[SoulShakedown]

A two part post...

I: I've been in quite a few over the years- Grateful Dead, James Brown, Marley, Allman Bros. and even a 2yr. stint playing the Harrison parts in a Beatles cover band.

In all, I've learned a lot from those experiences but there comes a time that I feel, us, as musicians, should carry on and write our own material.. say what we've got to say.

How do you feel about cover bands?

II: As far as cover bands, do you think there are more Grateful Dead, Beatle Bands or Elvis impersonators out there?

[willmusic]

I: Ummm, they can be really fun to see and to play in. On the other hand they can be equally NOT fun to see and play in.

As far as originality, some folks are perfectly content playing covers while others, well...aren't.

II: Man o man...couldn't say.

[LazyLightnin]

I think that cover bands are a sort of wave of the future for local music. as acts that are so cherished by the public are becoming too "old" to tour and perform it creates a kind of vaccum.

right now were a nation with writers block. where are all the good original artists? everyone wants to see good live music, and cover bands are an appropriate alternative to staying home and listenin to that old lp for the three thousanth time.

me and a few guys are having a hell of a time finding the right people. drums and keys are allusive for some reason around here. the best thing about a cover band is that you too can be the proud leader of a floyd/ozzy/zep/skynyrd slopfest.

i played ina band for several years that did countless covers that i wasnt interested in playing, but its so nice to be on stage. tryint o get back there

[krzykat]

my mama told me that there are more Elvis impersonators. Thank you, Thank you very muck

[weirimpressed]

i feel like if I go out to a bar/venue and try to play my own material right off the bat, two things can happen:
a) people dont like it because its not familiar to them and they have never heard it
or
b) they like it and I get to keep playing it

but, if I go out to a bar and do a couple unique covers of some cool songs my own way, I can show people what I am capable of, and eventually incorporate my own music into the mix until its all my own music.

and I would bet there are a LOT more Elvis impersonators than beatles and grateful dead covers

[CaptainTrips]

i feel like if I go out to a bar/venue and try to play my own material right off the bat, two things can happen:
a) people dont like it because its not familiar to them and they have never heard it
or
b) they like it and I get to keep playing it

but, if I go out to a bar and do a couple unique covers of some cool songs my own way, I can show people what I am capable of, and eventually incorporate my own music into the mix until its all my own music.

and I would bet there are a LOT more Elvis impersonators than beatles and grateful dead covers

Ya gotta ease it in. The Beatles themselves started off doing a lot of old rock and roll covers. Then they proved themselves and moved on to more original material.

[strumminsix]

Almost every huge band started with covers and mingled in their own music:
Allman Bros
Beatles
Clapton
Dead
Elvis
Stones

The list goes on...

[Tennessee Jedi]

I love when people decide that one or the other sucks for some personal reason and the whole world should follow along.
Ya know when someone says "Why cant you write your own music"
or another would say "Original acts just follow trends or whatever is popular".
Ive done both and had fun at each.
Didnt the mighty Phish start out playing the Dead?
Just follow the little voices in yer head and no worries.
I bet there are more grassroot Dead covers than Elvis or beatles,but there are more PRO Beatles and Elvis Bands out there.

[krzykat]

Didnt the mighty Phish start out playing the Dead?

according to them they were never a dead cover band

[Tennessee Jedi]

Not a Dead coverband no.But I know they started out doing the covers and ended up doing some very original stuff.
So haha!
Arent you still drunk from the Victory party last night?

[strumminsix]

Didnt the mighty Phish start out playing the Dead?

according to them they were never a dead cover band

Agreed. I spoke to Try and Paige on some radio thing back in maybe 94 or 95 and asked them what connection they had with the Dead. They basically answered not much except that they (the Dead) never asked royalties if they covered a tune of theirs.

Check out old shows of theirs 83/84:
12-02-83 Harris-Millis Cafeteria - University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
1: Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, Proud Mary, In the Midnight Hour, Squeeze Box, Roadhouse Blues, Happy Birthday
2: Scarlet Begonias > Fire

12/1/84 Nectar's, Burlington, VT

Scarlet Begonias > Fire > Fire on the Mountain, Makisupa Policeman, Slave to the Traffic Light, Spanish Flea*, Don't Want You No More, Cities, Skippy the Wondermouse**, Fluffhead**
E: Eyes of the World

In 85 they only played a few.
By 86 none that I know of.

So they covered a Dead tune or 2 but not a GD cover band but more importantly very early on they were playing original material.

[Tennessee Jedi]

Looks to me like a lot of covers Strum.
Maybe not Dead covers but covers.
Playing covers is cool and they took it to the next level.
Phish have always covered stuff if you think about it.White Album comes to mind.....

[strumminsix]

Agreed, TJ! I musta misread read your post as "Dead Cover band" which clearly (and post coffee) I realize now it wasn't!!

[Tennessee Jedi]

The thing about covers Vs.original bands(not the original posters point) kinda bugs me sometimes.We all know people who play all kinds of stuff;its just when you got some guy saying Yeah my original band kicks coverbands asses and when you go see the guy his band is a Blink 187 clone or whatever is hot at the time.
On the flip side ya got the cover bands saying the Originals guys do their thing 'cause they cant play anything else.
Thank god you dont get that here.
Its just annoys me.
Phish is just a good example of doing both and having it work.

[weirimpressed]

In the end, shoud it really matter that someone is covering a song/band? I mean, yes, if there is a group onstage and there playing blink 182 I am not going to stick around but in the long run, isnt the point to have fun playing the music YOU personally want to play? Im sure some people find some easy songs and go out and use them, but its when you stop trying to learn other (and harder)songs and stick with the same ten songs you know by heart that youre going to get in trouble and get critized.
Hell, Widespread Panic did a talking heads cover on new years eve, and it was awesome, and Im sure half the people in the stadium had no idea it was a cover haha!