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Topic: Question about opening for a big name artist |
Wade Branch
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 11:21 am |
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| My band is opening for a big name artist in December and we normally do a couple of his tunes.Is it considered rude to do some of his tunes before he comes on.It seems like it would be to me,just wandering what some of you guys think or have done in the past. |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 11:31 am
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| Yes, I think that would be really rude. Besides people coming to see the main act would be aware of the tunes and would have to compare you to the original. There are only 2 ways that can go: you either embarress yourself by not playing it as well, or you embarress the main act by doing it better (although even if you did, I doubt the fans in the audience would feel that way). Either way, bad idea. [This message was edited by Bill McCloskey on 31 October 2006 at 11:32 AM.] |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 12:01 pm
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| Bill is Absolutely Right about that. You should NEVER, EVER do that! No question about it. |
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Joey Ace
From:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 12:33 pm
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I agree with Jim agreeing with Bill.
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 12:39 pm
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I'm totally with Bill & Jim but Joey is dead wrong.
Further thoughts on this----while the opening band is probably thinking that it's a real cool tribute ("oh man--he'll love us for doing this song") the dude is sitting in his bus or dressing room thinking "what on earth do they think they're doing!?!?" |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 12:51 pm
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Years ago at Deemen's Den on Broadway some guy was sitting in singing "There Goes My Everything" and halfway through the song he realized Jack Greene was sitting in on drums. Then he lost his momentum.
Faron would get pretty hot when an opening act did one his songs, especially when it was a chick singer doing "Sweet Dreams" and calling it a Patsy Cline song.
PS Can we add "Faron" to the spell checker?
; )
C#
www.calsharp.com |
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Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 1:06 pm
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Do it and you'll never work in this town again!!!
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Chuck Hall
From:
Warner Robins, Ga, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 1:10 pm
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I agree with Joey agreeing with Bill and Jim and Cal and Jon. We opened once for Gene Watson and no way were we going to do any of his songs. Although we do or did 90% of his releases...
Bad Idea.
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Chuck
Country Fever Band
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 1:20 pm
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| I remember seeing Joni Mitchell back in the early 70's and before the concert some girl stood up and started singing Joni's songs acapella for the crowd. Needless to say, the fans were not appreciative. |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 1:23 pm
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You ain't from By Gawd Cowtown if you don't do it. Now go on out there and make me proud boy!
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Wade Branch
From:
Weatherford, Texas, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 2:17 pm
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| So I guessed right for a change !! Its hell being a rookie ,so many dawg gone rules for me to learn, plus two steel intro's . |
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Pat Burns
From:
Branchville, N.J. USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 2:25 pm
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..Jon Light, spoken like a true Forumite!  .. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 2:39 pm
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It can be amusing sometimes. When I was doing a show with Bush a few years ago, the lineup was Darrell McCall backed by the Bandoleros opening, then Johnny B. with the Bandos, then Ray Price with his band. Ray specifically asked Johnny not to do any of his (Ray's) material, so Johnny told the band. And of course, we agreed.
Problem was, no one told Darrell!! So he got onstage to open and proceded to do "Mansion On The Hill," "Crazy Arms," "Heartaches By The Number," and ended the show, of course, with "Night Life."
Bush didn't dig it, and scolded us, but we said "hey, that's what Darrell called off. Then, Ray came on Bush's bus, complimented the band greatly, and then asked "how come y'all did my show for me?" It retrospect it could have been a lot worse.
Of course, Darrell was his usual jovial, what-the-heck, self... it just rolled off his back like water off a duck. LOL!
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 31 Oct 2006 3:44 pm
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The only time I've seen it work is 1) when the version done by the opening act is done in a totally different style than the headliner, and 2) the headliner has been given a heads-up and has said he/she is OK with it.
