Instrumental Covers Band

[n4vgm]

Perhaps a max of four members but people who play more than one instrument for more variety. Good luck!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Other than jazz, I don't think there is much of a market. Most people like songs they know, and know the words to. Great music, but I don't think Joe Average Fan would want an entire evening of it.

 

[El Güero]

Link Wray.

 

[Staredge]

Instro surf has a decent market these days. Usually, you end up with a few bands on the bill though. 2 or 3 hours of pure instrumental music (except for us hardcore types) is tough to sell.

 

[Bass Viking]

Don't forget to add Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" to the list. Also "Pick up the Pieces" by the Average White Band.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I like the challenge of the idea. If it were me and I had other willing participants I'd have a go at it, but it would be a BIG go at it. I'd do everything I could to own the fact that this was an instrumental band, and play it up somehow. Don't know how, but I'd brainstorm it and make it work. I'd find dance tunes to keep people going, TV themes, maybe even original material... and I'd probably even throw in a Rush type tune (or medley) to break things up and show the band's talent/versatility. I'd want to go all out, find some sort of band theme, costumes (tricky one, but works well if done right)... something to help make the band more of a statement than an apology.

A long time ago I was at some music conference thing in Philly. I remember seeing a band that was instrumental that completely blew me away. They were an original band, and more acoustic than electric. They were hard to categorize - not quite pop, jazz, rock, folk, but more a mixture of it all. What blew me away was that their songs, sans vocals, got incredible emotional rises out of their audience. I was fascinated. They were able to make people crack up, laughing, just by the changes in the song. They were able to get people to feel sad, happy, angry... I remember looking at the audience around them and thinking, "How the hell do they come up with this!??!?! Try to get a bunch of people laughing just by playing an instrument. Never realized before that, that music could actually be funny. Really wish I had a clue who that band was... ahh, nothing more than a memory now.

Good luck!

 

[Joe Nerve]

Coffee just kicked in. Another thing I think I'd add is a Karaoke section to the show. Somewhere near the middle or end of the evening. I'd search out the top 5 or 10 top Karaoke songs, learn them, keep it REAL simple, and see how it goes. It would get people involved, make them want to come back, get some vocals into your set while you could still remain committed to being instrumental - and worst that could happen is you get nobody to sing, in which case you just move along without making an issue of it. Eventually SOMEONE will want to sing.

I'm staring to think I might want to start an instrumental band .

 

[Oddly]

TV themes are a great idea...I could see a medley of them working out really well.

 

[seanm]

I'm also interested in hearing how it turns out. Instrumentals don't work at all here outside of jazz for cover bands.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I'm staring to think I might want to start an instrumental band .

No practical experience to add, but I'm also intrigued by this idea! I play in an orchestra pit for local theater, and there is one group of musicians that might be willing to try this... some of us DO sing, but I can see this group being willing to take an instrumentals-only approach, even adding in Joe's karaoke idea...

Don't forget to add Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" to the list. Also "Pick up the Pieces" by the Average White Band.

What about other songs with shout choruses? ("Pennsylvania 6-5000" is the only other one that comes to mind, but...) Those would definitely draw some attention at points.

TV themes are a great idea...I could see a medley of them working out really well.

Another change-up that could turn into a crowd-pleaser? I was in a band that did the Munsters theme. Another that played the themes from Friends and Cheers... I like this idea.

 

[Richland123]

My last band used to throw in instrumental tunes in the middle of each set amongst our vocal tunes. The people dug them.

Here are some good ones.

Booker T. & The MG's - Time Is Tight



Dixie Dregs - Take It Off The Top



Dixie Dregs - Cruise Control

 

[Richland123]

Eric Johnson - Cliffs Of Dover

 

[Richland123]

Joe Satriani - Summer Song



Joe Satriani - Satch Boogie



Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien

 

[Richland123]

Gary Hoey does a wide variety of instrumental cover tunes. Here are a few.

 

[Richland123]

Dick Dale - Misirlou

 

[Richland123]

The Allman Brothers Band - Jessica

 

[Richland123]

The Commodores - Machine Gun



Billy Preston - Outa Space



Billy Preston - Space Race



Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band - Scorpio



Herbie Hancock - Bringing Down The Byrds

 

[Richland123]

The Marketts - Out Of Limits



B. Bumble & The Stingers - Bumble Boogie



B. Bumble & The Stingers - Nut Rocker



The VeNtuReS ~ BUMBLE BEE



Mason Williams - Classical Gas

 

[Richland123]

Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser



Davie Allan & the Arrows - Blues Theme

 

[lsabina]

Other than jazz, I don't think there is much of a market. Most people like songs they know, and know the words to. Great music, but I don't think Joe Average Fan would want an entire evening of it.

This is also true for the average appreciating listener of jazz. People like what they know. When we play our usual jazz gig at a nice restaurant, we have to stick with standards, Ellington, and the common Latin tunes everyone has heard.