You're absolutely right. I just don't want to play them anymore. If that means I don't gig, that's fine.
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set list question
- Thread starter rylie
- Start date
You're absolutely right. I just don't want to play them anymore. If that means I don't gig, that's fine.
I'd say it's a somewhat narrowing market. I had a stint in a 50s-60s band that, for a while, couldn't get a gig to save their lives. After I left they started taking off, largely by playing town fairs and VFWs and Legion halls. Not as much demand in bars and clubs.
On the other hand, older music can do better than newer, even with younger crowds. I started Six Cowards on the premise that there was so much classic rock around but what the live music scene really needed was more contemporary covers to draw younger crowds. Yet, it hasn't really taken off. I recently was talking about music to a younger friend, a 30-year-old who had been something of a goth in her teens and 20s, and she's all into Kiss and Hall and Oates. I was kind of deflated; she was exactly the sort of person I thought would be excited for the music Six Cowards was trying to do, and it turned out not to be the case.
I normally think that the music of a person's teens will be their "heart" music. But it seems that, ironically, in the digital era when things are fragmented and the top 40 and radio don't really matter any more, a millennial or GenZ person will have had just as much exposure and be just as attached to pre-digital-revolution music, which means down to the 90s. A 25-year-old in 2019 is just as likely to be excited about Led Zeppelin as Adele or the Black Keys.
On the other hand, older music can do better than newer, even with younger crowds. I started Six Cowards on the premise that there was so much classic rock around but what the live music scene really needed was more contemporary covers to draw younger crowds. Yet, it hasn't really taken off. I recently was talking about music to a younger friend, a 30-year-old who had been something of a goth in her teens and 20s, and she's all into Kiss and Hall and Oates. I was kind of deflated; she was exactly the sort of person I thought would be excited for the music Six Cowards was trying to do, and it turned out not to be the case.
I normally think that the music of a person's teens will be their "heart" music. But it seems that, ironically, in the digital era when things are fragmented and the top 40 and radio don't really matter any more, a millennial or GenZ person will have had just as much exposure and be just as attached to pre-digital-revolution music, which means down to the 90s. A 25-year-old in 2019 is just as likely to be excited about Led Zeppelin as Adele or the Black Keys.
I wish you'd tell that to the program director of our local FM channel...... they seem to think Motley Crue and Poison qualify as classic rock.
My cover band does “danceable rock ‘n roll from the ‘60s to the ‘00s” (that’s what it says on our business cards and promo material). We play mostly bars/pubs/breweries and some local concert series, and the crowds are usually a mix of young and old in all the venues we play. I’ve found that the 20 somethings will get into the classic stuff we play, like the Doors and CCR just as much as the 60 somethings get into the more modern stuff like RHCP and Black Keys.
I think music that simply has a good beat and makes people wanna shake their butts is far more important to a typical bar band than when the music was written. There’s plenty of classic rock that’ll clear a dance floor faster than a tear gas grenade (regardless of the age of the crowd), and plenty of contemporary stuff that’ll make even 70 year olds get on their feet.
I think music that simply has a good beat and makes people wanna shake their butts is far more important to a typical bar band than when the music was written. There’s plenty of classic rock that’ll clear a dance floor faster than a tear gas grenade (regardless of the age of the crowd), and plenty of contemporary stuff that’ll make even 70 year olds get on their feet.
We play whatever our 3 vocalists bring to the table and work the act around the material. Our strength is country and I don't mind sharing the set list which showcases some of our best:
*Who's Cheatin' Who? (Woodie / G) - Vamp on G w/ witty banter & schtick.
*Make Me Wanna (Mark / A)
*Nothing Short of Dying (Tim / G)
*Getting You Home (Woodie / G)
*Whatcha Know...? (Mark / G)
*Kansas City (Tim / D)
*Drinkin' Problem (Woodie / B)
*Good As You (Tim / G#)
*Star of the Show (Mark / G)
*If Tomorrow Never Comes (Woodie / G)
*Oh Lonesome Me (Tim / E)
*Up All Night (Mark / A)
*Much Too Young (Woodie / G)
*Left Something Turned On... (Woodie / Bb)
*Who's Cheatin' Who? (Woodie / G) - Vamp on G w/ witty banter & schtick.
*Make Me Wanna (Mark / A)
*Nothing Short of Dying (Tim / G)
*Getting You Home (Woodie / G)
*Whatcha Know...? (Mark / G)
*Kansas City (Tim / D)
*Drinkin' Problem (Woodie / B)
*Good As You (Tim / G#)
*Star of the Show (Mark / G)
*If Tomorrow Never Comes (Woodie / G)
*Oh Lonesome Me (Tim / E)
*Up All Night (Mark / A)
*Much Too Young (Woodie / G)
*Left Something Turned On... (Woodie / Bb)
Well, even a classic rock station will play the hits, actually especially the hits. Did Slayer and Exodus have hits?If it is, I need to get that program director to play Slayer and Exodus.
