hey guys, you all bring up very valid points, and I hate to come off as a defensive loser, but I didn't ask "how can I be a better performer?" or "what do you do when they don't know the songs?"
Jimmi Hatt's suggestion was on target, and suprisingly, mr spellbouboundbymetal.
What I was thinking was "what's the point in playing cover songs people don't know?"
If nobody knows the song, I'd rather play my own songs.
There is, of course, some new music that people know, but Altoona was never "cutting edge" and now I fear it will be light years behind new music.
you guys are still all right, but this gets hashed out about once every other month or so.
play your heart out all night every night, what more needs to be said on the subject?
cover bands and local radio
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RobTheDrummer
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bassist_25
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RobTheDrummer
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Anyone up for a road trip to Reno? It involves getting your kicks on Route 66, apparently.
Speaking of disco, we did a gig this Friday at Seven Springs, and there were two entertainment choices: a tribute to 80s hair rock with HF1, and an ABBA tribute thing. Hopefully nobody confused the two.
If they did, Vic and Phillip would be Agnetha and Anni-Frid, since they're the mildly pretty ones that can sing. That makes me Benny or Bjorn? 
Speaking of disco, we did a gig this Friday at Seven Springs, and there were two entertainment choices: a tribute to 80s hair rock with HF1, and an ABBA tribute thing. Hopefully nobody confused the two.
If they did, Vic and Phillip would be Agnetha and Anni-Frid, since they're the mildly pretty ones that can sing. That makes me Benny or Bjorn? As was stated in previous threads a cover band should:
1. Play anything and everything you can (within your musical abilities, of course) because that's what will make live music triumph versus DJs and karaoke---that's our competition, not each other.
2. Where do you get new music? Who cares! Buy it, borrow it, get it from Satellite, download it, whatever you need to do. If you're not hearing it on the radio, maybe no one else is either, so how would a person know that tune if you played it?
3. Take a look at your crowd. Do they really want to hear the newest stuff, or would they rather hear some classic crap that we all hate playing but unfortunately is a necessary evil? Well, do you want to play or do you want to sit home? See point #1.
4. If an audience doesn't like certain selections that you pick out, keep trying them on different crowds. If they still aren't going over, then maybe put those tunes on the back burner for awhile. Try some other material whether it be new or old or whatever. Again, see point #1.
This shit's been said over and over and over again and all those who said it are absolutely correct!
You're point was where do you find new music.
It sounds like you want to be a cutting edge type of cover band which there's nothing wrong in doing that. Get your music from Satellite Radio or wherever you need to. It's there. There are obviously people listening to it. But be aware of where the market is for that kind of material. If it's not in Altoona, and it certainly ain't in Johnstown, then maybe you'll have to travel around until you find it. Hopefully you will. I don't know where it is, either.
If people aren't digging the new tunes and fresh new stuff you're trying, then you either add the crap in along with those tunes, find places to play that will accept or be more open to what you want to do, stay at home reading Rockpage posts hoping for the definitive magical solution, or write more originals, do cutting edge stuff, and get the fuck out there and try to make a name for yourself using whatever means possible. What other choices are there, really?
Hopefully that answered your question.
Personally, I like to hear new stuff. So good luck with it!
1. Play anything and everything you can (within your musical abilities, of course) because that's what will make live music triumph versus DJs and karaoke---that's our competition, not each other.
2. Where do you get new music? Who cares! Buy it, borrow it, get it from Satellite, download it, whatever you need to do. If you're not hearing it on the radio, maybe no one else is either, so how would a person know that tune if you played it?
3. Take a look at your crowd. Do they really want to hear the newest stuff, or would they rather hear some classic crap that we all hate playing but unfortunately is a necessary evil? Well, do you want to play or do you want to sit home? See point #1.
4. If an audience doesn't like certain selections that you pick out, keep trying them on different crowds. If they still aren't going over, then maybe put those tunes on the back burner for awhile. Try some other material whether it be new or old or whatever. Again, see point #1.
This shit's been said over and over and over again and all those who said it are absolutely correct!
You're point was where do you find new music.
It sounds like you want to be a cutting edge type of cover band which there's nothing wrong in doing that. Get your music from Satellite Radio or wherever you need to. It's there. There are obviously people listening to it. But be aware of where the market is for that kind of material. If it's not in Altoona, and it certainly ain't in Johnstown, then maybe you'll have to travel around until you find it. Hopefully you will. I don't know where it is, either.
If people aren't digging the new tunes and fresh new stuff you're trying, then you either add the crap in along with those tunes, find places to play that will accept or be more open to what you want to do, stay at home reading Rockpage posts hoping for the definitive magical solution, or write more originals, do cutting edge stuff, and get the fuck out there and try to make a name for yourself using whatever means possible. What other choices are there, really?
Hopefully that answered your question.
Personally, I like to hear new stuff. So good luck with it!