Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Set list ethics?
- Thread starter Bullitt5135
- Start date
If it's out there and it#s good...use it.
no band has a monopoly on any cover song.
Originals are obviously a different matter.
There is no harm in covering whatever tunes you want in either band. Incidentally, because time is of the essence in my life, I would make more of it for Band #2, since they are playing out regularly. I would part ways with the gigging-challenged Band #1.
Uh, I don't get it. You are worried about the ethics of covering the work of a band that does nothing more than cover the work of other bands? All cover's are another band's originals.
The only ethical issue I see in cover bands is passing music off as their own. So if a cover band has a couple originals you could cover those as well cause, well, isn't that what cover bands do, cover other bands originals?
The only ethical issue I see in cover bands is passing music off as their own. So if a cover band has a couple originals you could cover those as well cause, well, isn't that what cover bands do, cover other bands originals?
Sure, the thread's about 6 months old, but I don't think I saw anyone mention the fact that Band #1 was STILL PLAYING IN THE BASEMENT AFTER ALMOST A YEAR.
If band #2 is actually gigging, well....Only one of the bands is actually "playing covers."
The other band is simply "practicing."
So, I wonder if the OP will come back and tell us what eventually happened...
If band #2 is actually gigging, well....Only one of the bands is actually "playing covers."
The other band is simply "practicing."
So, I wonder if the OP will come back and tell us what eventually happened...
Bullitt5135 said:
Covers are covers... swap, mix, share... it's all good. I don't see the problem, frankly.
You know, it's funny seeing this thread revived - just this morning I saw a CL ad from an old band, kind of like the OP's - a group I left because I didn't see it going anywhere and had a better opportunity. They apparently have a new bassist and are looking for a second guitar now.
Anyway, they posted a lengthy song list - and I saw lots of songs on it that I had nominated when I was with them and never thought the rest of the group really "owned." And I had that momentary reaction - "Hey! Those are MY songs!" - which lasted about twenty seconds. Then I figured, ah, what the hell, if they can pull them off, more power to 'em. If they ever do get out to gig, I'll go see them and buy them a beer. Why not?
Anyway, they posted a lengthy song list - and I saw lots of songs on it that I had nominated when I was with them and never thought the rest of the group really "owned." And I had that momentary reaction - "Hey! Those are MY songs!" - which lasted about twenty seconds. Then I figured, ah, what the hell, if they can pull them off, more power to 'em. If they ever do get out to gig, I'll go see them and buy them a beer. Why not?
I've worked with some bands that were very protective of their set lists, and have even been admonished for leaving one on the stage after a gig. Like it was a trade secret or something.
I do take pride in playing somewhat obscure covers at gigs and then hearing them the following week on the classic rock stations when they had not been in rotation before. That tells me folks heard us play them and are requesting them.
As far as poaching the list, if #2 has a problem, tell them imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and stroke them with a compliment like "yeah, but they can't play them nearly as well as you guys".
I work with a few bands, and have had some of them poach songs from the others' lists without me even suggesting them. I think it helps everybody when we bring out an old classic that hasn't been done in a while, and it becomes a local meme.
I do take pride in playing somewhat obscure covers at gigs and then hearing them the following week on the classic rock stations when they had not been in rotation before. That tells me folks heard us play them and are requesting them.
As far as poaching the list, if #2 has a problem, tell them imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and stroke them with a compliment like "yeah, but they can't play them nearly as well as you guys".
I work with a few bands, and have had some of them poach songs from the others' lists without me even suggesting them. I think it helps everybody when we bring out an old classic that hasn't been done in a while, and it becomes a local meme.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Cover bands don't succeed here playing "obscure" covers, people don't really want to hear deep cuts of Floyd's Meddle or Rush's Roll the Bones.
If the cuts are that deep won't people think your old band is covering your new one?
If the cuts are that deep won't people think your old band is covering your new one?
jive1
Commercial User
And what ARE the obscure cover tunes that go over well?? {Evil Grin}
It really depends on the crowd. I played in a house band for a while that did all-request shows. People would request obscure or tunes that cover bands typically wouldn't do, and some of them would go over real well. I also believe that cover bands should have at least a few non-standard cover band tunes to set them apart.
