Cover Band annoyance

[MrLenny1]

No tracks in our trio. We could have used help on vocals.
Guitar player used a synth on his axe and always
introduced it to the crowd.
It always wooed them.

 

[BAG]

When programmed correctly (They will be or we won't use them) there will definitely be the odd extra vocal that there aren't enough microphones for. Is this better or worse than a backing track?

My opinion is that it's not much different to an effects pedal (particularly an octave pedal) and nothing like backing tracks. Others opinions may differ.

 

[slamsinger]

I play with in a 5 piece Motown - funk-RNB- cover band ...
Drummer
Bassist
Guitarist
Sax player
Vocalist ... We all sing lead and harmony and play every weekend to packed places where people dance all night long ... Weddings casinos clubs etch... We sequence string / keys for all our songs and play all the other parts live and out guitarist uses a guitar synth ... Trying to find a keyboard player that's not a diva or ego maniac is tough around here and we don't have to pay another person... NOBODY in the crowd cares nor notices we sequence and that's what we are there for are the people who wanna dance ... The songs could not sound any better or fuller than what we do... I enjoy it and the sound is perfect ... I can see using sequencing for keys and strings BUT I saw a band that had a guitarist - 3 singers and a keyboard player.... NO DRUMMER OR BASSIST.... Those parts were sequences ... Sounded LAME LAME ... And looked even lamer when you here a funky drum and bass intro and see no drummer or bassist up there ....How can you have a funk Motown band without a Rythm section to hold it down ???.... THATS what people dance to... And no drum machine or sequences bass part is going to sound right to me ... We work HARD to sound the way we do and paying 5 guys is better than paying 6.... That's just my opinion ...

 

[Spent]

Blasphemy! Our keyboard player has a few samples that we use in certain songs. One is the horns in Jump Around, which I I think they actually sampled, so I guess that's authentic? I wouldn't play songs that couldn't be played live without a backing track.

 

[waveman]

I'm not really hip on the idea myself. One of the most successful bands in our area uses them throughout the whole gig. The people there to party could care less, and was into it. I was thinking, 1. These guys really aren't that good, and 2. Lame as hell. I went to check them because the drummer in my band is real good friends with a couple members and has been pushing for my band to do this to get to "that level". At one point he had our singer and guitar player buying into this idea, and I was like hell no. Luckily, they are all too cheap to buy the setup for this, and we have gotten along just fine for several year without this. I would much rather add a key player who could sing than go the whole backing track route. Me and the guitar player have our ways of covering keyboard and synth parts, and I like it that way.

 

[moody]

IN my Porpcupine Tree tribute band, we're lucky to have 4 vocalists who work on their harmonies, so it's not a problem, although we sample a good bit of PT's ambient noises.

It isn't actually an issue of not working on harmonies. The three of us have done plenty of vocal only rehearsals and practice at home. The third vocalist ends up for the most part doubling the lead at important moments

I accidently posted this before finishing then lost the whole lot again.

The main reason for the harmonisers is that I am out there on my own for vocal echoes and things and it feels completely empty. It's possible that just doubling or something would be enough but I would like harmony.

As an example, we do the song 'serious' by alice cooper. Listen and imagine it done with essentially a single backing vocal.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

Horn parts, background vocals, strings, lots of stuff. Backing tracks also don't necessarily mean mediocrity, and many arena level live acts use them.

Just because big acts do it, doesn't make it good or right..

 

[Joedog]

"Band in a box" sucks IMO. When I go out to see live music, that's what I expect. Otherwise it's musical Milli Vanilli.

 

[MoeTown1986]

I don't have a problem with the bands that use backing tracks. Makes me that much more proud that my 4 piece band figures it out with guitar and bass effects and NO laptops. Most people in the crowd will never know the difference. But, I don't care.

 

[gjbassist]

I have been in multiple cover bands over the past 20 years and have never been in one that used backing tracks! If a song had more going on musically than we were able to do with the members we had, we would either simplify it or just not do it at all.

