Should you play Mustang Sally?

[gweimer]

I used to have a part-time job as a line cook years ago. One restaurant had a duo of an acoustic guitar and trumpet that would play during dinner hour. The guys came over to the line on a break and I jokingly asked them to play some Black Sabbath. Without even blinking an eye, they went right into "Iron Man".

 

[Brad Johnson]

Yes , but can you play a Polka version?

Absolutely. Haven't done it yet with that particular song but with the folks I tend to play with...

let me put it this way: If we could play a funk version of "The Chicken Dance" I'm pretty sure a polka MS would be a piece of cake.


Yeah, we did do the Chicken Dance like that. Because I tend to play with folks who have a sense of humor and don't look down on any music in general. We don't have any songs we won't play. They aren't permanent and rarely leave a mark.


Besides, in some situations it can really pay off. It's fun to get a $50 tip (or more) just for playing a 4 minute song. I had that happen with a 10 piece wedding band. Easy money and everyone had fun. Still not seeing the downside.

Heck, we did a wedding on one of the local DC Potomac cruise ships and did a jazzy neo-soul version of MS and the rest of the time was almost like a jam session. The leader had assembled a small group of musicians who are used to flying by the seat of our pants if need be, without the usual angst and it paid off big time.

We figured out early on that the couple had a sense of humor, the groom was a musician and his bride was a singer, we had several course of Russian dishes, the crowd loved us and it was one of the most fun weddings I've done.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Deerhof doing Mustang Sally, now I would listen to that!

Or you could go for that vibe.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Now, how would you react if someone shouted: "Play something by Slayer!" (an ongoing joke in Denmark)?

I'd probably freak them out by playing some Slayer. Nothing blows people's minds like the unexpected.

People love to assume that a band plays this type of music or that. I guess if you "look" like you play Slayer it might be annoying ot be pigeon-holed. I don't look like I'd play Slayer... and I love messing with people's heads.

My favorite gigs are where at the drop of a hat we go from playing one type of music to something totally unrelated to something really obscure and by the time you've done that the crowd anticipation about where you could possibly go next is so thick...

 

[Baird6869]

I refused to play it for 25 years.... Finally talked into it at 40.

I don't like the song at all, but hammered bar patrons sure do! Nothing wrong with giving the crowd what they want.

If I played only what I like, the place would clear out.... "here's another 5 Queensryche songs for the '80's followed by Anthrax, few Yes and Rush instrumentals and also some Weather Report"... That ain't payin the bills!

 

[BuzzCanyon]

It's the R&B version of the drunk guy at any rock n roll concert shouting out, "FREEBIRD"

Ran the half marathon in Memphis last December, entertainment along the route. As I approached a teenage girl with an acoustic guitar and a microphone, she asked "Would you rather hear Free Bird or Lady Gaga?"

The timing was perfect - I was right in front of her when she finished the question so I yelled "Free Bird" with everything I had.

As I went by I could hear her snort and say something about playing Lady Gaga anyway. I laughed for the next mile

 

[iridiumrocks]

If I played only what I like, the place would clear out.... "here's another 5 Queensryche songs for the '80's followed by Anthrax, few Yes and Rush instrumentals and also some Weather Report"... That ain't payin the bills!

True! We always want to play songs that we like and make us stretch our skills as musicians, but that will only impress other musicians. My band can play some great covers of Rush and Led Zep songs and most people in a bar yawn and could care less. I spent countless hours learning the bass lines to Red Barchetta and Tom Sawyer, but the mindless 2 note bass line to "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" gets all of the women on the dance floor.

 

[BassyBill]

Heck, we did a wedding on one of the local DC Potomac cruise ships and did a jazzy neo-soul version of MS and the rest of the time was almost like a jam session. The leader had assembled a small group of musicians who are used to flying by the seat of our pants if need be, without the usual angst and it paid off big time.

We figured out early on that the couple had a sense of humor, the groom was a musician and his bride was a singer, we had several course of Russian dishes, the crowd loved us and it was one of the most fun weddings I've done.

