Freebird, and other cliche covers

[Blankandson]

This thread reminded me of a request about 50 years ago to play the Beatles 'Back In The USSR.' We'd never even tried to play it but launched into it anyway. About one minute into it, where we sing 'Back in the US, Back in the US, Back in the USSR' we all suddenly stopped playing. No one knew what came next and we began laughing. Luckily so did the audience. That request being complied with, we moved on.

 

[mizzou541]

Free Bird cover you say?

 

[Tom Gallo]

The only people who care about a lackluster performance from a band are other musicians? You must not think much of your audience. People know if you’re lame.

Lackluster and/or lame based on your standards -- as a musician. I'm not suggesting that bands should set a low bar because "just ok" is good enough. At the same time, though, I've seen plenty of mediocre cover bands keep the dance floor packed.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Any Hendrix song.

 

[saabfender]

If it’s barely adequate, why bother? I mean, who lives with that as the standard of performance to all aspects of their life?

It sounds like you’re rationalizing sucking.

 

[bumperbass]

It's OK in my book to do Freebird, but 3 piece with one guitar player? No thanks.
The problem with all those 'standards' in that nobody brings out the original version when it's learned as a band.
Everybody's played most of them in other bands, and those 'standards' always morph into something else. Every band puts their own 'accent' on it.
So when you get 3,4, or 5 guys together and somebody brings up Sweet Home, Freebird.....whatever song, all the people play it slightly different even if they think they know it.
It usually turns into a mess.
So if I join a band and the guys say we're gonna play Funky Music, do you think every person in the band is going to go home and try to nail the part? Are we gonna waste time at practice to
bring all the parts together and rehearse Funky Music? Heck no. Same with Sweet Home. I have never heard ANYBODY nail the feel or the right parts for that one. Nobody.
If you are going to bring one of the older songs into the setlist, you'd better revisit the tune, but nobody does.
"What song is it you want to hear?"

 

[Blaze Barlow]

I heard Freebird while driving to work today. It got me thinking...

First, I never, ever heard a band cover Freebird.

Second, if a band ever did, and they did it as recorded - that would be one of the most AWESOME covers a band could do. IMO, of course. Never really listened closely before, but there's a WHOLE lot of stuff going on in that song, and it doesn't sound easy at all to play convincingly.

Why and how did that become the cliche, 'please don't ever play it', cover song?

And with that out of the way, what song do you think SHOULD be the cliche, 'please don't ever play it' song. My votes go to one of these:

• My Own Worst Enemy
• Don't Stop Believing
• Blister in the Sun

What sayz you?

I say I live in the south and have heard lots of bands play freebird..its only a cliche with you yanks..heard Skynyrd play it many times too..heard my good friend Ed King..who just passed away last month..play it many times..he was one of the three guitarists in Skynyrd..and formerly played with Strawberry Alarmclock..he lived here in the Nashville Tenn area in the Mt Juliet area..and Ed..who wrote many LS songs wrote "Sweet Home Alabama"...he always said to me.."you know how I love..and favor Gibson guitars..but sweet home alabama only sounds right when played on a fender guitar"..I sure do miss Ed..he was "ONE" among many..sitting backstage with Ed and listening to his stories was so much fun..he wrote a book about his life experiences with LS..and just turned it into the publisher right before he died..sorry he will never see it out in print..but he lived the stories within..and those are priceless..so.."Freebird" is only one among many of the journeys of LS..the memories live on..

 

[StatesideRambler]

I've had a lot of fun over the years playing the old reliables but ... Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd; Green Grass and High Tides by the Outlaws; Hotel California by the Eagles; these and a few others are songs that should be played only to listeners in anechoic chambers. I just know that there is no ending to be found in any of them. Start one of those with me in the room and you'll soon find me cowering in a corner whimpering, "Please, make it stop! Please!"

 

[48thStreetCustom]

Chameleon
Sissy Strut
All Blues
Take Five
Footprints

 

[electracoyote]

The only people who care about a lackluster performance from a band are other musicians? You must not think much of your audience. People know if you’re lame.

This ^^^

For a band to commit to a song, make the entertainer's sacrifice, and learn how to knock it out of the park should be a rush for the musicians and audiences alike.

It's hard to sell a song when you don't believe in it. Sadly, it's an all-too-common scenario.

 

[electracoyote]

I don't think I'd do "Free Bird" now though, or a lot of the others already listed in this thread. When I gig these days I want other people to enjoy it as much as I do, and that means picking a set list that will appeal to the audience, and I just don't think many people here in New Zealand would enjoy it.

Definitely an American thing, and I wish someday you'd have a chance to come over and experience it with us.

It's an old tired lame-ass joke to most audiences over here; there's a little lull or break in the action, and some drunk starts yelling "Play Freebird!" And then a couple more drunks join the chorus of "Play Freebird!" Probably because it was such a stereotypical rock anthem for so long. And now the audience is chuckling and wondering, will they or won't they?

Now it's up to what angle will the band take? Most cover bands in the States don't really know "Freebird," as is the subject of this thread. So they usually make a stupid joke and blow it off. Or maybe the guitar player knows the intro chords, and the lead singer might do the first verse.

