Not wanting to do suggested songs by other band members?

[MDK]

How do you guys go about it? I just come out and say I think it sucks and wont go over but am starting to think maybe thats a lil harsh and there could be a better way to say it.

We are just a cover band, all in our 40's and 50's and play legions and parties and such and a few guys are really insisting on obscure stuff. We actually had someone come up to us after last gig/last song (saturday night) and say Nice it's about time you played somethignwe can sing along to.

Other members took it as a good thing that we dont play overplayed songs, which is cool on one hand but when your playing the type of places we are and you play,
1) Then came the last day in May (B.O.C)
2) princess of the streets (stranglers)
3) nice and sleazy (stranglers) Killer bass part in this one
4) Planet Claire (B-52's)
5) and 2 originals

it just does not go over and we lose the crowd, small as it is. Dont get me wrong most are fun to play but I think we are starting to turn into one of those bands I used to hate before I started playing drums who played a bunch of stuff I did'nt know and that is not the reason I went out that night.

How do you veto a song or do you all have a=some type of system in place where al have to agree or it does not get put in?

[Zeta]

Thats an interesting situation. I think its pretty common though. I personally believe that a cover band should play songs that people want to listen to. Top 40 charts and what not.

Original bands have the freedom to play whatever they want because people are expecting original stuff that they haven't heard.

Cover bands should play a few songs that people don't know, but there is a reason people don't know some of those songs. and theres a reason they don't necessarily want to hear them.



Maybe you talk to them and let them know you think the crowd would react better to more famous songs. Ask them to give your approach a test and if you are wrong about your opinion then you will leave it be.

[Bish]

We are a cover band. We are trying to play crowd pleasers. What we did ( as a band ) was to play the songs in question at one or two gigs. We monitored crowd reaction/response and then either kept or vetoed the song by the next gig.

I also think your approach that you posted here is appropriate..."it just does not go over and we lose the crowd, small as it is." That is what it ultimately comes down to. If you are there to entertain as a cover band, you must play the "standards" as we call them.

So ask yourself and your band this question..."Who are we trying to please? Us or the people who came out to be entertained?"

[CB700]

I am going to be in the same boat. Cover band playing at least on song I can't stand and the crowed won't like either. So I am just going to play the song and hope not to get booded off the stage. Most songs we are going to playare punk songs. So some may like other won't.

[SpecialAnthony]

You lose the crowds, you lose the gigs. You keep the crowd engaged, and loving it/wanting more, you feed off that and play better (which equals more gigs and happy band). It's simple stuff really. I understand wanting to play what is fun for you all, but that approach typically doesn't go over well in a club. You gotta play for the crowd. My bands usually go with 1/4 rule - 3/4s are hits and crowd pleasers, the other 1/4 are for us (and the uber fans).

[AKC75]

^^^^^

That's good advice.

I've never been in a cover band. Maybe one of these days when I get older.

We do have some really good cover bands here in Austin. Most of them I don't care for though.

Spazmatics are pretty awesome. They do a lot of early 80's tunes that are pretty fun, like Devo. They even dress up like a bunch of nerds with pocket protectoctors, buck teeth and taped glasses. These guys make a killing when they play!

Mysterious Ways. U2 tribute band.

The Damn Torpedoes. A tribute to Tom Petty.

[funkyruss]

You lose the crowds, you lose the gigs. You keep the crowd engaged, and loving it/wanting more, you feed off that and play better (which equals more gigs and happy band). It's simple stuff really. I understand wanting to play what is fun for you all, but that approach typically doesn't go over well in a club. You gotta play for the crowd. My bands usually go with 1/4 rule - 3/4s are hits and crowd pleasers, the other 1/4 are for us (and the uber fans).

ya! you got it!

