Set lists written in stone - Help!

[basso_profundo]

I couldn’t deal with it. I like to introduce new songs every couple shows. Gets boring playing the same stuff all the time

Agreed. I'm always learning new songs and like to bring them into the group, and I like it when others bring stuff they're excited about in because it expands my world. A static setlist wouldn't work for me, nor would a group that's not interested in accommodating everyone's ideas.

But a) I do this purely for fun and b) I live in a big area with lots of people/bands looking for bass players. If I were full time pro musician and the band paid me as an employee, I'd play the hell out of whatever they wanted. Or if I lived in an area where there weren't a lot of working band/group options, then maybe...

Also, it's true that in general Rush covers aren't big crowd pleasers (this coming from a huge Rush nerd), but I like groups that will take a suggestion and at least try to play it to see how it sounds. Especially a fairly easy and mid-tempo tune like Working Man (although most singers I know will cringe at Rush tunes).

 

[QweziRider]

Should I join the band and play somebody else's favorite songs?

If you expect some level of equal contribution, no. If you don't mind being a hired gun and can do a list as given, with a smile, then sure.

 

[Runnerman]

I wouldn't judge the band by the CL add and initial response. "We don't play the new stuff" can have a broad meaning. I mean there's plenty of stuff from the late 90's to 2000's that's not considered "new" but fits in the classic rock genre stylistically....Foofighters for example....and people like to hear it. That's what it comes down to, what people want to hear. Although I love Rush to death, it's seldom on the top cover list of songs people want to hear.

I also feel someone new coming into the band needs to earn some cred first before being able to make set list additions. If you join, give it some time and suggest more modern songs more similar to what they play and what they are capable of.

 

[FunkBear]

Having a voice is earned. When you join an existing band, you should first get used to what they do and develop a feel for what makes it tick and its strengths and weaknesses before you start demanding that you have a voice. I would never waltz into a band and expect to be treated as an equal in every way from the getgo, especially if they're successful at making money and keeping a crowd. Plus not everyone has a feel for what works. Took me a little while to learn that lesson. Know what having that attitude got me? Replaced.

And I would never join a band that wouldn't entertain any suggestions from a new guy. Giving a new member the opportunity to pick a few songs gives them motivation while expanding our sets. If you want to take your band seriously, feel free, but to me it's more important to have fun. If someone has earned a spot in one of my bands then they've earned a voice.

 

[RichardW]

I wouldn't, uh, rush into it.

 

[kikaida03]

Nice to see you on TB! I saw Santana here in Ottawa in March.

Cheers, mate! (Damn, it was a cold March... )

 

[mellowinman]

Agreed. I'm always learning new songs and like to bring them into the group, and I like it when others bring stuff they're excited about in because it expands my world. A static setlist wouldn't work for me, nor would a group that's not interested in accommodating everyone's ideas.

But a) I do this purely for fun and b) I live in a big area with lots of people/bands looking for bass players. If I were full time pro musician and the band paid me as an employee, I'd play the hell out of whatever they wanted. Or if I lived in an area where there weren't a lot of working band/group options, then maybe...

Also, it's true that in general Rush covers aren't big crowd pleasers (this coming from a huge Rush nerd), but I like groups that will take a suggestion and at least try to play it to see how it sounds. Especially a fairly easy and mid-tempo tune like Working Man (although most singers I know will cringe at Rush tunes).

I've never heard a good Rush cover. I've heard a "passable" Rush cover, but most songs, the problem is going to be the vocals.

 

[andruca]

For me it's always been about the challenge/joy, the hang or the money. Lately I can even pass on the hang, at 43, father of 2, not much time for the hang unless it's kids' b-days, family dinner (yep, deep into dad band land by now, still I do the occasional sub, for the money).

Whoever pays (and given it pays enough) names the game. OTOH, if it's about personal fulfillment I better be heard, or I'm gone.

 

[JimmyM]

And I would never join a band that wouldn't entertain any suggestions from a new guy. Giving a new member the opportunity to pick a few songs gives them motivation while expanding our sets. If you want to take your band seriously, feel free, but to me it's more important to have fun. If someone has earned a spot in one of my bands then they've earned a voice.

Well if you just play for fun only, do it any way you wish. But even in fun bands, it can be frowned upon. Maybe you don't care...that's fine...I'm just telling you how it usually works. So don't say I didn't warn you if it backfires on you one day.

 

[EdO.]

@Alik so what do you now have to say about all of this ?

 

[JoeWPgh]

The most misunderstood word, and the most abused word in the English language is 'politic'. People hear the word and assume a food fight between the left and right. But that's incorrect, 'Politic' simply means 'persuasion'. And 'persuasion' is a long game. You chip away, in a cordial and friendly manner. You don't walk in and expect what you want. You gotta work at it. And to do that you must respect what they are all about.

 

[Alik]

I wouldn't, uh, rush into it.

 

[80jazz]

Can you SING that Rush song? The reason I ask is what's the rest of the set list? If it's all Rod Stewart and Skynard, THEY can't sing Rush.


If YOU can't there's no reason to bring it up.


Nothing bothers me more at a show than seeing some dipstick who has no business singing a high song either trying to do it or dropping it four whole steps so it sounds nothing like the original.

Now, if they have a young Robert Plant or Steve Perry on staff, by all means, go for it.

