Guitar Gear Forum

There was an interesting article on the front page of the Wall Street Journal today. They interviewed the guy from Trixter and some others.

These Days, Rock Cover Bands Can't Seem to Get It On
Desperate for Gigs, Performers Don Spandex, Sing at Strip Malls; Glut of Aging Musicians
By Neil Shah
July 16, 2014 10:30 p.m. ET

So middle aged dudes playing the same tired covers people can hear on 12 different "classic rock" stations aren't doing good? Amazing, shocking even!

Interesting read and the live music scene is rough. Around here the classic rock bar band is going strong but that's cause it's always 10-15 years behind the times. But outside of local acts, not a whole lot comes through, except bands desperate for a show like Trixter. We just can't draw enough for any act to stop by.

ovid9 wrote:So middle aged dudes playing the same tired covers people can hear on 12 different "classic rock" stations aren't doing good? Amazing, shocking even!

Sure, yes. They have really damaged the brand over the years. I don't know why they always blame karaoke and DJ's. The real competition is Xbox and the internet.

Any cover band doing all the classic rock shit that's been everywhere for thirty years or more just need to pop into the midwest. Shit's huge now here. Every bar and pub with live music is all classic rock all the time.

You have to dig to find anything else. Except Karaoke. That's started creeping in a bit.

The cover scene here in L.A. switched from a Top 40 scene to a Tribute scene where bands specialize in one artist and do it to perfection. The really good tribute bands are making a great living right now. The generic cover bands are not doing so well but you can't really blame the public for this.

The old school of thought was playing in a cover band=money. It's much different these days. At least where I am at.

If you are in cover band, you can make money; but it isn't quite the guarantee it used to be. You need to provide entertainment, not just show up and expect $100 a guy since you play Bad Company covers. This kind of along the same lines as the infamous shorts debate of a few weeks back. You do have to put a little work into it if you want to reap any benefits. You are already ahead of the game as you don't have to write any music. Show up, act professional and handle your business.

If you're lazy about it; your pay will reflect that. A guy from Trixter probably didn't have any sort of backup plan as he was in something just popular enough to put all his eggs in that one basket. A basket that broke fairly quickly. From the sounds of the article; he is doing what he can to survive off playing music and I applaud him for that. As much as I hate Trixter

GuitarBilly wrote:The cover scene here in L.A. switched from a Top 40 scene to a Tribute scene where bands specialize in one artist and do it to perfection. The really good tribute bands are making a great living right now. The generic cover bands are not doing so well but you can't really blame the public for this.

Yep I am seeing this too.

The last cover band I sat in with for a while are switching from a late 70s/early 80s metal cover band to a straight up Motorhead tribute. Not my scene so I didn't join full time but I think they are going to do a little better as the Motorhead songs seemed to go over best - why not jump in with both feet.

pamukParty wrote:

GuitarBilly wrote:The cover scene here in L.A. switched from a Top 40 scene to a Tribute scene where bands specialize in one artist and do it to perfection. The really good tribute bands are making a great living right now. The generic cover bands are not doing so well but you can't really blame the public for this.

Yep I am seeing this too.

The last cover band I sat in with for a while are switching from a late 70s/early 80s metal cover band to a straight up Motorhead tribute. Not my scene so I didn't join full time but I think they are going to do a little better as the Motorhead songs seemed to go over best - why not jump in with both feet.

Smart move on their part. The key to finding a good band to pay tribute is the fans of the original band have to be rabid, almost a niche market so to speak. I play in a Smiths / Morrissey tribute, been going strong for over 7 years. Talk about rabid fans and a niche market...

Trixter

Nobody went to see them in the 80's so why should he have a good gig now ? They were the band that even Winger fans made fun of.

itchyfingers wrote:

pamukParty wrote:

GuitarBilly wrote:The cover scene here in L.A. switched from a Top 40 scene to a Tribute scene where bands specialize in one artist and do it to perfection. The really good tribute bands are making a great living right now. The generic cover bands are not doing so well but you can't really blame the public for this.

Yep I am seeing this too.

The last cover band I sat in with for a while are switching from a late 70s/early 80s metal cover band to a straight up Motorhead tribute. Not my scene so I didn't join full time but I think they are going to do a little better as the Motorhead songs seemed to go over best - why not jump in with both feet.

Smart move on their part. The key to finding a good band to pay tribute is the fans of the original band have to be rabid, almost a niche market so to speak. I play in a Smiths / Morrissey tribute, been going strong for over 7 years. Talk about rabid fans and a niche market...

Yeah, to this point I am actually in talks with a few guys on a Megadeth cover band. I would be the "Mave" as vocally I can get pretty close plus play lead.

Semi relevant in regards to rock bands in trouble.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tool-explain-why-they-havent-put-out-a-new-album-since-2006-20140715