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Cover Band annoyance

#141
I played in a trio in which 2 of us switched off between drums & bass & guitar. When we needed two guitars and a bass, we brought in "Warren" the Robo Drummer. Just a drum track; live vocals and no fillers. Like most posters have said, the audience never cared. Warren stayed home once we added a fourth player.
 
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#143
4 piece cover band - female lead vox who plays minimal keys, guitar/backing vox, bass/backing/lead vox, drums. Our guitarist is good at figuring out the essential element of a song and playing it, no matter what instrument did it on the original. We do kind of pride ourselves on not using tracks, but many of the pop/dance bands around here do. That said - most are highly talented musicians. We almost tracked the horns in "Uptown Funk" but our singer stepped up and split the keyboard on her Korg Kross to play the keys with her left hand and horn line with her right. I think it's silly to object to recreating studio-recorded, overdubbed pop songs live by using tracks - when you know damn well the original artist would either track them or pay a dozen extra musicians to do them live! As many have said - the girls on the dance floor don't give a damn.
 
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#148
Having read about 60% of the thread, I skipped to the end..
There's some very strong opinions for/against tracks.
My band does NOT use them, and I've only ever been in one that did.
As a cover band bassist I have no preference. It's about the end result. If you feel you need trax for that.. go for it.
I doubt the audience cares - as long as it's done well. But there ARE folks (mostly other musicians/entertainers) who will criticize.
From a purely business perspective, what does it do for the band?
If you get more paid gigs using trax... go for it!
 
#149
s0c9 said:
Having read about 60% of the thread, I skipped to the end..
There's some very strong opinions for/against tracks.
My band does NOT use them, and I've only ever been in one that did.
As a cover band bassist I have no preference. It's about the end result. If you feel you need trax for that.. go for it.
I doubt the audience cares - as long as it's done well. But there ARE folks (mostly other musicians/entertainers) who will criticize.
From a purely business perspective, what does it do for the band?
If you get more paid gigs using trax... go for it!
Click to expand...

i guess if money is your total endgame you do have a point
 
#150
I am Soma said:
i guess if money is your total endgame you do have a point
Click to expand...
Seriously???
How many folks do you know that have gotten "rich" playing covers??? ;)

It's not about the $$, it's about getting gigs, booked in "A" venues, repeats, weddings, festivals, corp events, etc.
I can assure you that I play far more frequently and get better pay than 98% of the original bands in my area and I don't have to travel all over the state (TX is pretty large) and play ANY venue/event/festival I can get into to get my music heard! Been there, done that...
And yeap, I would use trax before I'd "pay to play"!

NO illusions of success or any of that .. too old. Don't care.. but even so, I'm still playing 80+ gigs a year.
EDIT: and that's with 1 weekend a month "off".
 
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#151
20db pad said:
Very normal these days. In addition to cover bands, one should expect to see it used by Worship bands at churches in major metropolitan areas as well.
Click to expand...

My worship team uses them and we aren't even in a major metropolitan area. They're great for supplementing smaller teams or covering critical synth parts that are vital to the identity of the song.
 
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#152
s0c9 said:
Seriously???
How many folks do you know that have gotten "rich" playing covers??? ;)

It's not about the $$, it's about getting gigs, booked in "A" venues, repeats, weddings, festivals, corp events, etc.
I can assure you that I play far more frequently and get better pay than 98% of the original bands in my area and I don't have to travel all over the state and play ANY venue I can get into to get my music heard! Been there, done that...
And yeap, I would use trax before I'd "pay to play"!

NO illusions of success or any of that .. too old. Don't care.. but even so, I'm still playing 80+ gigs a year.
Click to expand...

the post i replied to referenced paid gigs/money...hey i think its great that you are going that route and whatnot - we obviously fall into different categories/approaches. cover bands around my area always have and always will make more money than original bands. if you are doing it for the money you do covers. not my bag, but nothing wrong with it. id never pay to play.
 
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#154
I am Soma said:
the post i replied to referenced paid gigs/money...hey i think its great that you are going that route and whatnot - we obviously fall into different categories/approaches. cover bands around my area always have and always will make more money than original bands. if you are doing it for the money you do covers. not my bag, but nothing wrong with it. id never pay to play.
Click to expand...
I most certainly respect the "originals" folks.. I decided long ago it wasn't for me.. I wish every one of them success.
As you stated.. different objectives, to yes.. continued $$$ coming in to quench my GAS thirst.. is always good LOL.
 
#155
BassFishingInAmerica said:
I don't know where all these bands using backing tracks are, but I have NEVER seen a band use a backing track. I've seen a lot of local, bar bands play, and I don't believe that it is a regular thing. Sure hope not.
Click to expand...
You might not even be aware they are using them... in my area.. plenty do. And based on replies in this thread.. all too common. !
 
#156
As a musician in the audience I find the backing track use very disappointing.
The rest of the crowd doesn't give a rat's backside, however.

Our band is a 3 piece with vocalist, so we have to be creative to cover all the key sounds sometimes or it doesn't work.
When it doesn't work we drop the song.
 

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