[SpecialAnthony]

Here's an example: We're playing a 45min set at the House of Blues next Friday, opening for a great ACDC tribute from Dallas. We played with them this past April, and they liked us opening for them enough that they asked HOB specifically to book us again! It's a short set, and the first time round we stuck to the "hits" because of the time allowed and wanting to do well in our first time on the main stage. Here's the setlist for the upcoming gig:

Working Man/Tom Sawyer
Fly By Night
Red Barchetta
Freewill
YYZ
The Trees
Limelight
Subdivisions
The Spirit of Radio

Now the following Saturday after the HOB gig, we are playing the Houston Grand Prix, and have a 90min set. This allows a ton more leeway to throw in some of the more obscure/epic/non radio songs among the rest:

2112 Overture / Temples
a Passage to Bangkok
Tom Sawyer
Working Man
The Trees
Red Barchetta
Closer to the Heart
YYZ
Anthem
the Spirit of Radio
La Villa Strangiato
Subdivisions
Bastille Day
Freewill
Fly By Night
Limelight

We'll put Xanadu in there too. Even with double the time, we're still playing 3/4 hits - enough to keep the crowd there and engaged.

Honestly though we love every one of those songs too so it's a win/win.

[Ricardo]

I play in a band that is promoting original material.
We design our sets to be approximately 2/3 original and 1/3 strategically placed covers.............and these covers need to be popular attention-getting tunes...........one example is DAY OF THE EAGLE by Robin Trower.

Nobody wants to hear an hour of music they never heard before............so we open with a couple of originals and then hit the audience with something that really rocks with which they are very familiar..............assuming you have their attention at that point, then you are free to pop out another pair of origianl songs that rock like the cover did.

Another factor is we are not playing "dance" clubs or private parties...........we are playing large outdoor venues or heavy rock clubs.
So we are never expected to provide "Love Shack" and that kind of vomit.

It usually goes well..................

[marko138]

Not entirely different in an all originals band. We've got songs that I don't really love playing. I always vote no on those songs but sometimes I get out voted.

[Tadman]

Yes, agree with many of the comments above ^^^.

We play covers and originals. Some members have tastes for styles that I would really prefer to NOT play. That said, I believe it is also important to push myself to play different styles and genres of music. I figure if all give a little we get a good mix of what makes us and audience happy.

On audience joy versus the more obscure songs "for the band," it is always good to have a "sprinkling" of songs for us. Keeps things interesting and fun from a musical perspective.

The one thing that really gets push back from me is if a song is promoted by 1 or more members to add to the set list that just does not fit the band. (Including band instruments, venues we play, and also singer range and style, etc. (i.e., band member just loves the song and pushes, but doesn't think through how and whether it would work for our band)).

[NewTricks]

There is SO much material to select from, it should be painless enough to find a few sets of stuff that everyone like to play and listen to.

Approach this in a mathematical problem and leave emotion out of it. Put together a ridiculous list of 200 popular songs, them have the members check yes/no/maybe.

No one should have to play something they hate. There is just SO much music out there to cover.

[slinglander]

"The one thing that really gets push back from me is if a song is promoted by 1 or more members to add to the set list that just does not fit the band. (Including band instruments, venues we play, and also singer range and style, etc. (i.e., band member just loves the song and pushes, but doesn't think through how and whether it would work for our band))."

Oh, yeah! Like "these boots are made for walkin'" or the theme from TV's Secret Agent" goes with "White Room!"LOL! ...sad but true with my band mates. And they wonder why we don't get more gigs!

[Ricardo]

I separate issues into "A" issues and "B" issues.

"A" issues include................how much do I love this band -- or what is the level of musicianship here ???

"B" issues are things like................do I want to play this song or not ?

I NEVER let "B" issues get in the way of "A" issues.

[Drumbledore]

The one thing that really gets push back from me is if a song is promoted by 1 or more members to add to the set list that just does not fit the band. (Including band instruments, venues we play, and also singer range and style, etc. (i.e., band member just loves the song and pushes, but doesn't think through how and whether it would work for our band)).

Lawd....tell me about it.....if I was paid a dollar every time I've heard hair-brained suggestions in all the bands I've been in over the years....I could buy a gong with it at least, lol.