• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mainstream power trios...

Why can't twofer just Google up some song choices?

  • Just lazy.

    Votes: 10 16.4%

  • At some point, he has to at least pretend to get some work done today.

    Votes: 23 37.7%

  • Carrot juice just spilled on his keyboard.

    Votes: 18 29.5%

  • He just ain't too bright.

    Votes: 10 16.4%
  • Total voters
    61
two fingers

two fingers

Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.
Inactive
Feb 7, 2005
33,959
116,684
55
Eastern NC USA
#1
TL/DR - Post some smash hit songs done by power trio pop rock, bluesy rock or classic rock bands.

So, I was practicing an Outfield song for an upcoming project last night (vocals, not bass...cuz my hand is still busted). That led to my listening to their Best Of this morning while working. (Call me cheesy, but I actually like about half the songs a lot.)

That got me to thinking. I think I'm gonna start a power trio project for some fun. I have a drummer and guitar player in mind that I think would be into it.

Here's what I'm thinking. Mostly radio hits. Mainstream stuff. Some bluesy stuff, but mostly straight forward rock, pop rock, 80s, 70s, etc.

The obvious choices for material that pop into my head would be....

The Outfield
The Police
Cream
Grand Funk Railroad
John Mayer Trio
Kings X (couple hits anyway)
I could see us pulling off a Crowded House song or two...not a trio, I know.


Please post for me some group/song suggestions.

I need mostly suggestions with no keys. I can't stand Nirvana (sorry). But I would be into a lot of other 90s.

Smash hits mostly. We'll have some fun with a few obscure songs. But to start I want to focus on mostly hits in the US.

My vocal range runs from gruff bluesy stuff (think Delbert McClinton) to high thinner range (Outfield, Police, Journey). The drummer can do some more low-mid range standards (think Tom Petty, John Mellencamp).

The guitar player and drummer are both bada$$. Either can cop whatever style they need to. The guitar player can do anything from SRV to 80s rawk gawd stuff and all points in between. The drummer has literally toured the world a couple times and is simply....wow. I have pulled off a few Rush songs singing and playing, but I'm sure there are some Geddy songs I just can't get (not that we would do a ton of Rush....just a skill level comparison). I have done some Zep singing and playing.

Specifically, if you can think of a funk/soul song we could pull off that would be great to mix it up. I'm not opposed to a smash hit old or new country song either. That would be tough instrumentally though.

This would be a straight forward bar band. I'm not trying to impress the musicians in the back of the room with their arms crossed and scowls on their faces. I just want to show Average Joe and Average Jane a good time.

So, hit me. Power Trio smash hits using only guitar bass and drums. Ready....GO!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Michael Schreiber
#3
LowDownHawkeye said:
Not funk, but def rock. Triumph (magic power most likely if you're after the hits only, but fight the good fight is somewhat well known). Not sure whether any arena rock Rush would fit if you take away all keyboards/synths.
Click to expand...

Just checked them both out (listening to Fight live right now). I think we could definitely pull off a version of Fight. There are more than just the three instruments going on, but the synth on that one isn't in your face.
 
#4
two fingers said:
TL:DR - Post some smash hit songs done by power trio pop rock, bluesy rock or classic rock bands.

So, I was practicing an Outfield song for an upcoming project last night (vocals, not bass...cuz my hand is still busted). That led to my listening to their Best Of this morning while working. (Call me cheesy, but I actually like about half the songs a lot.)

That got me to thinking. I think I'm gonna start a power trio project for some fun. I have a drummer and guitar player in mind that I think would be into it.

Here's what I'm thinking. Mostly radio hits. Mainstream stuff. Some bluesy stuff, but mostly straight forward rock, pop rock, 80s, 70s, etc.

The obvious choices for material that pop into my head would be....

The Outfield
The Police
Cream
Grand Funk Railroad
John Mayer Trio
Kings X (couple hits anyway)
I could see us pulling off a Crowded House song or two...not a trio, I know.


Please post for me some group/song suggestions.

I need mostly suggestions with no keys. I can't stand Nirvana (sorry). But I would be into a lot of other 90s.

Smash hits mostly. We'll have some fun with a few obscure songs. But to start I want to focus on mostly hits in the US.

My vocal range runs from gruff bluesy stuff (think Delbert McClinton) to high thinner range (Outfield, Police, Journey). The drummer can do some more low-mid range standards (think Tom Petty, John Mellencamp).

The guitar player and drummer are both bada$$. Either can cop whatever style they need to. The guitar player can do anything from SRV to 80s rawk gawd stuff and all points in between. The drummer has literally toured the world a couple times and is simply....wow. I have pulled off a few Rush songs singing and playing, but I'm sure there are some Geddy songs I just can't get (not that we would do a ton of Rush....just a skill level comparison). I have done some Zep singing and playing.

Specifically, if you can think of a funk/soul song we could pull off that would be great to mix it up. I'm not opposed to a smash hit old or new country song either. That would be tough instrumentally though.

This would be a straight forward bar band. I'm not trying to impress the musicians in the back of the room with their arms crossed and scowls on their faces. I just want to show Average Joe and Average Jane a good time.

