Worst Dad Band song

[bassstrangler]

This dad band thing got old quick.

 

[Florinda4]

This dad band thing got old quick.

Indeed. Where did the time go?

 

[Son of Wobble]

This dad band thing got old quick.

There was a barrage of it this week on Talk Bass, as well. Really felt like a "jump the shark" moment.

 

[bluesblaster]

old guy in sweater jumps shark, film at eleven

 

[bassman1820]

I was going to say anything by Tom Petty or Fleetwood Mac but, I will lend this long list to the next poster.

With that being said, the problem is that cover bands have become such a cliche meat market. Show up to a gig, plug in, and keep buzzed or saturated patrons in their seat to tolerate your music. That not to say that some people won't enjoy the music but, there is a huge difference between people wanting to hear more and loving the band vs. a mild applause in a hurry to get to the next song.

There is a huge library of great songs and bands. It boggles my mind to get out there and play something that the band a night or two nights ago just covered. Being in my 30's, I want to go back to the a energy filled time of music that gets people moving. It's hard to keep pace with a band that wants to play Kasey Kasem's top 40 hits of the past 4 decades. You zone out, passion comes and goes, and sometimes your development takes a nose dive.

@Paulabass is correct that a large majority of today's players want to play it safe in the mundane monotony of Dad band songs. The excitement and enlightenment comes from trying something new and pushing the envelope. Your audience takes notice and joins the ride with you. It's hard to nurture future musicians with overplayed bar rock. If you want new people to support the culture, you have to be willing to take some risk and stay ahead of the curve.

 

[bassman1820]

You know. I’m 58 years old. Many songs (Freebird, Skynyrd, old country standards) are boresome to no end but aren’t we supposed to be entertainers? If our audience likes the song then we have fulfilled our place as musicians. If you want to please yourself then you could play at home with your perfect song list. I have spent many nights not pleased with every song but the energy that is returned from a crowd that appreciated another Hank Jr song is why I do what I do. I hope you agree!!

 

[gjbassist]

Anything by Skynyrd!

 

[bumperbass]

Someone mentioned A Horse with No Name earlier,.......one way to make that song a lot more fun, is if you sing the lyrics to the old TV series Mr Ed through the verse. They fit perfectly and it always brings a smile to my face when the crowd finally starts to catch on to what's going on. Dad band comedy for the win!!!

Similar story here. This bar owner would ask us to play Country Bumpkin everytime we played at his place. He never remembered asking us each time, probably because he asked every band he hired if they would play it. I told the guys I was going to get the lyrics and we'd play it the next time we played there. Heck, it's only 3 chords and the owner likes it, so why not?
Well we did it. An extended version, that is, complete with lyrics for Harper Valley PTA that, for some reason, I knew the words to. It fit perfectly. Most didn't even notice.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Mustang Sally

I’d rather nail my genitals to a shed on fire.

OK, let's see the pics or the vid.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

IMO, the following sucks wangus:
Anything by Bob Seger

I'd rather not hear it or play it, but IMO Bob Seger's most essential characteristic is that his music cannot help but sound better when someone else plays it.

 

[wmhill]

Sweet home Alabama.......

 

[jamro217]

Any mercilessly butchered Bob Seger song. The original versions are usually pretty simple and their only redeeming feature is Seger's energetic delivery IMHO. The problem with doing this type of material is that you better match the intensity of the record and be perfect, otherwise it's just a mess. If you flub a couple of notes of a fusion song, you don't look so bad by comparison. Flub a simple I-IV-V at a medium tempo and you have no excuse. My nominees would be "Rock And Roll Never Forgets" and "Old Time Rock And Roll".

 

[Chrisk-K]

Haitian Divorce

 

[Mr.Ace]

I really hate Margarittaville. Does that count?

Yes!

 

[juancaminos]

Just remembered: We're an American Band, Honky Tonk Women or Brown Sugar, Spooky, Hold On Loosely, Smoke On The Water are all Gawd awful.

 

[eJake]

Any mercilessly butchered Bob Seger song. The original versions are usually pretty simple and their only redeeming feature is Seger's energetic delivery IMHO. The problem with doing this type of material is that you better match the intensity of the record and be perfect, otherwise it's just a mess. If you flub a couple of notes of a fusion song, you don't look so bad by comparison. Flub a simple I-IV-V at a medium tempo and you have no excuse. My nominees would be "Rock And Roll Never Forgets" and "Old Time Rock And Roll".

I flubbed the mess out of a one chord song tonight!!! (I'm special... Or at least that's what my mom says)

 

[dbsfgyd1]

So, hanging on the Dad Band and Four Minute Thread: Of those songs which do you hate playing the most. Nothing to do with technique just sick to death of it and find it very hard to give a good perfromance. I'll start with Knocking On Heavens Door, the traditional version.

I am sure this has been covered but lets hear how you get through your nightmare song and perhaps help each other with this problem. Maybe turn us on to a trick to get your self into it or a strange version that might freshen things up.

Free Bird. Without a doubt, usually 5 and a half minutes of loud guitar solo from a second rate guitarist is not my favorite way to spend the evening.

Of course, the guitarist is also thinking, “ 4 hours with a second rate bassist... “Hon, where’s the Advil and some vodka to wash it down with?”

 

[pablomago]

I once saw Don McLean (Free concert). Before he did American Pie he said, "People often ask me what American Pie means. Well, what it means to me is that I'll never have to work another day in my life if I don't want to."

Hard to argue with that.

 

[JRA]

almost any wayne shorter tune.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

Any mercilessly butchered Bob Seger song. The original versions are usually pretty simple and their only redeeming feature is Seger's energetic delivery IMHO. The problem with doing this type of material is that you better match the intensity of the record and be perfect, otherwise it's just a mess. If you flub a couple of notes of a fusion song, you don't look so bad by comparison. Flub a simple I-IV-V at a medium tempo and you have no excuse. My nominees would be "Rock And Roll Never Forgets" and "Old Time Rock And Roll".

I can find something redeeming in most music. The two most reliable exceptions are Bob Seger and Neil Diamond. Which reminds me: Sweet Caroline. Please, god, no!