Covers and Originals

SUperstar · Post by **SUperstar** » Tuesday Apr 13, 2004

Never over estimate the average audience member. Most people going out on Friday/Saturday night to the local club or bar are not going out to get turned on to someone's art or some new ideas.. They are going out to get drunk, get layed and dance to familiar music. People are creatures of habit. Most of the peopl haunting this board seem to be in bands or deeply into music...and yes... people like us would be interested in going out and seeing somehting new and original. But we are the minority by far. Give people what they like.. tha bars/clubs are happy. The bars/clubs are happy.. the band gets paid.

We play in an all original band called Never The Sunshine. ALice In Chains/Sabbath/Soundgarden style hard rock Check out our tunes at : http://music.mp3lizard.com/neverthesunshine/

Yet I play all of my paying gigis doing solo acousctic covers and playing drums in a classic rock band: http://mattnoldy.tripod.com & http://countyproper.tripod.com

The covers go over much better... the bars are so more interested in paying and taking care of the cover bands. We are farther north in PA. Where the majority of people on this board seem to be (Central PA) it's all crappy nu metal or 80's metal going on. Up here is a more Classic Rock, Blues, Modern top 40 scene going on. Having listened to a lot of clips from several bands on this site.. there is a major difference in quality that is happening between Southern/Central PA and Northern PA/Southern Tier NY. Suprising to see some of the bands getting sponsorships when their tunes sound so... well.. not that great. But different area's crowds want for & accept different things.. Fat Vin and those guys should come up here.. their tunes were smokin'.. a band like that: clean, professional sounding goes over well up this way

Chevelle7982 · Post by **Chevelle7982** » Tuesday Apr 13, 2004

It is obviously difference in taste and opinion, because I too have listened to the bands that are extremely proud of their sponsorships, and rightfully so. I think that they are quite worthy of these sponsorships. I think that the sound here in cenral PA is very unique and diverse which offers great variety and deserves great acclaim. Job well done everybody.

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Tuesday Apr 13, 2004

Anyone have any ideas or comments on SUperstars post? Just curious...I had something written up but decided to wait and watch...LOL

Chevelle7982 · Post by **Chevelle7982** » Tuesday Apr 13, 2004

Frayed, I think you saw my post response. I don't think this a critiqueing page. I didn't appreciate his analysis on these bands with sponsorships and I'm not even one fo these band members. I think Lost Ledney has a great sound. I checked out their webiste yesterday and enjoyed listening to their mp3 samples. By the way, I listened to your tracks on your website. first time on your site and I liked it alot.

SUperstar · Post by **SUperstar** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

Please let me clarify by no means was I throwing a blanket over all of these bands down that way in genreal. Just from checking the majority of sites linked through this board you see some very similar bands- nu- metal, some 80's Hair stuff and/or old school Slayer sounding metal. And like I said above.. different area's crowds want for different things. No biggie. Some of the bands I have come across are very talented; and well some are not that great- that's all I said. I didn't slag anyone or band in particular-cause that's not what it's about. I was just getting involved in the conversation regarding covers and originals and also tying into the recent sponsorship talks around the forums.

tornandfrayed · Post by **tornandfrayed** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

No offense taken, I just hate to be too critical. But I will say that I did go and listen to the mp3's from your band and they sounded....well....very good! I thought the sound quality was very good and the style was cool. I thought the whole thing was very well done! Good Job! Never the Sunshine is definately a band that I would go to see.

Punkinhead · Post by **Punkinhead** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

I think Superstar somewhat has a point. I've been to alot of different places and it seems that each has their own certain way of doing things though. It's not just this area that has a plethora of nu metal and 80s bands thats unlike when I went to NY and saw a ton of shitty hardcore and emo. Or when I went to certain parts of Florida and saw a shitload of death metal. Or in Vegas, you got the lounge acts. That is everywhere.

But, in the end, do what makes you happy if you can. Music really is shit to me if I don't enjoy it. I know I'm in the position to say that given that I teach and all. If you want to pay your bills playing covers, hey it's better than working 9-5 any day. If you don't want to play them and want to play out for yourself, do that too.

SUperstar · Post by **SUperstar** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

Thanks for the words Torn. We are in pre production of our next full length CD currently so shows are limited. Thats me playing the drums and singing

Chevelle7982 · Post by **Chevelle7982** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

I apologize SUperstar. I just read things the wrong way sometimes. We have had history of hypocrits on this page from time to time thats all. My Bad dude!

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

In pre-CD times, bands used the "hit single" method, where they would pick two songs from an album as most popular candidates (not the best two songs--the most popular two) and cut a single with them. They pushed the single to sell the album.

Unless you've managed a big following with all originals, I would suggest that you push a few "most popular sounding" songs and get the crowd's attention and interest. That will give more people a better chance to become familiar with your work.

SUperstar · Post by **SUperstar** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

Chevelle7982 wrote:I apologize SUperstar. I just read things the wrong way sometimes. We have had history of hypocrits on this page from time to time thats all. My Bad dude!

No one's bad dude... like I said.. I was just getting involved in the conversation... Cover bands make the cash and original people put their art out to be judged. And some people "art" is better than others. I did leave links to samples of my music so as not to be a hypocrite- welcome for others to judge what I have done... as Torn did- & I am glad he enjoyed the tunes. But to each is own. It's nice to see people this spirited about their music and their musical communtiy.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wednesday Apr 14, 2004

I just think there are certain times and places for both kinds of tunes. You gotta play to the crowd. If you don't care about that, then just play for yourself and do what you want. It makes no sense to argue about a topic where no one is either right or wrong. That's what makes the whole cover/original debate going. There is no right answer, only opinions and that is fine. It's up to the individuals playing the music and nobody else.

Punkinhead · Post by **Punkinhead** » Thursday Apr 15, 2004

ipsod wrote:
"If you believe in your self and your music, the people will believe. If you compromise yourself, people will know it. They're not as stupid as we musicians like to think."

Rock on!

thats a sweet quote

Punkinhead · Post by **Punkinhead** » Thursday Apr 15, 2004

ipsod wrote:
"If you believe in your self and your music, the people will believe. If you compromise yourself, people will know it. They're not as stupid as we musicians like to think."

Rock on!

thats a sweet quote

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Monday Apr 26, 2004

It seems to me the Beatles started as a cover band. There's nothing wrong with doing good covers. Sometimes they will open doors. Please write as much as you can and put it into a show as often as your crowd permits. The beatles also recorded covers ( with their own spin ). But I really liked their originals.

ROCKPAGE

Covers and Originals

Ok

Well spoken!