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Set list ethics?

Bullitt5135

Bullitt5135

Nov 16, 2010
2,058
4,162
SE Michigan
#1
Bear with me on this... After playing for close to a year in a going-nowhere-fast cover band (still in the basement with aspirations of gigging), I finally may have landed a spot in a more established (actually gigging) band. I'm still jamming from time to time with band #1, who can't seem to settle on a line-up and set list. I continue to play with that band a couple times a month mostly for the live practice time. The problem I'm having is trying to learn set lists for two classic rock cover projects.

So my question is... is it cool to introduce songs from the new project into my old band? I know, songs are songs, but if things ever come together with the old band, we could conceivably be playing in the same area/venues as my new band. And since people are sensitive about being unique and playing more "obscure" covers, I don't necessarily want to poach the new band's material. Does that make any sense?

Chances are the (stubborn singer in the) old band won't play any of my suggestions anyway, but I figured I'd pose the question just for discussion.
 
#3
Munjibunga said:
There's a thread on this somewhere.
Click to expand...

Of course.

I love this concept though.

Some classic rock cover band chooses to play "China Grove" and now they OWN that song which was written 40 years ago by someone else and played by 9 billion cover bands. And if you DARE to play in another cover band that plays "China Grove," the song that was written 40 years ago by someone else and played by 9 billion cover bands, OOooooooh, you're gonna get it.

Delusion.
 
#7
Fair enough, Munji, I see there was another thread about "stealing" another band's set list a couple months back. You made some good points there.

Let me re-phrase the question... would you be cheesed if a member of your own band used songs from your set list for a side project? Especially if you chose those songs specifically because they were a little more obscure than usual, and both bands gig around the same area. I guess I'm with the "it's not a big deal" camp -- though I'd be inclined to be upfront about it in case somebody in the band had a serious problem with it.
 
#8
It'd piss me off, yeah.
If a guy joined my band and took songs he'd never thought of playing, that I had more or less unearthed (taking "obscure" literally) - and then started gigging those songs around with his other band - yeah, I'd be pissed.
I would feel like he was using my band to further his other project, as opposed to contributing to both bands.

Just my opinion, maybe I'm particularly cranky today.
 
#9
Is the other guy recording CDs for everyone of the tracks he wants everyone to learn? Is he writing out (not printing from an online site) everyone's part? Is he sitting down with each member saying "play this?" Has he invested so much of his personal time into everyone coming together for the song(s) to make it/them sound good? Probably not! A good song is a good song!

X8
 
#10
Kesslari... I think your spot on when it comes to defining "obscure." In my case, "obscure" means "not on most of the Tom Petty, Neil Young, or [insert mainstream act's name] greatest hits CDs." Ironically, both bands I'm in play the Frijid Pink version of "House of the Rising Sun" because it's more obscure. I think I just answered my own question. :D
 
#13
Look at it from the bright side: you will have expanded your repertoire enormously and become a better musician in a short time by learning both setlists fully.;-)

Cover songs belong to everybody.... but what I 'm not so sure about, is why you want to suggest these other songs: "The problem I'm having is trying to learn set lists for two classic rock cover projects. ". If I get you correctly you just don't want/can't learn 2 full sets.

Imagine yourself being approached by the guitar player who says "hey I want o do so-and-so and this and-that., because I already know it and dont want to learn all that other material". What would you think? Don't you think a band should pick its material based on the concept, and not on what certain members already know?

If I misunderstood your post, I apologize...
 
#14
I think some or all of the other members of your new band would be upset with you. If the new band had "sold" obscure songs to local audiences, they should be upset if your other project adopts them.

Generally speaking, obscure songs are best added to the set list only after the band is established and has its own following anyway.
 
#15
Some people go bar hoppin' to hear bands and to see who's hanging out. If you happen to hear a song that makes you say "Wow, I remember that song!" and the crowd is into it, what's to keep you from suggesting it at the next practice? Trust me, there will be beginning bands checking you guys out to get ideas.

X8
 
#16
If you've actually landed a spot in band #2, why are you still playing with band #1? Is it a bunch of friends, or do you think they're actually going to get their act together now after a year of not doing so?

Covers are covers. Fair game for anyone. If anyone has an attitude about it, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
 
#18
Bullitt5135 said:
So my question is... is it cool to introduce songs from the new project into my old band?
Click to expand...
We're talking covers here right?
Absoeffenlutely!!
Steal their ideas. Steal their arrangements. Heck steal everything that works well. Chances are good when you gig, there are band guys in the audience looking to pinch some of your ideas/refinements etc. Its almost complimentary when they do that :D
 
#19
DONZI97 said:
Dude, I got to ask.....what is the name of this 1st band? I too, live in SE MI, and just so happened to leave a similar situation almost a year ago, it would be very strange if it was the same band.
Click to expand...

LOL. If you know the name of my 1st band, please tell me. The drummer is the band leader, and he's cycled through 5 front men and 3 lead guitar players in 9 months. He's never kept 4 guys together long enough to give it a name. Rehearsals are are infrequent, and lately end up with me showing up to meet a new guitar player for the first time and figuring out if I know any of his material. Not once during that time has one singer asked me if there are any songs I wanted him to learn. I like the drummer a lot and I feel some allegiance to him since he took a chance on me nine months ago -- and continues to try to fit me into his project(s). I want to keep playing with him in the spirit of not burning any bridges, but it's getting to the point where the new guys will have to reciprocate by learning at least a few songs off my list.

I've been putting in at least 2-3 hours of practice a day learning material for the new band. We had 6 songs in common when I first exchanged emails with them three weeks ago. I've learned 20 more of their tunes over the last two weeks, which has impressed them enough to ask me back and to talk about gigging in the near future. I love the challenge of learning new stuff and expanding my repertoire, but retaining two lists is taxing. Band #1 will be taking a back seat for now.

Thanks for all the comments. I agree with the sentiment that cover tunes are fair game. If anything, I think it will help to give the drummer my full list and tell him I only want to play with people who will put in the effort to learn a few of my songs.
 
#20
^ mate if i was in your shoes after nine months of standing in front of that revolving door watching those guys come and go, I'd hand that drummer my list and tell him he really owes it to me to use some of which I've learned FOR HIS PROJECTS. Sorry to say but he;s not showing you a lot respect having you learn set after set to accomodate people that should be joining the band according to his vision.

If he's being that flexible to the detriment of his own act/list, I smell desperation, not vision. But I am cynical and have been burned by past bandleaders, so take that with a grain of salt ;)
 

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