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I have a problem with cover/tribute bands.

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#281
T-Forty said:
Agreed. Pay to play is BS.
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Not what I said, i am in a cover band and won't play a show unless i'm getting paid...i won't play for free, everything costs money, even if i just have to drive across town.

BillMason said:
Well, I play in a cover band and I don't go see original bands. Not that I won't, I just don't. Unless by originals you mean a band that actually has a recording contract and has airplay, in which case I *do* see original bands play as often as I can, like Ozzy, Tragically Hip (well-known Canadian band), Rolling Stones, etc. Do they count? I don't make time for bands that I've never heard tell of before, because there are so many of them and life is too short to waste a Friday night plus cover and drinks on a crappy band. If an "originals" band wants my attention, they must demand it. You younger guys with your smarmy "artistic integrity" are welcome to it, I recognize it for what it actually is because I've been there, so please don't tell me that I'm less of a musician than you are just because these days I get off on playing cover songs to 30-somethings in local bars. I certainly don't feel like a failure for it or feel like I'm any less of a bass player for it, but it sounds like some of your guys get a feeling of superiority over disdaining to play other people's songs. Just some advice, that's not a healthy or a mature point of view. However, you're welcome to what you do, and so am I.
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Did you quote me just to prove that there are some out there who play in cover bands and don't enjoy live local music? Okay...i'm a cover band player, but i still enjoy live, local music in Milwaukee...make that GOOD live, local music. I'm a cover band player because i like getting paid to play, but i don't think i'm superior to anyone

With that, i think i'm done with this thread...too many on either side that would rather not listen to one another.
 
#282
BillMason said:
Well, I play in a cover band and I don't go see original bands. Not that I won't, I just don't. Unless by originals you mean a band that actually has a recording contract and has airplay, in which case I *do* see original bands play as often as I can, like Ozzy, Tragically Hip (well-known Canadian band), Rolling Stones, etc. Do they count? I don't make time for bands that I've never heard tell of before, because there are so many of them and life is too short to waste a Friday night plus cover and drinks on a crappy band. If an "originals" band wants my attention, they must demand it. You younger guys with your smarmy "artistic integrity" are welcome to it, I recognize it for what it actually is because I've been there, so please don't tell me that I'm less of a musician than you are just because these days I get off on playing cover songs to 30-somethings in local bars. I certainly don't feel like a failure for it or feel like I'm any less of a bass player for it, but it sounds like some of your guys get a feeling of superiority over disdaining to play other people's songs. Just some advice, that's not a healthy or a mature point of view. However, you're welcome to what you do, and so am I.
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Well is it a mature point of view when you are basically saying that the originals thing is done by young guys who haven't got life experince from the real world? For some reason some people (I'm not saying that you are one of those) just can't seem to understand that playing originals doesn't have to be about "artistic integrity" or about "making it" and it sure don't have to be "a thing that you do when you are young and you will grow out of it".
 
#283
Implosion said:
Well is it a mature point of view when you are basically saying that the originals thing is done by young guys who haven't got life experince from the real world? For some reason some people (I'm not saying that you are one of those) just can't seem to understand that playing originals doesn't have to be about "artistic integrity" or about "making it" and it sure don't have to be "a thing that you do when you are young and you will grow out of it".
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Honestly, I like original songs from older musicians. Often they have something more substantial to say. I think you hit it on the head for me. I've long since abandoned notions of "making it" or being concerned with "artistic integrity". But I still love writing original music. For me it's about having a creative outlet, playing music with people I like and ultimately having CDs of songs that I can point to for the rest of my life as something I did. If other people dig it, all the better.
 
#284
Implosion said:
Well is it a mature point of view when you are basically saying that the originals thing is done by young guys who haven't got life experince from the real world? For some reason some people (I'm not saying that you are one of those) just can't seem to understand that playing originals doesn't have to be about "artistic integrity" or about "making it" and it sure don't have to be "a thing that you do when you are young and you will grow out of it".
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No, that's not what I'm saying, sorry for the confusion. What I'm talking about is the attitude of superiority, which does come with immaturity, regardless of age. I know several guys who are very into composing and are "past their prime" so to speak, but very much enjoy what they are doing and do not get all superior about what they are doing versus what I am doing. That's all.
 
