redstriper Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) It sometimes seems so and maybe that's why I always feel a bit different on here I know good covers bands are very popular and I respect them because it looks like hard work and they provide a lot of entertainment. I also know there's good money to be made playing covers and people like to hear familiar tunes, but it's just not my scene. I'm not comfortable playing any direct cover versions, although I do sometimes use established bass lines to create a new version of a tune. This is an established tradition in reggae music where there are many songs and versions using the same bass line. I'm not a purist in any way and I respect everyone's choice to play whatever they want. I just wonder who else here is actively writing and recording new original material? Edited October 19, 2012 by redstriper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Never been in a covers band, not for any reason, just never have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 After nearly twenty years of being in covers bands (with an 8 year break because I got fed up with playing tunes I despise) I've now been in an originals band for 3 1/2 years. Enjoying myself much more. We do have a handful of "spun-up" covers (tunes that are done in a completely different style to the original- so that's alright then ) and one or two straightforward covers for soundchecks and auditioning drummers (which seems to happen once or twice a year). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Spent twenty-odd years in originals bands, with the odd 'versioned' cover thrown in, then after a break came back into an originals band. Now play in the originals band, and in a couple of covers/functions band. The originals band also play some covers, mostly to get paying gigs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Originals. A mix of folk, flamenco, country and blues, so not too many covers opportunities there then!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Not currently. Mainly originals (actually 2 originals bands, beginnings of), although we may do [u]some[/u] covers in our own style I stress only some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I'm in a pub covers band - though they all have quite a 'spin' on them. The songs chosen are all our choice rather than what we need to play to get work. I'm also in a trib band but that's gone very occassional by design. I love the music but I'm never that comfortable 'being' somone I'm not. I have been in originals bands , done a fair bit of songwriting/ recording - and some gigging - as a solo performer too. I make no excuse whatsoever for playing any of the music I've always loved playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I'm in a covers band. I'm also in an originals band, and others that do both. Why would I want to limit myself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 T'would be interesting to see the splits of the 'both' voters - of which I'm one. Four years ago my split would have been about 80/20 in favour of covers but we've been accumulating originals since then and I reckon we've easily reversed that to 80/20 in favour of originals, maybe a bit more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1350663401' post='1842028'] It sometimes seems so and maybe that's why I always feel a bit different on here [/quote] 'Different'...? Can you give an example? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 What about a "Neither" option for people who, for whatever reason, don't play in bands? For what it's worth when I was gigging I only played originals because I had (and still have) absolutely no interest whatsoever in learning other peoples songs. I now do neither because I hate all the crap that goes with being in a band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len_derby Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 In my main band we do a mixture of originals and covers. We change the proportion of one to the other depending on the venue and the job we've been hired to do. As far as I can recall, we've never done a set that's totally originals or total covers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1350666040' post='1842083'] For what it's worth when I was gigging I only played originals because I had (and still have) absolutely no interest whatsoever in learning other peoples songs. I now do neither because I hate all the crap that goes with being in a band. [/quote] Being in a band with (probably) a bunch of numpties who write lousy songs will do that to you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1350666696' post='1842097'] Being in a band with (probably) a bunch of numpties who write lousy songs will do that to you... [/quote] The songs were great, it's just that in 33 years I've never met a musician I can get on with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1350666040' post='1842083'] What about a "Neither" option for people who, for whatever reason, don't play in bands? [/quote] Fixed now - sorry I forgot lots of bassists aren't in bands or perform in public. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1350663401' post='1842028'] It sometimes seems so and maybe that's why I always feel a bit different on here [/quote] I know what you mean. It seems like a lot of people on here do play in covers bands. I play original music that I write myself with a band I put together. Not really interested in playing covers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 My past couple of bands have been all originals with the odd cover thrown in, so I chose originals. Nothing against playing covers though. [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1350664246' post='1842055'] Originals. A mix of folk, flamenco, country and blues, so not too many covers opportunities there then!!!! [/quote] You could do your own take on songs. That's what we did & it's pretty fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1350665949' post='1842081'] 'Different'...? Can you give an example? [/quote] Here's one: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189766-my-top-ten-most-played-songs-by-pub-function-covers-bands/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189766-my-top-ten-most-played-songs-by-pub-function-covers-bands/page__fromsearch__1[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1350669069' post='1842153'] Here's one: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189766-my-top-ten-most-played-songs-by-pub-function-covers-bands/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/189766-my-top-ten-most-played-songs-by-pub-function-covers-bands/page__fromsearch__1[/url] [/quote] That's a thread about covers versions, posted in by people who play in cover bands. Am I missing something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin8708 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Been in Covers band for all my bass playing life . Have written a few Dylan-esque tunes on acoustic guitar for my own personal playing pleasure . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leen2112 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I havent been in a covers band for 20 years, I find it so much more rewarding seeing folk bouncing around to music we write Plus we don't argue which songs to play....much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted October 19, 2012 Author Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1350669327' post='1842156'] That's a thread about covers versions, posted in by people who play in cover bands. [/quote] Exactly - there are many such posts, usually very popular, whereas there are very few posts about original music. Unless I'm missing something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 [quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1350670144' post='1842173'] Exactly - there are many such posts, usually very popular, whereas there are very few posts about original music. Unless I'm missing something [/quote] The reality is that cover bands gig more. So, there's more to talk about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 Got one band that is a function/covers band. Great money, fab gigs and good players. All gigs are through recommendation and we do about 80 gigs a year. I am in another "project" that is originals where there are two of us who compose and play all the instruments. The aim is to find a bunch of musos that like it - give 'em the CD and put an originals band together (it'll never happen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I play covers and get paid to do so. If the stuff I wrote was any good and I could be paid for it, I would play them too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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