What songs get people going from your set?

[kev b]

We played 2 bar gigs, three weeks apart, same time same set mostly the same crowd.

We were well received both gigs but the songs that killed the first time didn't do so well second time and vice versa, that's just the way it goes.

You can't go wrong with Wooly Bully, Lets Work Together and I Fought the Law in my experience.

 

[mellowinman]

The Harley Davidson crowd is fairly easy to play to.

If only that were my packed house every single night.

 

[TBird1958]

You ALWAYS play to the female contingent.

My drummer and I have a philosophy that hasn't failed us yet. It goes something like this.....

"If you draw 50 chicks, your audience will number over 100. If you draw 50 dudes, your audience will number 50."

Very well said!

I couldn't agree more, that's what we do, make the women dance - the guys drink up a lot of liquid courage and try to get laid.

 

[Russell L]

Like most of you, it's the same old songs for us that get 'em going. Mustang Sally, Sweet Home, Folsom Prison, Funky Music, etc., old worn out stuff. Surprisingly, though, sometimes we'll do something a little different and get a good response, like All Along the Watchtower, for instance, (practically got a standing ovation for that one). Another one in a different band was We Gotta Get Out of This Place. Folks started requesting it.

 

[Bassdirty]

Very well said!

I couldn't agree more, that's what we do, make the women dance - the guys drink up a lot of liquid courage and try to get laid.

+1000
Of course, I was hoping that we'd keep it a secret.

Sometimes, however, you get people that only play what they want to play..me personally, I'll play any thing any time..if it does the job. (That and we take current dance songs and rock em out..so they're still fun to play..AND the chix get to dance to their favorite dance radio jamz. )

But please dont tell anybody.

 

[Old Fart]

Barefootin'
Big Legged Woman (fast version)
Mission of Mercy - The Motels (Peter Gunn bass line. This is the song played during the bowling seen in Lebowski)

Yes, play for the women. The ratio is 3:1. For every woman you can consistently draw to your gigs, expect three males.

I am SICK AND TIRED of playing musicians' pet (non-danceable) songs. Just because you loved the guitar solo a thousand years ago when it first came out doesn't mean anybody wants to hear it today.

 

[Vince Klortho]

"What I Like About You" - The Romantics
"Play That Funky Music" - Wild Cherry
"Surrender" - Cheap Trick
"Rock and Roll" - Led Zeppelin
...

We get very good responses from those four !

We added "I Want You To Want Me" and it is a good one too.

 

[aquamentus]

Billy Jean, Wagon Wheel, girls like screaming along to 4 Non Blondes "What's Up"

 

[jweber76]

Livin on a prayer
Dead or Alive
Where the streets have no name

 

[sadeau]

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out always gets people going.

 

[jumblemind]

Emergency by Paramore
No One Knows by Queens Of The Stone Age
Too Close by Alex Clare
Long Distance Call by Phoenix

Nice.

 

[divetone]

We played a retirement party recently and covered Toots and the Maytalls' reggae version of "Louie Louie" . GOOD crowd response !

 

[Calebmundy]

"What's Your Fantasy" by Ludacris NEVER fails to get everyone dancing.

 

[droo46]

Footloose. Fun bassline and drunk white people in their 30's and 40's love it.

 

[ilovenofrets]

One of our biggest is Beck, Bogert & Appice's version of Superstition. A few others that usually please the dancin' folks-Psychokiller, Miss You, Blitzkreig Bop, Rebel Rebel, It's Still Rock And Roll To Me, and My Sharona.

 

[lweastdad]

We play that version of Superstition as well. Great tune.

Mostly what gets them going is our medley of j Geils tunes - looking for a love and house party.

 

[fastplant]

Whatever the flavor of the week is what usually works for us. Get Lucky by Daft Punk was the big song for us this weekend, but it'll be a dud in a few weeks, I'm sure.

 

[Pilgrim]

Pipeline!

Everyone loves surf music.

Also - Get a Haircut.

 

[fastplant]

Clap Hands-Tom Waits

Most of what we play gets someone up and dancing, but our cover of this Tom Waits tune is my personal favorite. It never fails to get all the ladies up doing the washing machine, or the snake dance if you are from Mississippi.

One girl told me she could feel it so strong in her hips she couldn't help but to let it out.

I've never seen a band do that one, but I'd love to. Great song.

 

[rtslinger]

Free bird is the one that comes to mind never a time when we play it does the crowd not get into it
Jump Van Halen also has great crowd reaction