Overplayed Covers

[PennyroyalWe]

My band has always been an originals band, playing 45min sets at showcase shows, but recently we’ve decided to shift gears towards learning covers to mix in 2-3hr gigs of crowd pleasers at some of the local gastropubs and such. The idea being we’re getting older, time is getting scarcer, and these gigs pay better (or at all). We’re kind of an Americana/heartland rock thing, a few have described us as “red dirt”, whatever that is? That being said, we’ve started putting together a list of cover tunes to try and I want to avoid over played, done to death, hope-to-never-hear-again songs. Obviously brown eyed girl and mustang sally aren’t gonna be in our setlist, but I’m wondering what else you all advise to avoid? Figured a group of music makers is likely a good pool of music goers as well!

 

[SoCal80s]

First, I suggest you create a new brand and market that brand as the cover band. Create a new band with the same people in it, but with its own name, own web pages, etc. If you try to sell the current brand as "sometimes we play originals, sometimes we play covers" I would expect poor response.

Second, the reason those songs are played out is because the audience loves them. I've had people drop a $20 in our tip jar and say "play Brown Eyed Girl!" That's just the reality of what people are willing to pay to hear. So I suggest looking at those songs a little differently and choose songs based on what the audience wants to hear, what you can play well, and what is fun for all.

 

[kevindahl]

It's a great question. The overplayed songs ALWAYS work.

If you do choose to play the songs don't butcher them. I have seen more bands not play them well and that's why it wasn't an enjoyable listening experience.

Which songs can all band members agree to play? This is important not making a particular member play a song they just can't stand. There are plenty of classics to choose from.

I guess my point is don't avoid playing them just because they are overplayed. If all members can't stand the choices don't play them it's not worth the bickering. You are playing to an audience and they are the ones who will show their appreciation.

In our current band we do about 10 of these type of tunes. We don't do them very gig and we will play more of them if the demographic favors them. Sometimes we will insert a couple on the fly to "break the ice" and get the dance floor happening.

The other alternative is to change up the arrangement and/or style. You can do your own but there are lots of youtube covers of covers which are really cool.

Medleys and Mashups work well but these take a lot of effort and buy in from the group.

Good Luck.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Depends on how you play them. I played in a band where the lead singer also played alto sax. At one gig, a couple asked if we played Mustang Sally. Turns out they played trumpet and trombone, had just returned from an orchestra rehearsal, and had their horns in the car. We played the tune with a full horn section, three part vocal harmony, and a great drummer. Needless to say, we stomped the #$_&_# out of it, and the crowd absolutely loved it.

 

[ArtechnikA]

If you're playing the night Sally and her friends come in for her birthday, you'd *better* know 'Mustang Sally' ...

[ ;-) ]

 

[Rob1957]

Better to know the Mustang Sally’s and Roadhouse Blue’s and be prepared to play them well when required then to come across as half assed wankers

 

[david osborn]

Margaritaville, turn the page, proud mary..
Are my top 3 overplayed selections.
All great, successful songs..
But enough is enough.

 

[DWBass]

No such thing. Just play them well.

 

[5StringBlues]

Tennessee Whiskey certainly was becoming one in the Houston cover/R and B/blues scene .

 

[Ostie]

Gimme Three Steps. If any band plays it, I’m outta there.

 

[shastaband]

I’ve never understood the aversion to highly popular songs in a cover band. It would be like a carpenter feeling that his hammer was overused. “I’m tired and bored with this hammer. I want to use my saw to drive nails.” Songs in a cover band are merely tools to get to the audience. Use the ones that work. If “Gimmee Three Steps” fills the dance floor in your area, it’s self-defeating to avoid it. If you’re playing cover tunes, you’re a craftsman, not an artist. Give the customer what they want.

 

[david osborn]

My last cover band typical set:
1. A favor house Atlantic- segue to
2. Feathers
3. Smoke on the water-segue to
4. Fortunate son
5.crazy on you
6 limelite
7. Dont fear the reaper-segue to
8. Burnin for you
9. Comfortably numb
10. White room -segue to
11. Stairway to heaven
12. The immigrant song

Nobody ever asked for mustang Sally..

