blue

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1469458346' post='3098445'] Can you not sit down at the gig..? A folding chair or drum throne..? If not, why not..? Just sayin'. [/quote] For most rock bands at the local level sitting is not allowed. I can't even imagine asking my band if I could play sitting down. I'm 63 with a bad hip with sciatica going down to my toes. If I'm out here standing doing 4 hour bar gigs , you young guys should be able to handle standing. Blue

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469356985' post='3097589'] Fair point, and in the final analysis liking the music played is the main thing. But if a punter is going to spend good money on a band they've not seen or heard before it's useful for them to know if the band will be playing originals or covers (or maybe both). Neither is intrinsically better than the other, it just helps inform the punter. They might like the 'safe' option of covers, knowing that they'll likely recognise most of the songs, or they might be up for some new music - it doesn't really matter what they choose but it sometimes helps if they can made an informed choice. Also, such information is pretty important for anyone planning to book a function band . . . to the point that they may even want to specify what is going to be played, to some degree. [/quote] I can only speak for Milwaukee. 99% of all clubs and bars that book live music are dedicated to cover bands. These clubs and bars do not hire originals bands. We have about 6 origibal bands clubs that book multi bill shows. These clubs do not book cover bands. Blue

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1469397346' post='3098030'] Covers bands often play crowd pleasers. It's just that they don't necessarily please the crowd they're playing to. [/quote] Agreed Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1469451633' post='3098363'] Fender Precision, possibly fretless, flatwound La Bellas, play fingerstyle over the end of the fingerboard, treble rolled off. [/quote] The German made Hofners are right on the money with that hollow, woody thumping sound. Blue

[quote name='RickyV' timestamp='1469457815' post='3098438'] Having played my first proper pub gig at the weekend (rock covers) and had a few moments where my brain and my technique completely went missing i have been thinking about my practice time at home in preparation for rehearsals and gigs. Now, some of the mistakes from the weekend I can put down to first night nerves which is probably fair enough but i am now thinking that the fact that I do all my home practice sitting down rather than standing up (as I would be at rehearsals and gigs) is not helping. Simple question, for those that gig regularly, do you sit or stand when practicing at home?? [/quote] When I practice I stand. Practicing from a sitting position can give you a false sense of confidence with the material. In other words it's easier to play in the sitting position. All to often guys will find that some of those lines and riffs they nailed while practicing from a sitting position don't come off so smoothly from the traditional standing position for rock bands. Blue

[quote name='4stringslow' timestamp='1469390301' post='3097966'] 'Crowd pleasers' can't be a useful definition of a cover band. That would make the Stones a covers band! It's all down to authorship. [/quote] The Stones were a cover band 50 years ago. Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1469357962' post='3097604'] It would be quite feasible to select an excellent setlist of, for example, obscure and for most people unknown northern soul tunes and have an audience drinking and dancing and happy. No need to tell the audience 'covers' or 'original' or anything. [/quote] Interesting,I always think of cover bands as a band playing crowd pleasers. Songs the crowd knows they can sing and dance to. If your covering obscure yet catchy dance tunes and your working I say you fall into most of the cover band definitions given in this thread. Blue

[quote name='Chris Sharman' timestamp='1467651869' post='3085167'] Not last night but Saturday afternoon, although this is the first opportunity I have considered myself safe to operate a keyboard having spent the weekend at the Derbyshire Sausage and Cider Festival. The Badly Stuffed Bears played the Saturday afternoon to a great, welcoming, and MASSIVE crowd. Only our second gig with our new drummer and keys, the rehearsals have definitely payed off in our performance, the energy levels have been upped and having keys means Henry can be more fluid in what he does; not just bashing our chords but more lead breaks and interacting with the crowd without there being sudden 'emptiness' as perhaps was likely in the past. Of course, we were camping out, we got paid, the organisers got the money back through increased cider sales and I got a hangover and a long lie-down in a darkened room. A couple of photos... [/quote] Looks like an awesome gig. Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1469314311' post='3097400'] Evidence, if any were needed, that the definition sought by the OP is already known to him. It's the man in mirror! [/quote] Not really Hiram. Nothing is ever perfectly clear to me, especially when trying to bridge the gap in definition in the UK as opposed to the US. Blue

I actually think I'm a lot closer to understanding the definition of cover and originals bands with all the little nuances. I think anything is more intelligent and focused when we can get away from stereotypes. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1469312073' post='3097380'] Why is that? Most original bands in the UK would play a shared stage arrangement. Several bands in a night maybe 45mins top of material. The last originals band I saw, a couple of weeks ago, also tour the UK and depending on venue either play their own material or covers. Exclusively. [/quote] Because the 4 originals clubs in Milwaukee know who we are and what we are, a cover band. The band you reference sounds like they're more than a local originals band. Plus we don't play for free. Most local originals bands do. Blue

[quote name='luckydog' timestamp='1469183320' post='3096366'] The thread title reminds me of a H&S notice on the walls at work 'Proper Way to Lift Boxes', which set out in numbered steps how to posture and bend. Someone had graffiti'd out step 1, and replaced it with 'Step 1 : Get someone else to lift it' ! I think the same applies to promotion: it's best to pick and use a promoter who covers your area and genre. DIY takes time money and effort and musicians aren't nec even any good at it, so 'get someone else to do it' is my 2p worth. Promoters, where's the love ?! LD [/quote] Depends on what level of gigging we're talking about. In the States bar bands don't use promoters or contracts. We have an administrator. She does a great job with posters being sent out to the venue's well in advance of the gig. She also collects email addresses and passing out 3 x 5s that list all upcoming gigs. In addition she collects our fee and pays us. Again we are not a professional band, however we have a professional attitude. Blue