 

[electracoyote]

Probably the first time I saw a band with good musicians where I truly didnt give a crap and left early. Is running a backing track normal for any of you folks here?

Not unusual in my neighborhood for variety/pop/dance/party bands. Some of the most popular cover variety bands in town use backing tracks on most songs, mainly for background stuff, keyboards, a little percussion, a horn line, a few harmonies perhaps. Based on their playlist and presentation, these bands have more work than they can handle, including private upscale gigs. Their dance floors are usually quite busy, their audiences and booking clients quite happy.

Interestingly, all the musicians in these bands I'm talking about are highly skilled instrumentalists and vocalists. They use tracks and sequences to fill gaps and get them as close as possible to faithful renditions of the original hit versions of the songs. The people who hire them and their guests and patrons seem to appreciate that accuracy and attention to detail.

We gotta remember: The average audience patron or guest in the room couldn't care less, if they notice at all. They came to hear their favorite songs and party, not critique the so-called "ethics" of the band. It's only us <1% of the audience who are musicians who will notice, and probably less than that would actually walk out. Therefore, the band also couldn't care less; walk on if it makes you feel better. Most variety cover bands, whether they use tracks or not, perform to entertain the partiers and dancers in the crowd, not critical musicians.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

Horn parts, background vocals, strings, lots of stuff. Backing tracks also don't necessarily mean mediocrity, and many arena level live acts use them.

just because the big boys do it doesnt mean its right. live should be LIVE. end of story.

 

[BigBobbyBass]

It's disturbing how much people are trying to rationalize using backing tracks.. I guess auto tune and lip syncing are ok too...ugh..

 

[gln1955]

I just prefer my live music to be live. I have no problem with any kind of synth covering parts as long as it is being created on the spot. Using premade tracks of any sort is pretty lame, no matter who does it.

 

[dheafey]

I play with in a 5 piece Motown - funk-RNB- cover band ...
Trying to find a keyboard player that's not a diva or ego maniac is tough around here and we don't have to pay another person... NOBODY in the crowd cares nor notices we sequence and that's what we are there for are the people who wanna dance ...

Yup. In a cover band situation, if the dance floor's packed, the bar's three deep, and you get asked back then you've done your job. How you get there is immaterial, IMO. Many times these are very practical decisions born out of economics (pay is low), space (hey, we moved a booth for the band), or both. We're a six piece and can duplicate almost anything with live musicians, but are fairly restricted with the places we can play. I clearly recall one discussion I had with a bar manager. The pay was barely gas money for the six of us, she moved a few tables, and there was one 20A circuit for the entire band. When I told her our starting rate was double what she offered and we needed 3x the AC power she had available, we both came to the same conclusion fairly quickly.

Based on my experience on the cover band circuit in Boston, Southern NH, and Northern MA, 99% of the audience doesn't care; they're looking for a live jukebox. The 1% who DOES care are usually musicians, leaning up against the wall with there arms folded, looking all critical. I've seen bands nail songs both with and without backing tracks. I saw a great act at a club we were scheduled to play from 9:30pm to closing. This act did the 5pm-8pm commuter crowd with a guy on electric guitar and a guy on acoustic and keys. Tons of backing tracks. They absolutely NAILED it because the crowd had a great time. Hell, I even forgot to pick apart the solo in "Crazy Train" because I was having such a good time.

When I see a cover band, I'm less concerned with HOW they deliver a song and more concerned with does it generate energy that whips the crowd into a frenzy. That, IMO, is the difference between a musician and a professional entertainer.

 

[electracoyote]

That, IMO, is the difference between a musician and a professional entertainer.

That part speaks volumes.

This discussion and debate will always come down to which camp you fall in: Musician-centric, or audience-centric?

I always get a chuckle when the concept of "integrity" is applied to a cover band whose very existence depends on aping other people's music. In 38 years as an entertainer, I have yet to hear guests or club patrons debating the "integrity" of the band or its musicianship.

 

[dheafey]

That part speaks volumes.
I always get a chuckle when the concept of "integrity" is applied to a cover band whose existence depends on aping other people's music. In 38 years as an entertainer, I have yet to hear guests or club patrons debating the "integrity" of the band or its musicianship.

