General Music Chat

Since the dissolution of Instant Karma (actually before that), I've been looking at the possibility of joining some local cover band again - you know the usual 'classic rock' fare. Always openings in bands around here, but none of them are making any real money gigging.
Went to see a band this past Friday night, the bass player had talked it up on Facebook (a New Hampshire musicians group there). 4-piece, bass, drums, guitar and singer. I had listened to their stuff on reverbnation, originals were mehh, covers on video the same. First thing I noticed live was the drummer had timing issues, and soon realized every song was the same dynamically. I could have added some tasteful guitar leads and/or keyboards to at least half of the songs I heard in the hour there (the rest I had never played but could learn in 1 rehearsal).

But then I remembered a keyboardist at last Thursday's open mic talking about having to play 'Mustang Sally' again would kill him - then we heard 2 different acts do it at the OM! He's right - if I had to play those same old songs the same old way again and again to mostly-empty bars, it would suck the life right out of me!
So the decision - nope, not going to join that type of classic rock thing again, will keep looking for a mostly-acoustic act/partner and just do solo stuff and recording in my studio until I do.

Mike, it's like eating the same pizza every day for years. Pretty soon you want to THROW up, you're doing the right thing. Accoustic is cool, and throw in a few originals in once in awhile. I won't tell (shhhh)...

Originals HAVE to be played! I did one original out of 3 songs at last week's Open Mic, will do a different one this Thursday. Using 12-string this week for a 'change-up'.

One of the things keeping me sane doing covers is that we've embraced a lot of newer music. I've felt the same about doing mustang sally, sweet home alabama, brown eyed girl, ad-neasuem ... Last time I played sweet home alabama, I wanted to literally rip a 220 line off the wall and electrocute myself while playing it, as that's about the only way left to make the song interesting enough to tolerate it one more time.

newer stuff by the lumineers, mumford & sons, M83, Killers, neon trees, imagine dragons, grouplove, alex clare, so many more!

Well Mike a cover band is what it is.

I have to endure a lot of songs that I dont care for, but how I do it, is entertain myself playing them. Take Sweet Home Alabama, I invert chords, throw in little fills here and there, we change the rythym to funk or even raggae. It takes some good players to take this approach. Maybe Im jaded but music is just that music. If Im playing and someone shouts play Sweet Home Alabama I feel its my duty to give them what they want, but fortunately Ive been allowed to flavor things in a manner that keeps it interesting for me, and the guys I play with.

Mike you just made a decision on which way you want to go, in a nutshell it is what it is.

I did the acoustic thing both in duo, and solo, also open mic type of deal, but after a little while people shout the same ole songs, so to me its the same thing. After killing myself singing Rock Star a few times, I just decided the acoustic thing wasnt for me, I need my LP and amp to feel whole as a musician, and a good bass and drum kicking my butt.

I just love to play guitar!

Good Luck

I am fine playing Sweet Home, Mustang Sally,any of the songs listed 1000 times more as long as the crowd wants to hear them. Evertime I get into a new band there are at least 30 to 40 NEW songs I have to learn that I don't know. My job is to please the crowd NOT MYSELF. If you are a pro it IS NOT about you. I am suspecting thats why some folks on this forum are having trouble getting PAYING gigs. You can't force the average bar partier to listen to songs YOU LIKE. THEY are the party and if they don't like your music they won't come to your shows its as simple as that (my opinion)!

Both Marsha & I did the cover band thing to death.
Consequently, we don't play covers...ever.
I wouldn't mind doing a few now and then.
But, I would like to do my own arrangements and reinterpret them.
Marsha is more of a purist.
To her, it HAS to be played EXACTLY as the original artist recorded it, or not at all.

Frankly, if I wanted to hear a song done verbatim as the original band, I would just listen to the original band.
But, that is just me, I guess.

Why not do only that which you like to do if you're competing for no-to-low paying gigs anyway? That's why I haven't played in a cover band since 1985. It's too predictable.

I get bored easily, an insatiable adventure junky, so I impulsively throw caution to the wind, which keeps life exciting. If thing are comfortable for more than a year, I will introduce chaos just to shake it up.

Evidently no one is making any money in the music biz these days so I found out only yesterday that I'm able to hire the best in Hollywood at a fraction of what I'm used to paying for the best in Texas.

Looks like a new adventure is born. How can you lose if you're having fun?

Lessaix le bon temps roulier!

I don't see the point in limiting yourself. I play originals, covers, I play electric, acoustic - really whatever I feel like doing. The Farleys plays a blend of originals and tasty covers, our classic rock cover band steers clear of the cliches yet is still doing an awesome mix of songs that you can dance to or just sit and listen to. As musicians we have enough boundaries and borders, no sense in adopting artificial ones.

Agreed. My only point is that whatever you do, enjoy it. Life's too short to play covers if you really want to sing originals...and vice versa also applies.

If we do anything that bores us, then it's our own fault.

