Double Bass Picking Cover Songs

[neddyrow]

I currently play in an Old Time Fiddle/Bluegrass band that mostly plays our own original music. We play many private parties and weddings where we need to add covers so that we can play a 3-4 hour shows.

We usually play some old standard bluegrass fiddle tunes like, Tippin' back the corn, Hangman's Reel, White Freightliner, Big River and we sprinkle in Dead covers as well.

We are going into the studio this weekend to record our next album and then the plan is to get "show ready" for the spring and summer. We have been arranging and practicing the album songs to death and won't need to work on those. The plan is to come up with new covers for the people who have seen us many times over the last few years and just to keep things "fresh"

The issue is that our band is on very far ends of the spectrum in song choices when it comes to picking new covers. One guy in the band wants to do old country and Texas swing songs that are good but nobody knows. One guy want to play songs from the 60s and 70s that some people know but not widely. One guy says we do more Dead covers.

My opinion can be summed up in one word, "accessible." I don't want to play old songs that nobody knows as it is a lost advantage to bring people in. Most times people just assume they are more of our original songs. We have a treasure trove of quality songs that all of us have wrote that I would love to dust off and add more original songs we actually did write.

I personally think that when we do a cover, people should know it. I have recommended songs like Heaven Sent by the Steeldrivers or Charleston Girl by Tyler Childers and other songs that are popular with the average person.

I feel the goal of an originals band playing covers is to grab the attention of a new person as a possible new fan. A decent cover that people know is an opportunity to get new fan and followers. Playing songs people don't know and aren't our original music doesn't help bring in new people IMHO.

What I could use help with is suggestions as to songs that may bridge the gap between our differing opinions. And songs like, Man of Constant Sorrow or Will the Circle be Unbroken are already overplayed in our area and won't fly.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[statsc]

I currently play in an Old Time Fiddle/Bluegrass band that mostly plays our own original music. We play many private parties and weddings where we need to add covers so that we can play a 3-4 hour shows.

We usually play some old standard bluegrass fiddle tunes like, Tippin' back the corn, Hangman's Reel, White Freightliner, Big River and we sprinkle in Dead covers as well.

We are going into the studio this weekend to record our next album and then the plan is to get "show ready" for the spring and summer. We have been arranging and practicing the album songs to death and won't need to work on those. The plan is to come up with new covers for the people who have seen us many times over the last few years and just to keep things "fresh"

The issue is that our band is on very far ends of the spectrum in song choices when it comes to picking new covers. One guy in the band wants to do old country and Texas swing songs that are good but nobody knows. One guy want to play songs from the 60s and 70s that some people know but not widely. One guy says we do more Dead covers.

My opinion can be summed up in one word, "accessible." I don't want to play old songs that nobody knows as it is a lost advantage to bring people in. Most times people just assume they are more of our original songs. We have a treasure trove of quality songs that all of us have wrote that I would love to dust off and add more original songs we actually did write.

I personally think that when we do a cover, people should know it. I have recommended songs like Heaven Sent by the Steeldrivers or Charleston Girl by Tyler Childers and other songs that are popular with the average person.

I feel the goal of an originals band playing covers is to grab the attention of a new person as a possible new fan. A decent cover that people know is an opportunity to get new fan and followers. Playing songs people don't know and aren't our original music doesn't help bring in new people IMHO.

What I could use help with is suggestions as to songs that may bridge the gap between our differing opinions. And songs like, Man of Constant Sorrow or Will the Circle be Unbroken are already overplayed in our area and won't fly.

Any help would be appreciated.

The last thing the world needs is more Dead covers!

 

[neddyrow]

The last thing the world needs is more Dead covers!

The name of our band as I was joining was the Gerry Jarcia Stringband. Luckily we changed it immediately after joining. Don't get me wrong, I have many dead albums but, there's a time and a place for sure.

 

[AGCurry]

Compromise?
Do covers with which you can do something different (time signature, rhythm patterns, tempo, etc.).
Among the covers, originals and obscure songs will go over as long as they're performed with spirit and "packaged" with some engaging words from the bandstand.

 

[neddyrow]

Compromise?
Do covers with which you can do something different (time signature, rhythm patterns, tempo, etc.).
Among the covers, originals and obscure songs will go over as long as they're performed with spirit and "packaged" with some engaging words from the bandstand.

That's a good point and one we try to follow. Usually people think those old songs are our tunes because we do them with great vigor.

I'd just like to play a song that might catch the attention of the average "Joe". The average music lover enjoys our band but it seems the average bar goer needs a little more of an extended arm to reach out and grab them. This is where I think a more well-known cover may help.

 

[james condino]

Anything but "Wagon Wheel"!

Your region is also very specific. When I lived on the west coast, it seems like every band I played in brought the house down with Dead tunes, regardless if it was pop, jazz, or bluegrass. Here in NC, regardless of the gig I feel like I'm expected to play a few Bill Monroe & Doc Watson tunes.

it seems the average bar goer needs a little more of an extended arm to reach out and grab them

This^^^^^^^

As much as we may enjoy pushing the limits, most of the audience doesn't get it. I'm always reminding my bandmates that as cool as you may think it is to shred at 1000 miles per hour, it would be a lot more cool if the audience could recognize the melody....and the tip jar is usually a whole lot better.

 

[neddyrow]

Anything but "Wagon Wheel"!

Your region is also very specific. When I lived on the west coast, it seems like every band I played in brought the house down with Dead tunes, regardless if it was pop, jazz, or bluegrass. Here in NC, regardless of the gig I feel like I'm expected to play a few Bill Monroe & Doc Watson tunes.



