Playing Covers

There seems to be a growing trend of young musicians, interested in pursuing their own music that are excluding the learning and performing of cover songs.

According to the Wikipedia entry, a cover song is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded, commercially released song. Most musicians learn existing material to help them get a better understanding of their instrument and for the enjoyment that learning brings them.

When I was growing up in my local (Sacramento, CA) scene you really couldnt get on the "good" gigs unless you played covers and played your original songs intermittently. The goal of course, is to keep people on the floor moving around, dancing, watching and what have you. That way they get thirsty and drink more booze, which makes more money for the club and gets you more bookings.

For the new scene bands, we still think this is a really good idea especially at the beginning of your career and heres why. As mentioned, the covers will get people up close, dancing or what not. Then you can sprinkle your originals into the set and see if the people stay through them. Its a good indicator of if the song is decent.

It also enables you as a band to really take your time and craft your songs to the best that they can be. You wont have to worry about filling up your set with songs that arent ready or re work those songs, as much any way.

Before anyone boo boos the idea of playing a cover understand we are not advocating everyone turn into an ALL cover band, but that bands might consider incorporating covers into their set. At least one or two. Please keep in mind that The Beatles are the most successful band of all time, selling between 600 million and one billion records, also played more covers that any other group. So, if its not beneath The Beatles, its not beneath you.

For anyone still not convinced, or just for fun, here are some famous covers

Piece Of My Heart originally recorded by by Erma Franklin - Covered (and made famous by) Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company Also covered by Sammy Hagar and many others

These Boots Are Made For Walkin first recorded by Nancy Sinatra. Has been covered by Jessica Simpson and by Megadeth and more

Megadeth also covered I Aint Superstitious, a song by bluesman Willie Dixon and first recorded with Howlin' Wolf in 1961 and has been covered by numerous artists.

Metallica released Garage Days Re-Revisited, a full album of covers in 1987 and then Garage Inc. released in 1998

Black Sabbath started out in 1968, playing by Jimi Hendrix, Blue Cheer, and Cream, as well as lengthy improvised blues jams. Here is a You Tube video of the band playing the classic Blue Suede Shoes.

Slayer released an album of punk covers, called Undisputed Attitude in 1996

As always, we welcome your ideas and feedback