Cover Song Advice

[1jstrong]

Hello All,

Got a bit of a quandry. A local radio station here is holding a series of Battle of the Bands to find their "In-House" band. It could mean a little air-play and some great, free promotion.

Anyway...we are an original rock band. That's fine for the station, but they want us to play one cover song. Their format is New Rock. They play Nirvana, Green Day, Three Days Grace, Metallica, etc. You get the picture.

So I feel that we should play something in their wheel house. Something from Nickleback or Three Days Grace. But the other members of the band want to play The Boys are Back by Thin Lizzy.

There is a classic rock station down the dial a bit more, and I feel that doing that type of classic rock may lose us points. The station is going to want a band to represent them and their audience. Not the rival station and their music.

Thoughts???

Thanks....

 

[Toetruck]

Play a green day song. Best bass parts for a modern rock song (in comparison to the other bands you listed). hell, their songs are fun for every instrument

 

[gard0300]

I would pick something that's in their current playlist rotation. Also make it a really easy song, so you don't become "Stage Trees". The easier the song, the more you can concentrate on your total performance. "Bad Girlfriend" by Theory of a Deadman comes to mind.

 

[kb9wyz]

Going into this thing and playing music the station doesn't would be like interviewing for an office job and talking about how much experience you have driving semi trucks.

Would you hire you at this rate? I wouldn't hire me if I did that.

+1 for Green day.

 

[KillianRussell]

Assuming way too any other bands will be trying to preach to the choir (playin' green day, etc ) I would think outside the box and soup up an old tune in pop goes punk fashion4


like this

 

[Rockmusician]

The Boys Are Back In Town is a good song but it is over played. I don't like Green Day or Metallica, but given the station format, you are probably better off playing one of their songs or maybe some Guns 'N' Roses.

 

[bobbybass85]

There's no problem playing Thin Lizzy, so long as you adapt the song to fit the genre your trying to fit.

There are lots of examples, here are a few that you wouldn't hear get played on the original's usual station:
RHCP - Higher Ground
A Static Lullaby - Toxic (Britney Spears, BIG change of genre)
Atreyu - You Give Love A Bad Name

 

[bobbybass85]

Assuming way too any other bands will be trying to preach to the choir (playin' green day, etc ) I would think outside the box and soup up an old tune in pop goes punk fashion4


like this

Invalid Link Removed

This is very much what I was talking about!!

 

[lowfreq33]

Go to their website and see if they have a playlist or "top 40" for their station. Pick the one at the top of that list.

And learn the #2 song as well, in case someone else has the same idea.

 

[tycobb73]

Bad Company - 5 Finger Death Punch

 

[Emm9T]

Bad Company - 5 Finger Death Punch

God this version is terrible.

Do it. It's probably on the station's rotation, which is the idea.

 

[Spaldo]

Play a green day song. Best bass parts for a modern rock song (in comparison to the other bands you listed). hell, their songs are fun for every instrument

agreed

 

[agreatheight]

For cripes sake, either pick a song off their current rotation (which will be on their website) or pick a song from their past rotation (and modernize it without stomping on it).

I would avoid an out-of-genre cover, it's been played out and may come off 'bandwagon.'

 

[Phalex]

Pick a song to rework and own it!

There's a band in these parts, that redid Fire Down Below by Bob Seger. Around here, Bob Seger is a diety, but the hard rock stations can't play any of his tunes. Until now that is......

Fire Down Below - Wayland - YouTube

Find a song that's a little tired and breathe new life into it.

 

[KillianRussell]

The Bob Seger cover is epic !

 

[Doctor Dirt]

Find out what company is programing their station then find out their most "played" songs. Take the top 5 then pick one. Cover bands and pop bands need to understand that your not being hired to be a "copy" band so don't try and copy just play the song without rewriting it too hahahaha!!! Pick a tune thats simular to your bands style. Don't make a big deal about it and get out of going to battle of the bands as soon as possible. Sounds like a freeby and thats not always bad, just 95% of time. Doc

 

[theduke1]

Basket case rock on!!

 

[MNAirHead]

First tune to power punk that comes to mind is orianthi according to you

Mocking mainstream pop works better than the 12th greenday cover

 

[KillianRussell]

First tune to power punk that comes to mind is orianthi according to you

Mocking mainstream pop works better than the 12th greenday cover

^ this

 

[1jstrong]

I appreciate all the advice guys. It will help...

Jason