In the live karaoke band I played in, we'd have a set agenda the one or two times a year we'd play together, have some laughs working out details of (usually) deeper cut covers, and somehow pull it off by show time: some of the most fun shows I ever played really.

The handful of times we tried forming a 'real band', things would come to a stand still due to 'polite fighting', clashing ideas or influences, and ultimately too many options. We weren't "bad songwriters", it just didn't gel and wasn't as fun.

I've seen both types of bands play to an audience of trash cans and don't think one is inherently better than the other.

jfv wrote:

kokorodoko wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 12:32 am Maybe you're old friends but then again, is it fun starting a band with your old friends just to play covers?

Very much so.

Anthony Flack wrote:It's easy, you get the fun of playing a song without the work of writing and arranging it. Or the ten other songs you had to throw away.

Building a full set of quality originals takes time and proper effort; possibly arguments. A set of covers can be knocked together in a day and nobody's ego is threatened.

Thinking about it some, I would actually enjoy this. Never mind.

penningtron wrote: Fri Jun 03, 2022 8:36 am The handful of times we tried forming a 'real band', things would come to a stand still due to 'polite fighting', clashing ideas or influences, and ultimately too many options. We weren't "bad songwriters", it just didn't gel and wasn't as fun.

^ This is also a significant factor.

The "some people totally suck at songwriting" comment was an oversimplification on my part. Many people are capable of writing a good song. Not many people (can) consistently churn out good songs.

Not Crap -

Ex Lion Tamers.

I have realised that while playing covers locally can be fun, and I enjoy taking original music on the road, I can't be arsed travelling out of town to play covers.

I could do it if it were a Devo or Go-Go's cover band.

Waffling because they completely clogged up Craigslist in MPLS but I could get into going to see a band like Dread Zeppelin.

Bar bands? Crap. Especially when it’s one guy and a looper pedal.

I could see the dress up bands being fun if you’re over 70 years old, as an audience member I mean.

I love the response that, if you don’t force yourself to sit through shit you don’t like with a smile, you don’t enjoy “fun”.

biscuitdough wrote: Wed Jun 08, 2022 9:36 am one guy and a looper pedal.

My least favorite musical lineup, regardless of covers. I get highly suspicious of guitar players talking about looper pedals.

It should be said - almost everyone I've ever known that was in regular cover/tribute band simultaneously had a band doing originals.

Cover bands can be fun. It just sucks that for most people there is more money in that,