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New Band Potential Song List - Your thoughts?

#21
hrodbert696 said:
I disagree with MysticMichael about Love Stinks etc. They're not brilliant compositions, but it looks to me like you're going for crowd appeal and I think audiences get into those.
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mboogiemanusa said:
I disagree with this statement "Frankly, I think you've got a few crap tunes in there (i.e. Love Stinks, Sweet Child O' Mine, Jump, Pour Some Sugar On Me, etc.)." Sweet Child is a show highlight for us since we are lucky to have a vocalist and lead guitarist that are spot on. Keep in mind that that in the cover band scene ....the musicians in the band are usually the hippest people in the room. Customers want to hear familiar jams.....when you play the more obscure B sides and music that only appeals to band geeks......the less people on the dance floor, clapping and singing along, tipping the band and paying attention.
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Fair enough. But I think where both of your arguments fall apart is with the supposition that a) because a tune is well-known, and b) therefore the audience members can be expected to respond favorably toward it, that c) it should be play and played often - despite that tune being a total turkey. (In many cases, even the original recording artist(s) knew the song in question to be a complete throwaway dud - but they were up against the calendar, and had a contract to fulfill.)

I say there there are more options available than the ones you've implicitly acknowledged. How about the many, many tunes that a) are very well-known, b) consistently get a favorable live audience response, and c) just happen to be great pieces of music as well? Why turn something that could be a labor of love for the musicians into a kind of drudgery - just because you think you have to? :rollno:

~ Mystic ("No Proud Mary, No Free Bird") Michael
 
#22
MysticMichael said:
Fair enough. But I think where both of your arguments fall apart is with the supposition that a) because a tune is well-known, and b) therefore the audience members can be expected to respond favorably toward it, that c) it should be play and played often - despite that tune being a total turkey. (In many cases, even the original recording artist(s) knew the song in question to be a complete throwaway dud - but they were up against the calendar, and had a contract to fulfill.)

I say there there are more options available than the ones you've implicitly acknowledged. How about the many, many tunes that a) are very well-known, b) consistently get a favorable live audience response, and c) just happen to be great pieces of music as well? Why turn something that could be a labor of love for the musicians into a kind of drudgery - just because you think you have to? :rollno:

~ Mystic ("No Proud Mary, No Free Bird") Michael
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The problem with your arguement is that c) is purely subjective, there is no definitive test that everyone agrees to for distinguishing turkey from great piece of music. YOU chose to put those songs on the turkey list and they just disagreed. Some people might actually like those songs or would prefer playing them due to the response from the crowd compared to what they might get from a Yes song.
 
#23
cool list. just one thing, dont you ever, ever (everrrrrrrrr!) put ice ice baby next to david bowies name, in any way shape or form. ;)

bohemian rhapsody though. you are either very talented, very brave, or nuts! if you can do it good for you guys, if you cant though, prepare to get hell for botching it.
 
#24
GeoffT said:
The problem with your argument is that c) is purely subjective, there is no definitive test that everyone agrees to for distinguishing turkey from great piece of music.
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In a double-blind taste test, involving 600 lab rats that were divided evenly into an exposure group receiving carefully-measured, regular doses of actual crappy rock music, and a control group that received a placebo, with all subjects then surveyed extensively by Consumer Research Trends, Inc. during a 10-day period, from March 28 - April 6, 2011, it was proven - conclusively - that Love Stinks, Sweet Child O' Mine, Jump, and Pour Some Sugar On Me all SUCK! :p :ninja:

MM
 
#25
MysticMichael said:
In a double-blind taste test, involving 600 lab rats that were divided evenly into an exposure group receiving carefully-measured, regular doses of actual crappy rock music, and a control group that received a placebo, with all subjects then surveyed extensively by Consumer Research Trends, Inc. during a 10-day period, from March 28 - April 6, 2011, it was proven - conclusively - that Love Stinks, Sweet Child O' Mine, Jump, and Pour Some Sugar On Me all SUCK! :p :ninja:

MM
Click to expand...

OK, you win. I can't argue with research!

(where's the "I surrender" smilie?)
 
#26
I wouldn't put too much emphasis on Bohemian Rhapsody.....

I just thought it was a little synth/pop heavy but I guess it's just me as almost everyone else seems to like it - mostly.
 
#29
When we first talked about a new band, maybe an 80's heavy band, I thought I'd like it, but this isn't the 80's I was thinking. I think there are better tunes by bands than we are doing. I also am not a huge fan or the pop/synth/techno side of the 80's. Obviously the keyboard guy - who is doing the set/song list - is.

I don't know why they have Bohemian Rhapsody on the song list. It'll never happen live.
 
