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That's why The Who started playing so loud, to block requests for whatever was the early-60s equivalent of Sex On Fire.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Seriosly though, we get paid for playing so should play what people want to hear, could get away with picking and choosing the bits you like in most jobs
Alternatively play Molly’s Chambers which isn’t quite as played to death by quite as many bands, at least makes a change now and again, and generally seems to satisfy the punters shouting for SoF...
The only thing I’d add to what people have already contributed is to recognise (and admit to yourself) when/if it stops being fun and be prepared to walk away sooner rather than later.
I used to pay in Original bands, but covers bands mean I can still get out there and play which I love doing and would rather play SOF to happy punters than something I really loved playing to an empty room
Money. Be it what you get paid or what goes back into the band. It's always thinking of the band, the entity, as another person and giving "the band" a cut of earnings to pay for studio time, rehearsal, equipment etc.
All being on the same page. Speaking personally taking a gig in Scotland when I live in the midlands never appealed as I would spend too much time away from my young family.
Making sure you like everyone in the band. Probably the most important thing.
Designate a leader. When the responsibility for getting gigs and making arrangements is shared I can guarantee it will al go tits up.
Learn to like Sex on fire, Mr Brightside and various other songs of this nature, if you want repeat bookings and the crowd to have a good time they are pretty much staples.
Also, hot female lead singers are usually fucking mentalists....
Do:
Be a good band mate, load everyone in and load out together. Even if its the singers pa, load it in.
Be involved in conversations via whatsapp or email, dont read, dont reply because youll just get ignored.
Set out rules about who does what ..and actially fucking do what you said were going to do.
If youre unhappy with something, dont wait for an argument to bring it up.
Do be involved in the social media
Reherse alot, and not just the songs, do the set as of you were playing it
Dont:
Get butt hurt if no one likes your song suggestions.
Dont be negative unless you have a better idea in place
Dont be late to practise or jams
Dont blame other people when it was your fault, esp in songs (but usually blame the drummer)
If you're paid to play covers in pubs or at parties then your sole purpose is to enertain the audience, and if they want SOF then you should play it.
If you don't want to do that shit then be in a different type of band.
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If we did a major arist we'd do a B-side or an album track. For example our Who songs we're Run, Run, Run and The Good's Gone - also See My Friends (Kinks), Heart of Stone (Rolling Stones), plus tons of stuff that is tucked away on Nuggets & Rubble compilations.
We we did it because we loved those songs and no-one else was playing them. Conventional wisdom would say that it wouldn't work and that the punters only want what they know. Wrong!! We found that people loved the concept and loved the way we put the songs across. We stuck with the concept and did well. Just goes to show that there's room for all sorts of bands in the covers market and you can be different if you are good and put the material across convincingly.
This is precisely why you don't have to play the lowest-common-denominator crap.
My band does something similar - 60s garage-rock and punk mostly, every song is well-known enough that it will be recognised by most if not all the crowd - actually less obscure ones than you did - and always goes down well, in fact we've been specifically complimented on the choice of songs.
You don't need to play stuff no-one knows, just use a bit of imagination and be different. There are literally thousands of great, well-known songs - you'll be remembered for doing some of them, rather than being just another cover band which plays all the usual cover band songs.
I know this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine . But I think the idea that you "need" to play those songs reinforces the snobbery against cover bands, makes it harder for bands who want to do something a bit different but don't want to play originals to empty rooms, and I think it's bad for live music in general.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Although, songs played in an attractive way (tight band or even appropriately loose, with energy, by a band that looks into it - whatever the ‘it’ needs to be) will tend to go down well whatever they are.