Hard Rock/Grunge Acoustic Band?

[bassphreak]

So I recently joined a side project to start up an acoustic hard rock/grunge rock band. The singer and guitarist want to put something together to cover a lot of the unplugged songs that were popular a few years back. Think mostly Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, mixed with some newer stuff. All acoustic (well we'll plug in the acoustics).

There seems to be a market for it in this area. There are fewer and fewer places to play with my main band and this seems like something that will have more appeal to more places - everything from bars to wineries. I'm now in my 40s and this is the stuff my teen years were made of. Most of my friends don't like my loud main band and won't go out late.

Seems like a really cool side project to me. Anyone else doing something similar? Any success?

On a side note: I picked up a sweet Washburn AB40SH - Stu Hamm acoustic. Very very nice ABG. Plays more like a hollow body with acoustic undertones. Beautiful bass and sounds great.

 

[Runnerman]

It actually sounds very cool. Love that music as well and should be fun. Amazing that this was rebel music back then and now you get to play it at a winery....LOL

 

[Dave W]

Sounds awesome to me, I'd dig that! It would probably go over very well in my area too.

 

[Richland123]

Sounds like Days Of The New would fit your song list.

Days Of The New - Touch, Peel And Stand

 

[two fingers]

Yep. 90s stuff is particularly hot in my area right now. Just straight up radio pop/grunge rock hits. Should be fun!

 

[bassphreak]

Sounds like Days Of The New would fit your song list.

Days Of The New - Touch, Peel And Stand

Yeah we've already got that on the list. Our singer sounds A LOT like that. We have hashed out 40 songs in about a month. It's coming together really quick and I have no doubt I can sell it AND they will likely be the earlier and day gigs (I'm getting old)

 

[bassphreak]

My main band does some of the same stuff but the original rocked out versions.

 

[bassphreak]

It actually sounds very cool. Love that music as well and should be fun. Amazing that this was rebel music back then and now you get to play it at a winery....LOL

Yeah we have a few really cool wineries in Eastern PA. Some are pretty 'hip' and there are mostly 30-40 somethings hanging out there. I think they would much rather hear some cool acoustic grunge than some of the stuff I've heard. I'll even take payment in wine

 

[Richland123]

Are you playing any Gin Blossoms songs? They go over well in that setting and lineup.

 

[bassphreak]

Don't have anything yet but I'll look up some. Thanks.

 

[Richland123]

I just thought of a few more cool songs of that ilk.

I think it would be fun to do something similar to what you are doing but most of the acoustic acts around here play the same old singer/songwriter stuff.

Soul Asylum - Runaway Train

 

[Dave W]

Yeah we've already got that on the list.

If you guys are looking for something a little deeper on the album, Whimsical is an awesome song. Actually, every song on that album is awesome.


I can't find a decent studio version of the Downtown though

 

[bassphreak]

cool, thanks!

Anyone else doing something similar?

 

[Violen]

Do an acoustic version of Possum Kingdom by The Toadies.

 

[bassphreak]

Did a small bbq jam for Memorial Day. Seems to be coming together nicely. Adding some oddball stuff that folks will like - Mrs Robinson by the Lemonheads Mrs Robinson, Stray Cat Strut.

 

[lustersilk]

Do an acoustic version of Possum Kingdom by The Toadies.

That sounds very cool. We do an acoustic version of Renegades of Funk that is out of this world.

 

[Richland123]

I know some acoustic acts play this one.

Simon & Garfunkel - Cecilia

 

[charliefreak]

I'd recommend Sour girl by STP. People forget how big of a hit that was and when they think of STP, that's definitely not the first song to come to mind.

I always though it'd be a cool idea to do unplugged shows set for set as it was on MTV. Like, get a group together to learn 14 "Mtv unplugged" sets almost exactly as they're played on the show by various bands. You could do 2 weeks in the same venue that way! I'm sure legally that'd be a b*tch tho...

 

[jungleheat]

I just thought of a few more cool songs of that ilk.

None of those are REMOTELY hard rock or grunge. And all besides Toad the Wet Sprocket and maybe Eagle Eye Cherry are horrible songs on top of that.

 

[ma4rk]

Something else to ponder: throw in some cheesy early 90's top-40 in there - even if it was synth based, work out an acoustic version. This way you can cater for the grunge guy/girl's other half at the winery who wasn't into grunge back in the day. And if you do it well, you'll blow some minds as they won't expect it.