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1469311543' post='3097376'] Ooh, follow up thread? What's the release date for that? [/quote] Hi Hiram, The release date for the follow up will be on the 12th. Cheers Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1469276457' post='3097118'] I wonder if defining a band in this way is actually possible. A cover is a cover is a cover, so that's pretty well defined... But if a band plays one original tune are they still strictly a cover band. It seems it's only really an interesting point for discussion. It doesn't really have any relevance in real life. It's a strange question, particularly from Blue, who plays in a covers band who also play some of their own material. What if the songwriter of the band leaves but the band continue to play the tunes he wrote? [/quote] We have released 2 CDs of original material, however we probably never play more than 4 originals in a typical 4 hour US bar gig. We're a cover band. We would never be welcome in any of the local original bands clubs. Blue

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1469294148' post='3097242'] is it going to be about who is more relevant, covers or originals? then leading on to whether each should charge.... if so kill me now [/quote] The follow up thread hopefully will give a more realistic insight to cover and originals bands instead of the stereotypes we see all to often. Rockford, it's your choice to read my threads or not. It's not required. Blue

It's nice to have a good tube head. Don't sell, keep it and repair it when you have the cash. Blue

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1469217376' post='3096807'] Sorry Blue but that's complete tosh. There was an attempt to provide a workable definition of 'covers' which was a dreadful oversimplification. The attempted definition existed independently of the size or type of venue. My point stands, and I'll make my own decision as to what is off topic. [size=4] [/size] [size=4]Amused to see you try to rescue dear Carole by describing her as a singer/songwriter and therefore not a band.[/size] [size=4]So when The Beatles (remember them?) recorded Yesterday, were they a band or a singer/songwriter?[/size] [size=4] [/size][size=4]Let me know when you've finished trying to nail jelly to the ceiling. [/size] [/quote] A working definition of covers is another and separate discussion. We're defining the cover band. Off topic ,but here it is. I have the 45 rpm release of "Yesterday". It says it's by The Beatles. Blue

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1469213603' post='3096777'] Yes. Lots of pub bands just doing it for themselves. The one thing I found in the US was the bar bands had their volume levels absolutely spot on. It may have been because they have large bars, but you could actually find places to stand where the music was loud enough to dance to and places to sit and eat and talk. Too many pub bands are punishingly loud in the UK. [/quote] Nice post! I'm slowly learning the local scene for bands in the UK is quite different then how it is here in the US. There's even different cultures of bands within the US. The " biker bar" scene, even the "bar band" is much more prevalent in the Midwest (*Cheap Trick, REO Speed Wagon) then on the east coast. Blue *These bands were a big part of the early 70s "bar band" scene in the Midwest prior to becoming famous.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1469217932' post='3096815'] Amen, brother. CONTROL is all in the fingers. The fingers are definitely integral, I ain't disputing that - they create certain nuances that undoubtedly shape the end result. But the old adage that "tone is all in the fingers" has always seemed crazy to me. [/quote] Create is the key word here. It takes a long time and hard work to realize your creating a sound based on your touch finger movements and dexterity. To the point when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and say; "If I can master this,my touch my technique, I'll have something I own".Most of us never get there. Blue

[quote name='lowland' timestamp='1469208082' post='3096712'] Equally OT, I was lucky enough to see Upp at Ipswich Civic College not long after the first album came out. Suffice it to say they turned a smallish crowd who didn't know who they were into a bunch of dancin' fools in short order. Neither on the recordings nor video clips are you getting the full flavour of what a monster player Mr Amazing (sadly passed on) was - I had never seen bass played like that before, and not often since. [/quote] Now this is great stuff. But hey, it's 1974. I wouldn't expect anything less. The good old days. Blue

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1469211928' post='3096758'] If all you own is a Hofner Violin bass and a vox amp , you'll never sound like Chris Squire. Gear is extremely important to tone. To suggest otherwise is absurd. [/quote] Put a pair of rounds on the Hofner,tweak the Vox amp and give it to Chris (RIP) and it will sound like Chris. I'm maintaining my position. Blue

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1469201232' post='3096635'] No it's not. Several of Carole King's biggest hits were first recorded and released by other artists. When she released her own self-penned songs later, are you seriously suggesting that made her a covers act? [/quote] Carole King is not a band, she's a singer/song writer and certainly not a local bar or functions band. Very off topic. Blue

Nice clip. However I'm thanking my lucky stars I came into playing bass around 1966 and influence by the great bass players of my generation. If you want a similar sound practice, practice practice is how you get there. It doesn't matter what amp or bass you use. Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1469199123' post='3096591'] I really don't care if it's a cover or a cover band or if it's original (which I very much doubt) or a so-called originals band. I only want to know do I like it. [/quote] I'll post a thread regarding what people like and care about in the not to distant future. Blue

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1469187468' post='3096431'] Normal Blue thread. Post question with an obvious answer. Give said answer. Blue tells you it's wrong and gives his version of an answer. [/quote] I've agreed with many of the cover band definitions given. I actually posed this question to set up and gather data for a future thread. Blue