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Waiving The White Flag Of Surrender

#61
Good luck blue. Although I prefer originals I have to admit some of my funnest gigs were with cover bands. Playing songs I would never have on my ipod too. It's different playing them for an appreciative crowd to me. Brings the song to an enjoyable level when I may disdain hearing it on the radio.

Or in the case of Mustang Sally 12 times in a 3 hour blues jam. (icky)
 
#63
bluewine said:
True , I have never been completely happy with the last 2 bands,but there were somethings about them I liked.
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I was talking about life in general. You don't seem to have a great relationship with your kids. You've been through how many girlfriends? Bands? You don't seem to love your job. You're not happy with your age. From what I've heard fron you on here there isn't one part of your life where you are happy.
 
#64
FYI - no one cares. Your selling shoes - the customer is always right. Why is this so hard ? Are you an entertainer or hung up on being a "musician" ?



bluewine said:
I agree with you, it's like people that have never eaten at a 5 Star Restaurant. they think Burger King is wonderful.

I don't mean to rip on people, I just wish people were not soeasily satisfied.

What we are saying, at the end of the day everyday people can't tell the difference between a well rehearsed class act and bunch of losers.
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#65
I once had a band where Mustang Sally and Brown Eyed Girl were banned from the list. If you must play it, like I have to in my current band, I slap it all the way thtough to ease the boredom.
 
#68
tycobb73 said:
I was talking about life in general. You don't seem to have a great relationship with your kids. You've been through how many girlfriends? Bands? You don't seem to love your job. You're not happy with your age. From what I've heard fron you on here there isn't one part of your life where you are happy.
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Hmmmmm? I like being me.

blue
 
#70
Handyman said:
Not the best sound quality, but THIS is how you do Mustang Sally.

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Yup, that's how it gets done.

Please take note of the drummer's work with the snare on the 2 and 4. This is my pet peeve: you can hardly find drummers who will reinforce the backbeat that way anymore. That's half the reason Mustang Sally and a whole bunch of other R&B tunes can be tough to get over - the drummers nowadays are pushing the 1 and 3 with the kick. Often, I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone with some of these cover drummers. oo doo doo doo, oo doo doo doo, don't touch that dial....

Here's the thing I don't get with covers and the older R&B stuff: isn't the idea to actually pay attention a little bit to the original material? I'm cool with taking it somewhere else from there, but quite honestly I have had the hardest time in recent years selling the backbeat to the drummers I've come across. They just don't get it, and more and more as time goes by. Yet, there it is plain as day on the juke between sets. I will literally tell them at rehearsal: "I don't care about anything else you want to do, but the 2 and 4 have to be 50% louder coming off your snare and I'll be good" (assuming time isn't an issue). Then, at the gig, its back to the 1 and 3 thing again. No wonder people don't like cover tunes.

EOR
 
#72
bluewine said:
Last Saturday Night I saw a crappy cover band at the Milwaukee Ale House. They started playing Mustang Sally and the whole place was on the dance floor.That was it for me. People are just stupid when it comes to music.
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Hey, I know what you mean. But, I keep saying that there are a million other songs that folks have forgotten that they like just as much. When I had my classic rock thing going, one guy said he was on the edge of his seat waiting to see what we'd play next. See, we weren't selecting the most obvious tunes, but they were all still tunes that were widely known in their time. It was refreshing. Folks loved them just as much as the same old worn out tunes we all still have to play.
 
#76
MatticusMania said:
You could certainly play out with an original band every weekend, so long as you dont expect to bepaid for it! Our original band plays at least 4 times a month.
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My originals band plays out 2-3 times a month (all we want) and we are payed for each and every show. It can be $100-200 less than the average coverband but better than most since we only play from 1.5 -2 hours a show.
We get good gigs, never a dive bar and festivals that pay well. We book and promote ourselves making all contacts.
We are really happy doing it for now but its a ton of work and pressure to keep it all rolling along for sure. A coverband is much less work to book and Yes, I have played in them and booked them too.
I understand completly where you are coming from Blue. If covers keep you playing and somewhat, happy do it. Originals are for the youngsters for the most part i am finding out.
 
#77
Russell L said:
Hey, I know what you mean. But, I keep saying that there are a million other songs that folks have forgotten that they like just as much. When I had my classic rock thing going, one guy said he was on the edge of his seat waiting to see what we'd play next. See, we weren't selecting the most obvious tunes, but they were all still tunes that were widely known in their time. It was refreshing. Folks loved them just as much as the same old worn out tunes we all still have to play.
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Yes and alcohol helps allot with this :)
 
#79
It can be done, but its work. My originals band (from Milwaukee, mind you), plays upwards of 50-60 gigs per year, and we get paid for every one. But, we hustle like crazy, keep current on our promotion, work the crowd, have our own soundguy, play four hour shows with one very short break, sweat our asses off, buy drinks for new fans, continue to fine tune our set, don't waste time talking between songs, know our transitions, tip the waitstaff, are on time, polite, and approachable, smile, and have a blast at every show, no matter how many people are there.

We also book gigs around the midwest, all drivable, but we do what we have to do to fill the calendar.

My point? The audience is out there. They want good music. They are not all idiots. Yes, the cover scene is bigger, and its easier to stay in the familiar (I was a part of it for a long time). People want to party, not be challenged. That's why its work, but its so worth it. I finally got sick of covers and made the plunge, and I'm glad I did.

Now, back to my real job.
 

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