#285
Lunchbox4u_6 said:
Did you quote me just to prove that there are some out there who play in cover bands and don't enjoy live local music? Okay...i'm a cover band player, but i still enjoy live, local music in Milwaukee...make that GOOD live, local music. I'm a cover band player because i like getting paid to play, but i don't think i'm superior to anyone

With that, i think i'm done with this thread...too many on either side that would rather not listen to one another.
Click to expand...

No, again, sorry for the confusion. I thought you were talking about going to see original bands play. I too really dig seeing live local bands play, but can't remember the last time I ever went out of my way to see a local originals band play. I go to see bands to be entertained, and I know which local bands will do that for me, and they are cover bands. I'm not saying that I think everyone should quit writing original music either, be my guest - I'm just saying that those bands need to demand my attention, I don't go out of my way to see them unless I know it will be a good time.

My comments about superiority were definitely not directed to you, no worries.

I like this thread, and this discussion!
 
#286
Maybe its just the Boston scene, but NOBODY would take a "rock" band seriously that played more than one, maybe two, covers in a single set. If you want to be taken serious, you have to bring your original compositions to the show. My band does play covers; in fact, The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is in regular rotation in our set. However, we arranged it to fit our style, and its the only cover we do (unless its a REAL long set, in which case our guitarist and singer to a nice acoustic duet of U2's "Staring at the Sun"). But the idea of playing a bunch of covers and "peppering" it was originals would likely be seen as amazingly amatuer, and you would get neither fans, nor an invite back to any respectable club. Again, that's just Boston. To paraphrase James Joyce, Boston is the sow that eats her own indie bands.
 
#288
I really don't know where all this origianl versus coverband stuff comes from with people. Most of us have played in both..so big deal. My cover bandf plays with original bands all the time. The original bands go on ply their stuff, we finish the night with the covers. Everybody wins! The bands are happy, the bar is happy, the people are happy. Sure we get looks from some of the heavier bands when we play some tunes like Mustang Sally, but the dance floor is crowded. We get the same looks when we play some off the wall covers nobody has ever tried to play. Sure if the cover band your in plays 3 chord tunes all night it can get a little boring, but it's what you make of it.

IT"S ALL GOOD!
 
#290
here's a clanger for ya:

between the dearth of cover/tribute bands, and the lack of real originality even in indie rock...

is rock dead?

i think so.

that doesn't stop me from trying to write good songs, whether they're rock or pop whatever you want to call them.

"nostalgia is the symptom of a dying culture" - Bob Mould.
 
#291
Greyvagabond said:
Maybe its just the Boston scene, but NOBODY would take a "rock" band seriously that played more than one, maybe two, covers in a single set. If you want to be taken serious, you have to bring your original compositions to the show. My band does play covers; in fact, The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is in regular rotation in our set. However, we arranged it to fit our style, and its the only cover we do (unless its a REAL long set, in which case our guitarist and singer to a nice acoustic duet of U2's "Staring at the Sun"). But the idea of playing a bunch of covers and "peppering" it was originals would likely be seen as amazingly amatuer, and you would get neither fans, nor an invite back to any respectable club. Again, that's just Boston. To paraphrase James Joyce, Boston is the sow that eats her own indie bands.
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What? Cities, regions, and countries can have unique characteristics? I just assume that all cover bands and original bands face exactly the same situations no matter where they are and make sweeping generalizations to prove it.
 
#292
Buskman said:
So 20% of your set are "covers"? If it were me, and I was doing original music, I'd want ALL of my music to be heard in my time alloted to play. Especially in a little to no $$$ situation. IMO, of course...

And for the record, just because a bar does not cater to a Rock or Metal crowd, it doesn't necessarily make it a "yuppie" bar.

