Frosty Jack Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I don't think I get covers bands. I'm honestly not wanting to have a go at anyone, but I just kinda struggle to understand why anyone aspires to be in one. I l know there's money to be had, and I understand it's better to be playing something than not, but I can't get past the thought that simply reproducing someone else's work must surely always be second best to writing and playing original music, and actually expressing yourself.Anyone explain/prove me wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Because re-producing your favourite songs is good fun, then getting paid to play them to other people is more fun. Some of the best gigs i've played have been Christmas eve and Hogmany gigs, people are up for a brilliant night, your playing songs you enjoy, the people watching enjoy and it creates a brilliant atmosphere. Not everyone out there cares for new music they have never heard, especially not at weddings and nights like i've described. You dont go to a pub in bridge of don to watch the next point of origin, but you do go to enjoy a disco, or a covers band, something you already know and enjoy. Plus learning someone else's work can help you massively, not only do you end up playing things you probably wouldnt have come up with on your own, but learning a song or a solo can give you ideas for your own original stuff.Plus man, chicks love a half naked drummer playing and signing Teenage Kicks,"it must be so hard playing drums and signing""you've no idea love, lets go back to mine and ill explain it all to you" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eupraxia Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Plus man, chicks love a half naked drummer playing and signing Teenage Kicks,"it must be so hard playing drums and signing""you've no idea love, lets go back to mine and ill explain it all to you"You don't have sex very often, do you? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh_Jazz Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 For me, i like playing covers because:1) i enjoy playing tunes by my favourite bands2) people in pubs dig it3) you can put together a set and start gigging in half the time of an original band. ideal if you're short on time4) Play 2 hour shows right off the bat rather than 20 minute slots5) i'm not particularly arty or creative, so i find original music a frustrating processWhen i started out, playing covers wasn't the 'aspiration' but having done both originals and covers, the latter sits most comfortably with meMoney has nothing to do with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fertuiee Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I dont have a problem with the "idea" of it, everyone likes learning someone elses tune dont they? the problem is, the genral public have no clue about music which causes cover bands to choose the 15 same fucking songs in every pub in every town every Saturday night - forever, the vast majority have decent guitarists and drummers but shite singers, which we all know most of the time that means - drivel. Someone doing a good job of pretending to be KISS or, i dunno Pearl Jam is ok for a larrrrffff. Id prefer to listen to that than a lot of other shit thats played in pubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 everyone likes learning someone elses tune dont they?No, hate the process. Can't be bothered. Would much rather spend my time writing my own riffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh_Jazz Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 i think this thread can be summed as follows:"We're not all the same"Who knew? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Jack Posted December 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Plus man, chicks love a half naked drummer playing and signing Teenage Kicks,"it must be so hard playing drums and signing"Wow, that must be REALLY difficult. Do you get a lot of deaf people at your gigs?... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaki Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Gonna call her on the... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaki Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I just generally like live music so have no problems with cover bands. I've got cover bands together for one off gigs a couple of times before and really enjoyed it. The performance aspect - the thrill of playing live with other people and generally letting loose in front of people who are digging it - gives me a buzz. The ready made songs mean you can skip the months of writing and get a set together very quickly and get straight to the performance bit which is my favourite part of being in a band. Most people like hearing something they know and like and I'm no different - I've even seen myself going to the bar at a 'professional' gig announcing 'I da ken this een' - so if a cover band are playing good songs well then I'll enjoy it.I also like going to see original music being performed and writing my own stuff (by that I mean drumming to things my friends have written). It's a different kick you get out of performing your own songs. You're less likely to get people singing along but the compliments feel better afterwards and you can feel like a real artist (TM X Factor) rather than just a performer.They're two separate things each with their place. I'd rather hear a good band knocking out the Beatles and the Stones covers at a wedding than a good band playing they're own stuff that I don't know. I'd rather go and see an original band playing at the Tunnels if I fancied some live music on a Tuesday night than going to see a covers band. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fertuiee Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 No, hate the process. Can't be bothered. Would much rather spend my time writing my own riffs.Fair enough like, not being a dick here but how do you go about improving your playing? im just curious as my playing has stagnated a bit, ive always gone with "play someones riffs who's better" doesnt always work..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Fair enough like, not being a dick here but how do you go about improving your playing? im just curious as my playing has stagnated a bit, ive always gone with "play someones riffs who's better" doesnt always work.....Listening to new music, getting ideas from different styles, being in a band with great musicians that push me to write better parts, learning new instruments. Lots of ways to improve playing and occasionally I may even try learning a cover, but I find it really boring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaaakkkeee Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I'm currently trying to convince my drummer to let us do a cover. we have enough songs for a setlist. I just really want to play this song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I dont think the thrill of playing covers live is any different to playing original music live,if you perform a song well, you get a kick out of it, no matter who has written it. I get to play 3 hour long sets with my cover band, there is no way in a million years i could do that with an original band. There is no way id have had the chance to play in front of a lot of friends and family if it wasnt for the covers band.Original music is more rewarding in terms of getting a song together, but its also 100% more frustrating to practise.At the end of the day there is no right or wrong, there is plenty of room and demand for both cover bands and original music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 You don't have sex very often, do you?Less often than you're probably thinking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Milner Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Wow, that must be REALLY difficult. Do you get a lot of deaf people at your gigs?...I've never understood why people think drumming and singing is any harder than playing a guitar and singing, but i've had it my whole gigging life with the cover band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Singing drummers just look wrong. Like left-handed golfers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda Jerk Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 No, hate the process. Can't be bothered. Would much rather spend my time writing my own riffs.This. The amount of riffs I know how to play by other bands is minimal. Not interested in that. I learned a few when I was first getting into guitar, but now when I sit down with a guitar, I just sit and mess about until something reasonable comes out. I can't remember the last time I tried to play someone elses riff. Sometimes I stumble upon them by accident, but if I'm investing time and effort into a band, I want to feel the accomplishment of writing original material. I like doing the odd cover or few in an original band, especially if you're giving it your own sound and spin on it, but to learn a whole set of covers just doesn't appeal to me. I don't grudge anyone who does want to do it, but I do find it discouraging how many venues would prefer to put on cover/tribute bands over original bands, and how much more money is involved in a band which involves less creativity and initiative. Again, I'm not slagging it off, but there's a gulf of difference between crafting your own song based on your influences, and getting a tab off the internet to play 'Back In Black' or whatever. It's basically just following instructions, instead of doing it all yourself. It's not for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatboy Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I'm thinking about classical musicians playing covers all their days. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Gold Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Playing live at all is for posers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colb Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I'm thinking about classical musicians playing covers all their days.At least classical musicians get the notes right. Nothing worse than a cover band destroying a tune because they can't be arsed/don't have the ability to learn the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh_Jazz Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 I know, the fact that nobody has ever hit a bum note during Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 3 remains a constant mystery to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 Why does it have to be a contest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat ol' sun Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 argument for covers = all along the watch tower, jimi hendrixargument for originals = all along the watch tower, bob dylan...Peace out, my work is done here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colb Posted December 23, 2012 Report Share Posted December 23, 2012 There are some great cover bands around. But there's also a lot of tired bands playing 4 chords versions of tunes and that sucks. By all means play someone else's songs, just put your back into it....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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