Cover or not to cover...

[SG_74]

Hey! I'm in a band, we've been going for quite a while now (about 2 yrs) and we still do covers. At this precise moment we actually do more covers than our own stuff (really annoying cos no one can be bothered to write songs except me so they take the easy route out...covers). They're all pretty decent musicians, is it worth trying to convince them to knuckle down and write stuff or do people want more covers these days?

[Vash03]

Im not in an actual band, but me and my drummer friend get together and play alot of stuff together. Yea covers are really fun to do! i like em casue whenever u play em poeple are like "ooo ive heard that song!" and thats prolly why a lotta people enjoy listening to them. I think it's important to at least play a few songs by yourself though, it'll expand your imagination and then you can get feedback from listeners and perfect your songs even farther. heh, im always interested in hearing poeple's original stuff too, just to see how they work out when they dont have help from a cover. Really, u should have a balance of covers and your own stuf i guess http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[msg80]

I say, don't stress about it too much. My friend's band plays mostly covers too. What sets them apart from most cover bands however, ( and maybe I'm being biased) is that they strictly adhere to songs that they like and not what everyone else likes. This means the songs that they play are closely correlated with each other. Some might say that they lack diversity, but I say they are developing a specific style or sound so to speak. That intern makes them distinctive since listeners can better pinpoint what they like about them. This means the audience will probably like their original work as well, since they already like their influences. A true cover band, on the other hand, will play anything that they know everyone will like. This is easier and less risky, but often lacks the substance that most musicians long for. In other words, the band becomes a novelty (nothing wrong with that, some people truly enjoy entertaining period). When a band wishes to go beyond that, however, that's when the outlook should change from being appreciated by everyone to being appreciated only by those who make a special effort to. Unfortunately, there's a risk associated with being original since most people tend to write off anything that's not on the radio or in the record stores. Either way, it's probably worth it. On top of that (in case you don't already know) don't make the writing process complicated. This will make the songs feel forced and unnatural. I remember times when my ex-roommate (he played too) and I would "knuckle down" and force ourselves to brainstorm. Ten minutes later, nothing happens and we are both mindlessly doing our own thing. Some of the best group effort songs out there start off with a simple set of notes or chords that the other band members simply start playing on top of. Anyway, now I'm just rambling. Good Luck.

[SG_74]

Thanks guys! I have loads of song ideas so I wouldn't be forcing myself to "knuckle down" as such, but at the moment I feel like we are going to be nothing more than a lounge band. I'm considering leaving my band (I know some musicians that want to do orginal stuff and have loads of ideas) cos we tend to only do covers that everyone wants to hear. We only have 2 original songs as a pose to about 10 covers! and all the original songs I start noone can be bothered to finish off. I'm looking to be a bit more serious than just a lounge band... arg i'm goin off on one

[bdemon]

In my area (San Francisco), cover bands tend to be popular, especially those 70s/80s ones. They get booked easily (if they're good, anyway) and draw crowds. Something to think about, using covers to draw them in, then bust out your amazing originals. Not an original concept. On the other hand, I'm not big on playing in cover bands...I want to create! So IMO, you should follow your gut and get into a project that motivates you.

[Keith]

One thing to do is get 1/2 yer songs cover/original.I was in a band called Ragdoll in the mid 80's and all we did was Areosmith covers..it comes down to entertaining the crowd that paid to hear the bands you are covering, but always send in a few shots of your own stuff too when you can.EG: we had 35 songs we could cover in the first set, second set we had put in 3 tunes that we all made up original and played them.after a while, we ended up playing 1/2 1/2 both sets.
Rule of thumb is this, please the crowd, but please yourself and show what you are capable of doing outside the circle of covers..this makes you a better player and have more confidence in being a musician.. don't let go of creativity.

[Gunstreet]

For me, it all comes down to what kind of musician you want to be. An entertainer or an artist. IMO, an entertainer is someone who is solely concerned with pleasing the audience whereas an artist mainly creates for himself and hopes that the audience is thereby entertained.

I live in Las Vegas and this town is filled with entertainers. It's a good way to get paid as a musician and there's nothing wrong with it, but I've always prefered people who create.

In my experience, a person can make money faster playing in a cover band, but can rarely go very far until they start to develop their own material. To get a record deal, you need to have a clear original style and have at least an album worth of material (unless you're Country). Covers might pay the rent and get you live experience, but in the long run, what are you going to do with other people's songs?

I've always been more impressed with a mediocre singer/songwriter than the best cover band. Cover players are a dime a dozen, but each true artist is one of a kind. I'll always give someone credit for at least trying to do their own stuff.

My suggestion would be to play in a cover band for the experience, the connections, the money, etc. Then, play your own songs at open stages. This way, you're distancing yourself from the cover scene and people are more likely to really listen to your originals and take you serious as an artist.

Just my thoughts.

[This message has been edited by Gunstreet (edited July 26, 2004).]

[Sarco]

Covers are always nice to warm up the public with something they know, or to please them. (when your metalcore band gets dropped at a festival and you start playing some songs but the crowd starts to throw things at you, you could try playing some covers...)

[supercobra]

Hey SG74,

Don't be dismayed at your band mates. What they are saying without words is, "We don't know how to write music". Since you do, you are in a special category, which has some key benefits. It should set you apart. If your songs are the only originals being written, you are a very important part of your band, and should command some control because of it. If you're not getting respect for your efforts, I recommend starting to play with other players. That should wake your band mates up.

[motorhead_6]

A&R guys arent interested in cover bands so the question really is whether or not you want a record deal.

[wazman]

Keep doing the covers and hone your chops. The crowds love to hear them, and it gives you a good chance to show that you can entertain a crowd. As you get more and more originals, you can mix them in, but you'll be glad you had the chance to prove that you have the chops and the stage presence to back your original ideas up.

[crusty]

My approach to covers is learn them to the letter, then take them beyond. People always get upset when somethings missing, or doesn't sound quite right, but they are blown away when you sound better than the original. As for playing originals, just make sure your originals and the covers are a close match. You'll atract people who like those types of covers, so they should like your music too.

[GustavLesPaul]

in our band we only play covers but we have started thinking about making our own songs, btw we smoke weed all the time...

[crowbarr]

personally i cant stand bands that just play covers, it just completely lacks creativity. Anyway in my "band" instead of covering a song we modify it, for example we took all along the watchtower kept the chord sequence but then created our own melody line for it and modified the bassline, so in the end we had a semi cover original

[Brendo613]

I like that term, "semi cover original". So long as the musicians are capable enough, SCO's can be very successful. My dad has these tapes of him playing with other musicians from '78 and '79, and I love listening to them. Lead guitarist Jimmy Bonahue (sp?) played an ES-335 through a Fender Bassman, and reeled out some of the best guitar tone's I've heard. There's a fantastic rendition of "My Girl", and the solo's filled with sympathetic (octave-shift) feedback.

Thanks to Stone for the term there :thumbs:

=Brendan= :_dazed:

[elliot smith]

my band does lot of misfits covers great for live shows,

[thunder_bird]

Keep a few well known covers in your set but at the end of the day the only way to progress is to write ure own stuff

[moongoose29]

Here is my take I play all covers because like someone mentioned before I don't know how to write anything I think all the stuff I have ever wanted to say someone else has beaten me to it and said it well I think that might be your bandmate's outlook on it but you sound like you are doing well with the songs you have done yourself. I say good job to you for having ideas and making them live covers aren't a bad thing alot of people like cover songs and if you can get a few of your own songs in there do it and have a good time with it take care Moongoose