What makes your band unique?

Discussion in 'Band Management [BG]' started by blipndub, Aug 20, 2010.

  1. There's a lot of bands that sound like a lot of other bands, what makes yours stand apart?

    I ask because my band is in the process of determining what parts of our sound are unique and I'm curious what other bands do to emphasize their strengths.

    I should add that my band is an originals band, I wonder if it's any different for originals and cover bands.
     
  2. T. Alan Smith

    T. Alan Smith Guest

    Sep 9, 2001
    If doing improvised music in the "chillout" genre isn't unique enough, I'm doing it as a duet, generally, in the middle of N central IL.
     
  3. ustabawannab

    ustabawannab Caesar's palace, morning glory, silly human race. Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 10, 2006
    Greenfield, WI.
    We're a group of middle-aged white guys playing rock...

    oh wait

    ... that's not very unique :(
     
  4. newwavefrank

    newwavefrank Gold Supporting Member

    Jul 30, 2009
    Salt lake City, UT
    the coolest mullet since Joe Dirt...
     
  5. MrRumble

    MrRumble

    Aug 8, 2006
    Plymouth, MN
    Awesome keyboards with some Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Uriah Heep thrown into the standard bar mix of tunes.
    No one else in town plays Kashmir.:)
     
  6. groooooove

    groooooove Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2008
    Long Island, NY
    led zeppelin covers are unique? ever been to guitar center? :eyebrow:

    i guess my newest band is pretty unique.. bass, drum kit, conga/percussionist, sax, and rapper-mcee..

    www.myspace.com/3rddegree5tet

    i mean.. sounds a lot like early roots i guess. but still the sax grooves in a hip hop band are pretty unique as far as i know.. sounds great though.
     
  7. jazzbo58

    jazzbo58 Bassist for My Man Godbey

    Apr 21, 2001
    New Orleans, LA USA
    We play about 90% originals. Our use of dynamics is what sets us apart. A lot of bands are just full on volume. We can kick with the best of them and also play soft enough to hold a conversation across the stage if we need to.

    Cheers,
    Jim
     
  8. We sound like Paramore/Billy Talent...

    ... but we're in canada and out of the hundreds of active bands I've looked into, I can't find one like us...... that and our stage show is better than probably 90-95% of those bands. We don't have as MUCH dynmic live as I'd like, but it's still more than a lot of bands. We're originals pop-punk/powerpop/alt

    so I guess we're not unique... we're just better than most in our city XD
     
  9. ninerfan

    ninerfan

    May 28, 2006
    North San Diego
  10. Great bass playing, really a fun sound!
    It's like Poi Dog Pondering meets the Velvet Underground
     
  11. Vanceman

    Vanceman

    Feb 14, 2007
    So. Cal.
    I think it's covers we do. We just learned Upside Down by Diana Ross, and Under The Bridge by RHCP, and will be playing them both tomorrow night. Probably not in the same set though...
     
  12. lol yeah us too
     
  13. KsPiNeSh

    KsPiNeSh

    Mar 28, 2008
    Kansas City
    We're all-original, our guitarist and singer trade lead vocal lines during songs, and our tones are actually defined :)
     
  14. Thunderthumbs73

    Thunderthumbs73 Supporting Member

    May 5, 2008
    A combination of things that exist, always, even though another band may have some of these:
    -We always enjoy each other's company, and get along famously.
    -We are professional without being taskmastering d-bags.
    -Every gig, we get paid very well.
    -We practice only a couple times a year.
    -No ego trips, and four of six of us are lead AND harmony vocalists.
    -I, the bassist and sometime lead singer, get respect and even visibility, due inasmuch as supportive atmosphere as anything I might be doing.

    Anyway...

    Those are a few things come to mind.
     
  15. NKBassman

    NKBassman Lvl 10 Nerd Supporting Member

    Jun 16, 2009
    Winnipeg, MB, Canada
    We have a choir of 8 drunk singers singing power metal songs about drinking.
    The Legion of Liquor
     
  16. behndy

    behndy Inactive

    Nov 1, 2008
    California
    i'm doing a thing right now that's just me on bass and my singer plays synth live and sings. the drums and some synth stuff is sequenced.

    i get to be noisy.

    http://www.myspace.com/nosebleedacademy
     
  17. I think we're fairly unique, but not hard to copy & I don't think we sound like anyone else. Our music is pretty easy to play, but I think it has as much of a groove as you can get for metal but isn't filled with ting-a-lee riffs and solos (which I think is a good thing). I don't think we're full on stoner rock because most of our songs are under 4 minutes, but I think we have that vibe. I dunno. I just have fun & there's basically no band drama after a year together and I guess that, in itself, makes us somewhat unique. :D
     
  18. behndy

    behndy Inactive

    Nov 1, 2008
    California
    lol... that is NOT what i'm normally into, but that's kinda pure awesome.

    well played. well played sir.
     
  19. DblG

    DblG

    Apr 27, 2005
    Buffalo, NY
    we've been playing together for over 20 years
     
  20. faulknersj

    faulknersj Inactive

    Apr 4, 2008
    Scottsdale Az
    Having been thru the major label machine (RCA Records), I have learned the dual nature of originality. While being unique and original is something that most artists strive for, it can also be a liability in the eyes of the industry. Some outside the box projects are viewed as marketing liabilities by labels and investors. My point is that unique does not always = good. On the flipside, jazz, rock, funk, reggae, hip hop etc... Did not exist at one time. They are examples of unique musical innovations. I don't know the goals of your project, but best of luck in attaining them!