I hear what you're saying, but then again - if I had to choose between playing Rush in our basement or playing You May Be Right and Don't Stop Believing for a packed bar, I'll take the latter..
Regards
Mark
Regards
Mark
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
The Real Reason Why Bands Play the Same Old Tired Covers
- Thread starter jive1
- Start date
Since we're talking Skynyrd, my (now defunct) heavy classics trio did:
Sweet Home Alabama
Gimme 3 Steps
Saturday Night Special
Gimme Back My Bullets
Tuesday's Gone
I Know a Little
Simple Man
That Smell
Free Bird (sort of - we did the solo section as the end of a medley: Rockin' in the Free World/Machine Gun/ Free Bird
We also did 28 Led Zep songs
And some other more obscure stuff:
Hey Bulldog
Head First (the Babys)
The Seeker
A Touch Too Much
Nights in White Satin (as a power trio...)
Mexican Blackbird
Master of Sparks
Lady Love (Trower)
All in all, we had 7 sets of material, much of it off the beaten path. We never played Mustang Sally, Twist and Shout, Brown Eyed Girl, or Should I Stay or Should I Go.
I really miss that band, but the guitar player is a new Grandpa, and kind of lost interest.
Country fans are touchy about the wrong kind of country music..
Yes they are. Hell, if someone asks you for a Hank song, you better make sure which one of the three they're asking for, unless you want to get run out on a rail.
I'm having the problem with my actual band.
I go proposing tones of good rock classic pieces like "Child in time", "Echoes" or "Enter Sandman" or even less known stuff like TOOL or Porcupine tree, and 3 on 4 are usually up to the challenge, the 4th one, guitarist (solo) is like imposing boring stuff like "Hotel California" or "La Bamba"...
I'm the singer in this group of 5 musicians but I'm also the newest in the band so I don't want to impose...
I can't get a crowd's attention with songs I'm totally bored and numb with... he only sees that it's "technically" a Grand Classic so we "Must" play that overcooked song... He never looks at the crowd in concert... I got 20 yearsof band experience with allot of concerts with rare pieces balanced with more popular ones, with compositions.
How do you suggest I proceed with this guy ?
It would be a shame to loose the 3 others cause they are really cool.
Should I just let him lead the way he sees it ? He's quite sutburned on his positions and doesn't get the "atmospher / groove/ bubble with the public" I have to build with a public and that for it to work I need to "feel" what I'm singing not just technically know it...
Should I propose him to lead the public during the next concert ? I never look at my lyrics while I'm in concert, all my attention goes to the people watching us, wonder if he could "not look" at his guitar chords and keep a public attentive...
I go proposing tones of good rock classic pieces like "Child in time", "Echoes" or "Enter Sandman" or even less known stuff like TOOL or Porcupine tree, and 3 on 4 are usually up to the challenge, the 4th one, guitarist (solo) is like imposing boring stuff like "Hotel California" or "La Bamba"...
I'm the singer in this group of 5 musicians but I'm also the newest in the band so I don't want to impose...
I can't get a crowd's attention with songs I'm totally bored and numb with... he only sees that it's "technically" a Grand Classic so we "Must" play that overcooked song... He never looks at the crowd in concert... I got 20 yearsof band experience with allot of concerts with rare pieces balanced with more popular ones, with compositions.
How do you suggest I proceed with this guy ?
It would be a shame to loose the 3 others cause they are really cool.
Should I just let him lead the way he sees it ? He's quite sutburned on his positions and doesn't get the "atmospher / groove/ bubble with the public" I have to build with a public and that for it to work I need to "feel" what I'm singing not just technically know it...
Should I propose him to lead the public during the next concert ? I never look at my lyrics while I'm in concert, all my attention goes to the people watching us, wonder if he could "not look" at his guitar chords and keep a public attentive...
Last edited:
I handled three rehearsals doing covers after auditioning to be the lead guitar player (band leader was the bass playerxß
First, this is something you should have talked about before you even arranged an audition. But in any case, it can't hurt to say to the guy "watch the audience reaction next time we play that one," but most likely he's already decided that the crowd loves those songs and will see what he wants to see. Can't hurt to try, but this type of guy is set in his ways.
