OK people, looking for some ideas. Four of us have decided to get a little more serious and start a band (that's funny for me to even write) and we are searching for songs. We have had two practices and have about 6 or so songs down but I'm not sure we are going in the right direction in terms of picking songs, we seem to be picking songs that some of the members like which sounds like a good thing but they might not necissarily go over well in a bar. In a bar you need to get people up dancing so they buy drinks which makes the owners happy and gets you another gig.
So what I'm looking for are simple songs (remember I have to play them) that go over well in a bar. One that comes to mind for me is Mustang Sally. Now I don't particularly like that song but everytime I've heard it played people always get up and dance.
I don't want to necessarily play all dance type music either.
Just so you get an idea of the current (limited)list:
Sunshine of your love - Cream
Badge - Cream
White Room - Cream
Beer Drinkers Hellraisers - ZZ Top
Blue on Black - Kenny Wyane Shepard
Black magic woman - Santana
Godzilla - BOC
Songs we know but haven't made the list yet:
Tighten Up - Archie Bell and The Drells
Bang a Gong - T Rex
Strange Brew - Hesitant about this cuz we already have to many Cream songs
Any suggestions, especially you guys that are out there playing would be appreciated.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC is another crowd pleaser.
Born to be Wild
Any thing by Credence is good, the songs are usually prety easy, and people recognize them.
Falling in love is like learning to play the guitar; first you learn to follow the rules, then you learn to play with your heart.
Hey Chris, weren't you working on "All Right Now" a while back? That usually goes down well over here in the UK....mind you, over here you could probably get away with a set list of old Beatles, Stones, CCR etc.
How about "Get Back"...."Brown Sugar" (great if there's more than one guitarist!)....or how about just looking through the ESD index, see if there's anything there you could do?
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
Yeah, Mustang Sally is always a crowd pleaser. I bet I'm the only in North Carolina who hates it. :)
I like your song list, but some of it does not fit the dance bar thing much. Of course, you can blend them all into a set if the rest are 'bumpy', so to speak.
American Girl - Tom Petty: kind of an up-tempo tune people like. Easy to play. Maybe Mary Jane's Last Dance too.
Never Been To Spain - 3 Dog Night. Seriously, kick it up about 10 bpm and it's really another up-tempo tune.
Gimme Shelter, It's Only Rock 'n Roll, Happy - Rolling Stones
Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
Lola - Kinks
A couple of none Classic Rockers, but kind of breaks things up when thinking about it, and people love. Friends In Low Places by Garth Brooks, You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate and Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. Kind of off the path songs like those kind of brings people into party mode sometimes.
Of course, anything I suggest is from the user perspective. :roll:
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate and Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry.
Those definitely do it for me from the user perspective. :mrgreen:
Throw in Brick House by The Commodores and just about anything by K.C. and the Sunshine Band.
Oh, and the definitive rock song: Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
...
So what I'm looking for are simple songs (remember I have to play them)
...
Black magic woman - Santana
...
:shock:
Ok :-)
What about "I will survive"? We do more of the "Cake" version of it, and I'd say it works pretty well. Roxanne seem to be a crowd pleaser too
This is going to be very cool 8-) Just gimme a call if you need another guitarist ;-)
lars
...only thing I know how to do is to keep on keepin' on...
LARS kolberg http://www.facebook.com/sangerersomfolk
Vic,
Yes I play All right now and I like it but what I'm finding when dealing with four other people is it's getting hard to agree on the music. I also know Play that Funky Music, but the other guitarist sent me an email yesterday and said that he wants this to be a classic rock band, no soul, no R&B and no reggae..( Itried to get them to play Roots, Rock, Reggae)which I think would go over well personally. He also doesn't like the Stones so that's out probably. I'm sure Beatles would go down well too but that hasn't come up yet.
Ray - That makes two of us with Mustang Sally I never liked it much but I have to admit it's usually a crowd favorite. Lola might be a good one.
kat- I'd like to play shook me all night by AC/DC cuz it's one of the few solos I can play but I'm not sure about that one.
I sent them all my current song list which is up to about 60 songs now (some I'd need to work on again since I haven't played them in awhile) but I don't think they liked any of them.
I think I'll just go with the flow and let them pick the music and I'll just play.
"It's all about stickin it to the man!"
It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll!
Playing in "pure" genres is for performers, not for audiences.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
What you need to do is find out the names of successful cover bands that play in your area. A lot of times a band will post a current set list on its website. You could compile a list from a bunch of different bands and pick ones that you like. Or at least get an idea of what audiences like.
