Possible cover band project

Undertoad · 11-01-2005, 10:04 PM

I'm mulling over a project. If a band was playing these songs, how quickly would you walk out?

Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers
Joe Jackson - Pretty Girls
Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him?
Joe Jackson - Happy Loving Couples
Squeeze - Is That Love?
Squeeze - If I Didn't Love You
R.E.M. - So. Central Rain
R.E.M. - Driver 8
R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe
R.E.M. - Talk About The Passion
Echo and the Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar
Cars - Good Times Roll
Church - Under The Milky Way
Church - Metropolis
U2 - I Will Follow
U2 - Gloria
XTC - Generals and Majors
RHCP - Under The Bridge
Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)
Love & Rockets - No New Tale To Tell
Cure - Friday I'm In Love
Psych Furs - Pretty In Pink
Psych Furs - President Gas
Police - Driven To Tears
Big Country - In a Big Country
Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Smiths - Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind

wolf · 11-01-2005, 10:22 PM

Sounds awesomely cool. But I thought there was a rule that every cover band, no matter what the genre, had to do Build Me Up Buttercup.

lumberjim · 11-02-2005, 12:28 AM

depends largely if they sounded good doing those songs, wouldnt it? I only recognize 1/4 of them by name, although i might know them to hear them. where would you be playin gthese songs, pray tell?

Undertoad · 11-02-2005, 07:27 AM

Not sure, this is really early in the process of figuring this out.

I can play for any number of standard classic rock bands who are desperate for a good bassist. This list is more of less fighting back against that notion a little bit, and playing what I'd rather play, but I don't know that there is a market for it whatsoever. I'm getting too old and fat to play original music in this town.

(Although I will be part of a single, one-off show this Xmas season playing for Charlie Degenhart.)

mrnoodle · 11-02-2005, 10:00 AM

Those are pretty cool, eclectic covers. There are also enough widely known commercial songs to keep non-fans entertained and bar owners happy. Looks like a winner to me.

I support your fight against the horrors of "Brown Eyed Girl", "American Pie", and "Back in Black"

Elspode · 11-02-2005, 12:39 PM

Looking at that list, I see something no one else has mentioned...namely, you aren't just thinking of a cover band. You're thinking of an *80's cover band*. This is a concept whose time has come around. I have a friend here in the Midwest who launched a disco cover band about six years ago, and he is now absolutely kicking ass financially...still...with minimum bookings. They do a lot of corporate gigs and as an opening act at major festivals, with the odd bar stand every now and again. He had the right idea at the right time, did a great job putting it together, and is still having the greatest success of his musical life.

If I were going to do this (and I'm not), I would advertise for like-minded, professional people to form a band. I would contract with them for a percentage of the take for each gig. I would make absolutely certain that it was *my* band, that what I said would be the last word, and I would handle all the business personally, from bookings to payout. Owning the lights and PA could be a strong reinforcement for this path.

Finally, *marketing*. The children of the 80's are now making good money, carrying around a lot of cash, and have their kids grown enough to be ready to get out and get down. Find a suitably upscale, but symbiotic venue, and make it a home base. Work out a "bar exclusive" deal with the owners, and start playing every Saturday night. Develop your following, assuring the owners of predictable income, and later you'll ask for a bigger paycheck. In the meantime, people who see and like you will be networking and helping you to be hired for company picnics, trade shows, parties, whatever.

Be a full package, with your music and presentation as the centerpiece.

capnhowdy · 11-02-2005, 03:45 PM

playing in a cover band is only 1/3 the work.
same rule with playing house band as opposed to road shows.

only thing is it's only 1/3 the adventure.

Undertoad · 11-02-2005, 04:15 PM

Nobody wants to see old fat guys touring originals. Grateful drunks won't care.

be-bop · 11-02-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Nobody wants to see old fat guys touring originals. Grateful drunks won't care.

I don't know about that, over here in the UK there has been a resurgence of old bands hitting the road recently 10 Years After.Juicy Lucy,Wishbone Ash I think there's two versions of Barclay James Harvest on the road.
There's a real market ongoing through these bands re-issuing albums through the net.
There is a lot of kids that want to hear the real bands no matter how old and fat they are.Cos the younger bands out there can't play it's all XFactor shit instant fame for 5 minutes..

Elspode · 11-02-2005, 07:01 PM

I think Wishbone Ash has been fighting the good fight ever since their heyday, rather than being a reunion tour.

Griff · 11-02-2005, 07:48 PM

If you guys can do justice to those tunes, it's "order another pitcher babe we're here all night". It will be difficult, do you have the voices?

I assume you have the Solid Gold Dancers on retainer.

Undertoad · 11-02-2005, 08:21 PM

Well all three of us can sing and we all do great harmony... I'm pretty sure Tommy has sung lead before, otherwise, I... don't know.

I WILL know whether it sucks, though, and I would not go out there if it did.

