Definitely. Originals is what I prefer doing, I get to create and play my own basslines instead of mimicking somebody else's.
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What if there was only original band
- Thread starter OptimalOptimus
- Start date
Well you know, if I were only playing originals I presume I'd be having a good time because it would all be music I wrote. Not much chance of that happening though as the last time I wrote an original song was in the 60's when I was about 16 or 17...
Sure. I have a modest collection of original songs and play with several others who are songwriters. One of my best musical compatriots has about 200 originals so far. My collection of his tunes from over ten years ago fills a ring binder. There are many more.
Here's an oldie from 1996:
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Quite possibly - my circle was the punk/new wave/experimental circuit: Max's Kansas City, CBGB, TR3, Danceteria, Peppermint Lounge, Irving Plaza, Maxwell's, Heat, Zappa's, etc. No cover bands there.
There are more than enough modern composers who would love an opportunity to have their work performed.
I've never been in a cover band. I've only ever done originals with the occasional fun cover song - MAYBE one cover in a set.
Most of my (Bass Playing) life have been original bands. Now that i'm looking to join a band. I really don't know many of the covers most of these band play.
Great question, I think if everyone stopped playing like their idols it would change the world for the better. It would solve the equipment problem too...lol
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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My ideal situation is both. One of my umm... current? Sure we'll freeze time in March and call it current... Anyway I play in a band that does about 50/50, maybe 60/40 covers to originals. We don't play "the current hits" as our niche is old school funk and soul, but there are definitely cover tunes that people recognize. Our audiences also appreciate our originals and we sometimes get call-outs for our most popular ones at our shows. We find people are equally likely to get on the dance floor whether it's a cover or an original. More uptempo? More dancing. Deeper pocket? More head nodding.
Are we trying to make any sort of living at this? Nope. Especially in Boston, non-punk/hardcore/hardrock original bands are not really a big draw, expect for a few very exceptional outliers. And even those outliers are usually doing a mix of covers and originals. Excluding the outliers, cover bands that pack bars get higher paying gigs. GB bands that clean up nice get the highest paying gigs. I think playing in these types of bands (as well as teaching, or having a side-job) is the reality for 99.9% of working musicians.
Are we trying to make any sort of living at this? Nope. Especially in Boston, non-punk/hardcore/hardrock original bands are not really a big draw, expect for a few very exceptional outliers. And even those outliers are usually doing a mix of covers and originals. Excluding the outliers, cover bands that pack bars get higher paying gigs. GB bands that clean up nice get the highest paying gigs. I think playing in these types of bands (as well as teaching, or having a side-job) is the reality for 99.9% of working musicians.
It's completely different. Rock bands used to play lots of covers. Go listen to early LPs by the Beatles, Stones, etc. Guess what: nobody cared! 90% of the audience had never heard the originals anyway. Johnny Rivers took recording covers all the way to the bank.
40hz mentioned the Moody Blues, but the early lineup with Denny Laine mostly played covers of American R&B songs just like the majority of the British Invasion acts. Their only stateside hit was a cover..."Go Now".
By the late sixties, it was all over. Covers were only hip if they were Bob Dylan songs. Blame the Beatles for finally being able to write songs fast enough to crank out two albums a year without having to do covers
Here we are 50 years later constantly arguing about this
P.S. I've worked with exactly three people who I thought from the very first song I heard are really, really, really talented songwriters. All three are classified as folk, not rock.
Ironic versions of Ravi Shankar deeps cuts performed in the style of Michael Schenker.
Hi,
Imagine with me, if you will, a world without hypothetical situations.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
Imagine with me, if you will, a world without hypothetical situations.
Thank you for your indulgence,
BassCliff
I know that feeling (crowd singing). First time I experienced it was a mid sized bar with my RHCP tribute band, playing "Under the bridge". Our singer stopped and the whole bar sang... powerful stuff.
However, having people dancing and singing your OWN songs... that's hard to beat.
When you play a new song, and you don't know if it's going to go down well or not... and people get into it despite not having heard it before... it's magical.
