Cover Band annoyance

[electracoyote]

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!

That's a great point.

In this case, his "integrity" is playing faithful renditions of popular classical pieces.

And that's exactly what some of these bands augmenting their sound with tracks are doing; playing popular, classic songs as faithfully as possible. So, in that sense, it's the same kind of "integrity" or "faithfulness" in place.

 

[Scooberto]

I play in a 4 piece cover band and our thing has always been 'play it right and don't play songs that you can't replicate live'. If it requires a part for an instrument we don't have, we're not going to do it. It's that simple. Backing tracks may make sense for some bands and work for them, but I believe playing covers in bars or any other venue is about live playing and sound.

 

[Mugre]

I have a friend in a 3 piece cover band that specializes in the 80's. NO keyboards and they kill it. Audiences love them. Heck I love them and I generally eschew the typical bored coverband but if you can keep a bunch of 45 year old moms dancing through a Rush medley and they don't even notice the 7/4, you've got them right where the money is.

 

[Scooberto]

I'm going to make a generalization: Backing tracks are lame.

I understand major pop acts using them for arena shows because music isn't the main focus a lot of the time. It's a production with music, dancing, lights...

But a cover band at a bar using backing tracks? I think that's weak. Might as well just have a jukebox.[/QUOTE/]
+100 For sure!

 

[IJBurns]

I think it depends on the band and the audience/venue. If you run a high level production company and people are hiring your tier 1 party band out at $10,000.00 for a two hour set at some high value, high level event, then what they are essentially paying for and wanting is a big visual production and the music to sound just like the record. Those marketing and event planning chicks for huge corporations do not care about artistic expression, our careers, or our preferences. They, (ok some but not all, sorry for the generalization but I used to date one) are tight asses who are delusionally perfect in their own minds, they hired you, they want to hear perfection and see entertainment. I know very high level jazz guys who work for a couple of these bands in town, I mean, these guys can play! At some point, when you're trying to pay the bills, if you get a call to dance around on stage and hold your instrument for $300 for two sets, it doesn't really matter what the material is or if it's tracked. I know that's a pretty specific circumstance though. For a 5 piece bar band, leave the tracks at home.

 

[electracoyote]

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.

Yes, fully agree, and this is what I'm talking about: Real musicians, full bands, augmenting or supplementing their sound with MIDI or tracks.

The other scenario you describe where the music is all pre-programmed doesn't really fit my definition of a "band" either. More like karaoke.

But a lot of clubs and bars in my area are leaning away from full bands and going to cheaper DJ's and KJ's, even solo and duo acts, if they can maintain the same draw. If the same number of patrons come in and spend the same amount of money, many venue owners don't care if it's a full live band or an alternative, and if the entertainment is cheaper, that's a bonus for them.

 

[dheafey]

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!

I see your point, but would argue completely different scenarios. In one, the audience is listening to every note, inflection, tone, etc... In the other, you have an inebriated audience bopping to "Jesse's Girl" on a dance floor. In my opinion, two completely different definitions of artistic integrity and covers.

 

[prd004]

Good point. In a cover band, you can get close to the essence of the song, but unless you have a very big roster with 2 guitars, acoutsic guitar, keys, horns, three singers, you'd be surprised what you CAN'T cover "note-for-note". Even some of what seem to be simple Led Zep songs, have 5 guitar parts! And many of them JPJ added little organ pieces in the background.

Listen to Led Zep play- "Ten Years Gone" live. It sounds WEAK- why? Because JPJ doesn't play ANY bass on it, all keyboards.... At least they didn't "Cheat" I guess.

But playing with a backing track with all instrumentation?? You might as well just be a DJ.

I saw a band cover ten years gone with just guitar bass and drums.....
I bet it sounded better lol. Gotta have the bass

 

[electracoyote]

I see your point, but would argue completely different scenarios. In one, the audience is listening to every note, inflection, tone, etc... In the other, you have an inebriated audience bopping to "Jesse's Girl" on a dance floor. In my opinion, two completely different definitions of artistic integrity and covers.

Yeah, when you think about it, there's a bit of a difference between a performance that took decades to perfect versus a three-chord rock song you learned within six months of picking up the instrument.

 

[prd004]

Hate backing tracks personally.
I wanna see/hear the musicians on stage play.
Then again I almost never go see cover bands
And when I do I'm not there to dance

I understand a lot of bands use backing tracks to keep the number of members low and the pay per player up, I get that.

 

[FerruleCat]

I was talking with my sister yesterday about her new project, which emphasizes big production. They use backing tracks, and everything is controlled by an iPad. The funniest detail was that the iPad features an "Oh, Crap!" button that kills everything in case of a Milli Vanilli moment.

 

[georgiagoodie]

For me it's all about LIVE MUSIC. Music being played live by live musicians.
No backing tracks.
No sequenced synths.
No drum machines.
No robots.
Not crazy about loopers either.

Heck, I don't even like ANY keyboards at all (We DO have a piano player in the 17-piece big band, but that's about all I can take...).

 

[robd]

Never even considered using a backing track. We are 3pc + vocalist and the closest we come is on a few songs the guitarist will use a loop, always recorded right then and we are using a vocal harmony processor pedal thing on a few songs. Everything else we just fill in for best we can

 

[lfmn16]

In one, the audience is listening to every note, inflection, tone, etc...

I've played a lot of classical music over the years and I think you are giving classical audiences waaaaay too much credit.

 

[lfmn16]

Never even considered using a backing track. We are 3pc + vocalist and the closest we come is on a few songs the guitarist will use a loop, always recorded right then and we are using a vocal harmony processor pedal thing on a few songs. Everything else we just fill in for best we can

Despite what some people think, if you are killing it, no one cares. I think audiences notice a good stage show, a solid groove and high energy. The individual notes or parts (unless it is an integral part of the song; you are hitting a lot of clunkers, or singing off-key) not so much.

 

[DavC]

I don't know why any form of karaoke can/should be considered 'entertainment ' ...!!! it's just really lazy BS ..!

I used backup tracks once when I did a Single act for a little while ... BUT I recorded all the parts for my backing tracks myself !!

when I did a few Duo acts , I'd play left hand bass/keys/sing/control drum machine ... and the other guy played keys or guitar ..
it was as live as it could get for 2 people ( 20-30 yrs ago )

 

[Double E]

I say go ahead and use backing tracks if they get the job done for you. I am sure that bands using backing tracks are not trying to fool anyone. If you somehow feel cheated when watching a cover band using tracks then that's your problem.

Also, the anti-cover-band sentiment is ridiculous! It's part of the rock and roll life cycle to play covers. Musicians love playing them, audiences love hearing them and venues pay acts that play them! How boring would it be as a fan of music to only ever hear the original recordings of songs by only the original artist and only be able to see a live local act performing their obscure and often mediocre originals!

 

[Kmonk]

I have never and will never play in a band that uses backing tracks. If you can't do the song live, don't do it all. Otherwise you are cheating the audience. If they want to listen to a recording, they do that at home.

 

[BrentD]

Sounds like a gold mine!

 

[Kael]

Backing tracks = crap. Make whatever excuse you want, that's what it is. An excuse.