YOu could also check out youtube, the Wheezetones do lots of classic covers
My freind Michael has has a classic rock band for over 20 years now. Here's a look at their song list from his website:
STORMY MONDAY -ALLMAN BROTHERS
HOUSE OF THE RISIN' SUN -ANIMALS
TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS -BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
CAN'T GET ENOUGH -BAD COMPANY
FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE -BAD COMPANY
THE WEIGHT -BAND
ITâ€S ALL BEEN DONE -BARENAKED LADIES
EVE OF DESTRUCTION -BARRY MCGUIRE
BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. -BEATLES
BIRTHDAY -BEATLES
GET BACK -BEATLES
I FEEL FINE -BEATLES
I'VE JUST SEEN A FACE -BEATLES
BLACKBIRD -BEATLES
GOLDEN SLUMBERS -BEATLES
TWIST & SHOUT -BEATLES
YOU CAN'T DO THAT -BEATLES
BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY -BETTE MIDLER
CHANTILLY LACE -BIG BOPPER
YOU MAY BE RIGHT -BILLY JOEL
SWEET HOME CHICAGO -BLUES BROTHERS
KNOCKIN ON HEAVENS DOOR -BOB MARLEY-DYLAN-CLAPTON
OLD TIME ROCK 'N' ROLL -BOB SEGER
BOOT SCOOTIN' BOOGIE -BROOKS & DUNN
NOT FADE AWAY -BUDDY HOLLY
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH -BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
AIN'T THAT A SHAME -CHEAP TRICK
I WANT YOU TO WANT ME -CHEAP TRICK
SURRENDER -CHEAP TRICK
JOHNNY B. GOODE -CHUCK BERRY
SEA CRUISE -CLASSIC 50'S
BEAT ME DADDY, 8 TO THE BAR -COMMANDER CODY
BAD MOON RISIN' -CREEDENCE CLEARWATER
LOOKIN OUT MY BACK DOOR -CREEDENCE CLEARWATER
I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN' -DAVE EDMUNDS
RUNAWAY -DEL SHANNON
THE WANDERER -DION
WALK OF LIFE -DIRE STRAITS
DRIFT AWAY -DOBIE GRAY
ROADHOUSE BLUES -DOORS
L.A. WOMAN -DOORS - BILLY IDOL
HOTEL CALIFORNIA -EAGLES
PEACEFUL EASY FEELIN -EAGLES
BENNIE & THE JETS -ELTON JOHN
BLUE SUEDE SHOES -ELVIS
OUT OF MY HEAD -FASTBALL
THE WAY -FASTBALL
DON'T STOP THINKIN BOUT TOMORROW -FLEETWOOD MAC
SUMMERTIME -GEORGE GERSHWIN
KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF -GEORGIA SATELLITES
HEY JEALOUSY -GIN BLOSSOMS
SOME KINDA WONDERFUL -GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
BASKETCASE -GREEN DAY
GOOD RIDDANCE -GREEN DAY
WHEN I COME AROUND -GREEN DAY
DR. MY EYES -JACKSON BROWNE
ME & BOBBY MCGEE -JANIS JOPLIN
MERCEDES BENZ -JANIS JOPLIN
BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN -JIM CROCE
LET'S GET DRUNK & … -JIMMY BUFFET
MARGARITAVILLE -JIMMY BUFFET
LIGHTS -JOURNEY
YOU REALLY GOT ME NOW -KINKS
LONG, TALL SALLY -LITTLE RICHARD
YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE -LOGGINS / MESSINA
GIMME 3 STEPS -LYNRYD SKYNRYD
THE STORY IN YOUR EYES -MOODY BLUES
HEART OF GOLD -NEIL YOUNG
SOUTHERN MAN -NEIL YOUNG
ME & JULIO DOWN BY SCHOOLYARD -PAUL SIMON
CECELIA -PAUL SIMON
BRAIN DAMAGE/ECLIPSE -PINK FLOYD
COMFORTABLY NUMB -PINK FLOYD
THE WALL -PINK FLOYD
WISH YOU WERE HERE/TIME -PINK FLOYD
HIT THE ROAD JACK -RAY CHARLES
HONKY TONK WOMAN -ROLLING STONES
IT'S ALL OVER NOW -ROLLING STONES
START ME UP -ROLLING STONES
CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT U WANT -ROLLING STONES
I'M A BELIEVER -SMASHMOUTH-MONKEES
BORN TO BE WILD -STEPPENWOLF
IF THE HOUSE IS ROCKIN' -STEVIE RAY VAUGHN
LADY -STYX
ROCKIN' THE PARADISE -STYX
COME SAIL AWAY -STYX
GET A JOB -THE OFFSPRING
JOY TO THE WORLD -THREE DOG NIGHT
MONY, MONY -TOMMY JAMES - BILLY IDOL
WILD THING -TROGGS
BROWN-EYED GIRL -VAN MORRISON
MOONDANCE -VAN MORRISON
YOU'RE A GOD -VERTICAL HORIZON
ONE HEADLIGHT -WALLFLOWERS
THE DIFFERENCE -WALLFLOWERS
ONE MORE MINUTE WITH U -WEIRD AL
PINBALL WIZARD -WHO
BEHIND BLUE EYES -WHO
MUSTANG SALLY -WILSON PICKETT
FOR YOUR LOVE -YARDBIRDS
GOOD LOVIN' -YOUNG RASCALS
Falling in love is like learning to play the guitar; first you learn to follow the rules, then you learn to play with your heart.
And here I'm thinking I'm the only one I know who covers One More Minute... :wink:
Peace
There's that Mustang Sally again. I bet if you youtubed that song, a jillion cover versions are out there. I ain't gonna look though.
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
And here I'm thinking I'm the only one I know who covers One More Minute... :wink:
Peace
God, I LOVE that song! Brings a tear to my eye every time.....
Want to do it as a duet in May?
Peace
Falling in love is like learning to play the guitar; first you learn to follow the rules, then you learn to play with your heart.
Want to do it as a duet in May?
You know, I've always been a sucker for those romantic ballads! I've never actually played the song though!
Falling in love is like learning to play the guitar; first you learn to follow the rules, then you learn to play with your heart.
