what would you put on your repertoire?

costafonix · 2012-11-25T10:56:34+00:00

ok so you're a gigging musician, playing at pub-type venues, to a wide age group (say between mid 20's to early 60's). you are required to play 4 sets, spann...

what would you put on your repertoire?

Ray

CostaFonix wrote: ... (has anything been written in the last 10 years that could qualify as 'timeless' yet?)..

Black Keys

Bob-Dubery

I think Singe is onto something. Years ago when I used to go to clubs like Plum Crazy to listen to cover bands, I always liked the bands that did some less expected things. I recall one band (Jethro Butow on guitar) who used to do Steely Dan's "Black Friday". Often that sort of number would become the band's calling card, the songs that they played that nobody else did.

There's enough songs to cover by now that you should be able to avoid playing anything that you loathe.

If this is just yourself and Claude you might consider some Crowded House. I'd bet a lot of their songs don't require exact or near-exact replicas of the record to work. I think everything those songs need is built into the song (not the arrangement) and with your guys harmonies you could do those well. Also old Kinks and Bee Gees songs (when I say "old Bee Gees" I mean pre-disco).

A little bit of black humour can work, if you've got an audience that listens. Deefstes does a great Weird Al Jancowicz number about a girl who cuts the brake cables on her boyfriend's car, puts poison in his coffee and various other happinesses. He gets a great reaction with it.

costafonix

sharonzaz wrote: almost every cent i have earned in the last 20 years was in the cover scene, and the song list has to be huge and has to cover all major bands and artists from the 50's till now.

I have one major issue though, why the hell 4 sets????!?!?!
back in the day we have played 2 one hour sets or in some places 3x45.
no more.

today every bar expects you to be his biaaaach and do way more and also to bloody Dj on the breaks while you at it.

pls pls pls pretty pls, dont ruin the industry by agreeing to those demands!

Yeah I agree with you sharonzaz, this overlaps with the debate around 'auditioning' for an entire evening (for free) at a place before the bar decides to hire you or not,
but yep it was just a rhetorical question, it could be 1 hour, 2 hours, whatever, the point being which songs would hit the spot in today's market, and it seems like the tried and tested stuff is still well entrenched, but what I'm struggling with are the recent 'hits'.

Ray wrote:
CostaFonix wrote: ... (has anything been written in the last 10 years that could qualify as 'timeless' yet?)..
Black Keys

Thanks Ray, I'll take a listen

X-rated Bob wrote: I think Singe is onto something. Years ago when I used to go to clubs like Plum Crazy to listen to cover bands, I always liked the bands that did some less expected things. I recall one band (Jethro Butow on guitar) who used to do Steely Dan's "Black Friday". Often that sort of number would become the band's calling card, the songs that they played that nobody else did.

There's enough songs to cover by now that you should be able to avoid playing anything that you loathe.

If this is just yourself and Claude you might consider some Crowded House. I'd bet a lot of their songs don't require exact or near-exact replicas of the record to work. I think everything those songs need is built into the song (not the arrangement) and with your guys harmonies you could do those well. Also old Kinks and Bee Gees songs (when I say "old Bee Gees" I mean pre-disco).

A little bit of black humour can work, if you've got an audience that listens. Deefstes does a great Weird Al Jancowicz number about a girl who cuts the brake cables on her boyfriend's car, puts poison in his coffee and various other happinesses. He gets a great reaction with it.

Bob, thats correct, we have a very wide repertoire which has filtered down to the stuff we enjoy playing (including artists you've mentioned) and that generally gets a good response. I'm just looking for something new to add to it, so if a common suggestion is made from other bands, then its worth looking into, provided it suits our style, being predominantly rock and male vocals,,, (so no Rihanna, Lady Gaga or Beiber,,,, ?)

Bob-Dubery

CostaFonix wrote: Bob, thats correct, we have a very wide repertoire which has filtered down to the stuff we enjoy playing (including artists you've mentioned) and that generally gets a good response. I'm just looking for something new to add to it, so if a common suggestion is made from other bands, then its worth looking into, provided it suits our style, being predominantly rock and male vocals,,, (so no Rihanna, Lady Gaga or Beiber,,,, ?)

Bieber fans won't be in pubs. Yet.

Some songs sung by and associated with women can still work well sung in a masculine voice. I'm not sure it's the sort of thing you want to do, but Christina Aguilera's "You Are Beautiful" would not be diminished or weird if sung by a man. Ditto several Pretenders songs. Maria Carey had a big hit with "Without You" but it was written and first performed by an all male group (Badfinger) and then was a big hit for Harry Nilsson. So don't write things off as "chick songs" too easily.

Oooh! There's a thing you can have fun with! Harry Nilsson's "Coconut" (but you're not allowed to play it at TJ's). Dead easy to play as well. ONE chord.

PeteM

Interesting topic. I've been back on the gig circuit as a solo or duo player for a couple of years now in Durban. Here are some of my observations.

