General Music Chat

you know, being new to bandmix and seeing everyone having such big egos is disheartening. I joined to find and play with good people. Have some fun, make some music... my point is this - playing covers, not playing covers, who cares?! seriously! every scene in every area has different people playing different genre's. so no matter what your opinion is, it only suites you, not every musician. NO, not everyone should play covers to get noticed. Sure some people play covers to get bigger gigs. And most people play music, in my area anyways, to write and play their own material. No punk rock band is going to care about classic rock covers. No bar cover band is going to give immediate respect to a slow indie rock original band... it's all about people and self expression... in other words, this argument is pointless and people are still going to write how they write and play music they want to play. I probably have more to say on this, but what's the point eh?

As my drummer says about music. "It's all the same song".

I don't know about the ego thing. How about passionate or opinionated instead? When someone is passionate about what they do, it may come off as ego. Give it a chance. You'll like these guys.

Isn't saying that we all have big egos really akin to saying "I'm so humble?"

Not meaning to offend you by any means. Just pointing out how some things can be misconstrued.

For me, playing my originals for ppl, & getting recognized as a good writer, means more than playing covers.

I can see how some songwriters would think they are 'better' than others who only play covers.

I'm not in that camp, but I can understand the sentiment.

I've seen some real creativity in cover bands, too, that is pretty rare in most original acts.

Respect the players. Enjoy the music, if you can, no matter what it is.

This last guy I played with did a Glen Miller tune, & made it his own, with bass, keys, guitar & drums. It was really pretty damned good, truth be told. He also slipped in a few originals.

The old argument of covers vs originals may never be over for some ppl, but for me, if the music's good, I'm happy just to be playing ot.

I don't have any wisdom to pass on, only the idea that I don't know the right answer.

I would rather have one person enjoy my music I played as have tens of thousands enjoy someone else music I played.


I don't think that makes me an ego maniac.
I think it makes me ... ME.

For me, there is a line...and a lot of you folks ain't gonna like this, but:

A songwriter is an artist. A cover band musician is an entertainer.

While they are not mutually exclusive, there IS a difference.

A veteran performer understands that they need to provide the best of both worlds for their audience.

That being said, it doesn't come naturally (IMO, nothing does). Yes, there are people with natural talent, whether it's on an instrument, on stage, or with a pen. Even so, those same people have to hone their craft.
I think some of my martial arts-involved brethren here can appreciate this analogy:
There are no instant black belts.


There was a point in there somewhere, but I forgot what it was...

Don't forget PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING.

That much is certainly true.

where i live if ya go into a club and say ..(i would like to get a show ...) they say sure what kind of music ?..u say metal...NO.NONO.we want to hear the same songs that have been played on the radio 7,00000129128447042 times and can ya play some skynard?....its been that way here forever....ya have to go 25--100 miles either way just to get heard.....metalheads get no respect

This is exactly how it is here as well. As far as us metalheads not getting any respect...you're right as well, but I've become so jaded to it that it no longer matters to me. I've played just about every genre in many bands including cover bands in the past, so I've got a deep "musical bag" from which to draw. The most respect that I've ever gotten was when I used to do classical performances by myself in front of 2,000 to 3,000 people back in the mid-90's. But for a band...I choose metal because that's what I have fun playing. Everything other than classical, jazz, and metal make me bored to play it. So it is what it is...

Glen Miller.

Now that is who I listened to as a kid. I did a Glen Miller tune finger style years ago. LIVE... for those who find that so important. It was recorded on an old mono cassette player. I posted it a long time ago just because I didn't have much to post at the time. I know. I'm being irreverent because I don't take the time to re upload it to my profile... but remember mates, I am on a 44 KBPS line modem, and it tales FOREVER for me to upload anything.

I used to solo for about 10 minutes a set while the rest of the band got down for the break early to drink beer in front of me. The singer would say, "And now our lead player will pick a couple instrumentals for you" and the rest of the guys would disappear from the bandstand in a heartbeat..