So, hit me. Power Trio smash hits using only guitar bass and drums. Ready....GO!
Click to expand...

What about some Gary Moore for some classic rock?
And Mark Knopfler for the musical low-/mid-tempo range?

I mean, since the guitarist and drummer are bada$$, I imagine some "Out in the fields" or "Sultans of Swing" (the latter even instrumental) would make my body move to the groove \m/ :D

Anyway, much success and much fun!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Groove Doctor, BurnOut and two fingers
#5
Without listing a bunch of songs, check out these bands.

ZZ Top
Robin Trower
Pat Travers Band (early stuff)
Mahogany Rush
The Stampeders
Fastball
Presidents of The United States Of America
Better Than Ezra
Rush
The Stray Cats
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Green Day
Blink 182
Motorhead
Budgie
The Jam
Muse
The James Gang
Blue Cheer
Silverchair
Eve 6
The Goo Goo Dolls (early stuff)
Alkaline Trio
MxPx
Primus
The Jeff Healey Band
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Thousand Foot Krutch

Creedence Clearwater Revival was a trio for awhile

There are many bands that have songs that are guitar, bass, and drums with a separate lead singer such as:

Van Halen
The Who
Motley Crue
Poison
R.E.M.
Stone Temple Pilots
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MCF, Chili_Time, matty1039 and 13 others
#6
Richland123 said:
Without listing a bunch of songs, check out these bands.

ZZ Top
Robin Trower
Pat Travers Band (early stuff)
Mahogany Rush
The Stampeders
Fastball
Presidents of The United States Of America
Better Than Ezra
Rush
The Stray Cats
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Green Day
Blink 182
Motorhead
Budgie
The Jam
Muse
The James Gang
Blue Cheer
Silverchair
Eve 6
The Goo Goo Dolls (early stuff)
Alkaline Trio
MxPx
Primus
The Jeff Healey Band
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Creedence Clearwater Revival was a trio for awhile

There are many bands that have songs that are guitar, bass, and drums with a separate lead singer such as:

Van Halen
The Who
Motley Crue
Poison
R.E.M.
Stone Temple Pilots
Click to expand...

+1 for CCR! Could work out so well, I'm excited from just imagining!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Groove Doctor, onosson and two fingers
#8
I'm doing the trio thingee now and just FYI, you don't need to limit your song choices to "trio bands." We do everything from Jack Johnson to Jamey Johnson, with all kinds of stuff in between-Cash, Waylon, some Skynyrd, Clapton, Petty, even Billy Joel (You May Be Right). It just takes a little thought and planning on the arrangement side. You can get away with changing up the arrangements if A) the crowd knows the song; and B) You don't suck LOL. Just remember that great backing vocals and a great drummer can fill a lot of space.

Oh...and.....Los Lonely Boys....extremely underrated Trio ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: kwdhsk, Mystic Michael, MattZilla and 2 others
#9
LowDownHawkeye said:
Not funk, but def rock. Triumph (magic power most likely if you're after the hits only, but fight the good fight is somewhat well known). Not sure whether any arena rock Rush would fit if you take away all keyboards/synths.
Click to expand...
First band that popped into my head. Way underrated.
How about some Sugar....from catchy...

to rockin...

 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: uncletupelo, tepperware, cdlynch and 4 others
#10
bryan gibson said:
I'm doing the trio thingee now and just FYI, you don't need to limit your song choices to "trio bands." We do everything from Jack Johnson to Jamey Johnson, with all kinds of stuff in between-Cash, Waylon, some Skynyrd, Clapton, Petty, even Billy Joel (You May Be Right). It just takes a little thought and planning on the arrangement side. You can get away with changing up the arrangements if A) the crowd knows the song; and B) You don't suck LOL. Just remember that great backing vocals and a great drummer can fill a lot of space.

Oh...and.....Los Lonely Boys....extremely underrated Trio ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm open to anything that can be done well by three pieces. Hey we're not in the same market. Any interest in posting or PMing me a set list for some ideas?

Either way, thanks for the tips.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pjbassist and Lvjoebass
#13
two fingers said:
Just checked them both out (listening to Fight live right now). I think we could definitely pull off a version of Fight. There are more than just the three instruments going on, but the synth on that one isn't in your face.
Click to expand...

Rush and Triumph were the first two that popped into my head when I saw your OP.

There are several songs that Rush did before the keyboards that might be known and popular, the most well-known being “Working Man”. Other suggestions are ‘What You’re Doing” and “Something for Nothing”. These might appeal to the average bar crowd due to the lyrics, at least.

Triumph, as mentioned above, has “Fight the Good Fight”, but also “Lay it on the Line”, which was one that gave them a bit more air play in the late 70’s/early 80’s before "Fight" became a staple of AOR.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Felken and two fingers
#19
crucislancer said:
There are several songs that Rush did before the keyboards that might be known and popular, the most well-known being “Working Man”.
Click to expand...

Working man could be a blast. Check out this live version:

It's perfect for some improvising during the solo section, vocals can be down an octave, sounds good. I'm in a power trio myself, but we cover a lot of song not made for power trios. We usually just adapt and it always sounds great.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: uncletupelo, JackNasty, bryan gibson and 9 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back