All oldies? No Luke Combs or Keith Urban?
Slayer has won two Grammy awards. Pretty good for a band that has received little to no airplay.
Yep...we do Beautiful Crazy. I won't do any Keith Urban...he's mega-rich, really handsome, super-talented, & shtupping Nicole Kidman yet remains somewhat hindered by depression. I should have his problems.
Riis
i doubt that my instrumental-only (absolutely no singing, at all, ever!) band is that "similar" to the bands you're referencing, but we do play titles/hits from every era --- from the 40s to current/contemporary.
i believe that our instrumental format gives us certain 'advantages' (we're a novelty?) and that we'd likely be entertaining playing any title. our take on some of the oldies/classic rock tunes always gets positive reactions/support.
our audience supports our instrumental format --- we're 'different' and we appeal to all ages: our typical public audience ranges from 20s - 60s+! after some of the oldsters leave the venue (bedtime) we're swarmed by the late-night youngsters who want to party --- we oblige! we market as "party jazz" and we provide plenty of danceable stuff, including hip hop and some EDM styles. also: many of our original tunes pass as 'party tunes' because of tempo and groove.
none -or- all of the above: we have to compete. not having singers is its own 'uphill'. but our tune list always gets us in the door to negotiate, and the positive audience reaction gets us return business. we play titles/hits from all eras including current (lettuce, lady antebellum, ed sheeran, yada yada). our 'classic rock'/oldies stuff is limited but familiar to everyone. our interpretation of hits by prince, joe walsh, stevie wonder, yada, also aids and abets our mission/statement. we like what we do and the way we do it, but we have to compete with everyone else who wants the gig...same as everyone here!
Heh heh. We're fronted by a Chick and we play a lot of Chick Rock: Heart, Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benatar, Melissa Ethridge, Janis Joplin, early Jefferson Airplane, "Sweet Child O' Mine", etc., etc. When you play this stuff, women show up at your gigs. When women show up at your gigs, you'll find guys looking for women. Age range is not quite what I'd imagined: It turns out that divorced women in their 40s and 50s bring their daughters in their 20s along too. I just watch, of course.
PS: The guys are not neglected. We get to do "The Boys Are Back In Town" all by ourselves.
PS: The guys are not neglected. We get to do "The Boys Are Back In Town" all by ourselves.
I wish I could tell that to MY local classic rock statin as well. They actually play a lot of stuff that doesn't fit my definition of classic rock. They do stay in their lane about 85Q% of the time, but they do regularly toss in the 80s spandex/hair/metal stuff (not a fan) and will even dribble in a little Johnny Cash or Jimmy Buffet. I respect Johnny and am a mild Parrot Head, but they don't belong on a Classic Rock station, IMO
Of course, this is a valid approach. But from the "different strokes" camp, I think of music in much larger time frames.
As a tiny kid, I heard my dad's big band, jazz, and 50s crooner stuff. And my mom's country from those decades. Then, the Beatles hit, and it was rock, then classic rock, then whatever other styles since then.
But as much as it was the 60s which launched me musically, I don't really distinguish rock and newer stuff from stuff "before rock." Vocal standards of Tin Pan Alley, or Bob Wills, or Eddie Cochran. I love playing it all, and will continue to gig until I physically can't.
We play everything from 50's to 00's and we do tailor our sets for the audience. I kind of disagree with the general comments about kids/younger people not knowing or interested in the older songs. Some songs are pretty timeless and work for just about any audience. But I do get surprised sometimes. Last gig was a frat tailgate and they were yelling for Free Bird....not joking....seriously. We refused to play it but threw in another Skynrd song which they ate up. After gig when packing up they played Free Bird on their PA. College kids....who knew?
We are adding "newer" songs all the time. A lot of them are played on Alt Rock stations rather than Classic Rock. Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World....etc. So far everything we've added has been extremely well received by all audiences.
It's really about playing the right songs...age of song is not as important IMHO.
We are adding "newer" songs all the time. A lot of them are played on Alt Rock stations rather than Classic Rock. Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World....etc. So far everything we've added has been extremely well received by all audiences.
It's really about playing the right songs...age of song is not as important IMHO.
Can totally appreciate that. When you have to pump yourself up to play a song, you know it's time to drop it.
What is it about for you?
What kind of contemporary covers did you play?
I guess that's good, but those bands are all 90's bands, 20-30 years old.
Alternative/indie since 2000. The full list is on the webpage in my sig line, but it's Black Keys, White Stripes, Cage the Elephant, stuff like that. We try not to be obscure (despite my guitarist's most determined efforts). People enjoyed seeing us but it just never built momentum or started drawing a younger crowd like we thought it would. Meanwhile my classic rock band playing AC/DC and Zeppelin has gangs of people dancing and partying and calling our singer asking when they can book us for their parties. That just seems to be the local market.
The band i just left played a lot of 60s and 70s tunes. The BL wanted to add some new music to the set list for the younger people, so we added New Years Day. Always got a laugh when we rehearsed that tune.
