "Donnas". I thought it sounded kind of familiar. Anyway, we do that song. I couldn't figure out why the 21 year olds loved that song so much - I knew by then it was an old obscure Kiss song. Then last night I hear my son playing it on guitar hero II. I said "oh wow, that's how they know this song? Your're kidding me".

I guess I just partially answered my own question - you listen to guitar hero II.

[Lemoore-on]

We are trying to add more dance-able songs to our list. I dont think you can avoid cliche songs but we are trying to find alturnitives that people still know and will dance to. Its hard!

We are shooting for 4 or 5 dance-able tunes per set. Once they are on the floor they tend to dance to almost anything. Its getting them up outta their chairs thats the challenge.

[fetfet]

Our band just picks songs we like, which is usually an unknown song from a popular band/artist.

But people still dance.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Skel

For those of you in a cover band, just wondering what criteria you use, if any, to pick which songs to do.
....we need our singer's seal of approval. At first she would go along with stuff, and now she's more outspoken about what she'll sing and what she won't.

What criteria does your singer use to pick songs? If she's picking the songs, it seems you're her backup band.

What if other band members don't want to play the songs she wants to sing. IMO, everyone should vote on the songs. Since the songs are covers, what's the big deal?

[armywalaby]

OK then! Because this has been a question of mine too, I am currently compiling a list of all the songs on the guitar hero/rock band games for songs to learn. Time to study, guys!

[Skel]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

What criteria does your singer use to pick songs? If she's picking the songs, it seems you're her backup band.

What if other band members don't want to play the songs she wants to sing. IMO, everyone should vote on the songs. Since the songs are covers, what's the big deal?

She's really cool about it when she suggests a song - she understands that if we don't like it, it's no big deal. She suggests a lot of songs that are great. I'm just trying to get the band to be thinking about every new song we learn in terms of whether you can dance to it or not- just until we have enough of that material to satisfy audiences who like to dance.

I just don't see what the big deal is about doing 5 or 6 totally cliche "Cocaines" as 100 % insurance, that if they won't dance to that, forget about it. If we get called cliche, so what. To me it's just like any other job, you don't always get to do what you feel like doing, and this isn't asking that much.

[scottbass]

Originally Posted by Phalex

To be successful in a cover band you have to throw all self respect out the window. People like cheese.

+ 1/2. There is some truth (about 50%) to that statement, but it is by no means an absolute. IME a "cover band" that plays mostly songs the customers don't know is not gonna be real successful at the two things a cover band MUST do: (1) entice the customers who are already there to stay, dance and drink, and (2) build up word-of-mouth that translates into a "following", i.e. people who will follow your band to whatever bar/club you happen to be playing.

Playing songs that are popular with the customers does not cause me to throw all self respect out the window. My self respect tends to be enhanced by making the customers - and hence the owner - happy with our performance. Yeah, some of the songs are "cheese", but in a 36- to 40-song evening there is still lots of room for songs each of us enjoys playing, too.

It all boils down to one main issue: How do you get your musical enjoyment? If it's only by playing songs YOU want to play, then you probably don't belong in a cover band. Please do us a favor and go concentrate on your "project" instead. But on the other hand, if you get your musical enjoyment by playing songs that please the customers, then you will find that most of those songs begin to please you, too. And of course everyone has their personal I-really-don't-want-to-play-that-song list. But if the list is too long, you don't belong in a cover band. IMHO

[Phalex]

Originally Posted by scottbass

And of course everyone has their personal I-really-don't-want-to-play-that-song list. But if the list is too long, you don't belong in a cover band. IMHO

Excellent point. I've actually never met a song that goes over big that I didn't want to play. I'm an attention whore I guess. If people like it, that's what I want to play. I went through the whole cheese factor thing with a guitarist once. Personally, I like cheese. I don't like to listen to it, but I'll play it all night long.

[Joel S.]

Originally Posted by Phalex

I'm horrible at song selection. I like obscure B sides that people don't play much. Other bands seemed to dig it, but the everyday bar patrons didn't.

To be successful in a cover band you have to throw all self respect out the window. People like cheese. The cliche songs you have listed are perfect tunes for a bar band. Throw in some Poison, Bon Jovi, maybe a little Skid Row...... Keep it all interesting with a little Zeppelin and some GNR, maybe a little Crue......

And there you go!

lol, Guitarist in one of my bands is similar, but he like B sides to very obscure cheesy rock bands.

[tomvelsor]

sometimes obscure covers that nobody knows are the best..

[DaftCat]

"For those of you in a cover band, just wondering what criteria you use, if any, to pick which songs to do."

Songs that make people dance is the main thing which should be on the main setlist. For throwaway sets it is good to have songs that trip out the drunks and stoners......sometimes they stay because of the heavy/obscure stuff....and it can be material you enjoy also.


