Cover band set-list conflicts.

[SmokinJoe992]

Haha I guess I wouldn't pass your audition. That's the thing I don't need the gig I was looking to play covers for fun. This dude is taking the concept of a cover band way too seriously. I have my own originals band I do, I just wanted to have some fun on the side.

What is wrong with taking a cover band seriously?

 

[Sixgunn]

Haha I guess I wouldn't pass your audition. That's the thing I don't need the gig I was looking to play covers for fun. This dude is taking the concept of a cover band way too seriously. I have my own originals band I do, I just wanted to have some fun on the side.

Then you need to find/start a band that aligns with what you are looking for. Not a good idea to find a band that you think you can change to your designs. If you don't like their songs, courteously pass.

 

[Sixgunn]

... in the 3 cover bands I've played in over the last 7 years, I've enjoyed maybe 50 out of the 200 songs from all 3 bands. But playing live and loud? In the moment? With fellow competent quality musicians? Every song is great and I play my heart out of every single one. Money does not factor into the equation for me.

 

[lfmn16]

I would think when choosing covers everyone should have a say on what songs would work well.

Then you would be wrong.

If the goal is to play gigs and make money, then the audience chooses your cover songs. If the goal is to play in the basement, then the band can pick whatever songs they want.

What is wrong with taking a cover band seriously?

+1

It's OK to take an originals band seriously, which statistically won't get out of the basement, make a penny, or at best play out more than a few times a year, but you can't take a cover band which has the potential to pay some decent money and play regularly seriously? What is wrong with taking them both seriously?

 

[chaosMK]

I can imagine the conflict- I think many of us want passion and authenticity to be part of our musical game. I think of the cover band as partially a "working" gig. Sometimes at work you have to do stuff you dont like. Compromises to get/maintain the gig. I think part of being a great showman is to not look bored. Set lists change and evolve, so think of long term potential.

 

[electracoyote]

The whole issue of "What songs do we play, and how do we choose them" is a never-ending discussion with no right or wrong, just a lot of strong emotions.

I have seen cover bands reach goals and succeed with nothing but deep cuts and B-sides, personal favorites, obscure live versions and covers of covers of covers that few have ever heard before.

On the other extreme, cover bands play it very safe and target certain venues/clients/audiences and compete with similar bands with nothing but faithfully-executed well-known pop/rock/disco/funk/country standards and bonafide hits.

Sometimes the BL retains "creative control" and picks all or the majority of song titles and versions. Sometimes its a more democratic process.

I don't think it's wrong to ask a BL how his project determines its playlist during the interview, but to make judgment calls and criticisms right off the bat is almost never a good idea. Like entering any committed relationship, you either accept it as-is and jump in head first with optimism, or you politely and professionally decline without comment. And remember: What you see at the onset may be as good as it ever gets. If you join, give it some time so you can assimilate and prove your worth and loyalty. Then, when sufficient time has passed, if you think things could improve, start to diplomatically interject your philosophy about the playlist, song selection, how to target desirable venues/clients/audiences and better compete in your market, etc.

 

[Pops OB]

Suffice it to say, you guys weren’t a match from the beginning. Me, if I didn’t like what I saw, I’d politely decline and move on to a better fit.

 

[Sixgunn]

I was hoping to do more fun songs that the band members could collaborate and make a fun set that everyone could agree on. I don’t make a living off of playing music. It’s a hobby, But it’s obvious most of TB is against me in this matter. I mean it’s just a cover band ffs.

No one is against you. It's very simple. Compatibility. If you like Chevys, don't go looking for a Ford that you think you can make into a Chevy.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

“And now, page seven.”
- Paul Harvey

The horse has been flogged, flayed, quartered, and made into glue that was long ago scraped away by a child who is now old and gray, but in perservering through it all...
I’ve managed to learn a few helpful pointers if I ever get enough gumption to put out feelers for an Electric Wizard tribute.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

If only Neil Young had traveled to Sweden instead of Los Angeles. My idea of a cover!

The mind boggles.

This is my preferred version of the song:

 

[Sixgunn]

Proceed to see the rest of the thread. I'm amazed how seriously some people take playing in a cover band.

Totally! I'm amazed that not everyone thinks like you!!

 

[MtManiac]

Then you need to find/start a band that aligns with what you are looking for. Not a good idea to find a band that you think you can change to your designs. If you don't like their songs, courteously pass.

Same goes for relationships of any kind.

 

[Sixgunn]

Same goes for relationships of any kind.

Exactly.

 

[Sixgunn]

Yeah that's where this got mucky because in the ad he listed all my favorite bands (besides Kiss) and I thought hey this could be fun. We had a nice 30 min conversation on the phone a couple days ago and I thought it went great. He sends me the set and I thought a couple of songs could be changed out for more crowd pleasers, and that's where everything went to crap.

You had a 30 minute conversation and didn't discuss his set list?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Of you don’t like the set list, don’t audition for the band. It’s not the band for you. Would be just like wanting to play in a country band and auditioning for a metal band.

 

[MtManiac]

You had a 30 minute conversation and didn't discuss his set list?

First or second question after “hey, wanna join our band?” “Maybe, what songs are you doing?”

Plus, the singer *always* gets veto rights over any addition to the set list - he or she has to be able to deliver them using their own voice. If you disagree with a song and want to add one they don’t want to do, you’d best be prepared to deliver it yourself, or accept the pass.

 

[Tom Magri]

If you search for COVERBAND 101 on the Internet you will find a publication written a few years ago about how to put together a giging, successful coverband. The advice in the article make a lot of sense. In a nutshell you pick coverband songs that will be instantly recognizable by the audience, not songs just because someone in the band wants to play some great but obscure tune because they like the song...there’s a place for that kind of music...just not in your coverband if you want to gig.

 

[pwhalen]

Nothing is more toxic for a cover band than a bunch of members with a case of the "I won'ts". I was in that category for a while (though it was really limited to a handful of songs), and it's terribly counter productive. Sure if everyone is one the same page (or it's a tribute), then great. But tastes (and hopefully setlists) evolve over time and if you're in with a group of the I wont's, the odds of keeping things together are slim

 

[bound'n'blocked]

It would make sense to fall in line with no conflict if I was looking for a paying gig. I'm not, I would think when choosing covers everyone should have a say on what songs would work well. An original band like mine has structure and lack of a democracy. You play what I wrote and how I arranged it simple as that. A cover band I don't see that happening unless I was making money from it.

 

[Aqualung60]