JTUK

Last band had a fair share of Radiohead songs altho we would only ever do 2 at any one gig.. 1 song per set. A couple fo Muse tracks as well... We mainly tried to find songs from songwriters so Chrissie Hynde and Starsailor featured as well. We got most popular when we uprated to some 90's songs from the like of Killers... as well found the older people could listen and enjoy upto that date rather than the younger kids listrening to the 70's for example..in any sort of numbers, but the whole set/audience demographic is fascinating. I just wanted to back our song judgement more and give the set a bit of thought... rather than go for a populist set straight off... As we have to play them a lot more than the audience listens to them, so they have to do something for us.. And this is my point in another thread...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1419466090' post='2640362'] I don't pick the numbers for our cover band. Some of the suggestions from the guy who does have made my jaw hit the floor! To be honest, I've had to eat my words on almost every occasion. The audience reaction to our numbers is usually enthusiastic. Soft Cell, Adele, Andrew Gold. . . . now I'm playing some of these I've discovered they are good, well crafted songs. [/quote] I normally find a core member, like the vox that I want to work with... get a feel of how I hear the voice and then devise the set around what they can sing... I am open to being prooved that a song can work...but the gtr said it was a song that he would continue to push we do... so he wants it in... and I guess it is that as much as anything else... I'll have to report back on its progress... Need to make it a stronger song than its typical production. I've heard a few acoustic versions of it to help... Don't get me started on the Green Day choice

[quote name='paulbass' timestamp='1419463412' post='2640336'] There's certainly a wide genre of songs there JTUK! I think in time as with any cover band it will naturally find its niche in what its suited at and what everyone enjoys playing. There are songs in my set that i'm not keen on but when i listen to the tracks as we are playing them they do sound pretty good. I guess its the bigger picture. I must admit when we all like a song that we all enjoy playing thats when the magic happens and everyone 'feels it'. Thats kind of magical but i've never been in a band where every member loves every song. Stick with it and give it time to see how it developes [/quote] Yes..need to see how the 20 odd songs sit together... I normally start out with a vision..get inspired by the songs and the band working them and then go from there..but with tracks like that, it is such a curve ball and it seems like the set is out of control already and the band is only going to be a 4 piece with acoustic, lead, bass and drums so that is a lot of song and imagination for that line-up... But I like the full on chorus . I can see that working.. I think I just need to 'get' the song...and then see how it works out... Doing a stripped down version might help when we augment the band as they will then have to work with the song as is, rather than use the 80's version as the reference.

[quote name='Wonky2' timestamp='1419457665' post='2640260'] Funny enough, someone asked me to play a few songs with them recently and top of the agenda was........ Nik kershaw... But... I was pleasantly surprised to hear the new (?) version of the songs released by Nik on a solo album with him just playing guitar and singing.... Old songs, new twist... Very good. They're actually quite complex in chord progressions in some places. I urge all to have a listen on spottily or the like... I just searched for Nik Keyshawn solo and up,they popped.. ........... Have a listen to this, one things sure he was a fantastic song writer and this track proves he is a great guitarist too. [url="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BT25g6HDVQc"]http://m.youtube.com...h?v=BT25g6HDVQc[/url] [/quote] That is the sort of treatment that it needs... but with a band and we'd have to look uptempo..but at least it stands as a song rather than a production.

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1419457536' post='2640258'] You might find this interesting. Nik Kershaw talking about his songs on the Sodajerker podcast and that in his heyday, the audience was split between teenage girls and musos - the latter being there for the very clever songwriting. A good song can take any arrangement, and your list has some crackers. [url="http://www.sodajerker.com/episode-23-nik-kershaw/"]http://www.sodajerke...23-nik-kershaw/[/url] [/quote] We have a drummer in mind who played with him..and for sure they were a muso band back then. I just need to make it work today..and to do that might take such a lot of work and time we don't have.. I am hoping the guy who suggested it has got such a good take on it that my fears are unfounded, The thng that really bugs me is the 80's band handle and this song is deep down into that

If this is the way FB is going then people will leave..and move onto the next one. It will be a PITA but there you go...

[quote name='ironside1966' timestamp='1419453472' post='2640207'] I would put a lot of thought into the set and the numbers I would pick would be the ones the band could do well epically in the vocal department . In my experience once you get past a certain level you take for granted that all the bands can play well and sound good. I wouldn't try to please everyone, there are more bands then work for acts like that. [b]The right set can make or break you so have one that makes you special and stands out from the crowd[/b]. [/quote] The band will be able to play and the vocals are going to be very good ...from what we have done in pre-rehearsal or we wouldn't pick John Farnham otherwise.. so all we have to do is not get the set too wrong..hopefully It is not so much the era the songs come from, I just don't want them to sound typically dated and the 80's is very dstinctive in some respects...ie, production, gtr, synths, big hair and drums..etc etc etc. so, just get rid of all that and we are on the right track