+1,000,000!

I was chatting with one of my guitar players and he said, "I'm all about artistic integrity." It took all the will power I could muster not to blurt out, "Dude, are you kidding? You're in a cover band."

 

[jimfist]

I've been on all sides of this issue as a performer, programmer, and live mixer - in original and cover bands using MIDI sequenced tracks to augment or pad the music. I'll always prefer to perform with quality talented players 100% live, but don't have anything against this type of augmentation if it is done (subjectively) in good taste, and the players know how to execute it well, and implement it skillfully (easier said than done). For years, this was almost a requirement for a lot of cover & original dance bands in my neck of the woods, or for some rock bands that had a "dance set" as part of their show.

It is 100% the truth that if the bodies are dancing and the bar is hopping, it makes absolutely no difference how the performance is delivered in terms of "bar business". The personal integrity of doing it is another issue, and a personal choice. Fine.

I learned a lot about live performance and the technology used to create backing support tracks from scratch, and feel I'm a more complete musician for having done it. That said, I've not played to a static click track in a long, long time, and I don't miss it. I have played in a band where the drummer used trigger pads for special effects and to trigger loops, which was an essential part of the gig (tribute gig), and was in keeping with the original band that we were paying tribute to.

 

[Billy C.]

In my home area of Southern NJ & Phila. areas, this has become a NEAR DEATH cause for "REAL" Live bands. An area which once thrived and was known for it's top notch Cover bands, has now become the home of what we refer to as " Karaoke bands" OR Lap Top Computer Bands". Made up of mostly a duo or trio, usually consisting of a female vocalist, guitarist and or a "Keyboard player" actually using the keyboard to control the lap top. These "bands???" all purchase the same downloaded tracks and "perform" along with the tracks, actually making themselves all exactly the same, other than personnel. The tracks are the complete recording of the song and all the "band???" does is FAKE along with the tracks. Of course they actually sing and "play" along with the tracks, however it is all just "adlib" and very little rehearsal is involved! One "particular group of these "bands" actually have 9 different "names" only shuffling a few different members within them! I have witnessed at least 10 of these "so called bands" and in my opinion it is a total disgrace to what real "LIVE" music is supposed to be. The MAJOR problem here, is that because there are only 2 or 3 members, they have managed to reduce the PRICING down to anywhere from $100.00 to $225.00 a night TOTAL!!! Rooms which easily would pay a 4 piece REAL" cover band $400.00 a night are now only willing to offer the minimum $$ and not allowing the "REAL BANDS" to be able to compete dollar wise. The owners seem to feel that the KAROKE/LAPTOP "bands" are saving them money. When in actuality they are slowly destroying an industry. An example is WILDWOOD, NJ which once had the BEST COVER bands from the entire Phila. region performing and drawing many. This past weekend had only 3 "real Live Bands" BUT had 5 KAROKE/LAPTOPs performing. It is no wonder why Wildwood, Nj, Is no longer a recognized destination for good entertainment and is pretty much DEAD! Please let me state that I am NOT talking about MIDI implementation here, ( My own band uses MIDI for our keyboard parts since the passing of our 40 year keyboardist (from lung cancer). Adding MIDI to a band is a serious challenge, a lot of work and expense if you chose to do it right and I admire any MUSICIANS that go in that direction when necessary. Perhaps this KAROKE/LAPTOP "BAND??" is the future of "live" music, but I seriously would like to see a new name given to it, because they do not perform or deserve to be labelled as a "BAND"! It's really a shame that people no longer can truly appreciate the hard work and commitment that "REAL BANDS" must deal with and to pay their dues to perform.

 

[Double E]

+1,000,000!

I was chatting with one of my guitar players and he said, "I'm all about artistic integrity." It took all the will power I could muster not to blurt out, "Dude, are you kidding? You're in a cover band."

You can certainly play covers and have artistic integrity! Try telling a world class orchestral musician that he lacks artistic integrity because he plays "covers" of Bach and Beethoven!