My personal approach ( and we all have the right to our own ) is that music can be entertainment, and an experience to touch one's soul.
Not just for the "crowd" but for the players as well.
To strive to make that oh so personal connection.
When I cannot see my charts for tears in my eyes.
When a total stranger with tears in their eyes comes up and hugs me after a performance . . . that is pay enough for me to continue with what I have set out to do.

I don't see the point in limiting yourself. I play originals, covers, I play electric, acoustic - really whatever I feel like doing. The Farleys plays a blend of originals and tasty covers, our classic rock cover band steers clear of the cliches yet is still doing an awesome mix of songs that you can dance to or just sit and listen to. As musicians we have enough boundaries and borders, no sense in adopting artificial ones.

Very well put Jimmy.
And this is the same point I try to convey to those whom put age / gender restrictions on their membership prospects.
Are we so wise to know before hand from whence the "winning" chemistry shall come?
I think not.

I am fine playing Sweet Home, Mustang Sally,any of the songs listed 1000 times more as long as the crowd wants to hear them. Evertime I get into a new band there are at least 30 to 40 NEW songs I have to learn that I don't know. My job is to please the crowd NOT MYSELF. If you are a pro it IS NOT about you. I am suspecting thats why some folks on this forum are having trouble getting PAYING gigs. You can't force the average bar partier to listen to songs YOU LIKE. THEY are the party and if they don't like your music they won't come to your shows its as simple as that (my opinion)!

Your entire response is based on the idea that the average bar-goer prefers to hear the same dumb songs they've been hearing for 30+ years.

Well first off, those same people don't go to bars. Most have aged out and even the next two generations after them aged out too. 10 years ago, there was a popular surge for classic rock only because high school and college kids got turned onto it via video games like rockband and guitar hero. They have also now aged out of the bar scene..

So, do you really think your audience is so stupid and blind that they would rather hear brown eyed girl, mustang sally, and SWA?!?

I realize that there ARE places where that is expected.. certainly down in dufus, TX. But any bar near a college, near civilized society? Nope. And you see, here's the difference with my band- we play newer stuff, we play stuff you've heard, and we even play a few, less-beaten-to-death staples from the late 80's like every rose or summer of 69.. but even those are RARE plays now. 90's grunge is the new classic rock, and a lot of that stuff even now is beat.

No matter where we play, we ALWAYS get the same feedback from the bar-goers.. usually very excited and positive about how we play stuff no other bands around here play, and how refreshing it is! We play the black keys. We play Fun's "we are young", we play lumineers "Ho Hey", and people go freeking nuts for it.

And that's my point- we give the audience enough common respect to treat them like they know good modern hits, and don't dumb it down to the point where we're telling them they are nothing but a bunch of idiots who wouldn't understand anything past what their grandparents listened to.

I am fine playing Sweet Home, Mustang Sally,any of the songs listed 1000 times more as long as the crowd wants to hear them. Evertime I get into a new band there are at least 30 to 40 NEW songs I have to learn that I don't know. My job is to please the crowd NOT MYSELF. If you are a pro it IS NOT about you. I am suspecting thats why some folks on this forum are having trouble getting PAYING gigs. You can't force the average bar partier to listen to songs YOU LIKE. THEY are the party and if they don't like your music they won't come to your shows its as simple as that (my opinion)!

Your entire response is based on the idea that the average bar-goer prefers to hear the same dumb songs they've been hearing for 30+ years.

Well first off, those same people don't go to bars. Most have aged out and even the next two generations after them aged out too. 10 years ago, there was a popular surge for classic rock only because high school and college kids got turned onto it via video games like rockband and guitar hero. They have also now aged out of the bar scene..

So, do you really think your audience is so stupid and blind that they would rather hear brown eyed girl, mustang sally, and SWA?!?

I realize that there ARE places where that is expected.. certainly down in dufus, TX. But any bar near a college, near civilized society? Nope. And you see, here's the difference with my band- we play newer stuff, we play stuff you've heard, and we even play a few, less-beaten-to-death staples from the late 80's like every rose or summer of 69.. but even those are RARE plays now. 90's grunge is the new classic rock, and a lot of that stuff even now is beat.

No matter where we play, we ALWAYS get the same feedback from the bar-goers.. usually very excited and positive about how we play stuff no other bands around here play, and how refreshing it is! We play the black keys. We play Fun's "we are young", we play lumineers "Ho Hey", and people go freeking nuts for it.

And that's my point- we give the audience enough common respect to treat them like they know good modern hits, and don't dumb it down to the point where we're telling them they are nothing but a bunch of idiots who wouldn't understand anything past what their grandparents listened to.

Hmmmm, anyone care to guess which cover band makes a LOT more money and books a LOT more paid gigs? My money is on Haley.

I'll stick to dufus texas and you continue to play to college kids hows that? I'll garranty you I make more in a night than your entire Hip band makes.