dclaassen Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 This is probably just idle curiosity, as playing in a function band does not sound like my idea on big fun, but… I keep seeing dep ads that refer to “standard function tunes”. Being relatively new to the customs here, and only having pub band experience, does this mean there are a specific list of tunes? If so, what are they (just in case)? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oddly Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 Great question. I'm betting Wagon Wheel, Brown-Eyed Girl, Congratulations, Happy Birthday, Twist And Shout and the national anthem, for starters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 Mustang Sally and Get Lucky. Possibly Sex On Fire if they're a bit raunchy 🥱 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 I don't play functions, but I'm willing to bet that Summer of '69 or Don't Stop Believin' will be on that list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 1 hour ago, dclaassen said: ... what are they (just in case)? Look up the web sites of a few function bands and look for a set list in there. Most will have a (possibly very long...) list of what they're offering prospective clients. Here's one, picked at random; there are hundreds in your area... Electric Soul Club Repertoire... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted June 27, 2022 Author Share Posted June 27, 2022 Still sounds vague…..more arguments and helpful suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dand666 Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 Basic stuff really, always includes, Superstition, Valerie, Sex on Fire, Mr Brightside, SWH, Get Lucky, Aint Nobody, Proud Mary, Oasis e.t.c Rock n roll is all pretty much the same as long as they give you a key before you start your all good. Most deps will send you a setlist, so as long as you've got a good rep you're all good. Usually as a dep you're last minute so may not get a set till the night before or on the day if it's very last minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 Dakota, Sweet Home Alabama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 It will be vague, depending on the kind of gig, the time of year (think Christmas) and also the vocalists (male/female) range and capability. ask for a set list and keys to be played in and learn quickly 😂🤣 As said above scour function band set lists and see what crops up regularly learn those well and if necessary wing the rest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 (edited) .and if you're expecting to dep at wedding gigs then make sure you know A Thousand Years. I mainly do deps, and generally a setlist and keys a few days beforehand is pretty usual, but bear in mind that some bands will say " oh, we play it just like the record" but you have a nasty surprise when thay launch into the song and it's pretty unrecognisable, usually because some key ingredient is missing, like the correct chords, for example. 🥺 And if it's a popular song that's been covered by several artists then make sure you're clear about which version the band are playing, or a musical car crash might take place. Edited June 27, 2022 by musicbassman 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJE Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 Just think of slightly outdated, tired, overplayed songs that people call ‘classics’, that you loathe the thought of having to play to other human beings. That will make up the majority of any function band set. Can you tell I how much I have loved playing in function bands over the past 20 years. 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 47 minutes ago, NJE said: Just think of slightly outdated, tired, overplayed songs that people call ‘classics’, that you loathe the thought of having to play to other human beings. That will make up the majority of any function band set. Can you tell I how much I have loved playing in function bands over the past 20 years. No, it’s really not coming out of your prose. You should stop holding back the emotions : baffledlook 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 27, 2022 Share Posted June 27, 2022 Just think of songs that people already know, can dance to, sing along to and will make them happy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 Functions are usually filled with a varied age group so you have to think what's inoffensive and catchy. What goes down well in the pub to a bunch of young, pished revellers might not do so well in front of their Auntie Joan and her husband George. We used to have almost two sets. One was for gigs and one was for functions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfrasho Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 Superstition Summer of 69 Mr brightside Sex on fire Wagon wheel Call me al Loch lomond 500 miles Proud mary Sit down Crazy little thing called love Dakota Dancing in the daek Johnny b goode Valerie Ten out of ten Get lucky stinky poo up and dance Can't stop the feeling Uptown funk Don't stop beleiving A little respect Footloose Dies your mother know My girl I'm a depper, and I've found almost every band will play the majority of these tunes. In Scotland anyway. