Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

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Pocketplayer
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Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Pocketplayer » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:07 pm

Sat in with a band playing covers...good selection of tunes from my era.
Immediately I got that, "Oh man" feeling when it came to tempo and feel.
I understand I grew up playing to records and CDs and in my head I had
to play exactly like the recorded performance. I didn't realize I was developing
a discipline it seems few have.

The guitar playing was sloppy for me. The general audience would think this
was good, but I was thinking, "Dude...do your homework...get the tone down
better and nail the basic parts...there is grace in the solo, but its a cover
tune, you have to nail the signature licks!"

I could go on...lead singer was good, but his phrasing like a guitar solo was
off. The audience has heard these songs 500 times each and expect this level
of detail...or maybe not?

I know I am too much a stickler on original composition, but it is a matter of
pride for me...I want the audience to walk away thinking, "Damn, those guys
NAILED it!" Too much to ask?

When I watch Kaide do his covers, he NAILS the parts and sound...this level
of skill is hard to find. Am I skewed by Youtube guys that literally nail the tone
of covers with their gear magic? If these guys can do it, then...

Overall, I just was disappointed with lazy. So close, but so far away feeling
when I drove home.
Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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langmick
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby langmick » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:38 pm

People in the audience don't necessarily care, guys in the band won't necessarily care. I sit in with a local blues jam, it is a slopfest...so much so that the guys can get pissy if you show them up by playing competently.
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Odd-Arne Oseberg
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Odd-Arne Oseberg » Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:46 pm

I think it depends on the situation.

Is it about getting a song, style and attitude right or is about sounding like someone else?
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Pocketplayer
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Pocketplayer » Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:07 pm

Landmick's got stories (which I love reading) about this subject. There is really
a big drop from someone like Kaide and the average musician out there. What
I have experienced is the big fish in the little pond syndrome. Guy's ego is the issue
and Lang is correct, you can actually be criticized for excellence. It threatens
lesser players and you come off as the bad guy or more righteous player when all
you want to do is keep a level of integrity. It really comes down to this for me...
what 'good is'...my 'good' was not their 'good' and with older guys if there isn't
compatibility here, it probably isn't going to happen.

What KILLS me is guys that HAVE the talent! It is there, but they are lazy.
This happened years ago...these guys nailed a 'Crosby, Stills, and Nash' vocal
arrangements, but they never wanted to practice songs all the way through...
literally stopping half way with, "We got this down, move on..." Then Live
on a gig, mistakes! I bring up the practice issue, and arrogance..."We're fine..."
Next gig, same thing. Guitarist would start a song without warning...set-list
was passed out minutes before performance...no leadership. Guitarist STOPPED
a song Live once...most embarrassing thing I ever experienced all because he
was LAZY! That was my last performance with those nimrods...and they had
a ton of talent!
Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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Kurtis
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Kurtis » Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:07 pm

Seems Iike your going through isolated shit storms. Don't sweat it. I do like it when a band or players in the band play well orchestrated original parts. Or compliment the original and make it their own. I like to play my own thing and keep it close to the original. Each its own man.

Different folks, different strokes
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langmick
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby langmick » Wed Apr 12, 2017 3:01 pm

As people get older, they have less time to do things like play in a band...perhaps when their kids get out of the house they can play more...

But with fb and all you should be able to find guys who are pro and don't dick around. There are a few guys here in Michigan who are like that.

This is dredging up old memories dammit!!! :)
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Pocketplayer
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Pocketplayer » Wed Apr 12, 2017 5:44 pm

"As people get older, they have less time to do things like play in a band...perhaps when their kids get out of the house they can play more..."

--Bullseye! I think for me at least it comes down to pride...but that is similar to 'good'--we each
have a different meter to measure both. Sometimes I want to re-live the past and just want
the other players to totally nail it, but Odd-Arne makes a valid point as well, depends on the
situation. If half the crowd is drinking or distracted this isn't exactly like paying good coin to
see Vinnie play with Sting type crowd. Yet...for me, that is more a challenge...I want them
to stop drinking and urge the WOW factor! Sting is preaching to the choir, these gigs are
more like a scene from Road House UNTIL you win them over!

I'd like to avoid this...lol

Jeff Porcaro Groove Master
http://jeffporcaro.blogspot.com
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Kurtis
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Location: South Bay

Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Kurtis » Wed Apr 12, 2017 6:01 pm

Pocket I love the one man band rush clip you posted. The guy came pretty darn close to Neil's parts but played his take. I can play his parts note for note on most songs. That shit is challenging. If I hear someone play a rush tune note for note I'm giggling
chris perra
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby chris perra » Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:15 pm

It depends on the venue and the type of band..

If it's a bar gig, your job is to sell beer and get people mingling and having fun.
If you're doing a tribute band then have it together.

The realty is the cover scene pays the same as it did 30 years ago.. 30 years ago $125 a guy was worth something and you did work to sound great. It was worth it.
Nowdays people don;t have the time as they have day jobs to pay the bills..
Julián Fernández
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Re: Playing Covers: How Picky is Too Picky???

Postby Julián Fernández » Wed Apr 12, 2017 9:06 pm

To me, it´s all about the feel and the performance... I couldn´t care less about playing the same fills/notes. btw, if someone is playing the solos verbatim, I wouldn´t be calling him/her for another gig/session any time soon. Heck, guys like Sting or Gabriel play their music different every time...


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