Other than that - an absolutely forbidden thing to do. |
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Steve Pacholl
From:
Minneapolis
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 5:15 am
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| Back in 1994 when Johnny Cash was doing his American Recordings tour, he had the Jayhawks opening for him. The Jayhawks did an all acoustic set, which was fitting for Cash's show during that tour. The Jayhawks asked Cash if they could do one of his songs and he gave his approval. They did a wonderful acoustic cover of I Still Miss Someone. What made it even cooler was Cash standing in the wing. I could tell by his facial expressions and body language that he loved it. I wonder if the Jayhawks felt any pressure with Cash watching them from the wing of the stage? |
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Joshua Grange
From:
Los Angeles, California
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 7:22 am
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| Egad man! Pick a lesser known song by the artist, and make it your own. That will be sure to make an impression.... It might take a little work, a little digging in the archives, but boy will it be worth it.... |
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Jerry Roller
From:
Van Buren, Arkansas USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 10:50 am
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I agree with Chuck agreeing with Joey agreeing with Bill and Jim and Cal and Jon. Don't do it. I even associate certain songs with certain steel players at steel shows. One of my favorite songs I like to play is Ten Thousand Years, but if Herby is there I don't do it, it's his song. I love to play Sugar and Salt, but if John is there I don't do it, I like Four Wheel Drive but if Herby is there or if he ain't there I don't do it. I used to love to play Beaulah Land until Buck stole it. (He does a great job on it but don't tell him I said so). I do remember playing at a Ronnie Neighbors show in Hot Springs about 15 years ago I was playing Together Again and would you believe I looked up and saw Tom Brumley come thru the door. I had not checked the player list carefully enough.
Jerry |
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 11:05 am
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If you ask and they say yes, fine.
And more likely a yes, if you can convince them
that it is done in an unusual manner.
Not a typical cover version.
Don't ask, then don't do it;
simple as that.
I have seen a road crew told to cut the mic
on a band for doing this....
As Bill McC said,
you have two ways to pull this off.
Too poorly and too well.
1st you lose the audience,
2nd you lose any chance of repeat gigs.
Or worse. |
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Richard Bass
From:
Sabang Beach, Philippines
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 11:13 am
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Yrs ago working the Palamino club in LA. the great cowboy actor/singer Eddie Dean was opening for Dave Dudley. As we walked in the club to do our show Eddie was singing "Six Days on the Road" as a tribute to Dave. Dave just laughed it off and thanked Eddie for doing his show. We joked about that quite a bit. My advice , don't do the artists songs.
Richard |
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Joe Casey
From:
Weeki Wachee .Springs FL (population.9)
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 6:37 pm
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| I remember one time opening for Faron (actually there were other times too)and it was a two show day. we opened and also did the 3rd set. Faron had his son Robin with him and I got together with Robin to make sure I would not do any songs he wanted to do. There wasn't one person in that audience who paid a dime to hear us it was a courtesy and a time filler us being there to make it a longer day for the Venue. plus we had great seats after for the shows. Besides it being a blast and mixing and matching on our sets Leon Boulanger sat in on Fiddle with us and we just did what we were hired to do. Keep the audience happy for the reason they came. To see and hear the "Sheriff". Spent a whole week there that day eh Richard. |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 7:32 pm
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Do NOT do any of the artist's tunes. That just isn't kosher. Very disrespectful.
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Mikey D...
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 8:15 pm
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I think you should drop your usual set, and do a set of all the artist's biggest songs.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Jeff Lampert
From:
queens, new york city
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 8:17 pm
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Umm .. before you do that, I hope you realize I'm kidding.
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[url=http://www.mightyfinemusic.com/jeff's_jazz.htm]Jeff's Jazz[/url]
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Klaus Caprani
From:
Copenhagen, Denmark
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 12:08 am
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It's risky at least. Depending on how it's done, it can be ev'rything from really rude to "the highest compliment of all - Plagiarism".
I'm not sure I would do it.
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Klaus Caprani
MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com
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Bobby Snell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 3:18 am
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Material aside, an opener should:
Start on time.
Finish on time.
Absolutely no encores!
Get your stuff off the stage fast.
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