OT: Learning to like bands you hate

[paranoid70]

Since I have been playing in cover bands the last few years, I am starting to develop an appreciation for songs I had always hated.

For example, I never liked the Stray Cats, but in a previous band we started playing Stray Cat Strut. Upon learning the song I realized that Brian Setzer is an amazing guitar player, I then bought a CD and started really appreciating their music. I guess I just never really gave 'em a good listen before - back in the early 80s I was a metal kid and Stray Cats just weren't on my radar.

This week I learned an REM song for a new band I am trying out for. I always hated REM, but playing along to The One I Love and listening to the guitar parts I also found more appreciation for it. I can't wait to try it out this afternoon.

Tom Petty was another that I was really lukewarm on for years although I was starting to come around. Now (after learning and performing many of his songs) I consider myself a big fan and am going to his concert next month.

.....or it could just be that I am getting older and find I just appreciate music more.

 

[ScoobySteve]

That's great man. Being as open minded as possible makes you the best musician possible. I used to be the narrow minded Metal and Prog Rock elitist and eventually found appreciation in bizarre places such as commercial Pop music and even Taylor Swift.

It's not the age, it's just digging music!

 

[Norrin Radd]

I think it's age and a willingness to try something new. You've got to have an open mind - its music after all! If you told me even 5 years ago that Brad Paisley would be one of my favorite players I'd have thought you insane. But now, I see him in concert every time he comes to town - amazing player and song writer!

 

[Sweat]

LOL nice topic, while I dont play in a band, suck way to much For the last 10 years I have been either liking stuff I could not stand or relearning to like many forgtooen gems.

Now things I still struggle to listen to or like, first Led Zepplin, man great group and songs and talents but the music was so over played by me, my friends and radio in the 70's and 80's still cringe when I hear a song and mostly the rolling stones, was never a big fan, can take there collective body of work and I can make a CD and a half I like, and wow way over played 30 years ago and today, like my cryptomite

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I have been in cover bands for a while and the last started to go more dance music. Some of the music grew on me and I just tried to make certain parts more interesting for me to play. However sometimes it was very hard for me to like some of the music that we were playing , i was open to trying new things but the direction the leader of the band was going it was more suited for a keyboard player. So sometimes i can like songs i hate to play but other times I just can't do it like jessie's girl and jenny jenny if I ever play them again it will be too soon.

 

[paranoid70]

So sometimes i can like songs i hate to play but other times I just can't do it like jessie's girl and jenny jenny if I ever play them again it will be too soon.

I hear ya. There are limits. The drummer told me when I first started jamming with him that he was up for whatever, but no damn Jessie's Girl.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I hear ya. There are limits. The drummer told me when I first started jamming with him that he was up for whatever, but no damn Jessie's Girl.

The guy that was running the band would
Just always want us to learn those cheesy dance songs but the rest of the band really didn't want tomdo them and it showed that our heart wasn't in to it .plus it didn't help the singer never knew the words. Which takes me another question how many people here would put up with a lead singer who read the words off a music stand.

 

[TheRook]

Which takes me another question how many people here would put up with a lead singer who read the words off a music stand.

I guess that depends...does the lead singer play an instrument as well, or *just* sing?

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I guess that depends...does the lead singer play an instrument as well, or *just* sing?

in that band he just sang and mind you some of the songs hes been singing for 20 years , i just know that we got a lot of slack from people callling him not professional which really he wasnt but there was a load of other reasons for that too

 

[ScoobySteve]

LOL nice topic, while I dont play in a band, suck way to much For the last 10 years I have been either liking stuff I could not stand or relearning to like many forgtooen gems.

Now things I still struggle to listen to or like, first Led Zepplin, man great group and songs and talents but the music was so over played by me, my friends and radio in the 70's and 80's still cringe when I hear a song and mostly the rolling stones, was never a big fan, can take there collective body of work and I can make a CD and a half I like, and wow way over played 30 years ago and today, like my cryptomite

Oh man, Keith. I know how you feel. If someone at Guitar Center plugs in and starts playing Stairway to Heaven, Enter Sandman or Sweet Child O Mine, I just cover my ears and run for the door.

 

[ScoobySteve]

Which takes me another question how many people here would put up with a lead singer who read the words off a music stand.

Depends. If its with personal, self written material.... that's kinda odd..... maybe the stand is a prop?

If its cover material, I don't blame the guy. I've seen people project a power point on the opposite wall of the stage so the singer can see the lyrics to cover material.

But even then, if you're the front-man, you gotta give the audience unobstructed view of you. You are called the FRONT-MAN for a reason I suppose. Not Front, but partially visually impaired because of a music stand, Man.

