Covers

I don't think that anyone would really dis covers, especially since I'd bet almost of us play them and all of us that play/have played in public play them still.

I've found that it's smart to gear your covers towards your audience and try to have my own repertoire filled with songs from just about any time frame. But you can make an interesting cover version out of almost anything. I like to play a variety, from Walk Away Renee to Smashing Pumpkins' 1979.

Peace

... and as Jimi Hendrix and Eva Cassidy have shown, the cover can be better than the original.

-Laz

When a band talks about covering songs do they mean they play the song note for note as it was written.  Or do they use the song's basic arrangement and structure as a basis for an improvisation?

Don't mean to give a vague, all-purpose answer, but it depends on the band. "Tribute" bands tend to do their best to reproduce everything note-for-note. Some even go so far as to use (to the best of their abilities) the same makes and models of guitars, amps and gear and some even dress the part as far as costume and apparel.

Most bands will use the original as a starting point and try to put their own unique spin on it. A band with a great keyboard player, to give a truly gerenal "for instance," may substitute keyboard solos for guitar solos. Some may stylize the rhythm. For example, a reggae band (or any band that likes to play reggae) may do a non-reggae song in a reggae style.

And, just to add another dimension to the mix, some bands may play some covers note-of-note while playing original arrangements of other covers.

It certainly makes life interesting.

Peace

hmmm good answeres... but can sum1 actually suggest any decent covers?????(sorry to sound rude)

I think that depends to some degree on your audience.

18 y os aren't going to want to listen to East St Louis Toodle-loo

Give the folks here an audience profile, then they can suggest some fitting covers

we're playin to really different audiences from your classic pub type venues to specialist rock clubs... just anything with a bit of cheese, u know something to pur a smile on ur face (if it helps any im mainly talkin bout brittish clubs... so "rock n roll all nite" wont work TOO well)  ;)

18 y os aren't going to want to listen to East St Louis Toodle-loo

20 year olds would though.

Mental As Anything's cover of "Rock and Roll Music" is great... same with their version of "Working For The Man".

20 year olds would though.

Well, people who like Steely Dan are just a little strange, aren't they?  ;D

Hmmm, my uncle lived in England for a few years and has been known to visit the odd pub, I'll ask him when he gets back.

Are you playing anything semi-traditional like Black Velvet Band? Though you'd want to know your audience for that  :)

British Pubs - huh.  How about a Black Sabbath song (NIB), Led Zeppelin (Rock and Roll), Deep Purple (Smoke On The Water), Cream (White Room), The Beatles (Helter Skelter), The Who (Squeeze Box),

Just open your imagination and be free to influences you normally may aren't.  You might try to do some old blues songs for two or three in a row, some Motown, Some country, Some Heavy Metal, some 80's pop, whatever it takes I guess.  Good Luck!

just play some stones.  everyone can go along with that.

also, ive heard that 'house of the rising sun' is the most requested cover song of all time.  but i hear a lot of things.  

house of the rising sun IS gr8... but our drummer (being a typical... um... drummer) gets bored :-/ so we tried thrashing it up... dint work... ah well thanx guys!

just play some stones.  everyone can go along with that.

also, ive heard that 'house of the rising sun' is the most requested cover song of all time.  but i hear a lot of things.  

I thought it was Freebird.

Come on, everybody at once yell - FREEBIRD!!!!
;D