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Modern cover songs.......

Interesting - we just learned that one. We have a female lead singer with a very bluesy voice. How are you playing it on bass? We don't have any keys (starts with that super low C organ bass note) so I actually tune to drop C and just kinda drone on the low C together with the octave above at 3rd fret on the A string.

No keys for us either, our male front sings it and it has been going over great. I've been trying to fake that low organ note by playing a G on the E string simultaneously with the C on the A string. It's definitely not perfect, but sounds much better than just playing the C. I just play the C as the song gets busier and then bring the G back in with it when it breaks down.
 
Interesting - we just learned that one. We have a female lead singer with a very bluesy voice. How are you playing it on bass? We don't have any keys (starts with that super low C organ bass note) so I actually tune to drop C and just kinda drone on the low C together with the octave above at 3rd fret on the A string.

.....

With regards to "Hold On" - Alabama Shakes, 5-string tuned BEADG. C on the B string.
 
Some newer ones we do off the top of my head:

"Dani California" by RHCP
"Rain Dance Maggie" by RHCP
"Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People
"Float On" by Modest Mouse
"Here It Goes Again" by OK Go
"Take Me On" by Franz Ferdinand
"59 Sound" by Gaslight Anthem


Thanks!

Pumped up kicks seems to be a common theme.
I hate that song.
What gives? Its stupid...you can't dance to it...and the lyrics are appalling.

I sound old.

Keep em comin!
 
No keys for us either, our male front sings it and it has been going over great. I've been trying to fake that low organ note by playing a G on the E string simultaneously with the C on the A string. It's definitely not perfect, but sounds much better than just playing the C. I just play the C as the song gets busier and then bring the G back in with it when it breaks down.

Funny - our female singer had heard the song but always thought it was a dude singing until I showed her the video on youtube:D
Adding that G is an interesting idea (the 5th of a C chord but an octave lower). If I was playing it in standard tuning I think I would do that too. I agree that just playing the lone C at 3rd fret on the A string sounds too "empty" or something.
I've seen them in the official video, plus on "Later with Jools Holland" and it appears the bassist is just playing the C on the A string and the organ is doing that low note.
He's the first guy I've ever seen on TV actually using a foam mute on a P bass.

With regards to "Hold On" - Alabama Shakes, 5-string tuned BEADG. C on the B string.

I should have said - I have a 5-string tuned BEADG - but it's tough to try to play both the C on the A string and 1st fret on the B at the same time, plus play some of the fill runs. By going to drop C I can hit those 2 notes at the same time on adjacent strings. Seems to sound better to me. I'm sure I'm over-thinking it - just the low C on the B string is probably fine. I have been getting into my 4-strings lately though.

This past weekend we learned "Tell Me Something Good" by Rufus ft Chaka Khan. The timing is a be-atch (I actually found a great thread on TalkBass which explained it). Just did the song on a whim but it came out really well. Not a "modern" song though...
 
Got a new project in the works, first gig December 1, with a new female front and some of the guys in my current cover band. We are going to run with about half songs we already do and the below list that she provided to get out of the gate. I expected to see more songs that were originally female fronted on this list from her.

Stare Into the Sun- Graffiti 6
Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men
Badfish- Sublime
Young- Fun
Ho Hey - Lumineers
Gansta's Paradise – Coolio
Cobra Starship - You Make me Feel Like)
Like A Prayer - Madonna (don't knock it til you try it)
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Black or White – Michael Jackson
When Doves Cry –Prince
Head Full of Doubt Road Full of Promises - Avett Brothers
Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root
What's Up - Four Non Blondes
Hook - Blues Traveler
Hold On - Alabama Shakes
I got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison
Helter Skelter - Beatles
Hey Ya - Outkast
Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
Rap Medley (I can show you)
 
Got a new project in the works, first gig December 1, with a new female front and some of the guys in my current cover band. We are going to run with about half songs we already do and the below list that she provided to get out of the gate. I expected to see more songs that were originally female fronted on this list from her.

