Bluewine

I've played in both cover (but not the type vof cover bands you guys reference) and originals bands. I would play in an originals band again if there was a local originals scene,and support and you could make money. I would also play in an originals band at the national touring headliner ( 250 seat venues) level. But at the local 1 gig every 3 months level, no way. Blue

I think we're talking about originals bands at the local level. Same goal? According to some originals bands they write songs for their own enjoyment not to entertain an audience. Blue

Just remember, if your going to lump all cover bands together we can just as easily lump all originals bands together too. Blue

Good points, I think the problem with this discussion on BC is the tendency to lump all cover bands together and that there's no creativity in covers. It's just not true. When guys say there is no creativity in covers, they should make it perfectly clear and actually speak for themselves and say; "There's no creativity in the covers I've played and heard" Blue

I'd say we do a good job with our originals and covers. However if we were 4 guys I'm sure we'd struggle. Like your band our strength is the believable charisma and personality of our lady lead guitarist. There's just not many ladies in our area that can sing and play blistering 70s style guitar solos. Blue

If your doing great originals or great covers you should be proud and feel superior. However, marginal covers and marginal originals are nothing for any of us to brag about. Blue

I get where your coming from and I'm glad you stressed " for me". I contend, for me, my band is just as creative if not more so than most local originals bands.. As a matter of fact I doubt anyone here would catagorize us as a cover band. Blue

No problem with that. Blue

Playing originals to family and friends has no appeal to me at all- nothing against it, it's just not for me. I've left many bars because of bands playing marginal self indulgent originals, even if they're playing them really well, it just grates for some reason. It's all subjective isn't it ? Another broad stroke. If I'm being unreasonable let me know. All cover bands are not the same, all originals bands aren't the same. Blue

Another cover band broad stroke. Opinion & Generalization Blue

You can dial in the low end separately with the M-80 MXR distortion pedal. Blue

Very few ever get a chance to enter this would. Blue

You'll love it, I guarantee it. Blue

I have struggled with this very issue and I'm finally getting a handle on it. First of all I'm a firm believer in tone comes from our fingers and sound comes from our basses, amps and effects. I really think the OP is talking about thick/fat sound. I wanted to help give my band a bigger.sound. Lately it's been working. I've started gigging my Gibson Custom Shop 2013 made in Nashville ES-335 through 2 10s and 750 GK watts. Adding a little Chorus and Bass Octave. Very thick, very fat. And for guitar solo support over a 3 chord progression I'll even use the modulation on my TC Electronics Hall of Fame Reverb. Blue

Sly & The Family Stone December 10th, 1969 Madison Square Garden. Band Of Gypsys New Year's Eve 1969 Filmore East Blue

Hired Gun, a fantastic documentary on Netflix. I highly recommend it. Let's talk about it. Blue

I completely get reinvesting the money in an originals band playing at your level. Makes perfect sense. For bar band guys like me every cent is going straight into my wallet. BIue

That's fine. My argument is with those that are broad stroking originals bands s as well as cover bands. They're not all the same. Blue

Very astute comment. While I play blues rock covers , like you say my approach to these covers comes from my 60 year old library it isn't a note for note proposition. For example last weekend when our band leader called out Stevie Wonders Superstition out if the blue I found myself playing the bass line from James Browns "Talking Loud and Saying Nothing", a song I played as a teen. There was a counterpoint thing happening that gave the song a unique groove. That's free an open creativity. Again I'm not convinced that many here have a narrow and limited predisposition to what a cover band is. I'm respectfully challenging those with this narrow definition of "cover band". I am not challenging those who don't like playing covers. That's a personal choice which I don't take issue with. Blue

Sorry, It's just the way it is. Blue

Exactly. Dave, I've never even heard the original recordings of some of the stuff we play. The reason I belabor my point is because many think "cover band" means Bon Jovi and Katty Perry. Blue

Good discussion points, all valid. Periods of not playing would put me into a depression. My favorite gig of the year with my band is when we play 5 nights in a row at WI State Fair. I call it my Hamburg. All 4 hour shows. It's exciting creative and fun. It's like heaven for me. We're all different, both sides of the fence are cool as far as I'm concerned. Blue

Everyone is not aware of my stance, which for the most part is misunderstood. I agree, nothing better than writing and playing originals. However, I could also say there's nothing better than playing covers in a bar band. I think there's still a lot if broad stroking originals band as well as cover bands and room for more discussion. Blue

Why do you think you can't be creative in a cover band. I play in one if Milwaukee"s finest blues rock cover bands. I never play anything the same twice and we perform a lot of our material in different tempos, keys and grooves at the drop of a hat. Much more creative than many originals bands. It's fantastic. Plus we have to CDs of original material mixed into our set list. My point, all cover bands are not the same. Blue

Because it's 40 years after the fact and we're still debating it. He was so ahead if his time, I'm not sure we've caught up to him yet.IMO Blue