The pub environment is usually filled with non-paying audiences frequented mainly by regulars. They are there to drink and to stare glassy-eyed at the latest European soccer footage or some obscure golf tournament on the silent screens dotted around the establishment. They seem to be not that interested in the performer casting a cursory glance or two at the stage area on occasions. They might raise enough energy (or co-ordination) to applaud at the end of a song – two hand claps is usually enough. The strange thing is that they moan like hell if there isn't a live muso if that's what the norm is in that pub. What grabs their attention? Upbeat covers. You can't sustain this all night though so I play light jazz and ballad stuff as well and while I get some people enjoying these most will request the early rock and rockabilly stuff that I do.

I also play at places where there is a cover charge or the occasion has been advertised as an event. Here, you get a different audience. They've come to listen to the music and their knowledge and expectations are much higher than the regular pub scene. They appreciate good playing and singing and pay due attention to the performer. I see the same faces at different venues and I go around and talk to them after my set and during breaks. I've become quite friendly with them and in discussion they tend to criticize those performers who play the same numbers over and over at the different venues. So I now play a wide variety of stuff to keep the interest up although I still get requests for my 'signature' numbers, which includes one of my own. Often there are other musos on the same bill as me and I have noticed that when they play too many of their own compositions the audience loses attention and start talking to each other – sad but true.

So after that long-winded dissertation, to answer your question. I now have a repertoire of over 140 numbers that span from the 1930's to current hits and I play numbers that fit the profile of the particular audience I'm playing to.

PeteM

Fairly recent and current artists
Jason Mraz
Lady Antebellum
Keith Urban

costafonix

thanks for the info guys,
Bob, we will exclude Cocunut from any performances at TJ's (I'd still like to hear you play it next time).

and PeteM, thanks for your input and yes I've never understood the concept of Big Screen TV with Rugby/Cricket/tiddlywinks etc.,.etc. while there's a band playing... I guess people would want more 'bang for their buck' as Bob would say..
Good suggestions on recent and current artists,
thanks
:yup:

eric-vaxxine

My tuppence worth

You'll play something like Nutbush City Limits
and you'll generally get a good response....or you can
play Nutbush City Limits with a Tina Turner wig on your head
while mimicking her well known moves and act out the part and get a
truly 'wow' audience response. !!

Consider playing classics like: Mustang Sally; Brown Eyed Girl;
Walking On Sunshine.........as reggae tunes.
Raised eyebrows all around.

(my band The CopyCats have gigged in central London for
over 16 years, resident Tourist entertainment. It's not just the songs
we play that has made us successful, but actively engaging
and involving our audience... handing out props, wigs, hats
and plastic guitars and getting them onstage).

Psean

PeteM wrote: Fairly recent and current artists

How about stuff like this:
=
Muse have some fun, catchy stuff (when they're not doing all sorts of orchestral arrangements).

Arno-West

For me, your repertoire is the single most important thing when it comes to doing the pub/club circuit. I've been playing in coverbands for 25 years and in my experience, this is how you should break it down.
Your repertoire (let's say 30 songs) should consist of the following:
1. 50% standard pub classic rock/pop sing-a-long numbers. Eagles, Quo and 80's hogwash.Try keep them up-tempo.
2. 30% More modern (after 1995) pop/rock numbers. Green Day,
Blink 182 and sadly, Nickelback covers this area.
3. 10% "Showpiece" tunes where the audience won't necessarily dance, but they must go wow! These songs should eventually become your calling card. Shine on you crazy diamond, Thunderstruck are examples. You must do these numbers really well, cos if you don't it could blow up in your face.
4. 5% Ballads. Any kind.
5. 5% Original material.
I wouldnt do Mustang Sally, Sweet Home Alabama, Stand by me or Knocking on Heaven's door. Overplayed songs.
Unfortunately, the current hits on the radio do not lend themselves to coverbands with guitarists. All I can suggest is stuff like Coldplay, Maroon 5, Kings of Leon etc.
Cheers

IceCreamMan

80's hogwash ......crucify this man ?

but aye , its all true

costafonix

thanks all,,, brilliant suggestions..
PSean thanks for yours too, unfortunately i've reached my internet cap so can't go into any international sites,,,will have to wait until 1 Dec.
coool stuff,,, time to reassess things :yup:

Ray

Listen, I dont know if anyone metnioned Achy Breaky Heart (something like that). But if you're out in my neck of the woods you're not going to spend the night alone if you play it.

bassman

Yeah right, I have been doing pups, clubs, resaurants, shows for over 48 years and I can say this with certainty, the dude's that come to listen wanna hear the songs they KNOW, and can hum /sing along. You can rehearse till you sound better than the original "obscure" B side song, bit if they don't know it, your dead. The only people that appreciate that song are other muso's listening. I always ask this " What do want from your music" ? Fame ? Fortune ? or to play because it's in your blood. Today to produce and present your own material it must be a MAJOR lifetime goal, with seious real talent or you will never achieve your goal, and sadly FEW musos have the drive, energy. and creativity to win through. I have played with Cliff Richard and he said to me the sole reason for his sucess was that he ONLY RECORDED SONGS THAT HAD A MELODY, so.... if you can play the standards and covers well that people love, you will always be in demand, maby not famous but you will make bucks and be in demand. what more could you want. Remember our great SA bands from the past ?, The Silhouettes, Billy Forest & The Giants, Freedoms Children, The Bats, Rabbit, Jonny Kongos, etc, all at some time included covers in their music, I know man, cause I was there. Keep Rockin