Covers you refuse to play now or ever again

[richntiff]

Cool story!

Lol.

 

[JPaulGeddy]

Interesting this thread jumped back in my feed:

I was playing with my 8 piece band this weekend. While on break, a patron came over and asked us to play Brick House. Initially, our band leader said that we don't play it, but this guy wasn't taking no for an answer. Finally, he went for his wallet, pulled out $100 in twenties, and plopped it in our BLs hand. That changed the BLs answer..... He started pulling the band together, and of course almost all of us know the song. But when our guitarist heard the request, he went in the tip bucket, grabbed the money, and...................returned it to the patron with a lecture on why we don't play that song. It happened so fast the BL didn't stop him.

A number of the members of that band rely on the money they make, even at a bar gig. We had quite the argument at the end of the gig.

Fire that guitar player.

And the drummer, just because.

But seriously... guitar player definitely deserved a dressing-down. Ridiculous.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Fire that guitar player.

And the drummer, just because.

But seriously... guitar player definitely deserved a dressing-down. Ridiculous.

He's been a member for 15 years.....he's like wallpaper in my grandmothers house: not going anywhere.

That said, several of the other members were furious when they found out. He got his butt chewed at the end of the night. But the best was when he said "I could have just sat out, but I couldn't listen to you guys play that song!" We have two guitarists....he wasn't even needed.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Fire that guitar player.

And the drummer, just because.

But seriously... guitar player definitely deserved a dressing-down. Ridiculous.

And that's my favorite drummer ever

 

[theduke1]

I get paid to play in my cover band. That makes it a job. If my boss at my day job tells me to jump on a plane and go fix a customers machine, I go. If a patron at a place my band is playing wants to hear Mustang Sally, I put my bass face on and play it.

There are songs that I don't want to hear played on my IPOD, but if I have a job to do, I'll do it.

Amen Brother
Again I say say to you
If you are playing out in a cover band, working for the man every night and day it is our job to entertain the patrons of whom ever is paying us
Cause it’s not about the band or what we like or don’t like and if we have fun at a gig that’s a plus
The first rule of playing out is
When you step out in the stage and the lights come on, you had better have a smile on your face and look like this is the best time of your life because that is what we are paid to do!
This may be hard for some of you to hear but if all you want to play are songs you like, you probably should pick a different hobbie
IMVHO
Duke

 

[oldrocker]

...

I was playing with my 8 piece band this weekend. While on break, a patron came over and asked us to play Brick House. Initially, our band leader said that we don't play it, but this guy wasn't taking no for an answer. Finally, he went for his wallet, pulled out $100 in twenties, and plopped it in our BLs hand. That changed the BLs answer..... He started pulling the band together, and of course almost all of us know the song. But when our guitarist heard the request, he went in the tip bucket, grabbed the money, and...................returned it to the patron with a lecture on why we don't play that song. It happened so fast the BL didn't stop him.

...

Curious, what reason did he give for why you don't play that song?

 

[guy n. cognito]

Curious, what reason did he give for why you don't play that song?

He believes that it is overplayed and "we are better than that."

It's been a consistent struggle with that band. The musicians are fantastic, the BL has a lot of good attributes, but the two oldest members are "music snobs" and have great disdain for playing music that anyone in our audience may have heard in the last 40 years. Instead, they'd prefer to play challenging music that will "test us as musicians", believing that our audiences are made of other music snobs that will appreciate our efforts. We play bars and weddings......

 

[oldrocker]

Wow, that would be a struggle having band members explain to the audience why the are too good to play a song they are willing to pay to hear.

Good luck.

 

[BassplayinBob]

He believes that it is overplayed and "we are better than that."

It's been a consistent struggle with that band. The musicians are fantastic, the BL has a lot of good attributes, but the two oldest members are "music snobs" and have great disdain for playing music that anyone in our audience may have heard in the last 40 years. Instead, they'd prefer to play challenging music that will "test us as musicians", believing that our audiences are made of other music snobs that will appreciate our efforts. We play bars and weddings......