And what ARE the obscure cover tunes that go over well?? {Evil Grin}
For starters, anything by Delbert McClinton. Older ZZ Top that didn't get so much airplay, like Lowdown in The Streets. I did a pick up gig Saturday night and had blast playing stuff like "I Am Constant" by Climax Blues Band, and "Hymn 43 "by Jethro Tull. CCR and the Band have some gems to, just stay away from the obvious ones. Instead of playing "Dixie Chicken"when they request Little Feat, do "Fat Man in the Bathtub" or "Spanish Moon", instead.
These examples of songs that don't get covered, but when you do, people go "Oh, yeah! I remember that song! Nobody plays the good stuff anymore." Saturday night I'll be doing "Green Eyed Lady" and some other off the wall classics when I fill in for my brother in his band.
No secrets here.
That's what I say!
Steal my whole setlist!
If you play it better than us, I'll become one of your biggest fans, because I really like all those songs, and it will either force us to play them better, or learn some new songs.
I don't give no no-how about nothing.
Steal some of my originals, too, and pay me to play them!
Or steal some of my originals, and be surprised when your brakes don't work.
Your choice!
Steal my whole setlist!
If you play it better than us, I'll become one of your biggest fans, because I really like all those songs, and it will either force us to play them better, or learn some new songs.
I don't give no no-how about nothing.
Steal some of my originals, too, and pay me to play them!
Or steal some of my originals, and be surprised when your brakes don't work.
Your choice!
OP here... surprised to see this thread resurface. Shortly after my initial post, I walked away from band #1. It was a dead end and I knew it. After a month with the new band, the drummer quit -- which opened the door to bring my drummer friend on board. Five months later, we've built a repertoire of around 70 not-so-obscure songs and have played a couple gigs -- with several more coming up. We're having fun, and I have improved my playing a lot. When I wrote the original post, I really had no band experience. I didn't have a point of reference as to whether bands considered their set lists and song choices as "proprietary" material. With a little time and experience, I realize it was a dumb question considering we're just another bar band.
The singer and one of the guitarists in my bluesrock band, also play in a different blues band (less rock, and the focus is more on original material there). They recently tried out a Philip Sayce song as a potential cover. After working on it for a little while, their bass player said it might be better suited for "the other band" (read: mine). He was right, and now we have it in our repertoire.
At the same time we are thinking of adding a Rolling Stones tune which our drummer also does with his poprock cover band. He just said he will play a different drum pattern and we are working on "our own" arrangement anyway (have not heard "their" version but they are pretty much note-for-note based).
At the same time we are thinking of adding a Rolling Stones tune which our drummer also does with his poprock cover band. He just said he will play a different drum pattern and we are working on "our own" arrangement anyway (have not heard "their" version but they are pretty much note-for-note based).
Dude, you're using someone else's material to further your project.
Don't get me wrong; I love covers and have nothing but respect for great cover performances, but geez, let's get a little real here. I may be a little more sympathetic if they're using some sort of novel arranagement you came up with, but at the end of the day, anybody can access what you think is some original choice in cover music.
The whole concept of "stealing setlists" is freakin asinine to me.
Now our former singer going into clubs we used to play and try and trying shill his kareoke and DJ act: that's lame.
Agreed. It's a bit of a balancing act, and you never know what will go over and what won't. My band used to cover an Overkill song called Old School, and it always got the crowd bumping. Of course, if you're familiar with that tune, it has a cool vocal hook (think of a Ramones tune if it were played by a metal band). Some of Overkill's more traditional trash metal stuff probably would have gotten stares with the one token metal dude at stage front geeking out that we were playing an Overkill tune.
About a year ago, we started playing STP's In Between the Lines. I thought, "Awesome, this is a popular song on the radio and you can't go wrong with STP. Plus, it's not beat to death like Plush or Interstate Love Song!" We played it on about 15 - 20 gigs, and it didn't clear the floor about two times.
I started putting it at the beginning of gigs or the end of sets so it's floor-clearing When it comes to classic rock, I would like to see a band cover stuff that hasn't been beat to death. Unfortunately, many classic rock bands are like classic rock radio. They pick two or three songs from a band and then inundate you with them, despite many of those bands having prettty extensive and accessible catalogs. I LOVE Skynyrd, but they had more songs than Sweet Home Alabama and Gimme Three Steps. I'd love to see a band cover Saturday Night Special or I Know a Little. And those songs would go over, especially if they're targetted at a crowd who grew up on that music. Just my $0.02.
