Songs you hate playing - but audience wants
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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Songs you hate playing - but audience wants
I realize that you probably don't get "play Freebird" at country and swing shows, but there must be equivalent tunes in C&W.
What always gets requested at your shows that you dread playing (tired/overplayed/etc) but play anyway to please the audience?
"Hey, play __________________"
What always gets requested at your shows that you dread playing (tired/overplayed/etc) but play anyway to please the audience?
"Hey, play __________________"
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- Stu Schulman
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Mustang Wally,Bobby McGee,Proud Mary,Little Ways,Fast as You.There's probably more than can be brought out with therapy.
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
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- Les Anderson
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- Larry Bell
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I'm delighted JUST TO HAVE A GIG.
(seriously -- just keep bitchin' to the wrong folks and you won't have one)
I'll happily play whatever they ask me to play. I see it as my job.
(seriously -- just keep bitchin' to the wrong folks and you won't have one)
I'll happily play whatever they ask me to play. I see it as my job.
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12
- Jeff Hyman
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Stu... are you serious? ... dig Moons ride on this one.Stu Schulman wrote:Bobby McGee
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Y383FMQaH5w
Last edited by Jeff Hyman on 2 Jan 2009 3:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- John Billings
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My answer from another thread:
"We were playin' at the Shell Bar one night, and some drunken girl kept screamin, "Freebird." I went in my pack seat, and pulled out all my slides. None of us knew the tune, but were vaguely familiar with the melody. So we played it! Three slide guitars, slide bass, and slide fiddle! All hackin' away at the melody. I almost peed my pants, I was laughin' so hard! We didn't get invited back to that bar!"
Also, if I get a request I really don't wanna play, I play it backwards. "Achey Breaky" was a lot of fun. I would get the band to add one measure of 5/4 to it. It was hilarious to watch the line dancers crash into each other tryin' to figure out what had just happened.
"We were playin' at the Shell Bar one night, and some drunken girl kept screamin, "Freebird." I went in my pack seat, and pulled out all my slides. None of us knew the tune, but were vaguely familiar with the melody. So we played it! Three slide guitars, slide bass, and slide fiddle! All hackin' away at the melody. I almost peed my pants, I was laughin' so hard! We didn't get invited back to that bar!"
Also, if I get a request I really don't wanna play, I play it backwards. "Achey Breaky" was a lot of fun. I would get the band to add one measure of 5/4 to it. It was hilarious to watch the line dancers crash into each other tryin' to figure out what had just happened.
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As a fulltime musician and entertainer for the past 25 years i agree with larry ... if you play in bars or dance halls you have to please the audiance no matter what, if you want to play those kinda of gigs you have to play request if you know it, for those who don't like it they should be playing somewhere else, if you're not backing up a top artist and doing original stuff and playing bars then just swallow your pride and play request if you know the request of course or go back play in your living room by yourself and play whatever you want whitout pay ect... and you'll never go far in this business.
Comeau SD10 4x5, Comeau S10 3x5, Peavey Session 500,Fender Telecaster,Fender Stratocaster, Fender Precision,1978 Ovation Viper electric. Alvarez 4 strings Violin electric.
Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYiaomZx3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2GhZTN_ ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDTw2zNriI
Click the links to listen to my Comeau's Pedal Steel Guitars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYiaomZx3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2GhZTN_ ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvDTw2zNriI
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Re: Songs you hate playing - but audience wants
Ah, if only that were so!Judson Bertoch wrote:I realize that you probably don't get "play Freebird" at country...shows,
(Never play it, though!)
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Pat and Larry
Hey, the prudent man isn't bitching about having to do what's required at a gig. But I've been doing this at all levels for a long time. And I know that there are some songs I don't care to perform for one reason or another, and there are some songs I really enjoy and look forward to playing.
And I don't think I'm any the less professional for those opinions. And I'll play the song I don't particularly care for with as much expertise as I do the songs I love.
Let me ask you both: do you see all songs as being equally wonderful and you have no preference what songs get called off at a gig?
But the original question was "what songs do you hate but perform anyway?" Right?
So I'll say performing "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton, back in the 80's, was the bottom for me. Just because I saw the hypnotizing effect that song had on 15-year-old kids, knowing some would see no harm in doing cocaine themselves when first offered.
Hey, the prudent man isn't bitching about having to do what's required at a gig. But I've been doing this at all levels for a long time. And I know that there are some songs I don't care to perform for one reason or another, and there are some songs I really enjoy and look forward to playing.
And I don't think I'm any the less professional for those opinions. And I'll play the song I don't particularly care for with as much expertise as I do the songs I love.
Let me ask you both: do you see all songs as being equally wonderful and you have no preference what songs get called off at a gig?
But the original question was "what songs do you hate but perform anyway?" Right?
So I'll say performing "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton, back in the 80's, was the bottom for me. Just because I saw the hypnotizing effect that song had on 15-year-old kids, knowing some would see no harm in doing cocaine themselves when first offered.
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?
- Stu Schulman
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Jeff Hyman,I need to explain,I've been playing with the world's busiest drummer,I can't get one rhythm chunk in with this guy...he also rushes like well...you get the picture ,we have a girl singer and do the Janis version but with the all of the soul ripped out it,They gutted it like a trout.I used to love playing it,Now I hide,and cringe.I went to high school with a Jeff Hyman he had a band called the Ramones.
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
- Rich Peterson
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- Stu Schulman
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Rich,I play whatever they want if I know it,I try???to keep it professional,I think it's mainly the way the people that I'm playing with butcher the songs?One time I was playing at a Bar-B-Que joint in Anchorage and someone handed me the cell phone and Jerry Blanton was on line in San Antonio and he he said to me "I'd Like To Request The Chicken Dance"...So we played it!
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.
- Michael Douchette
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In 3-4 minute increments, I can stomach anything...
Mikey D... H.S.P.
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.
http://www.steelharp.com
http://www.thesessionplayers.com/douchette.html
(other things you can ask about here)
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/Steelharp/
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.
http://www.steelharp.com
http://www.thesessionplayers.com/douchette.html
(other things you can ask about here)
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/Steelharp/
- Drew Howard
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- Glen Derksen
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How about 'Your Cheatin' Heart'? I think that one has been done to death.
Last edited by Glen Derksen on 2 Jan 2009 7:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Ernest Cawby
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hi
0When I was a teen ager a man told me if you play what you like you will have a small crowd, if you play what the people like you will be successful as a player. I think that was good advice, you mite like to try it out.
ernie
ernie
- Michael Douchette
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Just think, though; there's a whole generation out there that's never heard it. To them, it'll be new.Glen Derksen wrote:How about 'Your Cheatin' Heart'? I think that one has been done to death.
Mikey D... H.S.P.
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.
http://www.steelharp.com
http://www.thesessionplayers.com/douchette.html
(other things you can ask about here)
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/Steelharp/
Music hath the charm to soothe a savage beast, but I'd try a 10mm first.
http://www.steelharp.com
http://www.thesessionplayers.com/douchette.html
(other things you can ask about here)
http://s117.photobucket.com/albums/o54/Steelharp/
- Glen Derksen
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- Glen Derksen
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I just said "Steel Guitar Rag" was not a favorite song to play. Not that I would not play it. Everytime they ask, I play. After playing the Rag several times a week thru the 40's 50's 60's and 70's it kinda wears on you. Besides, after hearing Buddy Charleton and Leon Rhodes on the tune, I don't feel adequate. Jody. PS : What Herb said about the song "Cocaine". Jody.