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IS your band a cover?

Are you in a cover namd or original?

  • Cover band

    Votes: 172 63.0%
  • Original

    Votes: 101 37.0%

  • Total voters
    273
I've only ever been in original bands. The only cover I played as a consistent part of a set is Napalm Death's Suffer the Children. We knew a Terrorizor cover but I don't think we ever played it live. My current band is thinking about doing a Black Sabbath cover, but its a low priority.
People like hearing music they recognize. A similar phenomenon happens when a band releases a new album after a long hiatus; people want to hear the old stuff they remember at the shows.
Since I'm not in this for the money I don't see any reason to be in a cover or tribute band. Not only would I never pay money to watch someone else play my favorite band's material, so I can't relate to it; but it doesn't do anything for me. I use music to channel my feelings, it gives me a release from the boring, stiff, placid role that I have to fulfill to pay for food and a roof over my head. Covers of someone else's material can't do that for me. My music is the middle finger I can't give my boss and the STFU I can't tell people.
 
Originals here.

No problem with cover bands. It just doesn't hit me in the soul.

I've played covers, but I was unlucky enough to be with some musicians who thought "close enough" was a proper chord/run/chorus/riff (e.g. the actual song has a Dsus2, but they play D instead, or it's an A5 and they play just A).

Make it your own, or play it correctly. Playing it badly is rude.
 
No band at this time, but thinking of doing a half-original/half cover thing, and the covers would HAVE to be radically reworked, I HATE doing exact note-for-note, sound-for-sound copies, interpreting is far more fun and challenging. The tricky thing is, to reinterpret yet still have it be recognizable.
 
The Gerbil Turds is not a cover band. We do use 1 to 4 songs that are pretty well known in any wave of punk that 2 of us grew up with. Our singer is in another band that takes songs from Brianna, Miley Cyrus and one other real popular radio singer and puts a raw punk edge on them. They are so friggen sought after to be the support act that I can't believe it..oh Taylor Swift. If interested look up the Circle Twerks
 
I prefer cover bands in most cases actually. I started playing inBklyn the late 70's and every few blocks you would find a cover band. Most were kick ass with really dynamic arrangements and live concert feel. "Thats" what I think of when anyone mentiones cover band. Although, I wouldn't mind tossing in one or two originals. It's funny but I joined a 90% originals R&B band a few months ago (on a whim) but decided a few weeks later it wasn't for me. Thats just my preference. I will say that I would love to be in an originals instrumental contemporary jazz band that did a few jazz covers. I find audiences are more "accepting" of original instrumental music than other types. Again... just my opinion.
 
Originals. Never been in a cover band, never will be. Hell, may never be in another originals band. After almost 20 years I'm worn out and sick of gigging. I'm enjoying retirement.

Yeah, my old band never did more then 1 cover. I stopped music for a few yrs and am totally revitalized...
 
Yeah, my old band never did more then 1 cover. I stopped music for a few yrs and am totally revitalized...
I may get that itch again. Our guitar player moved to FL in January and I've really been enjoying not practicing and gigging. Who knows...maybe some time down the line I'll get back to it.

I've been playing drums for 8 years now. Carrying a drum kit around has worn me out. I wouldn't mind playing bass again, but the gigging scene around here is at an all time low. Don't have any desire to start over with a new band.
 
I may get that itch again. Our guitar player moved to FL in January and I've really been enjoying not practicing and gigging. Who knows...maybe some time down the line I'll get back to it.

I've been playing drums for 8 years now. Carrying a drum kit around has worn me out. I wouldn't mind playing bass again, but the gigging scene around here is at an all time low. Don't have any desire to start over with a new band.

Well since springs on its way and your not playing to much, you can go wreck your wrists. SK8 & Destroy!
 
Covers for me.

Sometimes a drag, but it does get me some jobs and some $$, and I like to play in front of an audience.

There is zero market for original bands locally. None. I hate that, but that is what it is.
Unfortunately, cover bands seemed to he headed for extinction as well.