I've never understood the general disdain for wedding gigs amongst musicians as they can be a lot of fun, especially some of the less formal, more relaxed affairs.

We've also done several gigs for musicians' weddings, and for a couple of those something like 50% or more of the crowd were full time pros or music educators. Those gigs were a bit daunting but ended up being the ones where we felt the band were really appreciated.

Anyway, back on topic...

 

[Brad Johnson]

I've never understood the general disdain for wedding gigs amongst musicians as they can be a lot of fun, especially some of the less formal, more relaxed affairs.

We've also done several gigs for musicians' weddings, and for a couple of those something like 50% or more of the crowd were full time pros or music educators. Those gigs were a bit daunting but ended up being the ones where we felt the band were really appreciated.

Anyway, back on topic...

The scorn loses it's sting whenever I check my bank statement. Yes, I play for money.


Granted they're not all fun but neither are all of my other gigs and the wedding and church functions pay far better than anything else I do. And no one forces us to stand there and be boring, quite the contrary.

 

[caeman]

The scorn loses it's sting whenever I check my bank statement. Yes, I play for money.

Sell out! Sell out! Sell out!

 

[BassyBill]

The scorn loses it's sting whenever I check my bank statement. Yes, I play for money.


Granted they're not all fun but neither are all of my other gigs and the wedding and church functions pay far better than anything else I do. And no one forces us to stand there and be boring, quite the contrary.

The best money is to be made in the corporate events world for the sort of bands that I play in. Bigger budget events = larger slice of the pie for musicians, potentially. But yes, playing covers at weddings can be pretty lucrative, especially weddings for rich people. Fun, too, on occasion.

I'd also agree that some gigs that are the very antithesis of this can be nowhere near as much fun. Playing original stuff that you respect but hardly anyone other than the band seems interested in can be a depressing way to spend an evening, and it's certainly not made any more enjoyable by doing it for a handful of people in a tiny dump of a venue for no money.

 

[ksandvik]

I like gigs where the audience tells us *not* to play Mustang Sally. That's the right kind of audience.

 

[BassyBill]

I like gigs where the audience tells us *not* to play Mustang Sally. That's the right kind of audience.

But make sure you charge them for you not playing it.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Sitting in last night for band who lost their bassist. End of night, "Mustang Sally, my girl is Sally"..."We don't know it"..."ok, ok, we don't know it, but we'll give it a bash for a round of beers". Kid actually didn't know it, made up some words and I had to telegraph the changes. In A. Bizzaro.

 

[pklima]

Sitting in last night for band who lost their bassist. End of night, "Mustang Sally, my girl is Sally"..."We don't know it"..."ok, ok, we don't know it, but we'll give it a bash for a round of beers". Kid actually didn't know it, made up some words and I had to telegraph the changes. In A. Bizzaro.

I once played in an originals band that didn't really do covers, but the singer liked to take request and make up something based on what little somebody could remember from the original. For extra confusion, try it with the lyrics in French or Russian which nobody else in the band speaks. Ah, artistic people...

 

[jonas_24112]

It's a staple here in southwest VA. We usually pull a bunch of women up on stage as our "backup singers". Works great for crowd participation. Last gig, it was a request with $20 in the tip jar. Since the stage was full of women, I took a seat on a stool and smoked a cigarette while I played.

 

[mellowinman]

Oh crap. There are SUPER cougars now?

I hate that there keeps being things I never knew about.

 

[Roundwound]

I am so glad we only play modern cover music.

 

[rmosele]

I once played in an originals band that didn't really do covers, but the singer liked to take request and make up something based on what little somebody could remember from the original. For extra confusion, try it with the lyrics in French or Russian which nobody else in the band speaks. Ah, artistic people...

I love this idea. I so totally am going to make up some lyrics using 4 or 5 different languages for one of our songs at our next gig. Our singer can start it out saying, "Here's one you all know!" Then we sit back and watch the looks on their faces.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Sell out! Sell out! Sell out!

Oh noes!