It’s amazing how much cognitive dissonance results from a musicians ego.

 

[buldog5151bass]

He believes that it is overplayed and "we are better than that."
It's been a consistent struggle with that band. The musicians are fantastic, the BL has a lot of good attributes, but the two oldest members are "music snobs" and have great disdain for playing music that anyone in our audience may have heard in the last 40 years. Instead, they'd prefer to play challenging music that will "test us as musicians", believing that our audiences are made of other music snobs that will appreciate our efforts. We play bars and weddings......

Really? REALLY? Ask them one question. How often have they gotten a request for some obscure, "challenging" tune, as opposed to something like Brick House? When was the last time you got a request for La Villa Strantiato?

 

[guy n. cognito]

Really? REALLY? Ask them one question. How often have they gotten a request for some obscure, "challenging" tune, as opposed to something like Brick House? When was the last time you got a request for La Villa Strantiato?

That's what I keep reminding them. The BL is finally coming around to realizing that he's not going to get the better gigs with an obscure setlist.

 

[QORC]

I'd love to play just what inspires me, but I know that in this competitive, difficult musical environment, you have to make some compromises. As much as i'd like to jam the 2112 Overture, I realize that I will have to do Play that Funky Music most nights...ugh

 

[mstillman]

Gigs are for pleasing the audience. Rehearsals are for gig prep, perhaps with some time for the band to play non-gig tunes.

Basements and music stores are full of technically gifted musicians who nail esoteric, complex material. AFAIK, not too many people attend those venues.

 

[Munjibunga]

The usual ones.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Jane Says, Blister in the Sun, and Waiting For the Man. Nope ​

 

[Mark_70]

I will play ANYTHING that works, as long as the band sounds good doing it.

My personal taste never dictates what I will play in a band.

Are there songs that I'm sick of doing and don't inspire me? Absolutely.

But if they work, I will still play them!

Yep - this..
Sweet Caroline is one of those tunes.. On a personal level, I don't get a lot of satisfaction from playing Sweet Caroline, but playing it in a bar on Saturday night and having the whole bar yell "whoah oah oah" makes it worth it.

Only song I would have a really hard time with is "tears in heaven" - after being to the funeral of a 6-month old relative where that was played.. I can't ever hear that tune without choking up.

Regards
Mark

 

[Mark_70]

He believes that it is overplayed and "we are better than that."

It's been a consistent struggle with that band. The musicians are fantastic, the BL has a lot of good attributes, but the two oldest members are "music snobs" and have great disdain for playing music that anyone in our audience may have heard in the last 40 years. Instead, they'd prefer to play challenging music that will "test us as musicians", believing that our audiences are made of other music snobs that will appreciate our efforts. We play bars and weddings......

It's the old adage - "would you prefer to play Rush in your basement or Journey in a crowded bar".
I'd take the bar

Regards
Mark

 

[Heyturnup]

Gimme all your lovin' Sharp dressed man; medley. 10-15 minutes of duh,duh,duh,duh,duh,dud,dude,dead.

 

[dan1952]

I'm pretty much a prostitute (word substituted for one that may get me banned), so I'll play about anything if it pays, but here are some I really hate:
Whiskey Rock and Roller
Gimme 3 Steps
Sweet Home Alabama
Simple Kind Of Man
Ballad Of Curtis Lowe

In case you sense a theme here, you're correct.

 

[dtripoli]

We had a patron with a $100 bill in his hand asking, "You guys know any George Straight songs?" Here's a $100 tip if you will play one of his songs. Our vocalist knows many of George's song but said the rest of of us didn't.
She thanked the guy profusely and handed him back the $100. But said, we will learned and perform a few of his songs for our next show for you to hear. He said he was leaving for the Midwest after a short visit here and wouldn't be able to attend the show. He said we'd been playing good all night, ended up staying longer than planned because he like our music.
He put the $100 back in the tip jar and said keep on playing, you guys are great.
We didn't stop him this time.