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The Real Reason Why Bands Play the Same Old Tired Covers
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
We actually had a request for "Porn Star Dancing" once - from a girl 
"Bad Girlfriend" is pretty popular with some cover bands around here - note I didn't say it was popular with the audience...
Yeah. This thread is pretty much about the kind of crap that finally drove me to start DJing.What is this "dark side" you speak of? DJ? Would that not be a different thread?
We even get to play a ton of classics which bands avoid. Join the dark side. We can touch this. We are the ones who let the dogs out.
Seriously, I think it makes me nicer and easier to get along with as a bandmate. If no one else wants to do "Shake It Off" or "Muevelo", that's fine - I play them all the time anyway.
To tell the truth, I had never heard of either song either. I looked up porn star dancing and it peaked on the Billboard charts at #90. It doesn't seem like a tune many people would have heard on a regular basis, unless maybe they hang around strip clubs or something.
I think the issue you get at is deciding how much effort any song is worth going to. I think you need to decide to add a song either because a) it's a very popular song that will go over well, or b) it's an obscure but awesome song that the band can "sell" even if it's not well known. With us, the big debate lately was whether to add All About that Bass. Singer really wanted to, guitar really didn't, drummer and I didn't care. It's obviously a really popular tune, but we also agreed that it's going to hit its expiration date pretty quickly and people will get sick of it. However, the tune is so easy we could throw it together without even really bothering to rehearse it (did so in about 5 minutes at our last practice), so what the hey - we're doing it.
We all are from different geographical and economical backgrounds. All of our audiences are different as well. To comment on what works 3 states away is ignorant at the very least.
At the end of the day we are all chefs preparing our own dishes. If your audience has more refined tastes, you play that. If your audience likes chicken and wings, you serve that. The moment you leave your house and request payment for your services, you should always keep that in mind. The customer is always right. Play Fates Warning and Dream Theatre in your basement if you like, but play what sells if your concerned about getting paid and asked back. Just my 2 cents.
At the end of the day we are all chefs preparing our own dishes. If your audience has more refined tastes, you play that. If your audience likes chicken and wings, you serve that. The moment you leave your house and request payment for your services, you should always keep that in mind. The customer is always right. Play Fates Warning and Dream Theatre in your basement if you like, but play what sells if your concerned about getting paid and asked back. Just my 2 cents.
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,410
- 9,868
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
That goes for the entirety of one band's "drop D mini set. Ask me how I know ;-)
At the end of the day it comes down to risk-reward (as does most of life)-
What is your expected pay-off for the time put in to do something. If learning a "current" song is simple, and can be accomplished with minimum fuss, and goes over well. The risk-reward is good.
If the "current" song is very difficult to learn, has instrumentation that the typical bass,vocals, guitar, drums band doesn't have and requires too much prep and work and only has a slim chance of going over then the Risk may be too great for many.
So, bands that bet on the same old tired, stuff are basically "hedging" their bets, that enough people still want to hear it.
What is your expected pay-off for the time put in to do something. If learning a "current" song is simple, and can be accomplished with minimum fuss, and goes over well. The risk-reward is good.
If the "current" song is very difficult to learn, has instrumentation that the typical bass,vocals, guitar, drums band doesn't have and requires too much prep and work and only has a slim chance of going over then the Risk may be too great for many.
So, bands that bet on the same old tired, stuff are basically "hedging" their bets, that enough people still want to hear it.
I bet "Slither" was in there too....On a brighter note - I saw John Doe at Firebarn Saturday and they did a mashup of "Love Runs Out" by One Republic and "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner - I thought that was pretty inventive...
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,410
- 9,868
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
I never had anyone complain about synth bass being played without any synth.
Couldn't you countrify a Metallica number and keep everyone happy?
Not sure what you're saying here. I use standard od/8ve pedals for the synth line. I didnt mean switching over to keys.
- Jan 27, 2010
- 4,141
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- Endorsing Artist: Genz Benz Amplification
rules-schmools , if you can reggae stairway to heaven you can countrify metallica..........hell, I bet they've done it themselves during rehearsals
Now we're getting somewhere....the emergence of the " Updated Modified Cover " band.
It's not whether you play Mustang Sally....it's how you play it and what you do with it that counts.....
It's not whether you play Mustang Sally....it's how you play it and what you do with it that counts.....
You saw my band in 2007?
Slither into Porn Star Dancing into Bad Girlfriend into Shine
So Nickleback is not popular with the ladies where you are?
Did it work?
How about a speed metal version with a slight lyric change? Swap out "ride sally ride" for "DIE Sally DIE!"
One of my groups (the one without a chick singer) actually DOES do Mustang Sally. It's not a crazy metal or ska version or anything, but we speed it up and change the beat and generally don't sound much like we're pretending to be Wilson Pickett. Goes over great.
I meant no lack of that ( effects or keys ) is reason to be shy of doing a song with synth bass ( when all you're packing is a sunburst P bass with rounds and tobacco pearl ).