"What if other band members don't want to play the songs she wants to sing. IMO, everyone should vote on the songs. Since the songs are covers, what's the big deal?"

If the singer isn't comfy with the tune it won't go over as well. If the song vocals are too high not all singers can transpose to a lower key with ease.

DCat

[Skel]

Originally Posted by scottbass

+ 1/2. There is some truth (about 50%) to that statement, but it is by no means an absolute. IME a "cover band" that plays mostly songs the customers don't know is not gonna be real successful at the two things a cover band MUST do: (1) entice the customers who are already there to stay, dance and drink, and (2) build up word-of-mouth that translates into a "following", i.e. people who will follow your band to whatever bar/club you happen to be playing.

Playing songs that are popular with the customers does not cause me to throw all self respect out the window. My self respect tends to be enhanced by making the customers - and hence the owner - happy with our performance. Yeah, some of the songs are "cheese", but in a 36- to 40-song evening there is still lots of room for songs each of us enjoys playing, too.

It all boils down to one main issue: How do you get your musical enjoyment? If it's only by playing songs YOU want to play, then you probably don't belong in a cover band. Please do us a favor and go concentrate on your "project" instead. But on the other hand, if you get your musical enjoyment by playing songs that please the customers, then you will find that most of those songs begin to please you, too. And of course everyone has their personal I-really-don't-want-to-play-that-song list. But if the list is too long, you don't belong in a cover band. IMHO

Amen. I couldn't have said it better (or even nearly as well).

[jgroh]

I just joined a cover band and I would really like to include more danceable tunes in our set. However, we are currently auditioning singers and most of them are women, which will probably dictate what will end up on the set list strictly on range alone. I would rather play stuff I am not going to listen to in my car and have people dance than the most intricate pieces only a few people will know/care about.

When I joined the other members kept saying, we have to play things we enjoy playing...and I agree to a certain extent, but I think you have to play to the audience first and that a distant second.

[Largedon]

Here's a short list of my criteria for picking tunes.
1. Songs that you can play and play well. Don't just pick a song because its popular but you can't pull it off. Its not a knock on a band, but you have to know your bands strengths and weaknesses and work within there.

2. Singers will have a lot of input. Know your singers vocal range. They have to be able to hit the notes and sell the tune. She won't be able to perform if she's more concerned about just hitting notes. Get songs she's comfortable with so she can interact with the crowd and make them feel involved (which they love).

3. Danceable tunes are definately needed, but be ready for any situation. Sometimes you find clubs where people just want to listen to some music. Have some stuff to fit that.

4. Don't be afraid of obscure tunes. Find some good, obscure tunes and remind the crowd how good those songs are. The only reason they may not be requesting them is that they forgot they liked them.

The hardest thing with cover bands is finding tunes you enjoy playing, but crowds like. It's so easy to burn out doing covers. Don't be afraid to try anything, but also don't be afraid to get rid of a song that doesn't work.

[BillyRay]

People associate danceable with "bad" (or cheesy) all the time. The fact is, there are a lot of great songs that people can dance to. The entire pre-Revolver Beatles' catalogue is a testament to that.

Myself, I'm from the "if the band cooks, whatever they play will be danceable to" school. You don't "need" to play the cliches, but throwing the audience a bone while maintaining a healthy, we have a lot fun vibe in the band is crucial. Too many cover bands play stuff they can't stand and it shows: we have to remember that the concert going public, on average, isn't all well versed musically as the band members. What counts as a "must have" (Margaritaville, Mustang Sally, etc.) might not be known to some audience members or to entire crowds. Play Mustang Sally up here in Quebec and it won't go over good: people just don't know it.

Also forgot to mention that beign able to make the song "pop out" and rock is a necessity. Some bands just can't pull off some classics and working within your limits is a necessity.

[Jeb]

Pick immediately recognizeable classics and know the top40 charts (whats being played on the radio). Then pick songs that you can cover well with KILLER VOCALS! If you can nail 3 and 4 part vocal harmonies you're in a class by yourself. Think about what separates the best bands in your area from everyone else. Would vocal quality be a contributing factor?

[pendergasta]

Originally Posted by Phalex

Excellent point. I've actually never met a song that goes over big that I didn't want to play. I'm an attention whore I guess. If people like it, that's what I want to play. I went through the whole cheese factor thing with a guitarist once. Personally, I like cheese. I don't like to listen to it, but I'll play it all night long.

+1. I LOVE people digging the music I play. I hated "play that funky music" until I saw people dancing to it while I was playing it.

[rzpooch]

Here's my list...

dj top 200...google it, they are gold for a cover band (my cover band anyway...LOL)

guitar hero...never played it or seen it, but know tons of the tunes

tv commercials...wholda thunk Led Zep would do caddie adds?

coverband 101 ebook...great resource, check it out!

BTW...I hope your singer isn't the only singer in your band. If so get on the good foot and learn a few tunes.