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ok how is this going to work?

L

livinitup0

Dec 22, 2011
196
0
#1
hey guys, long time lurker 1st time poster...

I have a question about song selection within my rock band.
We do a VERY wide range of rock tunes ranging from stuff thats so light i doubt it could really be considered rock all the way up the rockhardness scale (lol) to "Killing in the name of"
song selection is very democratic and if someone really wants to play something we'll ususally try it.

We're about halfway through getting a full nights tunes down...we sound really good and we mesh very well...no attitudes, no issues, no drama...

however one thing has irked me for a while now...
weve been throwing out song ideas and each time the genre of the band is getting more and more indistinct with me...for better or worse... and today one of the guys pulled out "That Thing You Do" ...yeah...the one from the movie. Everyone but me is on board with it.

I dont mind the song...its catchy... but can we really pull off a show playing "Killing in the name of" in one set and "That thing you do" in another? I mean a gimmicky "hey thats funny" tune is one thing but Im pretty sure the guys are as serious about this song as any other...

questions/comments/lolz appreciated.
Thanks
 
#7
The only thing that I do know for certain, is that I don't really know anything for certain! This is especially true when picking songs. I don't know how many times I've picked something that I was sure couldn't miss, was played well, but audiences didn't like. Probably about as many times as something I thought was useless, played badly, but people lapped it up! The only way to know for sure whether something will work or not, is to try it.

I now use/propose the following rules for picking songs:

Anybody can bring any song that they want to the band.
- Whomever brings the song should expect to sing lead on it, at least well enough to hold it together until a more accomplished singer is up to speed (if necessary).
- We will all do our honest best to learn it & play it well.
- If it "works", in the sense that people like it, we'll keep it; if not, it's dropped.
- Give it 3-4 tries to be sure before deciding whether to keep it or not, just to be sure the 1st try wasn't a fluke.

For a cover band, diversity is your friend. If you can tailor your show to the audience, your odds of being invited back to play again (maybe for a little more money) go up. On the other hand, if you try to force yourself into a narrow genre, it's pretty likely that someday you'll find yourself playing someplace where that narrow genre isn't appreciated very much.
 
#9
livinitup0 said:
hey guys, long time lurker 1st time poster...

I have a question about song selection within my rock band.
We do a VERY wide range of rock tunes ranging from stuff thats so light i doubt it could really be considered rock all the way up the rockhardness scale (lol) to "Killing in the name of"
song selection is very democratic and if someone really wants to play something we'll ususally try it.

We're about halfway through getting a full nights tunes down...we sound really good and we mesh very well...no attitudes, no issues, no drama...

however one thing has irked me for a while now...
weve been throwing out song ideas and each time the genre of the band is getting more and more indistinct with me...for better or worse... and today one of the guys pulled out "That Thing You Do" ...yeah...the one from the movie. Everyone but me is on board with it.

I dont mind the song...its catchy... but can we really pull off a show playing "Killing in the name of" in one set and "That thing you do" in another? I mean a gimmicky "hey thats funny" tune is one thing but Im pretty sure the guys are as serious about this song as any other...

questions/comments/lolz appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Advice ~ Go with the flow.
Don’t worry about it yet - just focus on learning as many songs as you can right now so you can go work - then at every gig pay close attention to which songs the audience likes best and dump the duds and replace the duds with songs your audience like. Also, as a cover band - keep adding new material so you don’t bore your audience (or yourselves) with the same old songs night after night. And if you play covers - play the songs right - don‘t re-arrange them and etc. Also pay attention to songs that work well for opening with and song that work good back to back and songs that are good for ending or closing the show or set with and etc - from experience and paying attention you will learn how to put a good show or song list together that works.
 
#12
Variety is a good thing in a cover band. I would play it and see how the crowd responds. We have played many songs in the past, and the crowd reaction will tell you whether to keep it or not. Over the years, we have developed a very diverse setlist. We can play rock covers of Rush, Led Zep, UFO, STP, but also do more popular dance songs and even throw in a few blues and country songs. It's best to know a lot of songs from many genres and you can fine-tune your setlist to fit the audience you are playing for.
 
#13
Your song list, after you start gigging, should not be written in stone.

If a song doesn't fill the dance floor, consider replacing it. Maybe it was just that crowd, that night. Try it for a different crowd and see how it goes. IMO, two strikes and it's out.

This is what the band should be agreeing on. Sure you can "try" pretty much any tune, it's how it fills the venue that matters in the long run. Eventually you'll have a song list that makes money, whether you like all the songs or not.
 
#14
In my (limited) experience the set list is generally driven by the audience. You will need more songs ready than you will play in a night. That way if something doesnt work you can change it.

A mate of mine did a wedding that had a lot of younger guests. HAving noticed that the older people were dancing and the youngers ones were not, he junked the set list and did a load of 60's stuff which the 'oldies' loved. BTW I am 49 years old, I can use the term 'oldies'.
 
