MetricMike

The covers band in which I am the guitarist went from a 5 to a 4 piece (vocals, guitar, bass, drums) some time when our keyboard player left. We did have to drop some songs but not that many. I now use effects (overdrive and chorus) more than I used to, though have to beware of too much overdrive as no-one wants to listen an angry wasp! My main recommendation though would be for the guitarist to try using some delay. It fills the sound out, and helps the guitar sit better in the mix. Of course it doesnt work in every song and there is no one setting fits all so it takes some experimentation to find what works best. U2 and Coldplay (whether you like their music or not they both make a big sound live for a 4 piece) both use a LOT of delay on guitar. Of course they also "cheat" with midi keyboard parts, and hidden keyboards player in U2s case, but the essential sound is still bass, drums and guitar). I also arpegiate the chords more than I would have done previously, and on some songs use the occassional extended chords where I would not have done previously. The bass player is normally a little busier than he would have been with the keyboard player, especially in instrumental breaks and sections, and a little gentle chorus on the bass works very well in some numbers.

Apart from the issues others have raised about everyone other than the bands being paid, I think that you also have to consider that people do not value what they do not pay for. My personal experience is that unless the event is organised by someone who is a musician or who understands the work/time/effort that goes into a band then you will inevitably be messed around to the point where it may well spoil the event for you (and potentially mar it for the audience). I would ask for expenses or a token fee and then refuse it after the event, or donate it to a suitable charity. That way you have much more chance of a hassle free day, and in my experience people appreciate your efforts far more.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1334594069' post='1618205'] If that was actually true there'd never be anything approaching original music, surely? [/quote] Sorry it was a bit of a throw away comment at the the end of my post and yes it is a huge generalisation, and obviously isn't true in all cases but if we are talking about covers bands in pubs it does hold true for a huge percentage of the audience. Apart from anything else they are there to enjoy a drink, the company of friends etcetera and the music is just a part of the experience of a night out, and they do not neccesarily want to make the effort required to listen to new things [quote name='bremen' timestamp='1334593937' post='1618202'] He introduces it as 'you haven't heard this but I guarantee you'll be singing it to yourself in the shower tomorrow'. Some of the surliest audiences I've played to have gone for it, too. [/quote] I bet in this case you have a good front man who has enough charisma and personality to bring the audience along with him and its a fair bet that your set list has brought the audience along to a point where you are able to do this, it isnt just your musical prowess that has led them there. Even amongst those of us who love to seek out and discover new sounds it can sometimes take a few listens before we become comfortable with something that is totally unfamiliar to us. In the past when putting set lists together, at the point where we want people to get up and dance we played Brown Eyed Girl. We didnt play it any better than the other songs we played, none of the band members enjoyed playing that much - but - it works! Why because the audience are familiar with it, it isnt challenging to listen to and know they can comfortably dance to it without there being any suprises. I guess others use Oasis songs or Mustang Sally in the same way. Yes it is frustrating at times but unless you have something very special to offer that's the way it works.

Some people seem to be mistaking music and the music business. Music is what we play because we aspire to be the best musicians we can playing music we enjoy and that stretches us technically. In covers band terms the music business is about playing songs that the punters immediatly recognise, can dance to, can sing along to and often makes them feel nostalgic. Oh and it helps if the front man/woman has a personality that can get the crowd in a party mood and that they can identify with. I play in a covers band myself and recently we have not played any gigs (through choice) because we are having a major re-think trying to square that circle between what we enjoy and what the punters will enjoy. We also have to sort out the fact that our newish singer has a fabulous voice (probably the best I have played with) but is going to struggle with the front person role. We still play, because we all love music, but gigging isn't just about that (however much we all wish it was). Before you criticise the punters too much for their lack of taste, open mindedness etcetera, just think back to gigs you have been to and your reaction when you heard those oft dreaded words "We are going to play some new songs now". Remember "[i]People don't know what they like[/i], [i]they like what they know[/i]."

Must admit I wasn't familiar with the music of Jojo Mayer and Nerve but having listened to it, it seems very drum n bass influenced and drum n bass is normally heavily computer sample/synth based. However there are a some artists who have carried it off live. Amogst my personal D n B favourites are DJ Marky, High Contrast, Zero T, Blu Mar Ten, S.P.Y. and Netsky and you might try giving them a listen. On the live side The Bays make great live dance music (all improvised), but as their philosophy is never to record (or rehearse!), so you will have to check out youtube to find examples of their stuff and a lot of it suffers from poorish quality recording quality. There is also some live stuff from Roni Size and London Elektricity that you might check out. On the more commercial side Chase & Status and Pendulum are now headlining festivals with drum n bass influenced music. Personally I find them both a little too bombastic but they are very popular. Some good suggestions from the posts above as well for artists playing dance/electronic stuff in genres other than drum n bass, to which I will add Trentmoller whose live set at the Big Chill a year or two ago was absolutely stunning. Try this for an example of them playing live, (best listened to late at night). [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RqvPkByI1A[/media]

It strikes me that slapping on the bass has become the equivalent of tapping or sweep picking for the guitar. What were originally techniques to add the occasional bit of spice to the music have become, in some peoples eyes, a form of competitive sport for players to show off what great players they are. Unfortunately it is a sport that has about as much meaning as sychronised swimming. Yes it is very clever, but why would anyone think it is worth doing?

For most styles of music for most of the time it surely must be the drummers job to keep time, with the rest of the band locking in to his/her timing. Sticking with my idea of timing while the drummer and the rest of the band follow theirs is just going to lead to trainwrecks, even if I am "right" and they are "wrong". If it isn't the drummer who is the main timekeeper then how do you deal with situations where the groove of the song means that the bass or guitar needs to be slightly in front of or behind the beat? Personally when playing guitar (as I do most of the time) I try and lock into the hi-hat and snare, and when playing bass (as I do occassionally) then it's the bass drum that is my guide. In almost all cases (there are rare occasions when the music demands otherwise), it's the drummers job to keep time, and the job of the rest of the band to play to the drummers timing.

Hi Although mainly a guitarist I have been lurking here for a little while and thought that it is about time I introduced myself. I am from Nottingham and have been playing guitar for more years than I care to remember. Mainly covers these days although I have hardly gigged in last 3 or 4 years. I do play some bass and in the past have played bass in a reggae(ish) based band, but these days I only play bass on a very casual basis. My current bass (only have one) is a Spector Legend 5 string. I discovered dance music a few years ago (having dismissed it for a long time as not played by "real" musicians) and these days most of the music I listen to is computer produced, lots of drum n bass, some deep house and anything else that catches my ear. Players that I admire (and hopefully have influenced my playing) include Bernard Edwards and Robbie Shakespeare on bass, and on guitar, Nile Rodgers, Pat Metheney, Keith Richards and Jimmy Page amongst others. Mike

[quote name='Mickeyboro' post='348329' date='Dec 8 2008, 09:35 AM']I think the whole thing of basing your song on another's shows total lack of imagination[/quote] I have to agree. Lets hope more people start thinking this way so that rock 'n' roll and blues finally disapear forever!