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Covers you refuse to play now or ever again

#23
If you hate playing certain covers, you can always say to your audience, "Okay, you've all heard these next 15 songs before. We all know how they go, and let's face it, we all really just like them for the recognizable bits. So, we're gonna play them all at once and get it over with." Then play a 15-song medley of all the worst cover songs you hate to play but drunk audiences love. For extra effect, croon while you sing and really showboat on it. It's good for a laugh, and if you just do the choruses, you can get the whole she-bang over in about 5 minutes (and then get on with your set)!
 
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#25
Dave Muscato said:
If you hate playing certain covers, you can always say to your audience, "Okay, you've all heard these next 15 songs before. We all know how they go, and let's face it, we all really just like them for the recognizable bits. So, we're gonna play them all at once and get it over with." Then play a 15-song medley of all the worst cover songs you hate to play but drunk audiences love. For extra effect, croon while you sing and really showboat on it. It's good for a laugh, and if you just do the choruses, you can get the whole she-bang over in about 5 minutes (and then get on with your set)!
Click to expand...

Barry Manilow does this.
 
#26
By the way, it's okay, if you ask me, to refuse to play a song, just like it's okay to turn down a gig, if it's a gig you don't want. You just have to find the economic balance where it's worth it to you. Playing covers you hate may not be something you'd be willing to do for $100, but might it for $1000? Here's an old trick I "learned" from Jay Leno: If you really don't want to do something, just charge out the ass for it, and they'll find someone else (or better yet, they'll accept your offer, and you're rich!). If you're truly desperate for work, I suppose that's one thing, but I've turned down lots of gigs (and simply said "No" to lots of songs) because I'm just not interested, and I don't think there's any shame in that.
 
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#28
I refuse to play covers, unless it's a really cool/obscure one for fun done in my own way. That way I get to keep my starving artist ambiance.

A list of the few covers I've played in the past 5 years:
Butcher's Tale - The Zombies
Arnold Lane - Syd Barrett
Friday on my Mind - Easy Beats

Embarrassing covers I have played in the past -
FUnk 49 - James Gang
Mustang Sally
 
#31
It all depends on the band, and the business of the band I suppose. My band is in it for fun - so we play what we want and only gig probably once a month on average. We don't pack large clubs but do well at small joints, pubs, etc.

If you're doing it for income though, you better be prepared to play a lot of top 40 kinda stuff.
 
#32
Originally Posted by Dave Muscato
If you hate playing certain covers, you can always say to your audience, "Okay, you've all heard these next 15 songs before. We all know how they go, and let's face it, we all really just like them for the recognizable bits. So, we're gonna play them all at once and get it over with." Then play a 15-song medley of all the worst cover songs you hate to play but drunk audiences love. For extra effect, croon while you sing and really showboat on it. It's good for a laugh, and if you just do the choruses, you can get the whole she-bang over in about 5 minutes (and then get on with your set)!
Click to expand...

ForSix said:
Barry Manilow does this.
Click to expand...

ROFLMAO :) :) :) :) :)
 
#34
Walk This Way
Cocaine
Free Bird
Old Time Rock and Roll
Proud Mary
Killers version of a Morrisey song called Why don't find out for yourself rockabilly-surf VERSION = fail. big time
bohemian rhapsody
Love Hurts
Little Wing / Clapton style
Take the money and run
No Journey what so ever!
Play thatfunky music white boy
Mony Mony
Brown Eyed Girl
McArthur Park
MC hammer - Cant touch this
anything by Faith Hill
Jimmy Buffet songs
Mustang Sally
Freebird
Don't stop believing
Brown Eyed Girl
Brick House
any american pop like fall out boy
should i stay or should i go
FUnk 49
Mustang Sally
jessie's girl
mustang sally

Here's the list so far. Man, Mustang Sally is getting no love in this thread.

Keep em coming.

Keep Low :bassist:
 
#36
Interesting. I actually don't have too much of a problem with "Mustang Sally". Granted, the bass part is nothing special, but we've got a decent blues guitar player and it's worth sitting through it to hear him.

"Margaritaville", on the other hand ... yeah, we've actually played it a couple of times, but I will never volunteer it when we're putting our set lists together.
 

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