Switching to Country?!

[Runnerman]

I've been playing New Country for 3 years.
Played rock & Pop for many years.
There is a lot of Country fans.
I actually play to large crowds vs marginal crowds at Rock bars.

This is exactly what I'm hoping for. I have also seen the crowds for the Classic Rock bar gigs getting smaller. And the gigs fewer and farther between.

 

[Mike N]

I went from playing rock/metal (both covers & originals) to a female fronted modern country band, which was by far the most fun of all the bands I've been in.

 

[bassbully]

You can never have too much Merle, just saying...

Mark

More Merle!

 

[Twobass]

Rock n Roll cover band singer here.
Have any of you gone over to the country music scene from another genre?! I am not much much into bro country -just a bit. More like old Buck Owens, The "Possum" and even some Robert Earl.
I deal with these drunk club guys and managers and loud amps. I am just thinking putting on a hat and singing about beer and trucks might be nice for a change. Any of you make the transition? Also what are those country crowds like? Just thinkin out loud here...
View attachment 3027455

I played in a country band once a while back. It was alright the songs were not too hard to play, but I had to use a 5 string. Almost all the newer type Country songs require a 5 string to play them.

 

[808P123]

Country crowds are some of the most fun and engaged crowds I've ever had the pleasure to play for.

 

[fhm555]

Point is, do and play what you like and want. What I noticed is country music usually brings a lot of good looking women !

And money. The only time i’ve ever been asked to play country for nothing was fundraisers for a famly with a very sick child facing extraordinary medical bills, and similar situations for other musicians, and once for an American Cancer Society fundraiser.
When i was playing straight blues, everybody wated to give you exposure to the “record company execs” that were going to be at whatever event they were trying to get us to play for nothing. We were a straight up killer blues band and packed any club we played, yet there was never any shortage of slicks trying to help us get recognized. We did rent parties and legit fundraisers, but we’d have starved to death had we taken all those opportunities to up our name recognition, but country was different. You still had cranky club owners but you got paid.

 

[jshinal]

I did a mix of alt-country, Americana, new country and old stuff with one of my projects a couple of years ago. Some old rebooted stuff went over great (Dwight Yoakum covering Buck Owens), people line danced to surprising stuff (ZZ Top's Just Got Paid ). Classics like Tulsa Time still work because of that beat, and new stuff like All My Friends Say had enough points to count as old time stuff (binge over an ex, lost his truck, etc).

But some of it is awful. "List" songs, for example. "I like big hats, fried chicken, dirty boots, S***kickin'" . Yecch. Kill me with a spork, please. But choose your songs carefully and you can end up with 3 sets that will keep your crowd entertained, and is also fun to play.

 

[Ian McLaughlin]

Could lead to watchin nascar racin....just saying .

Every week!

 

[DaDo625]

But choose your songs carefully and you can end up with 3 sets that will keep your crowd entertained, and is also fun to play

Always looking for set list suggestions if you would be so kind to share....

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Since this thread resurfaced I thought I'd share a meme I made.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Jimmy4string]

Man this is an old thread. To update -i tried it out and low and behold discovered I dont sing county that well.
Actually I do a few pretty good. However, to develop the country chops I would have to work at it. Maybe even pick up a guitar.
Truth is I am just not motivated right now. : /
SO -right now i am activley looking to be in the audience portion of the band !

 

[buldog5151bass]

Country bands results in cute drunk chicks in short skirts.