#30
I'm having a hard time envisioning a crowd dancing to some of these, such as the aforementioned Bohemian Rhapsody.

So ultimately it leads back to...what do you want the audience to do when they hear you? Sit back in their chairs and think "oh that's nice, they're playing Hotel California, yawn"...or get them up and dancing? (Granted there are some drunks that would dance to a funeral dirge, but nevermind those)

The purpose of a cover band, IMHO, is to get people to dance so they get thirsty and drink. That makes bartenders happy. If the band is playing and the crowd is just sitting at their tables, not dancing, bartenders aren't real happy. The bar could play the radio or a jukebox if the crowd isn't dancing--the bar is paying for a band to get people to dance and drink.

One of the hardest things I had to accept when playing in cover bands: songs I really really liked, or even that got a lot of radio airplay, weren't necessarily good songs to get an audience up and dancing. Conversely, some of the songs that really got the crowd on its feet are songs that I would never ever choose to listen to at home (example: "Baby Got Back").
 
#33
I'm torn. I like about 14 of the 40 songs listed. I'm not overly excited about learning or performing U2, Devo, INXS and some others. Unfortunately, if I don't play with these guys my playing will be limited to church and once a month jazz, MAYBE and occasional fill on gig.

Do I just play to play, or should I bow out gracefully and hope something comes up? I've played with a couple of these guys for over 10 years. I almost feel obligated. I hate to lose the one thing I "do" outside of family, work, etc.

I just can't get excited about most of the set list.....
 
#34
These are good songs, fun, etc. But I also agree with aztomr. The 80's have been covered (at least in my neck of the woods) almost to a fault. If the 80's are what's in demand in your area and by the age groups that frequent the bars the most, then more power to you. I would not recommend this set list in a college bar or if you are specifically targeting the under-30 something crowd (maybe even a bit older). My band plays a strong college circuit and twenty-something weddings and most of this era is not requested or played. We play 90's to present pop/top 40.
 
#35
Sweet Child O' Mine goes down really well when my bands play it. Perhaps you guys just aren't that good at it ;)

As for the list, you guys definitely seem like a band that "gets it". You need to play what people want to hear while still leaving room for a few things that are both fun for you guys and not done to death. My only concern is that it's almost a straight 80's song list - which isn't bad, but you need to be sure that's the angle you're going for.
 
#37
I sent an email with some other song suggestions (not 80's, not synth/sequenced) that I thought would be good as well as highlighting the songs that I liked from the set list - maybe 40 or so tunes total - to all the guys. I left a few of the synthy tunes on as I do like some of them. I got a reply (only to me) from the keyboard guy saying yada,yada I want to do my list.

As he didn't respond to everyone - shouldn't we be open about this - I texted a couple other guys and it seems they, too, think it might be OK to do an 80's thing, but would rather do a more broad set of tunes. For some reason they just don't respond or speak out.

I have a jazz gig with the keyboard guy and one of the guitar players tonight so I'm guessing we may chat a bit. I'm curious as to what will happen. I'm guessing I won't be playing with this band - which is fine. I have no ill feelings. Everyone should play what they want. I hope it doesn't effect the jazz group which is playing quite well.

I hate to lose a gig - especially with good players - but it is what it is I guess. More time to play at church or maybe find something else.

Here's my revised song list - if you're curious. Still a bit of a mix, but a little more "rock" oriented maybe:

Hold the Line
ROCK in the USA
Working for the Weekend
Just What I needed
Another One Bites the Dust
Billie Jean
Rio
Gimme All You Lovin
Let’s Go Crazy
Centerfold
Dreams
Footloose
Livin on a Prayer
Faith
Jack and Diane
Sweet Child O’ Mine
More Than Words
Don’t Stop Believin’
1999
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Crocodile Rock
Everybody Wants You
Hold On Loosely
Jessie’s Girl
Kiss
Let’s Go Crazy
Love Stinks
Runaway
September
Simply Irresistible
Tush
Wanted Dead or Alive
What I Like About You
Slide
Sunday Morning
Learn to Fly
You’re a God
Semi-Charmed Life
Hard to Handle or maybe Remedy
Sweet Dreams
Plush or Interstate Love Song
When I Come Around or Basket Case
Always on the run or American Woman
Let Me Go
Carry On Wayward Son
Long Train Runnin’
 
#38
SteveC said:
That's a god question. We aren't sure. We know that no one else is doing this stuff, but there might be a good reason no one is doing this around here. There's a lot of country and classic rock around here.
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Same here in my area... and we took you're route.... we do a lot of 80's 90's and Today (mmm sounds like a radio station plug)... and the people LOOOOOOVE it.... keep it fresh and entertaining and its bound to rock (granted we're on opposite ends of the country lol)... be sure to keep "local favorites" as well playing songs the other bands don't is great... but they always want to hear some of the same.

