Likewise, it has been my observation that jugs tend to get crowds going. Wash boards, not so much.
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Set list blows
- Thread starter Xemoran
- Start date
Interesting topic. As a 70year old low end half of an acoustic duo here on the NC/SC coast, we play 75% of the time to the restaurant crowd and 25% to the restaurant/bar crowd. Two in ten gigs may result in dancing during the last set. More than once we have been told to take a break as the tables were not turning over fast enough. I had never thought of that as a problem. In popular restaurants, due mainly to the food and service, I've asked why they continue to hire us as the place is always busy. The answer has been there are fewer complaints about having to wait for their orders when we play and patrons seem to order more drinks while listening. We have well over 200 tunes in our portfolio that range from the Righteous Bros... to the Beatles, Stones, America, Simon & Garfunkle to the Goo Goo Dolls and Pearl Jam. In season is a younger crowd and fall through winter we are busy entertaining the locals who are older. During the pandemic we have averaged 3 shows a week. Before the pandemic 3-5 and more. The shows run 3-4 hours starting at 5pm and finishing by 9pm and I rarely travel more than 30 minutes away. We play well known popular covers and covers of groups not so publicly popular but produce great music... in our opinion. What we do though is done very well, or so we are told. We go into our 6th season this year and I have never been busier or happier playing what we play. The EB3 went on it's half century tour here in 2020.
A few posts back, you defined your position. Singer and drummer are married. Band belongs to singer and guitar player.
You have zero leverage. None. Your only hope is skillful, tactful diplomacy.
You have zero leverage. None. Your only hope is skillful, tactful diplomacy.
I apologize in advance for not having read the whole thread. Variety is the spice of longevity: I've been with the same crew for 7 years now (minus 2020), and every month we add to the set list. All kinds of stuff: '60s r&b and psychedelia; '70s heavy rock and disco (I love playing "Boogie Oogie Oogie); '80s new wave; a bunch of Steely Dan tunes (mostly to remind people that yes, we can play songs with more than four chords) other odds and ends. And a few deep cuts that we've played long enough that the regulars sing along ("Good Time" by ARC Angels comes to mind). I'm curious to know how the OP's set list is actually going over with audiences. He doesn't like the songs--but I either missed it (entirely possible) or he's never said how the songs he doesn't like actually go over with the audiences he's playing for? Just sayin'
PS: I can't fire the singer, she's the BL!
It's pretty simple.
Have a group of musicians who can all KEEP TIME BY THEMSELVES, and play dancey stuff the same as with a drummer.
Similar experience here. We had a couple of female vocalists who were trying to bring some newer songs into the rotation and people generally enjoyed them, but nothing hit as hard as Gary Moore and ZZ Top haha
Our audiences are often 40+ and we play pretty much everything, but the stuff from the 80s and classic rock in general is incredibly popular. You can tell immediately what an audience loves and that's why we don't even have real setlists. We just have a bunch of songs (60-80) for a given show that we must know our way around and depending on the audience we will play certain things.
I didn't read the whole thread, but I think most people DO know "The Way You Make Me Feel" and it is an excellent example of a song that people know and but is not played often.
My wife is familiar with Concrete Blonde and alternative, and she does not recognize the name "Bloodletting."
In my last band (we broke up due to arthritis issues last year after 14 years) we had a method of picking songs. If one of the three of us suggested a song, and one of the others didn't want to do it, there was no discussion...we just moved on.
We played blues, Americana, roots rock and a FEW bar band standards. We really tried to stay away from the bar band standards we had played in other bands for decades, and that other area bands were still playing.
We ended up with a LONG setlist of fun songs we loved playing. They were accessable, danceable, and just fun. Audiences loved them as well, and we got compliments at every gig how much they loved us NOT doing the same old same old.
And I sure miss playing those tunes.
We played blues, Americana, roots rock and a FEW bar band standards. We really tried to stay away from the bar band standards we had played in other bands for decades, and that other area bands were still playing.
We ended up with a LONG setlist of fun songs we loved playing. They were accessable, danceable, and just fun. Audiences loved them as well, and we got compliments at every gig how much they loved us NOT doing the same old same old.
And I sure miss playing those tunes.
Joey and Caroline were pretty big hits here but that was - what - 25 years ago?
If I played with a singer who could do it convincingly I'd be okay with one of those in the first set which for us is more laid back.
If I played with a singer who could do it convincingly I'd be okay with one of those in the first set which for us is more laid back.
Oh right. When they said 'Play what everyone knows', they didn't mean 'Play what everyone knows'. They meant 'Play what you want'. Thank you for clearing that up for me. I thought they meant 'Play what everyone knows'. I don't know how I thought that. Silly me. I will know better from now on. 'Play what everyone knows' doesn't mean 'Play what everyone knows'. Gottit.
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Funny, I sort of had the same problem with our lead singer. That is, if he had his way most of our songs would be a bunch of weird/obscure stuff. Fortunately, I started the band, own all the PA gear, book all the gigs, and the list continues, so have a voice in what we play. If you do not have that sort of leverage then try and figure out if the other band members feel the same as you, if so then it would be time to chat with the singer. If not, then it might be time to find another band.