Geddy Lee is as tough to sing as he is to cop on bass.... maybe even moreso. Trust me. I've done it. Limelight is one of the few I can do vocally. Fly By Night? Fuhgetuhbowdit. Closer to the Heart? Never even tried.

What if Geddy Lee could not sing it anymore?

 

[two fingers]

What if Geddy Lee could not sing it anymore?

Well he can't. He adjusted the vocals of a few parts on the last tour or two (based on YouTube videos of those shows I've watched). That's fine. A lot of high singers do that later in their careers.

But why do a COVER of a song nobody in the band can sing as recorded?

Geddy, and other famous artists, get away with it BECAUSE they are the original performer.... and have been signing the song for decades in many cases.

I'll cut Sting some slack on early Police songs. If I go to a bar and watch a local band lowering the key drastically, or changing the part to accommodate a singer who can't song that high, I just roll my eyes and wonder why they bothered doing thay song when there are a billion other songs they CAN sing out there.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

In my cover band every time we acquire a new member they get to choose a few songs to add to the set list. It has to clear with everyone to make sure we aren't deviating too much from what we want to do (ex: we turned down a Beach Boys tune because it doesnt really fit with our hard rock repertoire) but 99% of songs we accept when pitched, and it adds diversity to our set. I'm more interested in keeping my band members happy than I am forcing my song choices on them.

I kind of expect to have a voice in a band when I join. In my college days, when I had first picked up bass, I joined a group of guys in their 50's that were just interested in playing at home on the weekends. The oddest thing when playing with people a few generations ahead of you is that they tend to think they need to teach you what music is by telling you to listen and play every album they love. Then, when suggesting music for them to listen to or for you to play as a group, they tend to brush it off because they're just not interested in it. I really lost interest with that group due to not having any influence in what we were playing.

Post-college I joined a cover band; again, everyone was in their 40's and I was about 24 or so. They let me pick some songs for the list and we even practiced them. But on gig night the singer would skip over all of my songs on the set list and move directly to the next songs, always with an excuse like "we're going to lose the crowd if we play Dani California or Monkey Wrench, so Desert Moon is a better choice right now." It sucks to be in a band and have no voice, unless you are working as a sub or something and just want to play something to make money.

Very go

Well he can't. He adjusted the vocals of a few parts on the last tour or two (based on YouTube videos of those shows I've watched). That's fine. A lot of high singers do that later in their careers.

But why do a COVER of a song nobody in the band can sing as recorded?

Geddy, and other famous artists, get away with it BECAUSE they are the original performer.... and have been signing the song for decades in many cases.

I'll cut Sting some slack on early Police songs. If I go to a bar and watch a local band lowering the key drastically, or changing the part to accommodate a singer who can't song that high, I just roll my eyes and wonder why they bothered doing thay song when there are a billion other songs they CAN sing out there.

Well he can't. He adjusted the vocals of a few parts on the last tour or two (based on YouTube videos of those shows I've watched). That's fine. A lot of high singers do that later in their careers.

But why do a COVER of a song nobody in the band can sing as recorded?

Geddy, and other famous artists, get away with it BECAUSE they are the original performer.... and have been signing the song for decades in many cases.

I'll cut Sting some slack on early Police songs. If I go to a bar and watch a local band lowering the key drastically, or changing the part to accommodate a singer who can't song that high, I just roll my eyes and wonder why they bothered doing thay song when there are a billion other songs they CAN sing out there.

Totally agree. I guess the general public (non musicians) really doesn’t care either way. However, it can be irritating and perplexing to the musical community.

 

[Luciferiad]

I would say if they're playing stuff you like playing, whether it's your favorite stuff isn't really that important. If you do the audition and the groove and chemistry are there, give it a shot. You can always suggestions additions or changes later...once you've proven your opinion has merit. Before that, they're under no obligation to humor your suggestions. You're just a dude responding to a "bass player wanted" ad.

 

[EdO.]

Interesting that this thread is still running but no additional response from the OP. Hello?

 

[Alik]

Interesting that this thread is still running but no additional response from the OP. Hello?

I'm reading all of your opinions,EdO; I've contacted the BL again and said we'll go on the lists when we meet this coming weekend, apparently the other guys requested that. And that's fine with me.
The point was not getting that Rush song
to the list but knowing if I had the option to get a song in it. A band I was in a couple of years ago had a list nobody could alter, and it was rehearsed the same way. BL would even indicate sound level to each of us! It didn't last. So as the years/bands go by one learns to avoid these problems before they happen. I asked him about how's money split and I liked his response: equally. And you know what - I learned those questions from this great site, what happened to your Last bass player, money split, adding songs to lists, even if the band is 420 friendly, (which, personally, is a no-go situation for me).
Going back to the list, it has good songs, classic stuff I'd say, the kind of songs I grew up to listening in my older brother's stereo system; and while they're not technically challenging bass wise I think I can play those tunes easily. I guess It wouldn't hurt to learn them beforehand soooo I'm in the listening process now

 

[EdO.]

Sounds like a plan. I play a number of "easy" songs in the couple of bands I play in. One thing about "easy " songs, especially widely known popular songs. You screw up a chord change or significant riff, it sticks out IMO more from the bass than about any thing else. Nailing the groove and locking in with the drummer are fun challenges in their own rights, there is fun to be had beyond just playing clouds of notes. Just gotta put it in proper perspective.

 

[kikaida03]

Also? Simple lines = more $$ per note!