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=1968665

It was all going pretty well until I hit that bodacious bummer note at the end. So much for perfection. But sometimes you just get what you get.

“A songwriter is an artist. A cover band musician is an entertainer.”



Some people do both, and well. Is a great violinist playing a Beethoven symphony a “cover” musician? Just an “entertainer”? Is a guy playing 3 chord crap originals an “artist”?


I do both covers and originals, and in my opinion it's a hell of a lot harder to put a cover over (or 48 of them in a night) than it is to play originals.

Anybody can write songs. It's not rocket science.

Anybody can write songs. It's not rocket science.

I tend to agree with this line of thinking. song writing IMHO, is over rated, it's not that difficult, really, to me it's the performance that makes the difference..some of the greatest musical masterpieces were simple songs, but it was the performance that won the crowd, not the song itself. Thats why cover songs go over well, it's easier to mimic a performance, than to come up with one of your own, and you become a biological juke box of sorts, that doesn't cost a $1.50 a song.
To me, I'm wasting my time with covers, I'd rather have two people standing in front of me playing, really getting into what I wrote, than, 150 brainless people, who hardly notice I'm on stage, except when our sound check, interrupts their game of pool. And really only want to hear an old played out Metallica cover.
Also, I am really beginning to believe Florida's music scene is whats "next", because from the way all of you describe your musical situations, we have it much easier here, than you do.
Cover bands are actually frowned upon here, in most venues. Don't get me wrong, the island themed bars like the Green Iguanas of the world, they love a Jimmy Buffet playing cover band, but the majority of good rock n' roll venues around here, prefer you bring originals, as the crowds here, give little respect to cover artists. Also, I know plenty of all original bands here with huge followings..I'll stick with originals, and cover some tunes, at home for the pleasure of learning one of my favorite songs, but I prefer to perform, my own.

db, you just made my head explode.


Maybe I should rephrase it: Yes, anyone can write songs...few can do it well enough to be considered an artist.

BTW, I did say that they weren't mutually exclusive.

If the violinist is playing Beethoven, then, yes, he is a cover musician. It's not material the he or she wrote.

The three chord guy as an artist-possibly, although, again, there is a certain skill required to truly earn that title. A kid drawing with a crayon maybe be "artistic" and creative, but is never going to draw comparisions to Van Gogh or Rembrant. The three chord guy might be on the path to being an artist, but they still need to study the craft.

As for not being rocket science, well, it may not be, but I promise you that I could stay on here all day talking about writing techniques, theories, common mistakes, tricks of the trade, etc.
I'll admit, I feel like you slapped me in the face a bit. Your statement suggests that there is no higher degree to the profession. I assure you, there is. Anyone can do it? Maybe at your skill level...not meant as an insult, just sayin'.

I figured that I'd be fair, and looked at your page, db.


Hrrrmmphhh. Cover band that's even too cheap to hire a full band. The guitar does sound good, but why don't you go ahead and put it down and call what you do by its real name: KARAOKE.

Please post something you've written so that I can admire it. Since anyone can do it, I figure you can pull something out of your butt and post it for me. Just yank it out and slap it on your page.

I'm waiting.

@ SteveJacques.

Please don't include me in the Ego group yeah
I'm just a simple Dude trying to make my way. LOL!

I figured that I'd be fair, and looked at your page, db.


Hrrrmmphhh. Cover band that's even too cheap to hire a full band. The guitar does sound good, but why don't you go ahead and put it down and call what you do by its real name: KARAOKE.

Please post something you've written so that I can admire it. Since anyone can do it, I figure you can pull something out of your butt and post it for me. Just yank it out and slap it on your page.

I'm waiting.

I wasn't aware that this was a competition. And I'm supposed to impress......you?



Just as a sign of good faith, I posted an old recording that was pitched and picked up by a producer in Nashville. You are entitled to your opinion, but there is no need to get nasty about it.