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The dreaded moment has come: choice between two Skynyrd songs

Discussion in 'Band Management [BG]' started by BillyRay, Jun 24, 2008.

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  1. Jun 24, 2008 #1
    BillyRay

    BillyRay

    Jan 20, 2008
    Quebec
    My band wants to incorporate some Skynyrd in our setlist. I have a strict no Freebird policy. Not because it's a bad song, but it's one of Skynyrd's weakest hit IMHO and there's a lot of other songs that would suit better.

    So, the lesser of two evils:

    a) Sweet Home Alabama
    - Everyobdy knows it/ Been played to death
    - Still gets people dancing
    - Guitarist probably won't be able to sing and play at the same time (or play it at all) and I'm stuck singing about the South... Not good. Same reason I don't like singing Sabbath, the lyrics.

    b) Tuesday's Gone
    - Ballad, doesn't get people dancing (but we have very few slow numbers)
    - Not as well known
    - One of Skynyrd's strongest song IMHO and I like playing/singing it. I might even sneak in an harmonica solo instead of the piano one.

    I would've really liked going for I Know a Little but we already have originals and other covers who sound like straightforward high-energy blues and the other band members won't to go for it.

    What's your pick ?
     
  2. Jun 24, 2008 #2
    Thunderthumbs73

    Thunderthumbs73 Supporting Member

    May 5, 2008
    Why not both?

    But if you have to go with one, try the ballad, simply as you need a few slow numbers. Every band does, for variety for the musicians AND the audience.
     
  3. Jun 24, 2008 #3
    mrjim123

    mrjim123 Supporting Member

    May 17, 2008
    Indy
    RougHouse
    No offense, but I would guess you're twenty-something, correct? Lighten up, dude. Lines in the sand only lead to trouble. Give a little and you get a lot.
     
  4. Jun 24, 2008 #4
    Hansel

    Hansel

    Jan 20, 2008
    Kitchener, Ontario
    +1. Very well put, Mr. Jim.

    If not Freebird, I'd say Simple Man
     
  5. Jun 24, 2008 #5
    anderbass

    anderbass

    Dec 20, 2005
    Phoenix. Az.
    I suggest the whole band takes a listen to "Poison Whisky" and "Needle and a Spoon" before you guys decide.
    I consider both of these tunes chestnuts. (good tunes that are recognizable but mercifully, weren't overplayed on the radio)
     
  6. Jun 24, 2008 #6
    mrjim123

    mrjim123 Supporting Member

    May 17, 2008
    Indy
    RougHouse
    Personally, I'd love to play Gimme Three Steps and That Smell.
     
  7. Jun 24, 2008 #7
    badlands2233

    badlands2233

    Dec 24, 2007
    Gibsonburg Ohio
    gimme back my bullets

    that song is awesome, and its my favorite skynyrd song
     
  8. Jun 24, 2008 #8
    BillyRay

    BillyRay

    Jan 20, 2008
    Quebec
    It's not that I find it overplayed or cliché, it's just that there's so much better songs in Skynyrd's catalogue. Frankly, playing Freebird in QUÉBEC (we aren't in the South, people don't request it) shows lack of imagination. Same thing for Simple Man (and I frankly find that song grating).

    The demand for those songs simply isn't there: people ask for GREAT rock songs from GREAT ROCK bands. This includes Skynyrd, so we play some. I like covering more obscure songs from very well known bands because it adds a little flavour. Same reason we play Detroit Rock City and TNT instead of Rock and Roll All Night and Thunderstruck, they are still great bar songs but they aren't heard very often. They make for a change.

    Needle and the Spoon is out since the band doesn't like it either. Gimme Three Steps would be nice.
     
  9. Jun 24, 2008 #9
    vinny

    vinny

    Apr 3, 2006
    Las Vegas, NV.
    Gimme Three Steps & double the guitar lines in the fills. Friggin' awesome. Never fails to pack the dance floor where I'm from.
     
