S'happenin peeps!

Which songs would you avoid if you played in a covers band, because they're sooo played out that they sound cheesy when anyone other than the original artist is performing them?

I'll start with....

Superstition - I don't need to hear any more weekend musicians attempt to play the clav line like Stevie does.

Cissy Strut - every r&b/funk band seems to like to play a fairly uninspired version of this.

Sweet Home Alabama - I think I know why this ones so played out. Lazy musicians. It's simple 3 chords all the way.

Reach Out (I'll Be There) - American Idol has ruined it.

Dancing In The Street - ^ ditto ^

SuperSoulFighter said:

Smoke on the Water by Pink Floyd is the first one that comes to my mind.

ANYTHING by AC/DC. A ton of bands here in China have at least 2 of their songs on the set list. And "Sweet Child of Mine" can disappear into history as well.

leonche64 said:

ANYTHING by AC/DC. A ton of bands here in China have at least 2 of their songs on the set list. And "Sweet Child of Mine" can disappear into history as well.

I hope this doesn't sound too ignorant, but I find it interesting that hard rock music like AC/DC infiltrated Chinese covers bands so well! So you're saying your average Chinese pub band plays stuff like G'n'R and AC/DC? Or is it foreign bands at the hotels/resorts?

Yesterday and Come Together

nd33 said:

leonche64 said:

ANYTHING by AC/DC. A ton of bands here in China have at least 2 of their songs on the set list. And "Sweet Child of Mine" can disappear into history as well.

I hope this doesn't sound too ignorant, but I find it interesting that hard rock music like AC/DC infiltrated Chinese covers bands so well! So you're saying your average Chinese pub band plays stuff like G'n'R and AC/DC? Or is it foreign bands at the hotels/resorts?

No question asked is ignorant my friend. Most of the house bands in my area are from the Philipeans, and apparently they all went to the same "cover band cookie cutter" institute. A lot of those guys are my friends, we hang out at each others homes, eat together and so on. But they know what I am talking about. They cater to a large ex-pat community. Chinese bands play Chinese pop/rock for the clubs that cater to the locals. The hotel/resort bands are all contracted through some agency. You can throw a net over them because they all play top 40. My band is nomadic in that we are not a house band, we travel between Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Guanzhou and Dongguan. Total population of around 30 million people. We play clubs, festivals and the university circuit. But we only do it on the weekends, as we all have "real" jobs.

I wish my OWN cover band here in the States would stop doing:

Superstition

You Shook Me All Night Long

Mustang Sally

Honky Tonk Women

I Shot the Sheriff

Freebird

..but I love them so I overlook their small-town hick sensibilities