NWB - Community Blog

Music is music.
If you're in a band, you should have at least some kind of passion for it.
Whether it's music written by someone else, or by your very own self, it's still music, and that's something we should all be able to relate to.

If you enjoy what you're doing, what's the problem?
I don't really understand where all this is coming from. It was pointed out to me by my dear father on Friday night, and I came to check it out. It's pretty stupid, considering this is suposed to be a friendly community, and we're all here for eachother.

Same deal, Scott. This is my opinion, and it might not be the same as the rest of my bands, but I agree with you.

On occasion, I have felt pangs of jealousy over the criwds a cover band can pull and the demand for them prettymuch everywhere, but I chose to join an originals band, and I knew what came with it.

In the end, it must just come down to that jealousy...
That's the only real reason I can see, and it just doesn't seem good enough.

~Ben

we do both but down the years ive seen a lot of terrible covers bands, and quite a few good ones.

if you do the original justice, or you add your own sparkle to it, fair play, keep doing it.

Nice piece Scott, Well written and balanced.
There is no real need for division.
At the end of the day/night/gig its all about playing tunes that you like, getting to meet new folks and having fun with whatever you do.
I book Bands of all genres (Covers and Original) and so long as certain criteria are met, will continue to do so

Lets all unite under the Music for Musics sake banner eh?

i cant be arsed with any of it scott, we have all tryed the original route, but as you get older you just have to hang your boots up in that respect, good luck to anybody who makes a success of playing originals, but when you get a bit older and have not made it, you might as well just have some fun, as you said,that is where iam at now.

Well said Scott - I rambled along a similar path, which ended with me selling my drum kit in disgust and vowing I would never play again after the EP deal the band I was then with fell through and we split up.

But after about 7 years I got a call off an old mate - would i do a project with him for Comic relief? I ended up buying a kit, then I wanted to play more, then someone I knew said they knew a band who did covers looking for a drummer and off goes the rollercoaster again!

Let's face it - we all love playing music, and whether it's covers or originals, that's what it is all about.

If you're in it for the money, go on Britain's got the X factor on Ice.

Life's crap enough - us Musos neeed to stick together!

Alyergottoloveitoryouwouldntdrivebackfromwhereeveratthreeinthemorningpal

Is my memory not what is was or 20 to 25 years ago did most bands that played in pubs geneally do both about half a set of covers and half a set originals. I know we did that with Cliche and I seem to remember that bands that were around at that time like the original Wolfpack did the same. The full cover bands seemed to be more restricted to clubs then but I might be wrong with that.

@idle promise, yeah i remember that kind of scene too.

I feel there is ONE common thread between covers and originals that we should ALL take into account. Just because you think it sounds good.....doesn't mean it actually IS

@anthem (mark or andy ???)
that is the question, but, i was always taught, if it sounds good, it is good hahahahaha

music is music is music

think i understand what i mean there........... :-)

Just to echo what Scott said here. Nicely put matey.

Whatever type of music you play just enjoy it for what it is. Put your heart and soul into it, and don't take any of it too seriously else your ego will take over.

Best wishes to all bands here

John

Scott ... good blog ... salient points - but - i wouldn't call it a war between orig/covers ..... I've contributed as much as anyone else to the debate, but only to a) give my point of view on an existing blog, or b) I did one of my own, but opnly to highlight a particular incident as it was topical on here.

And its not just originals who fork out money for CDs etc, having produced 2 Fish CDs for a little over £1200 outlay, giving away more than we sell, but we did it 'cos we could!! Never a better thing to have as a reminder when the band's days are done

Anyways - in conclusion the thing is there's a whole world out there (NWB World) which has an audience somewhere for everyone ..

so get out there and play ..... end of ...
Willow

I have always thought Chaos Theory have a good method wherby they have a large range of covers and can get well paid gigs but also have their own material which they throw in as and when they can and use alot of their earnings in promoting that side at the same time. It may not end up successful but it gives them the opportunity to finance one side by the other but also please their audience. If your restricted to originals you are restricted in every way which does not make it wrong just much harder.

nice blog scott

yep less moaning on here in the words of frank zappa

"shut up and play ya guitar" (or whatever instrument ya play)

Whether its an orignal or a cover as long as you're feeling what you're playing. At 26 I have a good career outside of music which Im happy with, playing my drums to the music I love every Fri/Sat night gives ME huge amounts of satisfaction and thats all that matters. The world would be boring if everyone was the same.

and i hate to state the obvious here but new music is absolutely vital, without it things will never change

even the genre of classic rock has new stuff all the time

look at three of my faves

The Answer
Black Stone Cherry
Jet

these guys show their influences quite clearly but produce superb music all three have done no more than three albums thus far and are already very very popular indeed

keep an open mind people listen to anything and everything,doesnt matter what genre if you dont like it ya dont like it, love music in general

