Pub Bands playing their own Material...Mission Creep?

[uk_lefty]

On 30/07/2021 at 22:38, Stub Mandrel said:

It's odd. On my first time around, my second and third bands both played nothing but originals. Both bands used to play two-sets of all own material, in ordinary pubs and get invited back. I don't think that was unusual in the early '90s.

Sadly as I got in to playing gigs the good local originals bands were finding it hard to get gigs, I stead it all became Tribute bands. We had some good covers bands who did the local circuit, but the teenage originals bands were dying out, probably with underage drinking being tightened up on too. I later started working at a pub I had played in with my band and they got me booking acts for them, on all the advertising I included "No Tribute Bands!" because being a bit of a snob at the time I thought it was destroying everything. Really it was just a change of management at the venue every teenager aspired to playing in! 

[stewblack]

I'd say it all depends on the venue. I ran a music venue for 13 years and we never had covers bands apart from one or two exceptional outfits who chose really well and were astonishing musicians.

The punters turned up to see something interesting and above all original.

[ubit]

11 minutes ago, stewblack said:

The punters turned up to see something interesting and above all original.

I agree and I also suspect you lived in or near a city. City punters tend to like originally more than rural punters. Round here if a band started doing original material they would have to do some very hard work in getting their music released on social media first. Back when we were playing that wasn't possible, so you would have to try and flog your demo. Again, a hard ask. People round here just want to hear something they know. More and more it's getting into that folk rock type thing mixing traditional with rock or dance. It wasn't my taste but you have to prostitute yourself.