Life after cover bands - 6 months in...

gearHed289 · June 11, 2015, 09:34:45 AM

So patman's post about leaving the music biz gave me the idea to share my recent experiences. After 8 years of 50+ shows per year, I have now not played a gig in 6 months. For various reasons, I decided to step away. And funny thing - I had been uninspired to write for years, but once I made the decision to get out of cover band-land, I started spewing ideas like crazy! I'm LISTENING to and DISCOVERING more music, I'm GOING to more shows, and I'm WRITING again. It's been good. Kind of a relief from the day job/family/gigs grind. I didn't need that extra $15K a year anyway...

So a guitar player friend and fellow prog fanatic that I've known for 30 years and I are finally doing the prog project we've been talking about for a few years now. We're sharing writing duties. I'm doing bass, synths, and vocals. He's got a Roland setup on his guitar. I found a really cool electric violinist (7 string through a guitar rig), and recruited the drummer from the last original band I was in (Ivory Wire). I'm still trying to find a name everyone likes. $:-\$ I've realized I have a lot of great resources available too - people who are willing and eager to help out. Really GOOD people - producer, live engineer, photographer, web designer, booking agents... Even though, at the end of the day, this is "for fun", I still intend to make it as top quality as I can. There are some good venues in Chicago for this kind of thing, and I have some possible "ins" as local support for national acts. We have a ton of stuff written. Things are moving VERY slowly due to availability (drummer and violinist), but I plan to record 4 songs ASAP, then get some live shows under our belt before recording another half dozen or so. Very exciting and inspiring stuff!

I've got 1 "sub" gig this summer with a band that does all Zep, Aerosmith, VH, and AC/DC. I may return to that world some day, but for now, I'm enjoying some time off!

Granny Gremlin · June 11, 2015, 10:22:47 AM

Congrats - this is exactly why I stay as far away as possible from cover bands.

patman · June 11, 2015, 10:34:46 AM

Unfortunately, in Cincinnati, if you want to play (and get paid)...it's pretty much got to be a cover band.

Granny Gremlin · June 11, 2015, 10:37:41 AM

I made my choice. There's day jobs for a living.

Original bands can get paid anywhere as long as you draw and avoid shitty venues.

Pilgrim · June 11, 2015, 10:52:00 AM

I'm glad this works so well for the OP! Nice to get rejuvenated.

Myself, I love playing "covers", which i simply regard as proven music that the audience and i both like. It's great to play stuff that people recognize and want to hear, but it's not for everyone! To each their own.,

nofi · June 11, 2015, 04:08:15 PM

i hate cover bands. seems like a waste to spend your time and talent playing other peoples stuff. its even worse if you cop a rock star attitude being in a cover band.

i don't get it.

Highlander · June 11, 2015, 04:13:34 PM

Interesting news... prog band names have to be suitably pretentious, or subtly straight...

patman · June 11, 2015, 04:15:06 PM

I take a lot of pride in playing in a cover band...

most of what we do is good music done well.

slinkp · June 11, 2015, 04:35:17 PM

Aussie Mark · June 11, 2015, 05:11:28 PM

Yes, I play in both. The cover band/s allows us to get tight as a unit, make good money to buy quality gear, and get comfortable performing in front of large crowds. All of that translates to killer live performances when we play our original gigs, because we're gigging all the time in one format or another.

wellREDman · June 11, 2015, 06:12:04 PM

Quote from: Aussie Mark on June 11, 2015, 05:11:28 PM
Yes, I play in both. The cover band/s allows us to get tight as a unit, make good money to buy quality gear, and get comfortable performing in front of large crowds. All of that translates to killer live performances when we play our original gigs, because we're gigging all the time in one format or another.

that sounds cool, is it exactly the same band?

Dave W · June 11, 2015, 06:12:24 PM

Quote from: slinkp on June 11, 2015, 04:35:17 PM

+1

It's fine to choose one or the other, or both. Do what suits you.

Pilgrim · June 11, 2015, 10:33:57 PM

Quote from: patman on June 11, 2015, 04:15:06 PM
I take a lot of pride in playing in a cover band...

most of what we do is good music done well.

That's it. Back in the big band era, every band had their version of favorites of the day. No one argued with that - I see playing popular music as exactly the same thing: our interpretation of the hit.

I am also pleased when people write original music, and I appreciate that. Good original music is a fine thing. Sucky original music would, IMO, be better off replaced with "covers."

I don't look down my nose at either, nor do I agree with the attitude of those who do.

westen44 · June 11, 2015, 11:33:45 PM

Quote from: slinkp on June 11, 2015, 04:35:17 PM

I agree. No need to make it into a false dichotomy.

patman · June 12, 2015, 06:14:48 AM

Agreed, you can do both...

But if the originals are not excellent music, I personally would rather play covers that are excellent music. Playing amateurishly written originals is to me, worse than playing in a mediocre cover band.

We do the typical dance set stuff...but we try to play good quality tunes...

We do some oddball stuff, and people seem to love it because it's good music...