Well in Scott.
For us, it is all about having fun, pure and simple.
When you've got the sort of responsibilities you and I and many others on this site have then playing becomes a major let-off-steam valve and we go out to have fun and hopefully put that across. We find playing covers is the best way for us and the audience to let their hair down. Would be great to throw in some originals as well, god knows we've got enough in the can so maybe that's something to work on.
Anyway, I think I agree with virtually everything stated above, so I'll bugger off.
Good luck to all the bands on this site, whatever they play.
Cue John Miles and dry ice.....'Music was my first love and it will be the last....'LOL

Scotts blog sounds oh so familiar and probably is for a lot of us and that road to " stardom" .
I can't see what the bitching is all about.Down to individuals insecurities about their own abilities? And that could be from both sides (before war breaks out again).

Nice piece Scott. Very similar story to mine. I don't think it matters whether you're playing covers or originals. As long as you're enjoying it.

"We're all born to do a certain thing, and if you're dead jammy you find it. If you're happy, just keep doing it. If not, try something else. And yet we're all here to make babies and look after the place, you know?" The Waterboys/Spiritual City/Dream Harder

I have never been in this game for money only enjoyment has driven me, In the past I was in a covers band and we slowly started introducing our own material till over a period of 12 months it became all our own material, all those major superstars out there how many of them originally started off doing their own stuff ?, not many most of the major stars started by covering other bands material, this includes the beatles, rolling stones, wet wet wet,eric clapton, jimmy hendrix, jeff beck, jimmy paige just to mention a few, you would probably find it harder to find a mega star who didnt do covers at some time or other in their early career, sometimes it can be easier writting your own guitar solo than copying somebody elses, just because somebody does covers makes them no less a musician than somebody who does originals, I think music is great whether you wrote or somebody else wrote it, isnt it a compliment if somebody wants to play something you`ve written yourself, you get good and bad musicians whether they do originals or covers, some cover bands can play a track better than the originals, for instance who did the best version of words of love the beatles or buddy holly, all you classic rock fans have a listen to an album called stairway to heaven highway to tell you have skid row, scorpians,ozzy osborne, motley crue, bon jovi and cinderella all doing covers and every track is better than the original, the best tribute band I have ever seen is the australian pink floyd, ive seen them twice and ive seen pink floyd twice and believe it or not i prefered the aussies better than the original floyd doing the same tracks, at the end of the day music is music whoever writes it or whoever plays it, and if you love music you should appreciate it all if its played well.sometimes its impossible to see the original artist of a song, and somebody playing a cover of it is the only way you can here it played live, jimmy hendrix for instance even though i have seen him play live (wow thats showing my age )

ever since i was little ive just wanted to play the absolute living crap out of a guitar and continue listening to music of all kinds, the rest is just christmas wrapping

As a non musician, I've been reading the posts and thinking 'just let you guys get on with it, as it doesn't really concern me' but the more I read the more I want to get my opinion accross(for what it's worth lol).

I love music, music is life......it doesn't matter to me whether I'm listening to my favourite covers bands or originals bands - the main thing it that it is done well. From a personal perspective, I love supporting original bands, and get just the same buzz from that as a night out with a covers band. All that said, on a night out less friends will go along to the originals bands - thats their choice as their love for music is not the same and they prefer to sing along to tunes they know. Hey, we would be a boring lot if we all liked the same.....From a business perspective, covers bands definitely get more bums on seats, in the majority of venues. Bands like Chaos Theory have got it right, and to be honest half the customers dont even realise that they've done an original (shame on them)! We've had a few bands putting original material into their set and would always encourage this, as NEVER ONCE has any customer even mentioned it. Its finding the right balance and getting the crowd going enough that they join in with you......to hear good music and be entertained.

We all have a choice and what I do in business is not the same as I choose to do personally.....:-)

On another rant lol....I think it is good and healthy for everyone to have opinions and let em be heard ..... however, its not so healthy to make an argument out of other peoples opinions....

luv an hugs to all xxx

scott...dude....i loved ur song matey....just waitin for the 'i hate x-factor' lyrics to go with it then we can all do it at the PP haha!!!

Biggest musical influence on me was Phil Lynott, He passed away and I feel very fortunate that I have had the opportuntity to play his music to people who never saw him.

It seems to me that the biggest beef is the pay, which I can do nothing about. I'd do this for nothing. It's about the enjoyment for me.

But one factor that I get the strong impression of from some originals bands is that they assume that those of us in covers haven't done exactly the same thing they are doing, but got nowhere with it for whatever reason. I spent a long time plugging away at original music. It didn't work out and I'm not bitter, but I thoroughly enjoy playing covers. And I don't intend to stop for any reason.