#15
Marko5657 said:
If you’re the only one who doesn’t like it, you should go along.

If it doesn’t work for the crowd, it’ll become apparent.
Click to expand...

+1

I'm in a couple of cover bands as well, and our song lists are quite diverse. Honestly, there are a number of tunes that I really don't dig, or think that we should play, but if it gets people on the dancefloor it makes playing those songs a lot more enjoyable.

Like Marko said, if it doesn't work you guys will know it, and maybe it'll get phased out of the list. If it does work, then you're making your audience happy, which will make the bar happy, which will get you guys hired more often.

And plus, it's a good little tune :D
 
#16
livinitup0 said:
I dont mind the song...its catchy... but can we really pull off a show playing "Killing in the name of" in one set and "That thing you do" in another? I mean a gimmicky "hey thats funny" tune is one thing but Im pretty sure the guys are as serious about this song as any other...
Click to expand...

I played in a band where we played 'I Feel it All' by Feist and 'Gasoline' by Audioslave. I gritted my teeth while playing Feist and adopted a silly dance similar to the Linus dance in the Charlie Brown TV specials while playing it as a form of protest. The crowd liked both tunes.

I would not recommend you play them back to back, but if the crowd likes them, they stay longer and drink more. This gets you paid better and invited back. If they turn their nose up at it, then you have a case to have it dropped.
 
#17
JeremyS said:
+1

I'm in a couple of cover bands as well, and our song lists are quite diverse. Honestly, there are a number of tunes that I really don't dig, or think that we should play, but if it gets people on the dancefloor it makes playing those songs a lot more enjoyable.
Click to expand...

This...

There are several songs we play that on a personal level I absolutely detest. However the crowd loves them, so I play them with a big smile on my face anyway.
 
#18
While we are on the topic of cover songs and bar gigs - here are some tips on how to work the bar. 1) Start the first set off with some popular upbeat songs to get people on the dance floor right away - we’ve even taken chicks to gigs and paid them to get the dance floor going - nobody wants to be the first or only ones on the dance floor - so prime it if need be. 2) Thank the bar, bartenders, and cocktail waitresses and remind people to tip them. 3) If you see a local regular (usually an older man) buying rounds for the bar - when he dances (usually with younger chicks) make him look good by grooving with him and don’t play a long song that wears him out and makes him look old - that way he will stick around and keep buying rounds for the bar and even tip you (I’ve gotten over $100 in extra tips doing this). 4) Don’t dance the people to death - IE, play 3-4 songs back to back keeping the people on the dance floor (making them hot and thirsty) - then pause for the cause and give people a chance to re-order drinks - they don’t drink as much when dancing and the more the cash registers ring the more money the bar makes and the more money you will make too. Often make toast - tell everyone to get a shot and make fun toast for birthdays, thank goodness it Friday, go S.F. 49ers, etc. But keep the pause very short so it’s easier to get the people back up on the dance floor. 5) Close the set with a song that leaves your audience wanting more and then go hang with your fans so they stay during the break and stick around for the next set. There are many ways to work the crowd and tricks of the trade but these are a few basic tips to help you get started. Oh, and have fun - because if your not having fun your audience won’t have fun either - and simile. Best wishes, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

EDIT: Bars make their money from selling drinks and the only or main reason the bar hired your band is to help them sell drinks - so the sooner you learn this the more gigs and money you will get. Also you should get a set fee or at least the whole door/cover charge and a % of the bar - and rooms etc if playing out of town.
 
#19
livinitup0 said:
hey guys, long time lurker 1st time poster...

I have a question about song selection within my rock band.
We do a VERY wide range of rock tunes ranging from stuff thats so light i doubt it could really be considered rock all the way up the rockhardness scale (lol) to "Killing in the name of"
song selection is very democratic and if someone really wants to play something we'll ususally try it.

We're about halfway through getting a full nights tunes down...we sound really good and we mesh very well...no attitudes, no issues, no drama...

however one thing has irked me for a while now...
weve been throwing out song ideas and each time the genre of the band is getting more and more indistinct with me...for better or worse... and today one of the guys pulled out "That Thing You Do" ...yeah...the one from the movie. Everyone but me is on board with it.

I dont mind the song...its catchy... but can we really pull off a show playing "Killing in the name of" in one set and "That thing you do" in another? I mean a gimmicky "hey thats funny" tune is one thing but Im pretty sure the guys are as serious about this song as any other...

questions/comments/lolz appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...

"Killing in the name of" and "That thing you do" in the same night? Depends on the crowd and other circumstances (venue, expectations, how the gig was promoted, etc...). If you've got a head banger crowd just really groovin' and slammin', be careful with "TTYD". You might get a beer bottle to the forehead.
 

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