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Sweet Jane usually goes over really well for us. We don't do the big long intro and our version is probably a little more uptempo and danceable than the original. We've pulled a lot of folks on the dance floor with that song. I also sing 'life is alive' instead of 'life is to die' at the end. Sorry Lou
. We used to do the entire song word for word and note for note including the incredibly long intro. No on ever moved off their chairs and I could see people thinking 'when is this damn song going to end?' I think that's probably why the other member asked me how Sweet Jane went over in the first place.
Yeah, there's a very simple reason many of these tunes are overplayed.....If it were up to me, I'd never sing Sweet Home Alabama again in my life. But it always, always, always gets people up on the dance floor.
Last year we played a campground gig and the organizers asked me in advance if we could play Achy Breaky Heart. Fortunately we had a sub guitarist who played it in his band so we did a quick run through and played it when someone requested it that night. I threw up in my mouth a little singing those lyrics, but the place went wild and we were off to the races for the rest of the night.
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do
Time isn’t the only consideration for designing setlists, but it is the most important. 4 hour gigs are the standard. In my experience, it depends on the age/health of the band members. I have seen exuberant young bands play the entire 4 hours with no break, or 2 hour sets with one break. However, the most typical set config is 3 hour-long sets with 15 minute breaks between. This was my set design most of my life. But in the Autumn of my years, with health and stamina issues, we have pared down to 4 45 minute sets with 15 minute breaks between.
Because most cover bands play top 40. It’s what the sheeple want lol. The trick is to pick your favorite top 40 songs that generate the most in the tip jar and keep them.
