Do You, Or Would You, Play In A Cover Band?

[skintaster]

I'm just curious if any forum members play or have played in cover bands? I never have, and never would unless I could actually make enough $$$ doing it to quit my day job... Frankly I can't really see that happening... But someone probably makes a living doing it!

I'm not talking about doing a few covers in the band you're in. Almost everyone does that at one time or another.

The reason I ask, is that I was recently at a music bar, and the band that was playing was a full on cover band. All they played were newish alterna rock radio songs. They were all obviously good musicians, but I know that this wasn't a paying gig (I know the bars owner)... So what gives? Do some people really want to play nothing but other artists songs?

I'm not trying to be critical, I'm truly curious.

[RR05xx]

I play in a an original band and we play a cover or two at every show just for fun. I know that the scene in Boston is very much geared towards cover bands to cater to the older crowd who still go for live music (for the most part, even with all the colleges, younger people do not go to see live music unless they know people in the band).

I think it depends on the local. Also, I was in a metallica cover band a few year back which was a blast simply because I like their old stuff.

To each his own.

[Jacksons Shred]

Not unless it was a Cacophony cover band haha. Kidding, even then, I would only be in a cover band if I was making some really good cash.. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's just not my thing.

[Jacksonguy666]

I would do a maiden cover band, because watching them live, certain songs i get a chill when I imagine playing them live! But only for money

[jgcable]

I'm just curious if any forum members play or have played in cover bands? I never have, and never would unless I could actually make enough $$$ doing it to quit my day job... Frankly I can't really see that happening... But someone probably makes a living doing it!

I'm not talking about doing a few covers in the band you're in. Almost everyone does that at one time or another.

The reason I ask, is that I was recently at a music bar, and the band that was playing was a full on cover band. All they played were newish alterna rock radio songs. They were all obviously good musicians, but I know that this wasn't a paying gig (I know the bars owner)... So what gives? Do some people really want to play nothing but other artists songs?

I'm not trying to be critical, I'm truly curious.

The only bands that get gigs and get paid in the Tri-State area are cover bands. Original bands are lucky to even find a place to play and rarely get paid much if not anything at all.
Oh yea.. the biggest bar bands in the Tri-State area are all cover bands.

[horns666]

That's where the $$$ is..Tributes do very well too! Yes, I did and would do it for the coin, but my enthusiam fades very fast. ..unless I'm drunk..that helps. (me anywhoo)..

[leftybob]

I do not. But I am cetainly a whore ... ;P

[Grandturk]

I never have, and never would unless I could actually make enough $$$ doing it to quit my day job...

How much do you figure a mid-level band makes these days - just out of curiousity - take like Anthrax, or Testament - a band like that - Trivium, COB, whatever. These are not stadium bands - they tour in busses and play clubs wth 700-1000 person capacity. What are they pulling down?

[Newc]

Figure $10 cover being split with other bands on the bill and they're operating at a considerable loss.


I'd do covers, but in this area you have to do Bon Joki (Wanted Dead and such), and I do have my integrity to think of.

I have done covers in the band I was in, and we didn't do Bon Joki songs.

I'm not violently opposed to doing covers - I know our originals were nowhere near as popular as the covers we were doing (not being on the radio was a big hint), and we didn't get out there to blow away other musicians. We went out there to give the average beer drinker some live music to dance and drink to, not another album to watch for or a chance to say "I seen them guys when they was nobody".

It woulda been nice, of course, but West TN is not a launch pad for anything but drugs and online porn.

[broken_fusion]

Most places(around here) will empty out if a band plays a lot of originals. No one will pay a band to play originals all night. When people go out to a bar they want to hear songs they know and like. They will stick around and drink.This makes the owner happy. A good cover band around here (pa/nj) probably makes about $400 a night. If they are well know and can pull a big crowd consistently it could be more like $600-$700. But thats playing from probably 10pm-2am, divided between the band.Not that much. I know when i was playing in an original band the only venues to play were the type were you had to sell your own tickets and the club got most of the money(pay to play basically)There was not much around except if we went into NYC,then the crowd was mostly roadies and girlfriends of the other five bands that were playing that night.
We used to book ourselves in bars as a cover band and play about 40% original and 60% covers. A lot of friends would come that all knew our original stuff so it was cool. But a few times we played originals to a bunch of people standing there with puzzled looks.

[triplehold]

I've played with the same rhythm section for the last 20 years. They are the best and can play anything. We did all punk covers at one time, 60's and 70's covers another time and blues covers one other time. It was always fun, but it wasn't until we did our own style of hard rock originals that we really got things going. Doing covers is a good stepping stone towards doing originals. It helps a player understand song writing, arrangement and theory within a rock band context. In my early years, hardcore bar band veterans always told me whatever you do, know how to play a kickass "Born To Be Wild" for biker crowds and a slow blues like "Red House" to mellow 'em out. Also never stop playing if there's a brawl, and if you have to stop, go right into '"Louie,Louie". It's always good to know some good jokes in case there is technical difficulty. Oh yeah, if the dance floor is packed, stretch out the song a little longer and keep 'em dancing. Bar owners like that because hot and sweaty patrons drink more. Same thing if you have a crazy pit going on, just keep rockin' and don't waste time between songs. Way back I was told that if someone pays a cover charge, give 'em their moneys worth fifty times over, that is what you are there for. If you do all originals, a good cover tune for an encore always works great right before the club turns on the lights at the end of the night.

[Musician78]

If the people were the right ones, I might.

[Shawn Lutz]

I've played in cover bands before, was fun for a while but eventually felt like a poser. Started working in originals and eventualy went all original and I was much happier doing that.
I know a lot of folks who did strictly covers just to get gigs, a lot of clubs didnt want local original acts so if you wanted to play out, you did covers and slipped in an original without anyone knowing

I havent gigged in a long ass time but thought about doing the cover thing again just for fun.

[Ben...]

Cover bands are looked down upon here for the most part. My friend just quit his band because the singer only wanted to do covers and he said he felt like an idiot being the only cover band of the show. It's not like they didn't have their own material it's just that the singer would refuse to play it because he liked covers better.

[Musician78]

I didn't even think about playing in one and actually doing anything... I wouldn't want to go gig as a cover band, but I really don't like gigging anyways... But for fun with a few cool people in the basement... sure.

I was keyboardist in one once. But the songs sucked. Stuff like Werewolves in London and other goofy tunes.