These are all cover band peeves...
Noodling. Anywhere. Anytime.
Guitarists pointing their amp at their knees. Stands are cheap, go buy one. Same goes for bassists.
Anyone that says "I didn't practice it, but let's play it." No, I'm not going to be your backing track. Learn the song on your own time, like I did.
Guitarists using so much chorus their guitar sounds out of tune.
Drummers that have one volume.
Drummers that think every cymbal must be hit in every bar of every song.
Drummers that want to play in odd time signatures. Unless it's a wildly popular song that everyone knows is in an odd time, don't even suggest it.
Drummers that randomly change the kick drum pattern. It's a cover song. It's popular for a reason. One of those reasons is the groove. When you change the kick drum, you're changing the groove.
Lugging a huge PA to a small venue.
Anyone that says they need to "cut through the mix". No, you don't. You need to work with your band mates. If you want to be a solo act, go buy an acoustic guitar and sit under a tree.
Gear snobbery. This is completely useless.
Volume wars. Also useless, and a huge glaring sign that you'll be dealing with large, fragile egos, all night.
Any heavy left hand piano player. If you're gonna play the bass notes, at least play them in time with the drums.
Not listening to the rest of the band. I don't care if you're on stage with 2 people or 200, if everyone went to the bridge except you, you're wrong. You may actually be right, but you're still wrong.
Members not listening to the drummer. If the drummer plays a song a little fast, or slow, during a gig, ya gotta go with it. Don't play tug of war with the drummer. You can discuss it later at rehearsal, but during the gig, play in time with the drummer. They'll be plenty of time to complain about it later.
And now I'm peeved at myself for making such a long, whiny list.
