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FDP Forum / Performer's Corner / set lists

Next 20 Messages

Gary101 vero beach, fl That was broke	Feb 19th, 2012 01:31 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Does it matter if your sets are heavy with one artists music. Wheres the line then that makes you a tribute? Do most just play the top 40? I'm interested to hear from yall please.
sjerome Contributing Member ********** Upstate NY, USA Musical accident waiting to happen	Feb 19th, 2012 02:03 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic (1) Not if you and the crowd like it (2) To me, "Tribute" = all one artist's material (3) What top 40? Does that still exist? Anyway, no.
DPH Massachusetts, USA	Feb 20th, 2012 06:05 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I imagine you're setlists are geared around both pleasing your audience and also pleasing yourselves. If it passes both of those tests, it probably wouldn't matter if you played six songs by the same band.
5Strats Contributing Member ********** *** Edmond/OKC Chasing Sanity	Feb 20th, 2012 07:22 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Our set lists are heavy with one band, us. (:oD ps - We only play about 4 cover songs, depending on how long our set is that night.
SpinDoctor Contributing Member ***** Ohio USA	Feb 20th, 2012 07:36 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic A set list based heavily on the ABBA discography is NOT a good idea.
Gaukdawg Ohio I'm with you fellers!	Feb 20th, 2012 08:00 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I've found that if you want to play out a lot and be a popular band, don't even think about playing music "you" like, play what brings the drinkers in and onto the dance floor. Either learn to like it or be a very good actor. Or just play the music you like and stay in the garage or basement. There is nothing wrong with that.
jbryan US	Feb 20th, 2012 08:45 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Gaukdog calls it on this one! Although, I do think you can find a lot of music you like, and that will please the crowd too. As long as it isn't obscure music nobody knows. And, you need to focus what you're intent is as a band. And Top 40 today isn't what it was 20 years ago. There is so many genre's mixed in- rock, country, hip hop...if you tried to do all of these you would be confusing to the audience. IMO, pick a direction and go there. Billing ourselves as a Variety Rock/Pop band gives us some latitude on picking material. We try to do a good balance of Classic Rock/Pop and current Rock/Pop.
Gene O. Contributing Member ** Canton, Ohio, USA	Feb 20th, 2012 08:45 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic The Dawg speaks the truth!
5Strats Contributing Member ********** *** Edmond/OKC Chasing Sanity	Feb 20th, 2012 08:57 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Some of us don't play in "cover" bands. It might not be the way to make money or get gigs, but there's no alternative if the reason you're into music is to be creative. ps - My day job allows me to play live without worring about making money. I know this won't suit a lot of musicians.
tahitijack San Clemente, CA Happy Sunsets, tahitijack	Feb 20th, 2012 10:44 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic I was in a ski area bar last year. The solo acoustic guitar player was very good but almost every third song was a Jimmy Buffett tune. I like Jimmy but it was way too much.
jbryan US	Feb 21st, 2012 02:16 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Sorry those of us who play in "cover bands" tarnish the "Holy Grail of Musicianship". I would rather listen to a great cover band than a medicore orignal band any day!
garp Contributing Member ******** Connecticut USA Nothing to do but feed all the kangaroos	Feb 21st, 2012 02:27 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic “every third song was a Jimmy Buffett tune. I like Jimmy but it was way too much.” That’s pretty much my sentiment, too. I was playing in a cover band a few years ago, and the bandleader decided that every third song would be a Beatles tune. His defense: “But *everybody* loves The Beatles!” I countered with: “If you look at the median age of our audience, you could also argue that everybody loves Coldplay, yet we don’t cover any of *their* songs.” I exited that band shortly thereafter.
5Strats Contributing Member ********** *** Edmond/OKC Chasing Sanity	Feb 21st, 2012 02:44 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic jbryan - I didn't intend to disrespect cover bands, I was just pointing out that not everybody here that uses set lists plays in one. I also pointed out why lots of musicians wouldn't want to go the original music route (it's a long, largely unpaved road full of potholes and low pay).
Gato Contributing Member ********* USA	Mar 17th, 2012 06:48 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic In my band, we huddle to make up agreeable set lists, discuss the order of the songs, make corrections by vote and then come the gig.... I might just as well have left the set list on my kitchen table. The leader starts calling out songs from all over the place, which tends to slow down the action as the next song has to filter down through all the players, music gets shuffled on the stands, etc. I could accept getting a request from the audience or an alteration based on perceived fan base tastes that night, but the songs always seem to be changed in favor of making the lead guy look good to the cuties out there to the exclusion of everything else.
heynorm Omaha, USA	Mar 20th, 2012 12:05 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Back in the 80's our oldies band would do Beatles songs every set, usually a goup of three somewhere in the middle. "Hey, it's Beatle time!" The two main singers' voices had just the right blend to pull it off. Otherwise, we tried to do as much variety as possible.
walshb Contributing Member ********** ** Manchester, TN 12,423 Mustangs passed and counting	Mar 20th, 2012 06:52 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic "I might just as well have left the set list on my kitchen table." Does everyone have one in front of them? If not, print one out for everyone. Like you said, what's the point if you're not going to at least come close to sticking to the list. We've had somewhat similar problems, but usually because the drummer (who also handles most of the lead vocals) gets tired and needs a break.
fscott Contributing Member Saskatchewan, Canada	Mar 20th, 2012 07:49 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Proud Mary, Little Sister, and Bad Moon Rising, etc. always gets them out on the floor.
Saddletramp Southeast Louisiana 100.3 FM, KLRZ, LaRose, LA	Mar 20th, 2012 08:10 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Gasto; "I might just as well have left the set list on my kitchen table.". Happens to us all thde time. But - each tune on the list (excel spreadsheet) is numbered; if there is a change, leader calls out the number and we all, of course, have the same number for the same tune. That's kind of how the term "now for the next number..." came about back in the big band days.
mroulier Contributing Member ***** Suburban MD. Ask me about my BlowCoat(tm)!	Mar 21st, 2012 09:50 AM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Gato, I'd hate to be in your shoes...Is he the "Leader" in every sense, or just the "Leader" in his own head? We'd have a serious meeting before the next gig if it was 'our' band and not just 'his' band. I do work hard on setlists to keep the flow going, accomidate the different singers (even if they only sing one song a set), vary up the artists (we did 3 Ramones songs, one in each set!) and get the last 2 or 3 songs of each set to be stong finishers. I was always amazed at how well "My Sharona" followed by "Surrender" could get our peeps up and dancing...
knorkin Contributing Member **** Tacky Park Maryland back on the bottom again	Mar 22nd, 2012 12:37 PM   Edit   Profile   Print Topic   Search Topic Whether you're a cover band or solo singer/guitarist who happens to like a particular artist - such as Neil Young - I don't think you should do more than two songs by the same artist in any one set. Of course there are exceptions. I've heard dance/party bands do arranged medleys or sets-within-a-set of a particular artist and that works ok. But in a concert, club or other non-dance situation, I'd say variety of sources is better.

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