Covers or Originals?

[tfarny]

My band is getting ready to record for a myspace page (needed to get gigs here apparently) and we're doing four originals in the studio next Tuesday. Our singer hates the idea of covers, but the rest of us are happy to play them for the reasons Mully mentioned. We actually went through a Nirvana song or two in practice but the guitarist and I rejected them out of disgust for the musicianship.

I've got mixed feelings about it all - I don't love our originals, they seem pretty generic rock to me, but the rest of the band likes them. I have more fun covering The Stones and whatnot right now, and my guess is that an audience would agree. We'll see soon though. I do not think that playing covers is the same as advanced Karaoke. The idea that each musician needs to only play music they write is kind of a weird and when you think about it, stupid idea. When did that become the norm for musicians to not play other's music? Someone tell Ella Fitzgerald and the NY Philharmonic quick!

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I don't know what kind of music scene is in your area, but myspace allows 10 songs now.  1 or 2 well done covers might be a good idea to include because some clubs want majority covers, so it might be nice to show an example of your take on someone else's song.  It seems people always want what you don't do.  If you give a demo with covers, "Oh, we're sorry.  We wanted a band that does originals."  If you give a demo with originals, "Oh we're sorry.  We wanted a cover band."

[mullyman]

My band is getting ready to record for a myspace page (needed to get gigs here apparently) and we're doing four originals in the studio next Tuesday. Our singer hates the idea of covers, but the rest of us are happy to play them for the reasons Mully mentioned. We actually went through a Nirvana song or two in practice but the guitarist and I rejected them out of disgust for the musicianship.

I've got mixed feelings about it all - I don't love our originals, they seem pretty generic rock to me, but the rest of the band likes them. I have more fun covering The Stones and whatnot right now, and my guess is that an audience would agree. We'll see soon though. I do not think that playing covers is the same as advanced Karaoke. The idea that each musician needs to only play music they write is kind of a weird and when you think about it, stupid idea. When did that become the norm for musicians to not play other's music? Someone tell Ella Fitzgerald and the NY Philharmonic quick!

Oooh, don't get me started on singers. That is the reason I quit my last band. That guy and I get along just fine outside of a band situation but get us working together and we are polar opposites. He felt like since we do covers that they have to be exactly like the CD down to the last note. As a guitar player I like to have a little free space in my playing. I've seen so many shows from Aerosmith to ZZ Top and one thing never fails, the guitarist hardly ever plays the solos like they are on the CD. Hell, even Angus takes a little liberty on Back in Black from time to time. I always told him "Look, I'm not Eddie Van Halen and even the man himself doesn't play it like the CD." and then the arguments would start. Towards the end of our run we added Rock n Roll All Night to our set and I sang it. Personally, I don't think I'm a singer in any way shape or form, but I enjoy doing it from time to time. I got a lot of positive feedback from people saying they really liked that song and enjoyed hearing the song with real English pronunciation. Screw it, after we split up I decided no more singers. I'll do it myself. I've got some other friends together now and we get together every once in a while for a jam but none of us really have the time for a band right now.
MULLY

[alexmyla]

My band is getting ready to record for a myspace page (needed to get gigs here apparently) and we're doing four originals in the studio next Tuesday. Our singer hates the idea of covers, but the rest of us are happy to play them for the reasons Mully mentioned. We actually went through a Nirvana song or two in practice but the guitarist and I rejected them out of disgust for the musicianship.

I've got mixed feelings about it all - I don't love our originals, they seem pretty generic rock to me, but the rest of the band likes them. I have more fun covering The Stones and whatnot right now, and my guess is that an audience would agree. We'll see soon though. I do not think that playing covers is the same as advanced Karaoke. The idea that each musician needs to only play music they write is kind of a weird and when you think about it, stupid idea. When did that become the norm for musicians to not play other's music? Someone tell Ella Fitzgerald and the NY Philharmonic quick!

+1

i do all singing now. or i get the crowd involved

Oooh, don't get me started on singers. That is the reason I quit my last band. That guy and I get along just fine outside of a band situation but get us working together and we are polar opposites. He felt like since we do covers that they have to be exactly like the CD down to the last note. As a guitar player I like to have a little free space in my playing. I've seen so many shows from Aerosmith to ZZ Top and one thing never fails, the guitarist hardly ever plays the solos like they are on the CD. Hell, even Angus takes a little liberty on Back in Black from time to time. I always told him "Look, I'm not Eddie Van Halen and even the man himself doesn't play it like the CD." and then the arguments would start. Towards the end of our run we added Rock n Roll All Night to our set and I sang it. Personally, I don't think I'm a singer in any way shape or form, but I enjoy doing it from time to time. I got a lot of positive feedback from people saying they really liked that song and enjoyed hearing the song with real English pronunciation. Screw it, after we split up I decided no more singers. I'll do it myself. I've got some other friends together now and we get together every once in a while for a jam but none of us really have the time for a band right now.
MULLY

[mullyman]

In a strange turn of events, I ran into the singer from my ex-band on Saturday night. It's been close to 5 years since I saw him. When I opened to the door to the place we were going he was standing right there. He gave me a big smile and I gave him a big smile and we hugged like a couple of poofs. We sat around talking most of the evening and got the brilliant idea of having a "MISCUE" (that was our band's name) 10 year reunion. We started that band in 2000. We're thinking of maybe doing a one off show sometime in the new year.

As much as we fought in the practice studio I have to admit that it was good seeing him again. I think I said it in my earlier post but we got along just fine outside of the band, just couldn't manage together with the music. I don't think a one off show would do any harm. No commitments of any kind. We'll see what happens.
MULLY
wondering what it will take to get the bassist and drummer in on this???

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

My question is why?  If you had a big following and it was something that people demanded that would be one thing or even had the chance to turn into a regular thing, but I wouldn't want to put all the time and energy into practicing for one show.  Especially if the the two of you didn't get along on stage.  The tens or hundreds of dollars (with exchange rate) wouldn't be worth it to me.  If you missed jammin', get together and do that.  To me it's like an old girlfriend, spend enough time together, you'll remember why you're not together anymore.  This can't turn out good, IMO.  Let memories be memories. 

[mullyman]

My question is why?  If you had a big following and it was something that people demanded that would be one thing or even had the chance to turn into a regular thing, but I wouldn't want to put all the time and energy into practicing for one show.  Especially if the the two of you didn't get along on stage.  The tens or hundreds of dollars (with exchange rate) wouldn't be worth it to me.  If you missed jammin', get together and do that.  To me it's like an old girlfriend, spend enough time together, you'll remember why you're not together anymore.  This can't turn out good, IMO.  Let memories be memories. 

Ha! Actually, we wouldn't be getting paid, that's not how it works here in Japan. You have to pay the place to allow you to play there. You need to sell enough tickets to cover that or it comes out of your pocket. Once you cover the ticket sales any number of things could happen. You could pocket everything for yourself or the live house may ask for a cut of it. There's no money to be made in amateur music over here.

As for us getting along in the studio again, I don't think it would be a problem. Knowing that this is a one off gig I'd be more than patient with anything he would have to say. This would be something totally for fun. I don't expect it to be more than one show and there would be no commitments after that.
MULLY

[mullyman]

Let me also add that this may never even come to fruition. It's just something we talked about.
MULLY

[PT]

90% covers. That will change in the next 2 years.