Are you listening, "The Ascension"? We've been through the exact same thing you're doing now. If you make it, fair play to you, but if you don't you will be doing the same damned thing 10 years from now.

covers or original......it's all music, just enjoy it !

rock on

well after 20 modd years of playing in firstly as scott did , a yound original band , then cabaret , yes cabaret ,! then rock covers , my passion ,has always been rock covers , but i musat state something here ,alltho i have always played ,i havent always used this site , maybe 8 months or so, but in 2o odd years of playing i have never come across this so called divide, aint it funny that it only seems to be a virtual online thing ?

Trig

I've been playing now since the mid 70's and to be honest, I gave up "trying to be discovered" in the early 80's.

I used to write lots of songs, some good, some not. I can't be arsed to even listen to my own stuff now, as I've lived with it for what feels like eons. If I'm a wee bit tired of it, how can I put it across to other people to play or to an audience?

I do what I do now for the sheer pleasure of playing with the best musicians I have ever played with and making a few bob doing it and buying guitars.

Meanwhile those people out there who are writing good songs, with real fire in their bellies about it all, showing a bit of inspriration and belief in themselves get my total respect and my best wishes. Good on ya!

It's all music, whether it's the band's own or whether it's covers. It's all equally valid and no-one can really say otherwise. It's also all just entertainment, not life and death!!

Well put Ian

Done both and you get different rewards. We played an indie festival this year and were one of only two cover bands on the bill. I felt a bit of a fraud and would have felt better doing originals on the bill. Likewise when you are in the pub and playing stuff everyone recognises and gets up to its a great feeling. I guess you will only combine both when you get a following and they sing YOUR songs. Not always down to talent either - right place right time and a huge helping of luck.

Baz

Even mega rock bands do 'covers' both at gigs and on recorded mediums...... Metallica....Dream Theater etc.......wot does it matter wot you play......punters vote with their feet....so if your crap at playin either your own stuff or that written by others ya wont get gigs ....simple..
If certain people dont like and dont want to watch 'covers' bands...then thats simple too.....go somewhere else.
At the end of the day its about enjoying playing and performing music you love in front of people who like listening to and watchin you do it.....
I personallt think cricket is about as interesting as watching paint dry,,,,,, but id never have a go at those who do enjoy it and neither would i want to see the game of cricket banned....
same goes for 'live' music....... go and watch what ya like but dont tell others wot they should or shouldnt watch or play.....it just aint cricket :-> and get a life !!

RANT OVER !!

Well said TFL.

I've just added another comment to my blog from earlier. This was in reply to Ascension. I'm in agreement with Scott in calling for people to take off the blinkers and show some tolerance and respect to all musicians.

Hiya,

As someone who is currently in both a covers band AND an originals band, I think I'm well qualified to throw in my two'penneth on this subject lol!

I think that maybe it depends on how you get your musical 'kicks' - some people are born performers, and get a real buzz from entertaining the audience and interacting with the crowd - so for them being in a covers band is probably a good idea, as it means regular gigs and also getting paid for having fun!

Whereas other people enjoy the creative side of music more, and for them nothing beats the thrill of creating a CD of songs that they have written and played on, for example.

And let's not forget those, more in the jazz and blues scene I suppose, who are technically playing 'covers' but who interpret them with such virtuosity that they create something new every time.

Personally if I'm on a night out then I would prefer to go and see originals bands - as even if they're rubbish they're usually still interesting in some way! And as there are usually several bands on the bill you can get some very diverse nights - for example one night recently at the night&day I saw a rap group followed by a Russian electro-pop duo followed by an acoustic-electric lot (including a guy playing a chaos pad) followed by quite a heavy rock group!

However I realise that this is just my personal opinion and that many people prefer to go and see a covers band playing live songs that they can sing along to - horses for courses, as they say!

I'm not sure why the row happened, there was a fair bit of sniping from both sides and it's got a bit daft. Comments like original music masking a lack of ability(?) or covers bands being in it for the money are just ridiculous.

Yes, you can earn a few bob on the covers scene IF you're out every Friday and Saturday and sacrifice your social life/family time but it's hardly enough to build a swimming pool or buy a Ferrari and certainly not enough to give up your weekday job. It's probably about enough to keep you in strings and petrol, maybe buy a new amp or guitar every few years and that's about it.

Original bands, yes the watermark tends to be lower but then it can be far, far higher too. When a band writes its own songs, they don't have that built in quality control you get if you are making a covers set. Unless a covers band is on another planet their set is going to be cherry picked and be some of the best songs ever written. On the other hand, original bands can offer something new, something different and sometimes something exciting too.

I personally prefer writing and performing original music just because I prefer playing something that's never been done before. It's no slight on covers bands at all. I just love faffing around with synths and samplers and making daft noises, maybe doing the odd gig here and there for a laugh. No plans for world domination or "fame" (urghhh), it's just nice to know that once I've popped me clogs I'll have made a few records I can say are mine. Whether anyone else listens to them or not isn't really an issue for me.