Terry2
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I have 10 minutes and am at a loose end, so will have a mini rant! 21-Feb-2019 11:31:27
| CorrsClub Time: 18-Apr-2024 22:19:37 |
Tributes and covers is an interesting discussion, to me anyway.
I think local live music industries would be decimated without covers. Of course I'm biased, as I play in a covers band, (and it can be a lot of fun). Covers can be straight copies, re-arrangements or re-interpretaions. All three have their place I think, but variety is the ticket for me.
So many bands start out as covers bands, because that is pretty much the way you get gigs when you start out; (and of course orchestras are covers bands as well). Pubs/Clubs don't often take a chance on new originals bands, as few people take a punt on going to see them. I have been to a few 'up and coming' band events, with variable audience numbers. It is pot luck as to whether you'll hear anything you like.
I guess the trick is to play covers, and salt in a few of your own songs. I know some young bands who play as a covers band to generate income to fund their originals band, and fair play to them. One of the bands I spoke to said they feel they get the best of both worlds that way. I guess the FundMe and Patreon schemes help in that direction as well.
Personally, I'd rather see / hear a covers band than listen to a DJ, but then, I'm old. I still like a well stocked juke box!
I don't agree that musicians who don't or can't write successful music are of less value. Song writers generally need other musicians to present their songs live. Not every band is fortunate in having every member contribute music, but they all contribute something. I've written and demoed a few songs, and listening to them, sadly they are all crap. C'est la vie, maybe one day....
I agree partly with Dave as in general I'm not a fan of Tribute acts. I find the 'pretending to be the band' bit rather spooky. I don't know why, after all, movie and TV actors make a living doing just that. However, a lot of tribute acts are musically spot on, and they only get work because people like them.
As Chris said, bands split, tour less, or get too old to perform well or at all, so a space opens for tributes of some kind. Fleetwood Bac and Brit Floyd are good examples, and there are more Abba tribute bands than you could shake a stick at.. They mostly play the songs excellently, can sing in the original keys, and play reasonable size venues.
You would likely pay £20ish to see Fleetwood Bac, and maybe double that to see Brit Floyd, as opposed to £100-200+ to see Fleetwood Mac. You pay yer money and make your choice. (I chose Fleetwood Mac and paid piles of cash for tickets. They were very good, but struggled vocally with a few songs in my view. Still worth it at that time. Maybe less so now, to me, without Lindsey Buckingham). I suppose you can only charge what people are prepared to pay. Cue all the annoyance at the ticket prices for the White Light Tour?
Anyway, rant over, time for a brew.
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