  10. Jun 24, 2008 #10
    Sahm

    Sahm

    Dec 18, 2007
    Delaware, OH
    Of the two you mentioned, I'd go with Sweet Home Alabama. I add just a touch of funk to it, and it always goes over well. It's got the better sing-a-long chorus.

    Happy Gilmore fans will apreciate Tuesday's Gone, though!

    And BTW, if you do Skynard AT ALL, you're paying some amount of tribute to the south. That's just how it goes! So don't rule out a specific Skynard tune 'cause it's "more southern" than the rest. Besides, you're in Quebec, almost everthing you'd play is from south of you, including Rush! ;)
     
  11. Jun 24, 2008 #11
    Valerus

    Valerus

    Aug 4, 2005
    Austin, Texas
    Wait, people in different countries sing Sweet Home Alabama?


    Weird.
     
  12. Jun 24, 2008 #12
    Madness

    Madness

    Jul 27, 2005
    Madison, WI
    Tuesday's Gone. SHA is such an overplayed song...I'd even say Tuesday's Gone is pushing it, but it's not Freebird...
     
  13. Jun 24, 2008 #13
    Dennis098

    Dennis098

    May 3, 2008
    Virginia
    I love Tuesday's gone
     
  14. Jun 25, 2008 #14
    Rathead123

    Rathead123

    Mar 25, 2008
    Mooresville N.C.
    Dont forget "Whiskey rock-a- roller" cause nobody in the crowd will know it and will be let down when you play it as a Skynyrd request. And its got a cool scale walking Bass line..And as mentioned ahead of this "Poison Whiskey" is a "bad....ss tune.
     
  15. Jun 25, 2008 #15
    T-Bird

    T-Bird

    Apr 29, 2007
    Finland (Northern Europe)
    Hi.

    Out of those two:

    Tuesday's Gone.

    Been playing an acoustic version of that tune for a while, as well as:

    All I can Do Is Write About It

    Another great slow tune.

    Regards
    Sam
     
  16. Jun 25, 2008 #16
    Adam Bomb

    Adam Bomb

    Mar 26, 2008
    Bezerkely, CA
    IMO, if you *have* to play one of those two (which is why again?), catchy as it is, "Sweet Home Alabama" is, IMO, a tad overplayed.

    IME, playing any song that any band member doesn't want to play is not ideal. I was in a goth band; the drummer hated our one cover, "Piggy". It showed. So, even though I love the bass part, I joined him in having it dropped.

    Good luck!

    --Bomb :bassist:

    That's one of the last things an ex said to me! Less awesome. :bag:






    :bassist:
     
  17. Jun 25, 2008 #17
    IanStephenson

    IanStephenson UnRegistered User

    Apr 8, 2006
    SHA - easy to learn, big crowd sing along, and towards the end you can do a nice few funky things. If you put some stops in you can fit a nice wooten-esque slap/hamer/pop/hammer thing (open A->D open G->D, open A->C open G->C, open E->G open D->G) into the outro... Crazy, but trust me it works.

    It's not something my regular band would do, but I have a couple of side projects where we just throw anything it, and SHA is a crowd pleaser at some of the places we play.

    Ian
     
  18. Jun 25, 2008 #18
    James Hart

    James Hart

    Feb 1, 2002
    Beemerville.nj.us
  19. Jun 25, 2008 #19
    Lobster11

    Lobster11 Supporting Member Supporting Member

    Apr 22, 2006
    Williamsburg, VA
    Personally, I'd go for their version of JJ Cale's "Call Me the Breeze."
     
  20. Jun 25, 2008 #20
    Twiggy Jr.

    Twiggy Jr.

    Nov 17, 2005
    Oklahoma
    odd...
    you don't want to sing about the south
    billy ray isn't exactly the most yankee-of-names...
    guess ya gotta change that, too
     
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