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It isn't just about bands playing cover music. It's the ones who say ridiculous things like "That's not how the solo goes". Not how the solo goes? Isn't the solo section where a musician can express himself?



That's a touchy subject. I wonder how many headliners who had the studio musicians like "The Wrecking Crew" record their backing tracks, and then had to learn the solo like the studio guy played it. And how many others improvised something in the studio, and had to memorize that for playing live. I know if I went to see the Eagles do "Hotel California" I'd want to hear the solo on the record, and if they liked, they could extend it with improvisations that I never heard before. On other songs, I'd like a totally improvised solo. But as a musician listener, I'd be happy with whatever they played.

Being in a variety band, I have more options. When we do "Black Magic Woman" I try to play Carlos Santana's solo as close as possible. Why? I think it's beautiful. There are a few songs I do that on. But most songs I prefer to improvise my solo and not pay tribute to the recording. It's my choice.

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There is one popular trib band here who passed on a great drummer who, at his audition, "hit the wrong cymbal". Huh? You have to cover so close that you care what cymbal the guy hit? That is like firing a sax player because the guy in the band they are copying plays Rico reeds and your sax player plays La Voz.



Sounds like a band I wouldn't join. But then, to be in a tribute band for me would be boring. As much as I like any particular band, I would also want to play other music.

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Now, if you are playing Yakkety Sax, of course there is a melody to that instrumental and you need to follow it, but to force a player to completely ape a solo.... that's where the difference is between someone who can repeat and someone who can create. That is the reason I have never and will never see a "tribute band". That is just another word for "copy band". A copy band that only copies one act maybe, but still a copy band.



I'm with you on that, with the exception of Symphony Orchestras. I'd go to an all Prokofiev or an all Dvorak concert.

I've never had a desire to see a tribute band or a tribute artist. But if someone else wants to be an Elvis impersonator or a Rod Stewart impersonator or if a band wants to be a Steely Dan impersonator or a Led Zep impersonator, it's OK with me. Others enjoy doing it and it pulls a crowd (or else they wouldn't keep dong it). I have no disrespect for them, but my own personal desire is to not attend. But then I don't watch sports, or for that matter, any TV at all. I'd rather watch a month of cover bands than a day of televised football or faux news.

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IF you have to cover, make the songs your own. I can't stand the jukebox mentality.



I play some like the record, some similar to the record and some totally re-arranged. It depends on the song and my prediction of what the audience wants (unfortunately I'm not clairvoyant so I don't have a 100% track record).

When I was young, back before DJs and Discos, we tried to cover every song 'like the record' with the exception of most solo improvisations. I never minded that. And today, I try to cover some songs like the record and I still don't mind. Others I play my way. Either way I enjoy it.

When I was in concert band, we played the notes on the page. The conductor coaxed his expression out of us within the limits of the notes on the page. I enjoyed that but wouldn't want to be in a symphony. On the other hand, I've talked to musicians in symphony orchestras after the concert and they tell me how much fun they had.

There is more than one right way to do this, and what works for one, won't work for another. And personally, I don't care what other musicians think of my act, and whether they want to stay or walk out. I do have musician friends who come to listen, and I'm sure others don't. I'm secure enough in my playing to not care what other musicians think of me. There are better musicians out there and worse ones too. It's a fact of life.

I do care what the audience thinks of me. They are my partners. So far the mix I'm doing is working.

For those who do original material only, more power to you. I'll gladly take the gigs you reject, and I hope some day you will be so famous that I'll get to cover one of your songs. Like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Czech Philharmonic, and all the artists/bands that did King/Goffin, Leiber/Stoller, Mann/Weill, Gershwin/Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, etc. songs, I don't feel I have to write the songs I sing/play. IMHO some songwriters shouldn't sing (like Bob Dylan or Taylor Swift) -- they may be great songwriters but Dylan can't sing and Swift needs auto-tune. Writing skills and performing skills are not always gifted to the same person. So let the writers write, the singers sing, and for those who can do both well, enjoy your gifts and go for it. IMHO there is nothing wrong with doing other people's material, whether it is by Muddy Waters, George Harrison, or Dmitri Shostakovitch.

Since I got out of school, I've had only two day jobs in my life while testing out the 'real world'. That proved to me that being a musician is not what I do, but what I am. Other than those two short-term day gigs, I've never worked a day in my life, I've played -- and that's a good thing for me.

Notes

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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