Stare Into the Sun- Graffiti 6
Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men
Badfish- Sublime
Young- Fun
Ho Hey - Lumineers
Gansta's Paradise – Coolio
Cobra Starship - You Make me Feel Like)
Like A Prayer - Madonna (don't knock it til you try it)
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Black or White – Michael Jackson
When Doves Cry –Prince
Head Full of Doubt Road Full of Promises - Avett Brothers
Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root
What's Up - Four Non Blondes
Hook - Blues Traveler
Hold On - Alabama Shakes
I got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison
Helter Skelter - Beatles
Hey Ya - Outkast
Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
Rap Medley (I can show you)



Those are some GREAT tunes! We will definitely try a few.
Thanks!


All the suggestions are awesome! Hopefully they are inspiring others who find this thread. Keep it up!
 
If you want some songs which sound modern but which are old enough that people in their 30s will also remember them (in other words, songs which are the complete opposite of Adele and CeeLo Green), do some 90s Eurodance. I've always gotten great crowd reactions to "Be My Lover" and "No Limit" especially. Really, really need to do "I'm Too Sexy" live sometime, so far we've just rehearsed it though.
 
This was our set list from Holloween. We try to mix modern & clasic and what we are doing seems to be working well. We are adding a Bruno Mars song next(Locked out of heaven)

SET 1
KRYPTONITE
CRACKERMAN
ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY
SANTERIA
INSIDE OUT
MY HERO
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN
HEAVEN
ANYWAY YOU WANT IT
HARD TO HANDLE
ARE YOU GONNA BE MY GIRL
GREEN-EYED LADY
FAR BEHIND
ROOSTER
MEGALOMANIAC

SET 2
SELF ESTEEM
BASKET CASE
MR BRIGHTSIDE
SHINE-D
MIDDLE-D
BADFISH
SMOOTH
LOVE SONG
BROWN-EYED GIRL
LONG TRAIN RUNNIN
LA GRANGE
PARALYZER
EVERYBODY TALKS
GIVE IT AWAY
SWEET CHILD

SET 3
WAR PIGS
AMERICAN WOMAN
“F” YOU
POUR SOME SUGAR
BEAT IT
BRICKHOUSE
CRAZY BITCH
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG
UNDER THE BRIDGE
ICE CREAM MAN
POSSUM KINGDOM
SEX TYPE THING
MAN IN THE BOX
DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE DO
KILLING IN THE NAME OF
 
This was our set list from Holloween. We try to mix modern & clasic and what we are doing seems to be working well. We are adding a Bruno Mars song next(Locked out of heaven)

SET 1
KRYPTONITE
CRACKERMAN
ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY
SANTERIA
INSIDE OUT
MY HERO
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN
HEAVEN
ANYWAY YOU WANT IT
HARD TO HANDLE
ARE YOU GONNA BE MY GIRL
GREEN-EYED LADY
FAR BEHIND
ROOSTER
MEGALOMANIAC

SET 2
SELF ESTEEM
BASKET CASE
MR BRIGHTSIDE
SHINE-D
MIDDLE-D
BADFISH
SMOOTH
LOVE SONG
BROWN-EYED GIRL
LONG TRAIN RUNNIN
LA GRANGE
PARALYZER
EVERYBODY TALKS
GIVE IT AWAY
SWEET CHILD

SET 3
WAR PIGS
AMERICAN WOMAN
“F” YOU
POUR SOME SUGAR
BEAT IT
BRICKHOUSE
CRAZY BITCH
WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG
UNDER THE BRIDGE
ICE CREAM MAN
POSSUM KINGDOM
SEX TYPE THING
MAN IN THE BOX
DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE DO
KILLING IN THE NAME OF

Nice mix...sounds like you guys are doing a similar mix of songs to what we do!