And often, the joke ends there. Kind of anti-climatic.

But in those rare instances when the band actually knows it, and can play it well, the joke rolls on for around seven minutes of Southern Rawk nirvana, and the joke ends up being on the audience, who usually experience a mix of emotions ranging from stunned, to entertained beyond their wildest expectations, to laughter at the irony.

It's proof that even a tired old lame-o cliche can be high entertainment when the band focuses and gets down to business. I would bet money that a band who can nail "Freebird" start to finish would end up with a standing ovation in most bars and clubs in Coverband Land, USA.

 

[lermgalieu]

People seem to love it but to me it’s a stupid song

Yep, it's a stupid song.

But, if you were around when it came out, it was an anthem tied to a particular moment of time, and it was funny, weird, and different and anything but stupid. But now...I basically agree with you. I think when people are out to see a band, especially in a bar, they have a few drinks and regress to their childhood, or high school years or college or whatever. They revisit that moment in time as a form of escapism. So although the band might even think its dumb, its serving a function, and if you can give it a good go, what the heck.

Blister in the Sun would actually be GREAT if you did it as the Violent Femmes did; acoustic and weird. But the average cover band should NEVER play it!

I saw VF once in my life - around 1987 at Buffalo State college in Buffalo. It was an outdoor show, I was in high school, and I rode to the show (in a white van piloted by some crazy m-f'er) with one of my good friends and a bunch of weirdos I barely knew, but we were all skaters, so it was cool. Then as we walked onto campus, we walked right by the 3 VF guys, all taking a "walk" and smoking a gigantic joint to "get ready." Then they played - they were weird and cool and everything I had hoped for *at that time* (see point above). Especially that weird acoustic bass - totally awesome, and he had depth that went way beyond the licks on that record.

We are doing Werewolves of London

I'm sorry.

 

[electracoyote]

But, if you were around when it came out, it was an anthem tied to a particular moment of time, and it was funny, weird, and different and anything but stupid. But now...I basically agree with you. I think when people are out to see a band, especially in a bar, they have a few drinks and regress to their childhood, or high school years or college or whatever. They revisit that moment in time as a form of escapism. So although the band might even think its dumb, its serving a function, and if you can give it a good go, what the heck.

+1

It's perfectly acceptable for a musician to personally consider any song stupid, especially a tired old overplayed cliche, as long as they respect the importance of the song to the audience.

 

[yodedude2]

whatever music you play, play with passion. don't be the reason the audience does not dig the performance.

 

[57pbass]

I say I live in the south and have heard lots of bands play freebird..its only a cliche with you yanks..heard Skynyrd play it many times too..heard my good friend Ed King..who just passed away last month..play it many times..he was one of the three guitarists in Skynyrd..and formerly played with Strawberry Alarmclock..he lived here in the Nashville Tenn area in the Mt Juliet area..and Ed..who wrote many LS songs wrote "Sweet Home Alabama"...he always said to me.."you know how I love..and favor Gibson guitars..but sweet home alabama only sounds right when played on a fender guitar"..I sure do miss Ed..he was "ONE" among many..sitting backstage with Ed and listening to his stories was so much fun..he wrote a book about his life experiences with LS..and just turned it into the publisher right before he died..sorry he will never see it out in print..but he lived the stories within..and those are priceless..so.."Freebird" is only one among many of the journeys of LS..the memories live on..

I will absolutely buy this book.
Thankfully..I grew up musically speaking during the southern rock era. So many great bands from that time.

 

[BurnOut]

More Cowbell has become as much, if not more annoying than play Freebird in my book.

 

[richntiff]

Sweet Emotion
Walk This Way
Sweet Home Alabama
Takin' Care Of Business
Can't Get Enough
We're An American Band

We’re you trying to list songs that 3 generations will know, love, and shake their groove thing to? Cuz I mean - you nailed it.

 

[SpyderX]

Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd; Green Grass and High Tides by the Outlaws...

haha we got those two more than anything when I was young and starting out. Usually one right after the other. But I haven't heard Green Grass and High Tides requested in a long time.

I always thought the cliche of Free Bird was not playing the song itself, but more the legend of 'Free Bird Guy'. I think most musicians that played house parties or covers in the mid-late 70s and even into the early 80s could attest to someone yelling "Free Bird!" at practically every show. Enough so that it became an inside joke among local musicians. And then the joke grew and spread. I will admit, Free Bird Guy still makes me chuckle when I see him, often wondering if he is serious, or just pulling out his old party chops.

 

[bikeplate]

I was in a band 4 piece. Singer played guitar and was just as good as the guitarist. When some wise guy would yell out freebird we’d play it. We killed it! Did one verse then went right into the solo like the live recording. Be careful what you wish for!!

 

[Davbassdude]

I had a Deep Purple tribute that lasted one gig about 2 years ago. We did Smoke On The Water, as recorded. It was one of the most awesome covers I've ever done. That song is fun to play, and somewhat challenging, too.

I used to be in a band that covered "Maybe I'm a Leo", but always wanted to play "Lazy" or "Highway Star" (I still say Blackmore was showing off and I love it).