Elspode · 11-03-2005, 02:16 PM

Well, looking at Tommy's web page pic section, it is pretty clear what he spent all of his money on over the years. Where the hell do you put that many guitars, anyway?

capnhowdy · 11-03-2005, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Where the hell do you put that many guitars, anyway?

You sell the couch.
I cried when I saw the SG replica. I had a '63 Gibson SG and let it go for peanuts. Long time ago. That's the only reason I let myself live. Young and dumb. But I forgive myself ...I think.

11-01-2005, 10:04 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Possible cover band project I'm mulling over a project. If a band was playing these songs, how quickly would you walk out? Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers Joe Jackson - Pretty Girls Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him? Joe Jackson - Happy Loving Couples Squeeze - Is That Love? Squeeze - If I Didn't Love You R.E.M. - So. Central Rain R.E.M. - Driver 8 R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe R.E.M. - Talk About The Passion Echo and the Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar Cars - Good Times Roll Church - Under The Milky Way Church - Metropolis U2 - I Will Follow U2 - Gloria XTC - Generals and Majors RHCP - Under The Bridge Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) Love & Rockets - No New Tale To Tell Cure - Friday I'm In Love Psych Furs - Pretty In Pink Psych Furs - President Gas Police - Driven To Tears Big Country - In a Big Country Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out Smiths - Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind

11-01-2005, 10:22 PM	#2
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Sounds awesomely cool. But I thought there was a rule that every cover band, no matter what the genre, had to do Build Me Up Buttercup. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-02-2005, 12:28 AM	#3
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	depends largely if they sounded good doing those songs, wouldnt it? I only recognize 1/4 of them by name, although i might know them to hear them. where would you be playin gthese songs, pray tell? __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

11-02-2005, 10:00 AM	#5
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Those are pretty cool, eclectic covers. There are also enough widely known commercial songs to keep non-fans entertained and bar owners happy. Looks like a winner to me. I support your fight against the horrors of "Brown Eyed Girl", "American Pie", and "Back in Black" __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

11-02-2005, 12:39 PM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Looking at that list, I see something no one else has mentioned...namely, you aren't just thinking of a cover band. You're thinking of an 80's cover band. This is a concept whose time has come around. I have a friend here in the Midwest who launched a disco cover band about six years ago, and he is now absolutely kicking ass financially...still...with minimum bookings. They do a lot of corporate gigs and as an opening act at major festivals, with the odd bar stand every now and again. He had the right idea at the right time, did a great job putting it together, and is still having the greatest success of his musical life. If I were going to do this (and I'm not), I would advertise for like-minded, professional people to form a band. I would contract with them for a percentage of the take for each gig. I would make absolutely certain that it was my band, that what I said would be the last word, and I would handle all the business personally, from bookings to payout. Owning the lights and PA could be a strong reinforcement for this path. Finally, marketing. The children of the 80's are now making good money, carrying around a lot of cash, and have their kids grown enough to be ready to get out and get down. Find a suitably upscale, but symbiotic venue, and make it a home base. Work out a "bar exclusive" deal with the owners, and start playing every Saturday night. Develop your following, assuring the owners of predictable income, and later you'll ask for a bigger paycheck. In the meantime, people who see and like you will be networking and helping you to be hired for company picnics, trade shows, parties, whatever. Be a full package, with your music and presentation as the centerpiece. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog Last edited by Elspode; 11-02-2005 at 12:45 PM.

11-02-2005, 07:27 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Not sure, this is really early in the process of figuring this out. I can play for any number of standard classic rock bands who are desperate for a good bassist. This list is more of less fighting back against that notion a little bit, and playing what I'd rather play, but I don't know that there is a market for it whatsoever. I'm getting too old and fat to play original music in this town. (Although I will be part of a single, one-off show this Xmas season playing for Charlie Degenhart.)

11-02-2005, 03:45 PM	#7
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	playing in a cover band is only 1/3 the work. same rule with playing house band as opposed to road shows. only thing is it's only 1/3 the adventure. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

11-02-2005, 04:15 PM	#8
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Nobody wants to see old fat guys touring originals. Grateful drunks won't care.

11-02-2005, 07:01 PM	#10
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I think Wishbone Ash has been fighting the good fight ever since their heyday, rather than being a reunion tour. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-02-2005, 07:48 PM	#11
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	If you guys can do justice to those tunes, it's "order another pitcher babe we're here all night". It will be difficult, do you have the voices? I assume you have the Solid Gold Dancers on retainer. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

11-02-2005, 08:21 PM	#12
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Well all three of us can sing and we all do great harmony... I'm pretty sure Tommy has sung lead before, otherwise, I... don't know. I WILL know whether it sucks, though, and I would not go out there if it did.

11-03-2005, 02:16 PM	#13
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Well, looking at Tommy's web page pic section, it is pretty clear what he spent all of his money on over the years. Where the hell do you put that many guitars, anyway? __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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