This^^^^^^^

As much as we may enjoy pushing the limits, most of the audience doesn't get it. I'm always reminding my bandmates that as cool as you may think it is to shred at 1000 miles per hour, it would be a lot more cool if the audience could recognize the melody....and the tip jar is usually a whole lot better.

Totally agree...thanks for the tips as well

 

[Jay Corwin]

You might hate the idea, but I've heard some Beatles songs done that fit into the string band mold, like All Together Now, Ob-La-Di, etc. Everyone knows a Beatles songs when they here it, and you guys have the harmonies to pull them off.

 

[brianrost]

Are you avoiding straight ahead bluegrass? The catalogs of Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs are ripe for the picking. It's easy enough to modernize them if needed to make it more palatable for your audience.

I'd recommend the Seldom Scene who were one of the first bluegrass bands to seriously look to pop for material and inspiration. They covered "After Midnight" and "Lay Down Sally" for instance.

Tony Rice did a lot of Gordon Lightfoot covers, even "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and there's a compilation on Rounder of nothing but his Lightfoot covers.

 

[brianrost]

You might hate the idea, but I've heard some Beatles songs done that fit into the string band mold

 

[brianrost]

Some more examples...Allmans, Byrds

 

[skwee]

Based on what you've mentioned, my vote would be to do none of the songs that any of you would like to personally do, but to cover songs that are non-old timey-adjascent. Pick from other genres entirely. For example, I've covered Van Halen, White Stripes, and The Who all in a bluegrass style, and the audience goes nuts.

 

[neddyrow]

Are you avoiding straight ahead bluegrass? The catalogs of Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs are ripe for the picking. It's easy enough to modernize them if needed to make it more palatable for your audience.

I'd recommend the Seldom Scene who were one of the first bluegrass bands to seriously look to pop for material and inspiration. They covered "After Midnight" and "Lay Down Sally" for instance.

Tony Rice did a lot of Gordon Lightfoot covers, even "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" and there's a compilation on Rounder of nothing but his Lightfoot covers.

Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot is one of my favorite recordings of all time!

 

[neddyrow]

It's funny because I'm the worst singer in the band and the people absolutely love it when I sing, Big River.

We do it as our second set opener to get people back into the groove

 

[Neon Scribe]

Speaking of the Steeldrivers, you should try “If It Hadn’t Been for Love”.

 

[5StringBlues]

check out RUN C and W. STAX and MOTOWN covers done bluegrass. 2 or three of the really well known cuts should fit in well. bernie leadon put it together.

 

[marcox]

Based on what you've mentioned, my vote would be to do none of the songs that any of you would like to personally do, but to cover songs that are non-old timey-adjascent. Pick from other genres entirely. For example, I've covered Van Halen, White Stripes, and The Who all in a bluegrass style, and the audience goes nuts.

Yup. We played and recorded a grassy version of Pink Floyd’s “Hey You,” and got great response to Bee Gees and Tom Petty covers.

 

[Ed S]

Just got back from a long car ride. At some point, my wife put on a Mark O'Connor New Nashville Cats CD. I asked her to switch CDs after 3-4 songs. The pickers were all amazing, but I couldn't imagine the audience they thought it would appeal to. Instead, my impression was that it was done for their own gratification.

Not to get into a discussion of these artists, but don't forget the prospective listener/buyer.

My favorite covers are either when the band does something greatly different with it, either in tempo, key, instrumentation... I can never understand when folk do covers that are really similar to the original/popular versions. Along those lines, it works well to pick songs from different genres. But IMO, playing live it can be fun for BG/oldtime up some totally different song - whether punk or classical.

So maybe look to songs that are more of a vocalist's showcase, and do them with your instrumentation. Of drastically slow down/speed up the tempo. We used to do a VERY up tempo version of Wayfaring Stranger. Now I dislike hearing the more common slower versions. We really enjoy doing standards in minor keys - which really changes the vibe.

Dylan and Tom Waits have deep catalogs. You can find something that works for you.

 

[neddyrow]

Just got back from a long car ride. At some point, my wife put on a Mark O'Connor New Nashville Cats CD. I asked her to switch CDs after 3-4 songs. The pickers were all amazing, but I couldn't imagine the audience they thought it would appeal to. Instead, my impression was that it was done for their own gratification.

Not to get into a discussion of these artists, but don't forget the prospective listener/buyer.

My favorite covers are either when the band does something greatly different with it, either in tempo, key, instrumentation... I can never understand when folk do covers that are really similar to the original/popular versions. Along those lines, it works well to pick songs from different genres. But IMO, playing live it can be fun for BG/oldtime up some totally different song - whether punk or classical.

So maybe look to songs that are more of a vocalist's showcase, and do them with your instrumentation. Of drastically slow down/speed up the tempo. We used to do a VERY up tempo version of Wayfaring Stranger. Now I dislike hearing the more common slower versions. We really enjoy doing standards in minor keys - which really changes the vibe.

Dylan and Tom Waits have deep catalogs. You can find something that works for you.

This is what I'm talking about! You hit the nail on the head.

Speaking of minor songs, we do Angelina Baker where in the middle, we switch it to the minor key and it sounds really cool...especially when we go back to the major towards the end. I don't know how much the crowd notices what we are doing but they like it when the familiar riff comes back.

We agreed at rehearsal last night that after we record our album next week, we are all going to make a list of cover songs that we want to do. I'll update you guys on all the suggestions from the band so you can see what I'm working with and maybe help me be diplomatic when I explain the purpose of cover songs from the audience perspective.