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Covers you refuse to play now or ever again
- Thread starter 60bass
- Start date
We play Smoke on the Water, Dream On, Cat Scratch Fever, Born to Be Wild and some other golden oldies. The trick to playing these is to 1) play them right and 2) play them better than everyone else. If you play them right then you DO play them better than everyone else. I've said more than once, the problem isn't the songs, it's a bunch of lazy musician half-@$$ing their way through these songs with absolutely no groove, like they are on the Bataan Death March.
I don't ever refuse to play a song, but I will strongly argue against playing a song if it is not appropriate to the band's genre. I don't play Mustang Sally in my Rockabilly band or my Hard Rock Band, but I certainly played it in my Classic Rock band.
Haha. Sorry for the confusion. Covers are great. I look at a cover band as a product and bar patrons as customers. I think many of the songs on this list are great songs that bar patrons want to hear. Rock on brother.I was trying to figure out if you like playing covers or not
I play in an interesting originals band, but have been looking for a second group to expand my horizons and make new friends as well. I was emailed this list of songs by a band yesterday, and I just groaned at the lack of thought put into this "list of songs we are currently working on". They are just "playing for fun and the occasional gig". Like me all in their 50's and 60's ages. For me it's just for fun, but I consider this about as much fun as a root canal without Novocain. Would anyone in a bar actually enjoy listening to this list and applaud?
Here is the list, what would YOU DO? (my answer below the "list")
Knocking on Heavens Door
Badge
Thrill Is Gone
I Shot the Sheriff
All Along the Watchtower
Free Bird
Six Days on the Road
Midnight Hour
Melissa
Dead Flowers
Moon Dance
Mustang Sally
Let It Rain
One
Wild Night
Can’t you See
One after 909
While MY Guitar Weeps
Oh Darling
Brown Sugar
Crazy Thing Called Love
Under My Thumb
Jumping Jack Flash
Can’t Buy me Love
I'm considering sending a scathing reply and recommending therapy!
Here is the list, what would YOU DO? (my answer below the "list")
Knocking on Heavens Door
Badge
Thrill Is Gone
I Shot the Sheriff
All Along the Watchtower
Free Bird
Six Days on the Road
Midnight Hour
Melissa
Dead Flowers
Moon Dance
Mustang Sally
Let It Rain
One
Wild Night
Can’t you See
One after 909
While MY Guitar Weeps
Oh Darling
Brown Sugar
Crazy Thing Called Love
Under My Thumb
Jumping Jack Flash
Can’t Buy me Love
I'm considering sending a scathing reply and recommending therapy!
I try to find a way to make the tiredest, over played material still sound good. That's our job. I think the main thing that kills any tune, is bad vocals. I think what makes many tunes tired and old, is that they were poorly performed too many times. You get double points if you can play to the crowd, AND do it justice.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Rather than a scathing reply, just tell them that you are not interested in that list, and that you were hoping for something more challenging, and make some suggestions.
Did anyone say Wonderwall yet?
As a German, I have a certain list of German songs that I will play only after lobotomy. Some are quite popular in Germany, but polarize the crowds. It's love or hate, nothing between.
As a German, I have a certain list of German songs that I will play only after lobotomy. Some are quite popular in Germany, but polarize the crowds. It's love or hate, nothing between.
I agree with your idea, but as an outsider looking in I could only respectively decline. I guess I'm still in shock that musicians of my generation would even select such a list of tired retreads. Every one of the original bands on that list has literally dozens or even hundred of other options.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I agree as to the retread factor, but some musicians just have no imagination when it comes to picking songs. I play in a band with some fun tunes (Kid Charlemagne, Abbey Road medley done correctly), but they came up with Hit Me With Your Best Shot for this week. Never hurts to try a little honey.
This is the classic list of this "list of songs we are currently working on". They are just "playing for fun and the occasional gig" or "common denominator" songs I see all the time. A group of people get together, play a few songs that they like in their basement and search out a few other players. It always seems to revolve around a list like this, because other people already know it or have heard it a bunch. Since there's no "money on the table" for a pending gig, nobody is going to put in the effort to learn something complicated or more interesting for something that might never go anywhere.
I say this as a total amateur browsing CL all the time and seeing lists like this over and over.
Yes, this looks like the typical old guy Long Island Band set list. I've played almost all of these in various bands. IMO, Some of these are actually fun to play.
Typically a gig for this kind of band would be a backyard BBQ or at a local bar playing to their friends.
Well I know my bass guitar would be gently weeping. Especially with Freebird on the list. A song I never did particularly care for. I care for it even less when 90% of the bands who play it butcher it.
Last question.
Do I accept the invite, show up and play a few songs to see if they are competent musicians or just hacks?
Do I accept the invite, show up and play a few songs to see if they are competent musicians or just hacks?
I'm not a native Long Islander but I know what you mean by "typical old guy Long Island Band". I read an article not too long ago that called Long Island a "desert for original music".
Just a little fact that makes the Long Island music scene more mystifying. If Long Island were it's own state, it would be number 12 in population ranking with 7.9 million people!
Free Bird
Mustang Sally
Old Time Rock and Roll
Don't Speak (No Doubt)
Johnny B Goode
Mustang Sally
Old Time Rock and Roll
Don't Speak (No Doubt)
Johnny B Goode
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You can say "whore" on here?? IF Id known that, Id have used it loooong ago!
I call playing songs you hate "whoring"