So you have two choices: live with it, or speak up. Either is fine but you have to commit to your choice. If you choose to live with it then accept that this is what you signed up for, the band had an identity when you joined and it is unreasonable to come in and try to change it. If you speak up, you could try talking to the other guys first and see if any of them feel the same way and see what they suggest. Maybe they will prefer that you go, maybe they will prefer that he goes, or maybe some will even want to leave with you and form a new band with an identity closer to what you want? Only you can make this choice.
A good topic and is definitely discussed with a heated debate among my fellow bandmates. First off, I could careless if a band decides to play all those over played songs, even badly. If it makes them happy and the audience happy go for it. For us it has always been a delicate balance of keeping the musicians happy and hopefully playing songs that fill the dance floor. Will it give us less gigs? Maybe. We all work full time and getting together once per week is time to connect, raz each other, and play some rock.
We have to realize that we, as musicians, are not as important as before. I believe we are losing, in what I refer to, as the common song. What are cover bands in 20, 30, or 40 years going to be playing? I am old enough to remember no internet and no cable TV. There was not much entertainment choices for decades. Music was the primary activity for hundreds or if not thousands of years for most people. Now before all the youngins start jumping on me I do have a point. The point is that most people over 50 grew up with Saturday night dances and limited radio. If you liked Country you all basically knew the same songs. The same for Rock as well. What did I do when I was 15 years old on a typical Friday night?. One of us in our group would buy a record and we would all go over to the buddy with the best stereo system and listen to the entire album, both sides as a group. Now people listen to their favourite music, which is totally cool, on headphones by themselves. Everyone has access to music beyond our wildest dreams. You can listen to dubstep from Australia and world music from Hungary. It certainly allows people to have access to the biggest library ever but if you don't listen to the Top 40 charted music in the genre of your preference you probably will not know most of any cover bands material.
Sorry for the off topic rant but I think we should all be happy to be able to still play some live gigs. I think our days are numbered and I can see DJ's or some other form of entertainment taking up our spots as the demographic ages.
We have to realize that we, as musicians, are not as important as before. I believe we are losing, in what I refer to, as the common song. What are cover bands in 20, 30, or 40 years going to be playing? I am old enough to remember no internet and no cable TV. There was not much entertainment choices for decades. Music was the primary activity for hundreds or if not thousands of years for most people. Now before all the youngins start jumping on me I do have a point. The point is that most people over 50 grew up with Saturday night dances and limited radio. If you liked Country you all basically knew the same songs. The same for Rock as well. What did I do when I was 15 years old on a typical Friday night?. One of us in our group would buy a record and we would all go over to the buddy with the best stereo system and listen to the entire album, both sides as a group. Now people listen to their favourite music, which is totally cool, on headphones by themselves. Everyone has access to music beyond our wildest dreams. You can listen to dubstep from Australia and world music from Hungary. It certainly allows people to have access to the biggest library ever but if you don't listen to the Top 40 charted music in the genre of your preference you probably will not know most of any cover bands material.
Sorry for the off topic rant but I think we should all be happy to be able to still play some live gigs. I think our days are numbered and I can see DJ's or some other form of entertainment taking up our spots as the demographic ages.
TlDr
Watch the audience. They will tell you 100x over what works and what doesn't. Seriously - take notes! If you aren't playing for them - welp might as well go back to your basement.
There are a ton of 'classic open jam' tunes that I do not know. Put me at the Sunday open mic at Gary's Bar and I'll be picking up the chords to these songs from the guitar player. I do not know these songs. I've decided I am fine with that. My current bands play songs that range from older but not overplayed to - 'wow I heard this on Sirius XM yesterday and now you are playing it! Most audiences enjoy a mix of both....
Watch the audience. They will tell you 100x over what works and what doesn't. Seriously - take notes! If you aren't playing for them - welp might as well go back to your basement.