 

[andynpeters]

The guy that was running the band would
Just always want us to learn those cheesy dance songs but the rest of the band really didn't want tomdo them and it showed that our heart wasn't in to it .plus it didn't help the singer never knew the words. Which takes me another question how many people here would put up with a lead singer who read the words off a music stand.

I've seen lots of function type bands where almost everyone was frantically thumbing through books on a stand between songs.......maybe if you have a huge repertoire you can't remember everything.
When I was doing it we had words& music to over 300 songs memorised......and also became very adept at making up words on the rare occasions memory failed.
I read that even Bruce Springsteen has been known to use an autocue on gigs.
Coming back to the question.....I found lots of stuff that I would never have listened to before was fun to perform Bryan Adams, Status Quo, Cher,Shaking Stevens, BTO, Shania Twain.
Never had requests for Jesse's Girl.....we drew the line at Celine Poxy Dion& Whitney Bloody Houston......& no I don't care how many records they've sold.

 

[DrKev]

I read that even Bruce Springsteen has been known to use an autocue on gigs.

Luke has for years.

 

[bischero]

When I was about a young kid I would sit and play guitar to what ever was on tv, (commercials, theme songs, I loved the three's company song)and learn all the songs on MTV,( Horrible hair metal, pop songs etc..) It really trained my ear, to play along to saxophone lines, or keyboard solos.I did'nt like all the music, but a great lesson is to learn what NOT to play. You may play something that you feel totally sucks(like poison) and decide not to sound like that.
But you can discover something you love as well. One day while I was watching MTV Nirvana came on with Smells Like Teen Spirit. I immediately hated it (because I thought I was some great shredder) and couldn't believe a band would play in the key of F ( most rock bands back then, as you all know played in E, A, and ballads In Gmajor). But as I was constantly bombarded by Nirvana I started to love the songs. They were so raw and very heavy. They became one of my favorite bands, and showed me I could play recklessly, It was very liberating. Recently I have to say that Lady Gaga is talented( my wife is constantly listening to her) I can't stand the songs but I saw her live on tv and her voice and piano playing were great.

 

[Bungo]

Having played in mostly pub rock bands for many years I now REALLY cannot cope with:-

Fool For Your Lovin' - Whitesnake
Radar Love - Golden Earring?
Rock 'n' Roll - Zeppelin
Alright Now - Free
Doctor Doctor - UFO
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Paranoid - Sabbath (some people still shout for this?!?!)

Not necessarily bad songs, but all WAY WAY beyond played to death!

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Having played in mostly pub rock bands for many years I now REALLY cannot cope with:-

Fool For Your Lovin' - Whitesnake
Radar Love - Golden Earring?
Rock 'n' Roll - Zeppelin
Alright Now - Free
Doctor Doctor - UFO
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Paranoid - Sabbath (some people still shout for this?!?!)

Not necessarily bad songs, but all WAY WAY beyond played to death!

i'm with him on these songs but people still want to here them

 

[Gio_Force_One]

by the time i left my old band they were going on the direction of Outkast songs , justin timberlake , lady gaga and any other dance songs they thought they could pull off.i had to part ways at that point , I don't mind some songs but if my heart isnt in to it it will show on stage. and honestly we could all play rock songs together but when dance songs started things just fell apart. I left the shortly after the other guitarist and they are still struggling to keep people.

 

[Hendog]

I started liking modern hard rock when I was in a modern hard rock cover band.

I guess hearing a song over and over again adds a level of understanding that I didn't have before.

 

[andynpeters]

I started liking modern hard rock when I was in a modern hard rock cover band.

I guess hearing a song over and over again adds a level of understanding that I didn't have before.

Not if it's "Rose Garden!!Trust me.

 

[roburado]

Depends. If its with personal, self written material.... that's kinda odd..... maybe the stand is a prop?

If its cover material, I don't blame the guy. I've seen people project a power point on the opposite wall of the stage so the singer can see the lyrics to cover material.

But even then, if you're the front-man, you gotta give the audience unobstructed view of you. You are called the FRONT-MAN for a reason I suppose. Not Front, but partially visually impaired because of a music stand, Man.

I don't see what's the big deal. People do it all the time--okay not with a music stand, but maybe a computer screen. The first time I noticed it was W. Axl Rose doing it way back in the heyday of Guns 'n' Roses. John Mayer does it...with his own stuff. One can clearly see it on his "Where the Light Is" video.

I don't know. It's sort of like just reading sheet music like a classical musician would in an orchestra or a jazz musician reading a chart. I wouldn't fault any of those musicians for doing that.