I hate cover bands. I am in a band that plays mostly original music and it is so hard to get a decent fan base because so many people hang out in these bars that are known for cover bands. The bands suck, and the bars suck. Its a meat market full of tools and people who would rather just hear the same songs that they hear on the radio done by an even worse band. Then I read an artical the other day that said how much better cover bands were than original bands!!! What would the cover bands be playing if it wasn’t for original bands?? They suck ass. And its really bad when there are actually good players in the bands because then you know that they are just wasting all their talent learning somone elses guitar parts, or drum beats or bass lines, instead of actually contributing something to music world. Assholes!
I LOVE Motley Crue’s cover of anarchy in the uk. How about you?
I dont really like Motley Crew…sorry.
As someone who has played in original bands for the last 12 years, and who has been in a cover band for the last 9 months, I offer a hearty, “Fuck you.”
Do not listen to this man. Some audiences enjoy hearing songs they already know. Some audiences enjoy hearing songs they do not know. There is room for both kinds of bands. Balance is achieved. The universe is once more at peace.
The other night, my cover band won $750 in a Battle of the Bands. I hardly consider that a waste of my talents. It takes talent to perform any kind of music well.
Do you consider members of symphonies to be wasting their talents? Not only are they performing covers, they’re performing covers from 200-300 years ago.
lol. I was joking dude. It was a joke!
Anywho, I have played in bands for about 12 years too and I actually agree with pldennison. There are many different people out there and the ones who go to those “meat market” bars are not the people who would be interested in my bands music anyway. Different strokes for different folks.
As someone who has played in original bands for 12 years, i say “Fuck You” back. Its people like you, who turn over to cover bands to make money, that make it tough for original bands to survive. And the fact that you won 750 bucks for doing cover songs in a battle of the bands is even worse. Next time theres a battle of the bands for cover bands let me know…I think i can train a bunch of monkeys to learn a Matchbox 20 song note for note. Maybe they’ll have a chance at winning.
Man! What is wrong with you? Where did you get it in your head that cover bands are taking away from your “business”. I have never once felt in competition with a cover band! They do one thing, I do something completely different. The bars where they play are usually packed with people looking to drink and pick up. The bars where I play are full of people who want to hear music. TOTALLY DIFFERENT CROWD. Are you that insecure that your music is not good enough and audiences may be swayed to the darkside (cover bands)?
Okay, Jorge, whatever. FYI, unless you know me a loooooooot better than you currently do, please don’t attribute motives to me that you cannot back up with facts. M’kay? Does that sound good to you, assclown?
I joined a cover band because I enjoy playing music. See, unlike some microcephalic douchebags, I’m capable of having fun playing anything–covers, originals, jams, whatever. Money has nothing to do with it. This $750 happened to be a nice perk; we’ve played plenty of gigs where we haven’t made any money at all. As it happens, we’re going to start adding originals to our set very soon.
When I was in an original band, we opened for lots of touring national acts – Susanna Hoffs, the Dambuilders, the Push Kings, and others. It was lots of fun. People came to those shows to hear songs by those acts, and by the openers.
When people just go out drinking, they want to hear music they already know. Same thing with weddings and parties. They can use a jukebox, they can use a DJ, or they can use a live band.
The existence of cover bands does not in any way take away a single audience member for your original band. Not one. The only things that can keep you from getting an audience are:
–poor promotion on your part
–poor promotion by the club
–your stage act sucks
–your music sucks
Furthermore, nearly all original bands (at least the smart ones) throw in covers from time to time. If the audience doesn’t know and has never heard your music, you’re a lot more likely to catch their ear if you play a song they know, then follow it up with three of your own. My own band used to throw in covers all the time. idiotboy, who posts here, is in a ska band that does the occasional cover. I’ve seen Matthew Sweet perform live three times, and each time, he’s done 4-5 covers in the course of his set.
Get over it.
Yeah, what was the name of that group that originally performed Beethoven’s 5th again? They rock.
Seriously though, it’s not really a good comparison. There is a pretty big difference between playing a song that is several hundred years old and playing a song that was originally from a year or two ago. Not to mention, there’s still folks out there writing original symphonies, y’know.
However…
Here I definitely agree. I think both kinds of bands can be incredibly fun to watch and listen to. To date, my original band has netted a grand total of $63. If pldennison can play cover songs and make $750 (nice job, btw), who am I (or you) to call that a waste of anything?
Exactly.
I bet you can’t, but I will say that’s something I’d definitely be willing to pay a cover charge to watch. Unless the bar next door has trained monkeys playing original songs, that is…
Electric Light Orchestra?
*::: ducking & running ::: *
You know, I remember watching a tape of that Sex Pistols reuion tour and thinking, “Man, is there anything more pathetic than watching a 45 year old Johnny Rotten singing ‘Anarchy’?” And then I saw a 45 year old Vince Neil singing ‘Anarchy’ and the question was answered.
Actually, I believe the original title was A Fifth of Beethoven. It came out in the 70’s, cool song.
If bars stopped booking cover bands the people that go to see cover bands would end up exposeing themselves to new music, and the people who are in cover bands would end up contributing to new music. If everyone was in a cover band the music scene would not be very interesting.
All I am saying is cover bands suck, dude. its no big deal.
Maybe. Maybe they would just stay home, throw parties, and listen to CDs. Or maybe they would only go to clubs with DJs who play popular music. There are a lot of people out there who, for better or worse, simply aren’t interested in hearing songs that they don’t know, especially if they have to pay a cover charge without knowing what they’re going to be hearing.
And look at it from the bar’s standpoint: If they book a band that they can promote as playing covers of certain kinds of music, they can attract more people than they can by booking bands that people are unfamiliar with.
Maybe. Or, maybe, if they didn’t have a lot of time to commit to songwriting and arranging, and just played for fun, they’d stop altogether.
Well, duh. And if my grandmother had balls, she’d be my grandfather.
Oh, gee, sorry I took it wrong. :rolleyes:
Does anyone think it would be weird for people to remake movies that are currently popular and do the exact same camera angles and dialog, but just use different actors?
What does that have to do with cover bands? Oh, I get it–you’re constructing a crappy analogy!
Does the fact that Laurence Olivier played a really great Hamlet prevent you from enjoying Kenneth Branagh in the same role?
I have to ask the question, is there any band that has never played a cover song? U2 plays covers, Soundgarden played covers, Van Halen plays covers.
Hello, there was a shot for shot remake of the classic Psycho about 2 years ago.
Ritchie Havens
nuff said.
I’m sorry that you are such a “purist” that you can’t stand alternate interpretations to songs. You are truly missing out on a world of new visions. Oh well, you and your Rock-n-Roll buddies can still practice in the garage and play at local fairs and whatnot.
I think most bands have played at least a few covers…i cant think of one that i have seen that does not. I really like the Greatful Dead…i know they played a shitload of covers.
Yes, there was a remake of Psycho, but it was not a current popular movie at the time it was remade. The cover bands I have the biggest problem with are the ones out there now playing, 3rd eye blind, limp biscuit, matchbox 20,…things that are popular now. Dont we hear those songs enough on the radio?
So let me rephrase my question. Would anyone think it was wierd if I remade the movie “Rush Hour 2” right now and played in a theater that is not currently playing it?
I actually ENJOY alternate interpretations of songs…that is why I liked the way the Dead did their covers…they switched it up a bit. if your gonna put a new spin on a tune, cool. I am talking the straight up cover bands…I’ve heard a band reproduce a guitar solo exactly. Thats not interpretation, thats boring.