New songs we plan to add before next Friday's show:
Time to Pretend – MGMT
All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealer’s Wheel
Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine
Jump Around – House of Pain

Songs we already know:
1. All For You - Sister Hazel
2. All The Small Things – Blink 182
3. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
4. Brain Stew - Greenday
5. Can’t Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Clocks - Coldplay
7. Come Together – The Beatles
8. E-pro - Beck
9. Fat Lip - Sum 41
10. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
11. FREEBIRD - Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. Good Times Bad Times - Led Zepplin
13. Hey Ya - OutKast
14. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
15. Hysteria - Muse
16. I Would Do For You - Slightly Stoopid
17. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
18. Is This Love – Bob Marley
19. Jumper – Third Eye Blind
20. Karma Police – Radiohead
21. Layla (Unplugged) - Eric Clapton
22. Lazy Eye – Silversun Pickups
23. Let Her Cry – Hootie & The Blowfish
24. Longview – Green Day
25. Lump – Presidents of the United States of America
26. Mississippi Queen - Mountain
27. My Generation - The Who
28. My Hero – Foo Fighters
29. Paradise City - Guns and Roses
30. Readymade – Red Hot Chili Peppers
31. Rebel Rebel – David Bowie
32. Santeria - Sublime
33. Seven Nation Army – White Stripes
34. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
35. Slow Ride - Foghat
36. Song 2 - Blur
37. Stacy’s Mom - Fountains of Wayne
38. Sunshine of your Love - Cream
39. Sweater Song – Weezer
40. The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
41. Tighten Up – Black Keys
42. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
43. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
44. What’s My Age Again? - Blink 182
45. Wells – The Expendables
46. When I Come Around – Green Day
47. Where Is My Mind – The Pixies
48. Your Love - The Outfield
 
Nice mix...sounds like you guys are doing a similar mix of songs to what we do!

New songs we plan to add before next Friday's show:
Time to Pretend – MGMT
All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealer’s Wheel
Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine
Jump Around – House of Pain

Songs we already know:
1. All For You - Sister Hazel
2. All The Small Things – Blink 182
3. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
4. Brain Stew - Greenday
5. Can’t Stop - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Clocks - Coldplay
7. Come Together – The Beatles
8. E-pro - Beck
9. Fat Lip - Sum 41
10. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
11. FREEBIRD - Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. Good Times Bad Times - Led Zepplin
13. Hey Ya - OutKast
14. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
15. Hysteria - Muse
16. I Would Do For You - Slightly Stoopid
17. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
18. Is This Love – Bob Marley
19. Jumper – Third Eye Blind
20. Karma Police – Radiohead
21. Layla (Unplugged) - Eric Clapton
22. Lazy Eye – Silversun Pickups
23. Let Her Cry – Hootie & The Blowfish
24. Longview – Green Day
25. Lump – Presidents of the United States of America
26. Mississippi Queen - Mountain
27. My Generation - The Who
28. My Hero – Foo Fighters
29. Paradise City - Guns and Roses
30. Readymade – Red Hot Chili Peppers
31. Rebel Rebel – David Bowie
32. Santeria - Sublime
33. Seven Nation Army – White Stripes
34. Sex and Candy – Marcy Playground
35. Slow Ride - Foghat
36. Song 2 - Blur
37. Stacy’s Mom - Fountains of Wayne
38. Sunshine of your Love - Cream
39. Sweater Song – Weezer
40. The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
41. Tighten Up – Black Keys
42. Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
43. Use Somebody – Kings of Leon
44. What’s My Age Again? - Blink 182
45. Wells – The Expendables
46. When I Come Around – Green Day
47. Where Is My Mind – The Pixies
48. Your Love - The Outfield

Do you get a good response out of Ready Made? We have been talking about it. Use Somebody is also on the "to do" list.

Nice set list.
 
Everybody Talks by Neon Trees has been killing it for us. We've also added:

Drive By - Train
Dani California - RHCP
Rain Dance Maggie - RHCP
She's So Mean - Matchbox 20
All For You - Sister Hazel

We ended up learning All For You just for our own enjoyment, not expecting much from the crowds, but it's done very well for us at every show. Surprised us all!