Cover Bands

[John Carlucci]

 I have noticed lately that more and more bands, even touring bands that I like, are really nothing more than cover bands. Doesn't anyone write their own songs anymore? I find it odd, having come from the original 77 NY Punk Rock scene. One of the reasons that whole movement happened was as a rebellion to the fact that there were very few venues where an original band could play. Cover bands could gig anywhere. Okay, back then the cover bands did top 40. Now the cover bands are smarter, opting to do more obscure songs, but they are still cover bands. There's nothing wrong with doing a few covers in your set, but to base your whole thing on covers to me is just taking the easy route.

[The Dirtbag Surfers]

We play covers and we hammer them into indecipherable messes of their former selves. We play some originals, too. Those sound equally horrible!

Have you ever read "Rock Stardom For Dumbshits" by The Phantom Surfers? We highly recommend it. It's kind of puts all this mumbo jumbo stuff yer talking about into...perspective?

Love,

The Dirtbag Surfers
In 1961, when America was giving birth to surf music, one band was already trying to kill it – The Dirtbag Surfers
http://www.dirtbagsurfers.com

[John Carlucci]

Dig your artwork, Shawn does rock! Plus he's a helluva nice guy.

[The Ills]

Maybe its for the money, i think even doing more obscure covers, cover bands can still gig almost anywhere, and get a pretty penny for it.

[Rockin Rod Strychnine]

Really? The only way I can see a band getting paid well when doing obscure covers is if you're the opening band for a garage group who's now succesful doing originals and throwing in a few covers.

The Ills said:

Maybe its for the money, i think even doing more obscure covers, cover bands can still gig almost anywhere, and get a pretty penny for it.

[The Ills]

Maybe obscure isn't the right word. I think cover bands doing "indie" covers (as opposed to top 40) can still make money. But yeah, I get what ya mean.


Rockin Rod Strychnine said:

Really? The only way I can see a band getting paid well when doing obscure covers is if you're the opening band for a garage group who's now succesful doing originals and throwing in a few covers.

The Ills said:

Maybe its for the money, i think even doing more obscure covers, cover bands can still gig almost anywhere, and get a pretty penny for it.

[brad0022]

Definitely easier to earn cash doing all covers particularly when you play in a city with no real scene and/or crappy/limited choices for venues such as my city. Hell even in a music haven such as Atlanta, etc. its not easy to do original songs but much hard in smaller cities. Also some musicians just arent ready to take a risk.

However I saw Woven Bones in one of the best venues located in Birmingham, AL. Played all original music and I was one of 8 people at the show. Disappointing.