There are a ton of 'classic open jam' tunes that I do not know. Put me at the Sunday open mic at Gary's Bar and I'll be picking up the chords to these songs from the guitar player. I do not know these songs. I've decided I am fine with that. My current bands play songs that range from older but not overplayed to - 'wow I heard this on Sirius XM yesterday and now you are playing it! Most audiences enjoy a mix of both....
I commend your attempt to play something like Porcupine Tree, but even I will tell that would be terrible idea. Playing covers that are current or off the beaten path is one thing. Daring your audience to hate you be playing something that only prog heads would know is playing with fire.
Thank you very much for taking the time to help me
The basic set & the advert I answered seemed pretty cool : a few well known like "Wish you were here" but nothing that people find "ringuard" and a few tunes like "Sanctuary" or "psycho killer" that are not that often covered and really fun to share
We have a shared xls table where we can propose a "new song" to add to the set (or have a 2nd set) and each of us ranks the proposals on a scale of /5. I voted a 2 for "hotel california", so many other proposals that aren't That super well known and can allow me to give the public a good time, and so many other songs out there that could do the same trick.
Besides him who proposed the song (and it's not the only one... he even wants to impose me "french" songs... it ain't Rock, has nothing to do in a rock set... but...) I'm the only one who voted... but on whatsapp he's decided we're playing it. So Yeah I think you're right, guys like him aren't "changeable" on that part.
And you're right about the choices I have... I won't be able to just shut-up and sing whatever BS he imposes (without respecting the xls table, and everyone appreciation btw), so I'm gonna have a chat with the others, see where They stand musically speaking. The initial goal was "have fun" sharing music... I really hate creating a fuzz / drama, not my style but I'm not having "fun" in these conditions.
Again Many Many Thanks for your good advice
Well, while I think you play what the folks want to hear, there is room for introducing new songs, and creating new lists of songs we tire of playing
...and I know I have asked bands if they know any the ones you've mentioned, and Strumbellas, and a few others, and they never know any, doesn't matter what they mostly play, rock, classic rock, country, etc.
I can't see it hurting to introduce a new song or two on a night and just see how the reaction is. If it empties the dance floor, scrub it, if it goes over pretty well, or they stay out there, you have something fresh to add to your set lists. For my friends wife and her girl friends, it's all about it having a dance beat, or if it doesn't have it, they refer to them as bathroom break songs.
New item to add to gig contract, club owner cannot blame/fire us for playing songs requested by his patrons.
Nothing to do with lazy musicians - at least not the people I play with. I'd say it's a lazy crowd. Not willing to listen to something new, maybe different, or maybe on the radio within the couple months. We play Proud Mary, 24K Magic, Kickstart My Heart, Shut Up and Dance, Goodbye Earl, etc. If you can't find something we play to dance to or go to the bathroom to, you aren't trying hard enough.
I'm so sorry to hear how you have so little voice in what happens in your life, and how you feel so powerless and disconnected.
We'll all be dead soon enough. Your time will come.
Couldn't agree with this portion of your post more.
This.
We just played the first gig post-op for me last Sat. And even taking my vocal out of the mix due the voice still not having recovered completely, we still didn't play Brown Eyed Girl, Mustang Sally, or Sweet Home Alabama.
I like playing cover songs - I'm currently learning Hearts & Bones on guitar, we usually pick the songs we want to play regardless of what is popular.
I am more interested in playing original music - there is definitely not as big of a draw for it at the low level. At the same time - when we do get a good crowd I never hear anything but good comments when it comes to our originals and covers.
I am more interested in playing original music - there is definitely not as big of a draw for it at the low level. At the same time - when we do get a good crowd I never hear anything but good comments when it comes to our originals and covers.
I couldn't agree more. It makes me think of "Roundabout" by Yes. Their most well known tune. You can dance to it. But few bands attempt it because they lack the skill or will to learn it. I've only ever seen 2 bands play it. One was a cover band back in the 70s. The other was Yes.