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1419451491' post='2640187'] I think you're going to need a couple of pub gigs, or some kind of gigs, to shake things down. The one place you will get family groups of 30-40 is the open air festivals - around here they are very popular with that family group, they can take the kids out and let them blow off a bit of steam, have a picnic, a couple of beers and relax. I'd never heard of Ordinary World and had to look it up - if you're going to do a Durannie you'd be better off with something from their good period in the '80s, more uptempo, that people will remember. [/quote] I wouldn't have picked Duran but as a compromise that is the one song that I quite like... but yes, hopefully it wont survive one of the more critical gigs set list. To me, it is a decent tune, but where would you put it in a set..?? It probably doesn't do enough for me...so in that sense, a nothing 'pick'... And as always, before we think about binning songs, you need to hear how they come out.. We will do a few warm-ups but the 'options' I have are 'headline slots' so we need to be good from the off...

Pump up is in there as well..just didn't list it. Bare in mind there are just 10 songs so far so any links and good bedfellows aren't obvious as yet. Agree, I don't see Elvis P either but the idea of how to play the song and what we do with it was interesting enough to consider. I agree it looks odd atm..but then so do a few others as well, to me.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1419447395' post='2640125'] The function bands that I've playing in do one set of 80s at most. 60-70s go down a storm with all ages and the under 30s and 35-40s go mad for 00-10s. What you have to realise is that 'most' people in the age range 30-40 are home with kids or at each other's dinner parties. Getting this age group out of the house is quite a challenge. [/quote] Which is why I want the band to be all inclusive acorss the ages 25-60-ish... and our focus is parties and festivals so I think if we do a few pub dates, we will need 3 sets. Tears for Fears Live are a band that transcend their period very well... but I am not hearing that with regards to Nik K's songs.. The other thing about picking a set is that you can't do it without hearing what the vocals can do.. Changing te vocalist can completely change the band and set.

Yes... he does Coverdale better than Coverdale...

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1419445636' post='2640098'] That's a selection of songs you don't see put together that often! Not that it matters, but I'm assuming that's "You Shook Me All Night Long" rather than the Rainbow song? Personally speaking, I wouldn't go near The Voice WIBN = Great song DOTC = Never played that, but would love to have a crack at it SM = No brainer OW = Fantastic song....for a Duran Duran tribute band ANL & YSMANL = Where do I sign? [/quote] We have the singer for 'The Voice' altho not that ( Farnham's ) key...but he has the quality and range to pull it off... and I wanted a crowd singer-song for a festival.. Yes... YSMANL....but a cover of a cover, not the AC/DC vocal. I was heartened when the 80's guy at least picked good vocals to go along with the chummy picks, but yes, picking songs and sets fascinates me... and how they work with crowds. Here you go... this is a poss..?? but not the 80's gtr style. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkqnOibZSTk"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkqnOibZSTk[/url]

We went down the Nord route and found it scored well in all but the action and that was with the Stage ll 76 which is supposed to have 'realfeel' Kurweil did a useful mini key and sounded great but you wont get your acoustic piano sounds out of it along with playablilty...same with the Kronus 61. I think you should get an old motherboard and run it from a laptop or somewhere with an external sound bank... with your budget.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1419443394' post='2640067'] Yes. Soft strings is about it. Anything else just sounds like you've tried too hard and missed. Personally I think you can take any tune with a good hook, strong melody and good lyrics and rhythm and play it in your own style. It'll still be instantly recognisable. If you're sticking to 80s number then you're sticking to 35-45 age range audience. Unless you start playing ABBA or tunes from Disney films. The danger with 80s tunes is taking yourselves too seriously. I lived through the 80s as a teenager and it was real cheese for the most part. If you accept it's cheesy you'll do well. [/quote] Good songs is always my start point... I wont really know how the band will sound until we get these to rehearsal..but I am pretty sure the gtr has some preconceived ideas. I REALLY didn't want to be stuck in the 80's at all.. and if your age range audience is correct then that is too limiting. Maybe that is why 80's bands don't do too well out of pubs round here. And by that I mean, they still charge pub sort of money to do parties.. I like the band to be a bit more than a selction of the most popular numbers it can play... so yes, I'll take it a bit more seriously. I think this can be rescued IF the guys in the band can pull off some original takes of a popular song..but it will be short lived if we are just a copy band...which is one reason why I resisted keys and I am glad I did...altho they will feature for the bigger better gigs when the band goes to 7-8 piece.

Am in between the Placebo version..too twee... and an acoustic version which at least has a groove that can be worked on and get a bit funky.

And I don't get the chance to demo these songs in pubs for long to see how they work... I need to hit the ground running and put the band in the festival slots that I retain 'options' for so it is no place for a 'feeler' type band thing..

