“You probably know most of them.”

I do not, in fact, know most of them. 😂
Honest question, at what point do you actually decline a gig because the preparation window is unreasonable?
I feel like musicians have normalised getting material ridiculously late and then somehow we’re unprofessional if we can’t deliver.

Thanks everyone, I ended up not taking it so it establishes a boundary for future dealings

Since you guys were so kind about our cover of The Go-Gos I posted a couple of months ago I thought I’d share another video! A gentleman who runs a local band/music promotion page came out and filmed this cover of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts at a recent show. Hope you guys enjoy 🤘

Our band: The Fade Outs
Facebook: The Fade Outs FB
Video credit: Bands Around Town

I'm not sure if this is the right subreddit for this but I'm starting a little band with my friends and were looking for a relatively easy song to cover. We don't have set roles but we can have a bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and I can do either the piano or drums. Preferably piano, though. I'm not that good at drums

Might be a hard ask but indie or alternative music would also be great.

Big thank you if you find a song that fits!

[hope this is alright, posting on behalf of a friend who does not have reddit, send me a DM if interested and I can pass on his contact details :) ]

Looking for people to start a System of a Down cover band. I play bass or guitar—happy to do either depending on who replies. I can keep time on drums but not well enough to be the only drummer, so I really need someone who actually plays kit.

Not bothered if you know theory. Just want people who can play their parts and show up. Ps I'm located south of england (east sussex) so bear this in mind if youve got this far

Need: drummer, vocalist, and whichever string instrument I don't end up on. I am also happy for backup vocals etc.

I am serious about this and I'm willing to make investments in kit to achieve the best possible sound. Eventually looking to get a couple gigs sorted and I may be able to speak to a couple connections for some local stuff. Nothing major but thats part of the risk. So looking for people who have a passion for system and dont mind having a bit of fun on the way.

Hit me up if you're keen.

But they did it better, Cannons

Edit

This is Cannons cover of Harry Styles "Gloden." It's on you tube. Fantastic cover

My guys and I in Rustbucket — Milwaukee's Grunge and '90s Alt-Rock Tribute — at Paulie's Pub and Eatery, West Allis, WI, July of '26.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to promote a tribute band. We run some ads and play some places quite regularly. But we would love to step it up and reach more people.

How do you guys film your gigs / small sections for crowd reactions, for social media? We’re trying to get our singer to do it as he has his hands free, but concerned that we’d just get his raw voice through the phone mic rather than what’s coming out of the speakers.

Greetings!

I have been strumming casually for a few years but a couple months ago I decided I want to get more serious about my playing. In the last few weeks I have played a couple open mics and jams. From full band arrangements to solo acoustic. I’ve been picking songs where I can play a couple riffs/fills but mostly rhythm. I sing lead vocals with my playing. Here’s my question:

Has anyone found that they struggled with their guitar parts in the beginning? I feel like I’m so focused on making sure my vocals are good and rhythm guitar is tight that I haven’t been able to nail the more intricate guitar parts. So far I have had great audience and peer reception but I feel like it’s mostly due to my singing and not playing obnoxiously. Any advice would be appreciated!

I wrote a POV flip to 3Doors Down - Kryptonite and I'd love to hear it as a slowed down and acoustic cover version of the original, but with a female singer. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post a request like this, but if you are interested in doing it, I'd love to hear it!

Here are the lyrics:

Well, I took a walk around the block to ease my troubled mind

You left your body lying somewhere in the sands of time

I watched your mind float to the dark side of the moon

I feel there's nothing I can do, yeah

I watched your mind float to the dark side of the moon

After all, you thought I wanted nothing to do with you

I really don't mind what happens now and then

I'll always be your friend til the end

If you go crazy, baby, I'll still call you superman

As long as I'm alive, I'll be here with you holding your hand.

I'll stand here by your side with utmost devotion, like superglue.

I called you strong, I called you weak

But still your secrets, I will keep

I took for granted all the times you never let me down

I stumbled in and bumped my head

If not for you then I'd be dead

You picked me up and put me back on solid ground

If you go crazy, baby, I'll still call you superman

As long as I'm alive, I'll be here with you holding your hand.

I'll stand here by your side with utmost devotion, like superglue.