 

[lbbc]

There's no such thing as an overplayed song if people enjoy and want to hear it. I am absolutely tired of 10 "standard" songs on our list... some I've been playing for over 30 years. But if the people want to hear it, I'll smile and play it like it's the first time I ever played it.

 

[db59]

All of the them

 

[TheReceder]

Sadly, the reason some songs are overplayed covers is because that's what people wanted to hear and dance to.

My kryptonite,
Jesses girl
Sweet Caroline
867-5309
Wagon wheel
Margaritaville
and Almost any top 40 Tom Petty song

The truth... I'll play any and all of them if they keep the dance floor filled, and drinks flowing at the bar.

 

[Lucky Chuck]

The other alternative is to change up the arrangement and/or style.

This! Are you a musician or just a freakin', lazy, live juke box?

The best band I was ever privileged to play with arranged EVERYTHING. We made medleys out of songs. We covered the hook on whatever instruments we had instead of whatever instrument played it on the radio. We sang harmony that highlighted our voices instead of theirs. We changed tempo, rhythm, style, arrangement, intro, bridge, ending ... whatever our (very talented) lead guitar player heard in his head and taught to us. And we played from our hearts.

We made music. Became local legends while having the times of our lives.

Anybody here cryin' ... man, you ain't tryin'...


Sorry. Flame off. Be well.


But I'll be looking for people like that when we all burn our masks and can get out there again. Just sayin'...

;->

 

[MasterG]

There's 1,000s of tunes that would fill a dance floor and I've never heard played by a cover band and that aren't obscure b sides etc. Take a look at the top 100 tunes of the ,say, the last 50yrs. I bet you've never heard a band cover 70% of them.

 

[jamro217]

There's 1,000s of tunes that would fill a dance floor and I've never heard played by a cover band and that aren't obscure b sides etc. Take a look at the top 100 tunes of the ,say, the last 50yrs. I bet you've never heard a band cover 70% of them.

That was the premise of our old band and it worked great. After we started playing some of the forgotten songs they started to show up on the radio again. Coincidence or people calling in requests? A great night of entertainment for some people involve memories of happier times. Playing a song that they may have forgotten about that rekindles those memories is a gift to that person in the audience. After hearing the same tunes rendered hundreds of times a lost hit from their youth is a gem. The only problem is convincing other musicians that their wankfest isn't as important as pleasing members of your audience. Rare is the guitarist willing to mimic Redbone's Tony Bellamy on "Come And Get Your Love".

 

[TheReceder]

This! Are you a musician or just a freakin', lazy, live juke box?

The best band I was ever privileged to play with arranged EVERYTHING. We made medleys out of songs. We covered the hook on whatever instruments we had instead of whatever instrument played it on the radio. We sang harmony that highlighted our voices instead of theirs. We changed tempo, rhythm, style, arrangement, intro, bridge, ending ... whatever our (very talented) lead guitar player heard in his head and taught to us. And we played from our hearts.

We made music. Became local legends while having the times of our lives.

Anybody here cryin' ... man, you ain't tryin'...


Sorry. Flame off. Be well.


But I'll be looking for people like that when we all burn our masks and can get out there again. Just sayin'...

;->

Op sorry for the question... but thought Lucky chuck was the best one to ask...
LC...Couldn't like your post enough... curious if you guys ever tried any mashups... been trying to talk three bands into doing one just to change things up a little.
Rock in Black - Queen vs. AC/DC feat. Robert Plant & friends - YouTube

 

[theduke1]

First, I suggest you create a new brand and market that brand as the cover band. Create a new band with the same people in it, but with its own name, own web pages, etc. If you try to sell the current brand as "sometimes we play originals, sometimes we play covers" I would expect poor response.

Second, the reason those songs are played out is because the audience loves them. I've had people drop a $20 in our tip jar and say "play Brown Eyed Girl!" That's just the reality of what people are willing to pay to hear. So I suggest looking at those songs a little differently and choose songs based on what the audience wants to hear, what you can play well, and what is fun for all.

What he said x 2
Duke