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Set list from hell...

Heisenbass

Heisenbass

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
679
764
Out of Berlin, Germany
#1
So I answered to this classified looking for a bass player for a cover band, located 30 min drive out of town. We had mail contact, a phone call, everything going on very nicely. We agreed on an audition on Pentecost Monday, which is a public holiday over here in DE.

I asked for a set list, so I could prepare myself a bit, and that's what the guy sent over:

Roxette - Dangerous
Toto - Hold the line
Tina Turner - The best
Bon Jovi - It's my life
Sunrise Avenue - Fairytale gone Bad
(some Germany-specific stuff omitted but no better)
Old Time Rock n Roll
Proud Mary

I love R&B, Soul, Funk. So, first thought was: get the hell out of here, I mean, I wasn't expecting too much, there's always some compromise you have to accept, but I actually hoped to find some common ground, even if it was Mustang Sally and/or Brown Eyed Girl, which are not that overplayed over here, but this seems to be beyond economical repair.

I am basically in favour of saving time and gas and spending some quality time with GF on free Pentecost Monday, but OTOH, I don't mean to be that sort of city slicker d%ck....

So, what am I supposed to do? Any wisdom out there?
 
#2
if you're looking for a cover band that plays mostly R&B, soul, funk and maybe disco, that's the kind of band you should be looking for. you could put your own ad somewhere, but i can't see the point of joining a band that plays music you don't care for. keep in mind you'll be rehearsing these songs and playing them maybe for years.

that being said, if you're in an area without many bands, perhaps you could ask the band you're supposed to audition for for a more complete list of what they play. there could be some songs you like on their list.
 
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#4
Heisenbass said:
So I answered to this classified looki ng for a bass player for a cover band, located 30 min drive out of town. We had mail contact, a phone call, everything going on very nicely. We agreed on an audition on Pentecost Monday, which is a public holiday over here in DE.

I asked for a set list, so I could prepare myself a bit, and that's what the guy sent over:

Roxette - Dangerous
Toto - Hold the line
Tina Turner - The best
Bon Jovi - It's my life
Sunrise Avenue - Fairytale gone Bad
(some Germany-specific stuff omitted but no better)
Old Time Rock n Roll
Proud Mary

I love R&B, Soul, Funk. So, first thought was: get the hell out of here, I mean, I wasn't expecting too much, there's always some compromise you have to accept, but I actually hoped to find some common ground, even if it was Mustang Sally and/or Brown Eyed Girl, which are not that overplayed over here, but this seems to be beyond economical repair.

I am basically in favour of saving time and gas and spending some quality time with GF on free Pentecost Monday, but OTOH, I don't mean to be that sort of city slicker d%ck....

So, what am I supposed to do? Any wisdom out there?
Click to expand...

Just think that every minute you're playing that stuff, you're not playing what you love (or at least challenge your skills). But I have a question: is there actually a market for a cover band that plays such an eclectic yet not particularly interesting or "classics" set? Well, some are staples but Simply the Best and Dangerous keep jumping out at me! Yuck. Who wants to go out and hear that? And is "DE" Delaware USA or is it Denmark or Germany (DEutchland?) (your German reference and Pentecost Monday (never heard of that????)). Dumb American here!
 
#5
tonemachine said:
Just think that every minute you're playing that stuff, you're not playing what you love (or at least challenge your skills). But I have a question: is there actually a market for a cover band that plays such an eclectic yet not particularly interesting or "classics" set? Well, some are staples but Simply the Best and Dangerous keep jumping out at me! Yuck. Who wants to go out and hear that? And is "DE" Delaware USA or is it Denmark or Germany (DEutchland?) (your German reference and Pentecost Monday (never heard of that????)). Dumb American here!
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. Yep, DE is the top level domain for Germany. Whit Monday should have been the correct translation I guess. Anyway wrote the guy a polite letter that, I don't want do be a snob, but telling from the set list, I don't see any common ground to start with, so I'd prefer saving everybody's time.

Actually there IS a market for that kind of stuff. Most commercial radio stations over here in Germany, are playing a hideous combination of this sort of stuff mixed together with contemporary autotune RnB. Brrr. Some people simply don't know it better...
 
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#9
Heisenbass said:
Anyway wrote the guy a polite letter that, I don't want do be a snob, but telling from the set list, I don't see any common ground to start with, so I'd prefer saving everybody's time.
Click to expand...

There's nothing "snobbish" about choosing not to join a band because their music isn't your preferred style. And if you took the time to write a polite letter to them, you're being much more courteous than the many other guys who book an audition and just fail to show up! Good decision x 2.
 
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#11
mellowinman said:
I try to play whatever anyone asks me to, but honestly, when I see Bon Jovi on a set list, I feel like it's a big warning. I mean, who wants to SING that crap? I feel like there will be at least one singer I am not going to gel with.

Life is too short for me to play one more note of a Bon Jovi song.
Click to expand...
Maybe if Jennifer Nettles sat in for a duet?
 
#13
Depends on what you are looking to do. Maybe you could use the band as a stepping stone/hone techniques & maybe you'll grow to like some of it !!

I've been in bands where I don't like some of the stuff but it gave me wider appreciation of music & a shop window for other bands to see what I do ... it's safe to say that you may never be in the perfect covers band unless you start it up yourself.
 
#16
This is a good reason to talk about specific songs after you talk about genre. I don't know anyone would agree to an audition without getting into specific songs. I don't audition without knowing how often a band plays, where they play, how much they make, how often they rehearse, where they rehearse, when they rehearse, how close to the original recording do they expect me to play, genre, specific songs, etc. I don't go on many auditions, but they are usually a good fit.
 
#17
jassthebass said:
Depends on what you are looking to do. Maybe you could use the band as a stepping stone/hone techniques & maybe you'll grow to like some of it !!

I've been in bands where I don't like some of the stuff but it gave me wider appreciation of music & a shop window for other bands to see what I do ... it's safe to say that you may never be in the perfect covers band unless you start it up yourself.
Click to expand...

I actually thought of this, and I would have gone for it, if there had been a common ground of, say, two songs, but nada.

Update: received a mail back from the guy, saying, he could sympathize with my point of view, and no offense taken, so I guess, this is just as good as it gets...
 
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#18
BurningSkies said:
On a technical note,

It's not the set list from hell unless it includes "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" on it.

Remember, when you see a set list and feel that it might be the worst ever, ask yourself if it includes "Keep Your Hands to Yourself". Because, often it could get worse.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads-up, mate. Lucky this isn't that popular on this side of the pond. But let me tell you, that, for the sake of intercultural sanity, I've omitted some of the Germany-specific stuff on the list you most probably don't want to know...
 
#19
Heisenbass said:
Thanks for the heads-up, mate. Lucky this isn't that popular on this side of the pond. But let me tell you, that, for the sake of intercultural sanity, I've omitted some of the Germany-specific stuff on the list you most probably don't want to know...
Click to expand...

I was joking about the predominance of the song in 'bad cover band repertoire' last week...only to walk down a pier with my wife that had a bar on each end...when one bad version of the song ended from behind us...the band in front of us started chugging away on the intro. That's when the truth of my words finally sunk in.
 
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#20
BurningSkies said:
I was joking about the predominance of the song in 'bad cover band repertoire' last week...only to walk down a pier with my wife that had a bar on each end...when one bad version of the song ended from behind us...the band in front of us started chugging away on the intro. That's when the truth of my words finally sunk in.
Click to expand...

Sort of "just when you think, things can't get any worse, that's just what's going to happen"
 
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