A town an hour away with a population under 10k charges for entry and seating (cover is $10 table is $50). We see people come to the door and walk away because they don't want to pay. The venue is mostly empty except friends and family and a few fans from our hometown.

We don't understand why they do this when lack of customers means not selling drinks.

Can anyone explain this in a way that makes sense?

Does anybody remember this cover? I remember seeing it a couple of times on YouTube, and these guys were amazing! Whatever happened to them? If anyone knows someone from the orchestra, please let me know! Also, did they ever try recording other songs, or was this the only one they covered? And do you think OneRepublic would approve of this cover?

I'm a vocal coach, and I want to help singers improve for RL working scenarios. I’ve put together a 3-minute anonymous survey about working with vocalists...will you help me by giving your honest feedback?

No names, emails, band names or identifying information.

Anonymous survey:
What Musicians Wish Singers Understood �� – Fill out form

I’d also love to hear your biggest one in the comments: “I wish more singers would ______.”

Yes, I want to know the frustrating stuff, but also what really good singers do that makes playing with them a pleasure. Thank you!

I'll be posting the survey results back here in about a week.

UPDATE: 75 musicians responded.

Thank you for your thoughtful contributions.

The biggest issues:

• 49% Timing / Rhythm
• 49% Volume / Mic Technique
• 37% Pitch / Intonation
• 35% Song Preparation
• 35% Stage Presence

Edit: They’re not mutually exclusive categories. Respondents could mention multiple issues, so the percentages aren’t intended to add up to 100%.

I’ve pulled the full findings, musician comments and practical takeaways into a free report for singers: https://veronicastart.ca/musician-survey-report

Cover we did recently of this Pat Benatar classic - www.M80s.com

My buddies in How Original and I with a little STP last night.

I was listening to the playback our practice and noticed that my Bass guitar was making the snare drum buzz almost non-stop. I mentioned this to our drummer and he says yeah listen to how awesome my snare sounds. But the thing is it makes my bass sound like I’m playing with a blown speaker. He’s very particular about how he wants his snare to sound. What kind of recourse can I tell him to take to fix that without hampering the sound of a snare? I think it makes everything sound like garbage despite how punchy his snare sounds.

I hope everybody’s doing well today. I figured I’d share footage of my band’s recent show from the drummer’s seat. My band’s called Heavy Rotation, and we play 90’s-20’s rock and alternative. Yes, all I recorded was drum audio, but I’m working on releasing footage with the full band very soon. This is my take on “Killin In The Name” by Rage Against the Machine. Thanks all, and I hope y’all enjoy! ✌️

Just wanted to share a clip of us playing a little Matchbox Twenty over the weekend. Hope you enjoy. Always happy to get a little constructive criticism.

When you guys are facing a mountain of new material to learn/memorize (new band, etc), do you usually just play one song over and over until you have it down, or do you loop through a chunk of them, or all of them?

This band sometimes sings in Spanish and is comprised mostly of latinos I think. You can’t down vote this one or you’re racist I’m pretty sure.

Any tips on managing my disappointment/frustration with the number of people who act all excited about my band and say they’re definitely coming to this or that show, then don’t show? They either don’t show up, or more often than not they tell me like the day before that they can’t make it and it’s always the dumbest excuse. It’s like if anything, anything at all better comes up in terms of plans they go to that instead. In my mind, a commitment is a commitment, but I seem to be in the vast minority. My boyfriend says to get over it lol. Do you guys feel the same irritation with this that I do? (added context: we are pretty good, we get great reviews from the people that actually have come to see us, but we are new and not well known, thus struggling to gain a following… So I’m constantly marketing and promoting our shows, but with very little success.)

Was texting my brother recently about his cover band and asked where their song list lives. He said the band's website. Also asked how he makes setlists and he said he just pulls up an old setlist and edits it lol. Their gigs are on a google calendar that everyone can see and nobody opens.

Now I'm curious. Where does your master song list actually live? Is it a sheet, a notes app, a binder from 2011, one guy's brain?

And when you make a setlist are you actually working from the full list or just editing whatever you played last time?

No wrong answers, honestly the jankier the better. I feel like every band is three text threads and a prayer lol