Another thing I did to help prove the point was show our singer video footage from 2 of our gigs, in essence showing him there was "zero" crowd response to the couple of lame/obscure songs he picked compared to our more popular songs, so the proof was right in front of him. While he did not like seeing/hearing the facts, he was rational enough to pick up on the truth.
Good luck
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Talkbass never disappoints. All these threads always come down to "play Mustang Sally" and "get/keep people on the dance floor" with a healthy dose of "as long as I get paid" ...
The three best cover bands I was in, over the last 20 years, all had two things in common: a diverse setlist with a mix of known and obscure songs (and the balance was often 50-50), and chemistry. In one case, no three members of the band got along but put us on a stage and oh boy, the chemistry was tangible.
I've been in a cover band that was "Talkbass approved", did all the right things in terms of set lists, flow of songs etc. Zero chemistry, and zero responses from the crowd, despite playing nothing but known songs.
My current band had a great, diverse set. Zero chemistry, it's just not working. We switched to (bad) originals but still didn't work. God knows what we'll try next. I'm still in, cos I have other, bigger worries in my life but I want to stay musically active.
OP, maybe the set list isn't the biggest issue. Maybe you just don't vibe with the rest of the band? Honest question.
The three best cover bands I was in, over the last 20 years, all had two things in common: a diverse setlist with a mix of known and obscure songs (and the balance was often 50-50), and chemistry. In one case, no three members of the band got along but put us on a stage and oh boy, the chemistry was tangible.
I've been in a cover band that was "Talkbass approved", did all the right things in terms of set lists, flow of songs etc. Zero chemistry, and zero responses from the crowd, despite playing nothing but known songs.
My current band had a great, diverse set. Zero chemistry, it's just not working. We switched to (bad) originals but still didn't work. God knows what we'll try next. I'm still in, cos I have other, bigger worries in my life but I want to stay musically active.
OP, maybe the set list isn't the biggest issue. Maybe you just don't vibe with the rest of the band? Honest question.
This is why I always discuss how songs are picked before I join a band.
Quit hinting and come right out and say it - the songs aren’t going over. If they don’t get that, you might as well cut your losses.
You must strike a balance between the tried-and-true and the unpredictable. There are so many songs waiting to be rediscovered. They aren’t necessarily obscure, either. Ya gotta do a little research. I don’t want to be playing that many songs other bands I know do.
FWIW, failure to develop the repertoire is one of the surest band killers of them all.
This past October our cover band revamped the set list. What we had was pretty good but I and a couple others talked and agreed that fresh material for 2022 would be a wise idea.
The method I suggested worked out great by having everyone show up to rehearsal armed with their own library of individual song suggestions. Every member contributed 5 songs for a total of thirty-five to walk away with.
The method of selection we used allows for everyone in the band to have buy-in thereby, making it easier to find motivation to learn the material.
The actual process was that each member suggested a song until the other six members voted ‘yay’. At that point the song made it onto the list. If one member said no to any one song, it got shelved. A couple of hours of discussion and listening and we have a great set list of 35 songs we are working on to have ready for this upcoming season.
This, if nothing else, has eliminated any gripes about song choices.
The method I suggested worked out great by having everyone show up to rehearsal armed with their own library of individual song suggestions. Every member contributed 5 songs for a total of thirty-five to walk away with.
The method of selection we used allows for everyone in the band to have buy-in thereby, making it easier to find motivation to learn the material.
The actual process was that each member suggested a song until the other six members voted ‘yay’. At that point the song made it onto the list. If one member said no to any one song, it got shelved. A couple of hours of discussion and listening and we have a great set list of 35 songs we are working on to have ready for this upcoming season.
This, if nothing else, has eliminated any gripes about song choices.
Being a lead singer I can confirm that most singers tend to pick songs that they feel confident singing. Of course that doesn't always mean they pick the best songs for the room, or songs they can actually sing well. But that seems to be the wheelhouse they operate in.
The best scenario is to choose material for the venue. If it's a dance place then play dance tunes. If it's a sit and listen place, then choose the material accordingly.
It's been my experience that a group of good players can play almost anything. But vocals are always the defining element. So feel free to change the key to suit the singer's range.
Sounds like it's time to have a band meeting and all get on the same page.
The best scenario is to choose material for the venue. If it's a dance place then play dance tunes. If it's a sit and listen place, then choose the material accordingly.
It's been my experience that a group of good players can play almost anything. But vocals are always the defining element. So feel free to change the key to suit the singer's range.
Sounds like it's time to have a band meeting and all get on the same page.
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Do you even understand what CONTEXT is?
There is an implied "if you are playing covers in a local bar" attached to that statement.
IE. play what everyone knows IF YOU ARE PLAYING COVERS IN A LOCAR BAR.
If you are playing originals in a venue that expects that then that is a different CONTEXT.
I'd probably open the discussion with, "Do you guys like not getting crowd response when we play? Is the effect you're trying to get is for people to appear bored?"
