AzHeat
Platinum Member
There’s been an ongoing theme with cover bands with everyone playing the same song lists regardless of venue or band, mostly played average or best, and I’m not singling out the drummer. You could go into a park, bar or festival and hear the same 20 song playlist day after day and month after month. This doesn’t seem to be limited to my area as much as I thought. In contrast, the music scene seems quite different, when I visit either coast with far greater variety and quality.
Now, you’d think that’s all Phoenix wanted, but it’s not the case. There are a few and I do mean few bands who are gigging the high end venues every weekend and drawing a big crowd, but everywhere else is about as predictable as possible.
I keep reading about how you are only expected to play Sweet Home Alabama or Mustang Sally at every gig, but why is that, if at least a few bands are getting cool gigs doing way more?
I’m posting this due to all this conversation about the money beat, but the better bands I’m referring to are playing songs from Dave Mathews to Zeppelin to James Brown, Pretty much every genre in the top 40 categories across the last 4 decades and some far from the money beat. The crowds respond well regardless.
So, why aren’t more bands aspiring to play all of the above, instead of the same 20 songs, when there’s obviously a call for them when other bands are making money getting great gigs? Is it because they figure it’s better to be a stage whore than do something better? What is it and why would someone hire one band over the other, when there’s really no variety?
Now, you’d think that’s all Phoenix wanted, but it’s not the case. There are a few and I do mean few bands who are gigging the high end venues every weekend and drawing a big crowd, but everywhere else is about as predictable as possible.
I keep reading about how you are only expected to play Sweet Home Alabama or Mustang Sally at every gig, but why is that, if at least a few bands are getting cool gigs doing way more?
I’m posting this due to all this conversation about the money beat, but the better bands I’m referring to are playing songs from Dave Mathews to Zeppelin to James Brown, Pretty much every genre in the top 40 categories across the last 4 decades and some far from the money beat. The crowds respond well regardless.
So, why aren’t more bands aspiring to play all of the above, instead of the same 20 songs, when there’s obviously a call for them when other bands are making money getting great gigs? Is it because they figure it’s better to be a stage whore than do something better? What is it and why would someone hire one band over the other, when there’s really no variety?