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1419439598' post='2640015'] I hear ya....only one thing for it, we need to see the set :-) [/quote] Only got as far as 10 numbers... so I'll try and give a spead of the 'picks' rather than the finals...but I expect most of them to make it as we have determined whether the keys suit.. Off the top of my head.. The Voice, John Farnham... Wouldn't it be nice, Kershaw. Dancing on the ceiling Lionel R Suspicious minds, Elvis.. Ordinary world... Duran D.. All night long AC/DC The list look more shocking than I thought, but a long as we moderised them..or rather get rid of the 80's 'stench'' which most will lend to, they'll be ok-ish... but the NK number needs a LOT of thought... So... yes, my vision is struggling with some of them :lol;

them[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1419439546' post='2640014'] If you're the person arranging and driving this with a clear and workable vision of where this new project is going, then my advice would be to take control of it on day one. It's lovely to have a democratic band, but sometimes they need to be told what the right decision is. [/quote] Too late for that.. I didn't and don't want to drive everything so welcome others getting their hands dirty.. I just didn't see the 80's songs coming in such numbers... It is not so much the songs..altho one or two are marginal, IMO....it is more that they epitomise a very very dated sound.. There is a world of difference between 'The Voice' and Thompson Twins, for example...the latter of which will really make me VETO .. You can see where this is going.. I don't think the Thompson Twins are an issue..I am sure it is a wind-up..!! but both gtr and singer mentioned them.. I nearly spat the dummy there and then..

Not that sure about the song in the first place..more because I don't feel it sits in the set the way I envisage it. I'll have to hear it in context but I also hope this isn't the shape of things to come, in terms of stagnant song choices and styles... Maybe it is more THAT issue than the song itself..??

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1419436983' post='2639976'] Problem with restricting keyboard player to piano sounds means that everything sounds like boogie woogie! Truckstop [/quote] Since he wont be a core member, he will be given ideas and instruction... I don't want him to go away and work on those parts...he will need busk the song that work for the most part. I don't want the song ripped... I want it to evolve.. No rehashes... which I feel is the only way I can get past some dodgy song choices by being out voted..

Well, there was also a Duran number thrown in ...which I quite liked but since the gtr needs to cover the keys part of that song..which he is very capable of doing, we might not be able to keep that one as the singer's range might struggle..and the parts needs THAT key. I am hoping the style of the band will transcend the numbers - which is one reason why we aren't going to use keys to start with.. as that will take the band back to 80's synth parts and I want piano more than keys. In fact, I'll tell the keys, no midi sounds, only paino, electric piano, hammond and one or two synth sounds and that's it..

Nope..quite happy to give them a miss...

New project with new gtr and vox...and the idea is 4 piece with the view to augment when required. I have a couple of cool gig options for the summer and the budget to put quite a gig together, by taking the band upto a 7 or 8 piece and sharing lead vox duties. So...now we get to talking about the set and one or two nasties popped up whilst we are trying to get a feel for what we are going to play. There are a couple of GREAT choices that will go down a storm but there are one or two that were put forward that it will be hard to get rid off...and I really REALLY didn't want to get stuck into the classic rock 80's... as there are too many bands round here that do that. It isn't so much that we will pick the same numbers and set, but it is more the style I am having trouble with.. Without given the entire set away, I think we have a classic 80's whizz gtr thing going on against my penchant for good songs bundled up in the way the band will do them and get a core band sound... but not 80's widdle-whazz gtr..!!!! For example, one of the numbers offered that is too firmly entrenched in the 80's vibe is Nik Kershaw's 'wouldn't it be good'..!! Great number way back then...but the anti of a modern song, IMO and I am having trouble getting my head around an update sound for it... So, my point is... how much thought for your set do you give it.... There are some numbers that just WOULDN'T be on my radar for a festival type gig where the ages will be from early 20's onwards. As in..how do ppl who get into numbers that were hits before they were born n sufficient numbers to work..?? This age group do not turn out in big enough numbers in general pub gigs ... but do form the larger part of festival type gigs as they have no problem spending £50-100 on a drinking session at a festival.. like it or not, this is a key demographic, IME.. How do target your audience or do you even try..?? For pubs ...they get what we want to play, but that is a different set anyway..

[quote name='machinehead' timestamp='1419371288' post='2639346'] I really don't see how you can justify that general statement without comparing the engineering specifications of the actual cabs in question - or maybe I'm missing something here? Frank. [/quote] What do you think that will tell me..??

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1419355888' post='2639113'] Im not sure I'd call a 2x12 a mini rig? Looking at the absolute max outputs possible is pointless imo, I never need to run mine at full tilt so as long as there is spare head room and a tone you like I wouldn't get hung up on cone sizes unless its got a flake and raspberry sauce on top. [/quote] But if you are running with 4k of foldback/fills then you might want a bigger stack than a 212 just to get the bass up to your ear. Plus..I am not so sure IEM is so prevelent on P.A spec and it depends what sort of gig/tour can afford them. Regular bands can justify the cost over a few tours but pick-up bands less so..??