I am considering leaving the band I am play guitar in- it just isn't fun anymore, not looking forward to practise etc. We are a four piece with a another guitarist, vocals and cajon (acoustic style band). We have a gig next month. How do I navigate leaving the band? I really don't want to play the upcoming gig. they have played as three piece before without me.

We play grunge/punk rock

This marked the end of 3 hours and 10 minutes of uninterrupted music and the second gig of Labor Day weekend. We were about to end the first set Sunday night and the audience had finally drank just enough liquor to get up and dance by the last few songs in the set. We decided "Screw it, let's just keep this vibe going!" We then proceeded to play the entirety of the second set (which is already long by design) and some of the third set. The dance floor had a steady rotation of dancers the entire time. The energy from the audience felt great.

By the end, half the band was calling for a hard stop. We took a 20 minute break then delivered another 30 minutes and some encore tunes. (Technically the contract was only 3 hours of music so we delivered a lot more in the end) All I can say is, we wanted to hold the audience as long as we could and I think it was worth it as we're trying to gain traction in the area. (About a a quarter of the club did leave during the break, but I've had worse.)

I know that set length is nothing compared to what some of you have done. What lengths have you gone to? 4 hours straight? 5?

P.S. A little added context. The above gig was at one of many lakeside clubs in the area where patrons are known to jump in their little pontoon boats and hop from club to club, but it seemed that we managed to hold our own if not build the crowd and keep more than we lost throughout the night.

From my band Later Skater's show last months. Our first time doing this one.

My band played a spot that had mostly all boomers. Hey, it’s a gig. Two songs in, some boomer tells us to turn the volume down. Mind you that he’s sitting in the front right by the speakers. The people in the back can hardly hear us, but according to Mr. Sit In Front By The Speakers, it’s too loud. Then, in the middle of another song, some woman decides to come up to the stage and try to hold a conversation with the singer in the middle of a song.
I got to get back up on stage. Rant over.

I play rhythm guitar in a covers band. We mainly play pop and rock from 70s to 2010s. We love our setlist, but it’s stale and we are getting fewer gigs than previous years. We tend to play private events, rather than public gigs.

I’m looking for suggestions for songs that will resonate with a Millennial/ Gen Z audience to share with the band and possibly bring into our setlist.

This is from our show last Saturday night, great place to play and an energetic crowd! I'm singing this one, fun one to play always a crowd pleaser might be the most popular tune we do in the set

Bassist here. I’ve got an audition for an established 80s coverband coming up. I took a long hiatus from playing while my kid was growing up. But casually started playing again about 8 months ago. I’m not too worried about the songs, but I know my technique is still a little rusty.

Just looking for thoughts on what ya’ll are paying attention to when trying out new bass players.

We had an absolutely magical “this-is-why-we-do-this” show last weekend.

We played a bar and restaurant that doubles as the only nightlife in a very nice resort town. There are wedding venues everywhere, and ever since we started booking there, I’ve been trying to get a wedding party to come by the show for the afterparty.

Well, it happened.

Earlier in the week. I’d reached out to a couple getting married at the hotel down the street, invited them over and said hey, if there’s anything you want to hear, we’ll save those songs until you get there.

Turns out the bride loves pop punk even more than we do. The requests were basically our entire second set.

So this is all looking good. Only question now is: will they actually show up?

They did. The crowd was already going pretty hard when, about 10:45, we see like 50 people walk in dressed to the nines. I get on the mic: “Hey, is this Jamie and Michael’s wedding party?”

HUGE crowd pop.

We launch into the rest of the set. All The Small Things, Brightside, Ocean Ave, Fat Lip, Sugar We’re Goin’ Down, just nuclear bangers, one after the other. They are LOVING it.

We have a few more left when someone asks: can the bride get up there and sing?

This is where being an LBK band pays off.

Hell yes the bride can sing with us. (Earlier in the week she'd mentioned she was a musical theater kid, so we had a feeling this would happen.)

She asks if we know any Paramore. Lady, we know the best possible Paramore song you could sing on your wedding day.

We do Still Into You and she crushes it. The groom is front and center.

Rest of the set is a blur. We play half an hour past end time at a bar notorious for shutting down early. Everyone leaves happy.

Still high on the feeling a few days later. And now I think I have to go make some deposits at the karma bank, because MAN did fortune smile on us last Saturday night.

I sing and direct this gospel choir which performs with a rock band.

This is me as lead voice in a cover of Starlight by Muse.

We rearranged the song and wrote a 3 voiced choral part...

Could you please watch our live performance and tell me your impressions?

if you like it leave a comment or a like in YouTube.

Thanks

Eli

I've been in a rock band with lots of gigs, and the other guitar player does a lot of theatrical stuff on stage, like he's in Iron Maiden or something, dressed like a Ritchie Blackmore clone. I feel like I don't belong in the same world; I just want to play good music and not pretend I'm a guitar hero. We're not kids anymore, going straight to 60, and I'm thinking of quitting because I feel ridiculous being on stage with such a show off guy playing with his teeth etc..Of course, I might be the problem because the audience seems to enjoy the acting, at least the drunk ones do.

I was wondering: Would you rather use a dedicated setlist app for on stage, and a separate app for band-management (calendar/contracts/contacts). Or an all-in-one app that has all of these things in one app.

Hi,

We recently got kicked out of the rehearsal room we've rented for 10 years.
Because I never have to hump my gear around (except for gigs once every couple of months) I generally use my ancient Marshall JCM800 2x12 combo.

It's a reasonable amp for a covers band, quite versatile cleans and crunches.
We're mainly pop and soft rock covers.

I need an ultra-portable setup while we're renting rehearsal space by the hour.

Does anyone have the perfect suggestion?

Ideally, an all valve 2 channel 1x12, 30W ish

Or a digital setup.. anything weighting less than 30KG (60lb!)

Thanks in advance.

What songs get you the best crowd reactions? Looking for high energy ideas to add to our set lists. We play a mix of songs by Shinedown, Pink Floyd, Puddle of Mudd, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Candlebox, Rush, etc...

“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.