Here's our song list (somewhat of it)

1) 6-in-a-row (bad touch, hot ‘n cold, tik tok, taylor swift, bad case of loving you, sharp dressed man)
2) All the Small Things - Blink 182
3) Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers
4) Are You Gonna Be my Girl - Jet
5) Baby Girl - Sugarland
6) Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman
7) Cumbersome - Seven Mary Three
8) Don’t Stop Believing - Journey
9) Enter Sandman - Metallica
10) Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
11) Fly - Sugar Ray
12) Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix
13) Fresh/Funky - (Fresh Prince, play that funky music)
14) Girl You Really Got Me - the Kinks/Van Halen
15) Give it Away - RHCP
16) Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman
17) Dani California - RHCP
18) Hard to Handle - Black Crowes
19) Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
20) Hemorrhage - Fuel
21) Hit Me with Your Best Shot- Pat Benetar
22) I Believe in a Thing Called Love - the Darkness
23) I Love Rock ‘N Roll - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
24) I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
25) Jenny - Tommy Tutone
26) Just a Girl - No Doubt
27) Killing in the Name of - Rage Against the Machine
28) Last Dance with Mary Jane - Tom Petty
29) Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
30) Mr. Brightside - The Killers
31) Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
32) Santeria - Sublime
33) Say It Ain’t So - Weezer
34) Sex & Candy - Marcy Playground
35) Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
36) Shake It - Metro Station
37) She Hates Me - Puddle of Mud
38) Simple Man - Lynrd Skynrd
39) Summer of ‘69 - Bryan Adams
40) Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
41) Sweet Home Alabama - Skynrd
42) Take it Off - the Donna's
43) Welcome to the Jungle/Sweet Child of Mine -GNR
44) What I Got - Sublime
45) You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
46) Zombie - The Cranberries

Faith - Geroge Michael/Limp Bizkit
E.T. - Katy Perry
Last Friday Night - Katy Perry
Pricetag - Jessie J
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Save Me - Shinedown
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Call Me - Blondie
My Own Worst Enemy - Lit
Watermelon Crawl - Tracy Byrd (always good for a laugh at the smaller places =D)

The first part was just a copy+paste of an old songlist I had... the others are "new" additions to that or ones we're practicing up...
 
#39
SteveC said:
I sent an email with some other song suggestions (not 80's, not synth/sequenced) that I thought would be good as well as highlighting the songs that I liked from the set list - maybe 40 or so tunes total - to all the guys. I left a few of the synthy tunes on as I do like some of them. I got a reply (only to me) from the keyboard guy saying yada,yada I want to do my list.

As he didn't respond to everyone - shouldn't we be open about this - I texted a couple other guys and it seems they, too, think it might be OK to do an 80's thing, but would rather do a more broad set of tunes. For some reason they just don't respond or speak out.

I have a jazz gig with the keyboard guy and one of the guitar players tonight so I'm guessing we may chat a bit. I'm curious as to what will happen. I'm guessing I won't be playing with this band - which is fine. I have no ill feelings. Everyone should play what they want. I hope it doesn't effect the jazz group which is playing quite well.

I hate to lose a gig - especially with good players - but it is what it is I guess. More time to play at church or maybe find something else.

Here's my revised song list - if you're curious. Still a bit of a mix, but a little more "rock" oriented maybe:

Hold the Line
ROCK in the USA
Working for the Weekend
Just What I needed
Another One Bites the Dust
Billie Jean
Rio
Gimme All You Lovin
Let’s Go Crazy
Centerfold
Dreams
Footloose
Livin on a Prayer
Faith
Jack and Diane
Sweet Child O’ Mine
More Than Words
Don’t Stop Believin’
1999
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Crocodile Rock
Everybody Wants You
Hold On Loosely
Jessie’s Girl
Kiss
Let’s Go Crazy
Love Stinks
Runaway
September
Simply Irresistible
Tush
Wanted Dead or Alive
What I Like About You
Slide
Sunday Morning
Learn to Fly
You’re a God
Semi-Charmed Life
Hard to Handle or maybe Remedy
Sweet Dreams
Plush or Interstate Love Song
When I Come Around or Basket Case
Always on the run or American Woman
Let Me Go
Carry On Wayward Son
Long Train Runnin’
Click to expand...

I think this list would go over much better (in a club with dancing) than the original list.
 
#40
I doubt I'll be playing in this band or any offshoot so this thread is done I guess.

Circumstances have really put me off of playing so I'm putting my gear away for a few weeks. Maybe a break will help clear my head.
 

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