Like you said: ;)
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um let's see BMW's and Mercedes' in the parking lot, Sushi and Coffee bar on the inside. Bouncer at the door in a jacket and tie....yup yuppie bar

Being Texas i figured i didn't need to mention the Hick/Cowboy/Redneck Bars

little to no money?.....i average about $100.00 bucks a night

if you'll flip back a few pages you will see where i defended cover bands....

I have one foot on each side of the fence, as i also play in an 80's hair metal cover band...lol in which i also average about $100.00 a night...lol

as i said the covers we do are not really covers, but versions of the orignals...different lyrics, different arrangement......in essence an homage
 
#294
Q: Where do the members of the cover band head after the gig?

















x20240.jpg


:D
 
#295
q: What do members of original bands discuss with their therapists?

Link Removed


"Megalomania: A historical term for behavior characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, genius, or omnipotence — often generally termed as delusions of grandeur or grandiose delusions. It is a Greek word ,"megalo" meaning "very large", "great", or "exaggerated" and "mania" meaning obsession thus combining to denote an obsession with, either in the form of irrational perceived need for, or preoccupation with one's own estimation of having and/or obtaining, grandiosity and extravagance (especially in the form of great fame and popularity, material wealth, social influence or political power, or more than one or even all of the aforesaid) and accompanying complete desirous and bombastic abandon; a common symptom if not the key diagnostic feature of megalomania. It may be a symptom of manic or paranoid disorders.
 
#298
The way I see it there are broadly three kinds of "original" bands:

1. First, there are the ones that have real recording contracts and real tours. In fact they're doing so well they're not called "original" anymore. Some are making huge bucks, but many are netting annually about what an average wage earner might get due to all the cost overheads with their business.

2. Then there are bands that dream about being the bands in category number #1 and their chances of getting there are at best marginal. They will often have YouTube footage to promote their legitimacy. They will usually have a fun time unless their egos get in the way as they try to get a total sense of self-worth from their band. Often these types are marginally employed because they devote so much of their time to the band. They should probably read the book:

Bandalism: Do Not Destroy Your Group by Julian Ridgway.

http://www.amazon.com/Bandalism-Not-Destroy-Your-Group/dp/0946719969

Only with lots of persistence and a little bit of luck will this type of band edge any further. Often they will attract a loyal cult following which serves their egos as a viable alternative to actually making it big.

3. Then are the original bands that are just gigging at selected venues for the sheer pleasure of playing what they want to play.

Categories #1 and #3 are fine, but category #2 is loaded with deluded narcissists. I chucked all that stuff years ago and am more than happy to play in a tribute type band that throws in a few originals in every once in a while.


Just my observations; hope I didn't offend anybody.
 
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#299
Let's see, I've been at TB for 4 years. I can say without hesitation that this is absolutely the worst thread I've ever seen. The false assumptions being made on here are unbelievable. I have better things to do with my time. BTW, I would also recommend Julian Ridgeway's book "Bandalism" which was recommended by the poster above me. That is the only other thing I have to say.
 
#300
Greyvagabond said:
Maybe its just the Boston scene, but NOBODY would take a "rock" band seriously that played more than one, maybe two, covers in a single set. If you want to be taken serious, you have to bring your original compositions to the show. My band does play covers; in fact, The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" is in regular rotation in our set. However, we arranged it to fit our style, and its the only cover we do (unless its a REAL long set, in which case our guitarist and singer to a nice acoustic duet of U2's "Staring at the Sun"). But the idea of playing a bunch of covers and "peppering" it was originals would likely be seen as amazingly amatuer, and you would get neither fans, nor an invite back to any respectable club. Again, that's just Boston. To paraphrase James Joyce, Boston is the sow that eats her own indie bands.
Click to expand...

Depends on the city. Some clubs in New York are like this, but then many others, like Irish bars, are primarily covers, or covers-sprinkled-with-originals.

It's all based on the circumstances.
 
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