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 5 hours ago, ubit said: Functions are usually filled with a varied age group so you have to think what's inoffensive and catchy. What goes down well in the pub to a bunch of young, pished revellers might not do so well in front of their Auntie Joan and her husband George. We used to have almost two sets. One was for gigs and one was for functions. Yes, know who you are going to play to and what their preference is. As an example, my covers band have been booked to play at a celebration evening for an amateur choir. We’ve been specifically asked to play nothing newer than 70s songs. Apparently the average age in the choir is 80. The members I know are lovely people, it’s going to be at a nice location and pays well, so it’s all good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted June 28, 2022 Share Posted June 28, 2022 A function band's set is the list you will get if you ask me what all my least favourite songs in the whole world are... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimR Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 On 27/06/2022 at 16:06, dclaassen said: This is probably just idle curiosity, as playing in a function band does not sound like my idea on big fun, but… I keep seeing dep ads that refer to “standard function tunes”. Being relatively new to the customs here, and only having pub band experience, does this mean there are a specific list of tunes? If so, what are they (just in case)? You'll be lucky to narrow it down. I once depped for a band who I'd never met until the night. The only interaction I'd had was with the band leader by email when I asked for a setlist. He replied, it's all standards, you'll be fine. I spent the whole evening working very hard playing 3 hours of tunes I had never heard before in my life. "This one is in E. After 4..." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted July 3, 2022 Share Posted July 3, 2022 It's kind of sad that at pub gigs the Poundland funk pastiche that is Uptown funk always gets the nod over a genuine 70s/80s funk classic 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 Will vary slightly depending on band. I only do functions but we are pretty much just indie pop rock so have never done uptown funk or get lucky type stuff. Client never gets to pick the set list. At most they can suggest 3 songs from our repertoire. If they want us to learn something we don't do then it's £100 per song. Any band worth it's salt will have live recordings of every song they do so that a dep can learn from those and avoid surprises on the night. We have a folder on google drive that we share with anyone who deps for us. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vYKwbcL6hY5ZeXbuSmDlhoTh0aPvlFBM 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 On 28/06/2022 at 08:26, Elfrasho said: ... I'm a depper, and I've found almost every band will play the majority of these tunes. In Scotland anyway. Thanks for the list. I play mainly in church, or blues for my own amusement, that's a completely different selection to learn. I reckon I should be able to muddle through those by Christmas - with the exception of those 10 seconds in the middle of Call Me Al! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_lefty Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 Funny how this list is mostly what I would call standard pub band. Not really what I would have expected for a "function" but then again I've played a lot of these songs at weddings and sports club award dinners, so I guess they're functions too! I used to waiter at dinner dances and so on in my teens (twenty plus years ago) when I was still bashing out Hendrix tunes along to cassettes. I remember one really good function band that would always play "dance the night away" by the Mavericks and give their bass player a turn on lead vocals for "c'est la vie" by Chuck Berry, in my mind that was always what a typical function band would be but sounds like either times have changed or they were quite niche. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 The term function band just means a band that plays functions. You get all different types within that bracket. Funk bands, disco bands, rock bands, tribute bands etc etc so the range of "standard" tunes is quite wide. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 On 28/06/2022 at 08:26, Elfrasho said: Superstition Summer of 69 Mr brightside Sex on fire Wagon wheel Call me al Loch lomond 500 miles Proud mary Sit down Crazy little thing called love Dakota Dancing in the daek Johnny b goode Valerie Ten out of ten Get lucky stinky poo up and dance Can't stop the feeling Uptown funk Don't stop beleiving A little respect Footloose Dies your mother know My girl I'm a depper, and I've found almost every band will play the majority of these tunes. In Scotland anyway. Oh dear. That's a pretty dispiriting list. Surely It's something of a struggle summoning up the enthusiasm to play these Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 4, 2022 Share Posted July 4, 2022 If anyone doesn't like the material, all they have to do is say no. IMO that's a great list. Designed to do a good job. The dispiriting thing is when players accept the gig and they don't play the songs well or with no enthusiasm. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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