HSCC covers band.

[mickd1961]

I recently discovered this superb band who do some tremendous covers of famous songs.

I’d be interested in Kets and Lloyd’s opinion based on their musical ability’s?

Africa by Toto here,

https://youtu.be/u0V3fUpXOl8?si=Gg-ktaIvov0rT79Z

[kettering_baggie]

Not my cup of tea at all, I’m afraid!

[soulman101]

I recently discovered this superb band who do some tremendous covers of famous songs.

I’d be interested in Kets and Lloyd’s opinion based on their musical ability’s?

Africa by Toto here,

https://youtu.be/u0V3fUpXOl8?si=Gg-ktaIvov0rT79Z

Hi , I've subbed to their channel for a couple of years .
Very professional,nice tight band .

[mickd1961]

Hi , I've subbed to their channel for a couple of years .
Very professional,nice tight band .

I like to hear 70’s and 80’s classics done by good musicians like these guys.

[Omegstrat6]

Not heard of them before but they're very good. Not sure if those who dislike them do so because they don't particularly like the kind of music they do (seemingly mostly soft rock) or because they are a covers band.

Weird thing about rock/pop music is that although every band or singer you've ever heard of starts off by learning songs by other people somehow cover bands are looked down on. Sure, it's OK to include a cover or two in a set but unlike jazz or swing where it's perfectly acceptable to do "standards", people expect far more originality from this genre and will always compare covers with the original. The only exception is when classic pop/rock songs might be used in music shows like "Forbidden Planet".

This concept of "originality" itself is also questionable of course as prior to the Beatles, the vast majority of artists relied on professional songwriters to provide them with hits rather than write them themselves and this has continued ever since whether they were based in Denmark Street or the Brill Building. The past couple of decades have seen increasingly larger teams of writers, like those led by Max Martin, provide hits for others in addition to increased levels of sampling. Gone are the days of arguably more organic music/lyricist duos like Leiber & Stoller, Goffin & King or Bacharach & David. Does this make the artist any less "worthy" if they don't write their own material? For the huge majority of listeners, I guess they couldn't care less as it's all about the end product but others may take a more snobbish approach.

You could also factor in session musicians. Stax, Muscle Shoals, Motown all had great house bands that backed singers which seems entirely acceptable, but what about the case of session musicians replacing band members on recordings? Is this "cheating"? The one band instrumentalist most likely to be replaced in this instance because they aren't quite up to speed is the drummer but the Wrecking Crew played on virtually all of the Beach Boys "Pet
Sounds". Producers too, whether George Martin, Mark Ronson, Dr Dre, Rick Rubin or Quincy Jones all have a huge influence on a band's recorded output.

Sorry to ramble on, just think it's an interesting topic...🤔😁

[boingy]

They’re good enough for sure Mick, lots of bands have made a good living from mimicry which is what being a cover band is. Different animal to me as a songwriter as I have zero interest in covers. We are often in opposing camps. I have musician friends who only do covers but I mainly mix with other songwriters. We can talk for hours about composing. Interestingly when I finish a song it’s on to the next so even as a writer I don’t dwell on past songs. When I write, perform, produce, it’s about how I want to do it and not how someone else did it.

[Omegstrat6]

They’re good enough for sure Mick, lots of bands have made a good living from mimicry which is what being a cover band is. Different animal to me as a songwriter as I have zero interest in covers. We are often in opposing camps. I have musician friends who only do covers but I mainly mix with other songwriters. We can talk for hours about composing. Interestingly when I finish a song it’s on to the next so even as a writer I don’t dwell on past songs. When I write, perform, produce, it’s about how I want to do it and not how someone else did it.

Nothing wrong in covering the songs of others as it is how we learn but, of course, if no one created anything new (acknowledging we all have our influences) then nothing would really progress. Straight covers are ok but personally prefer it if people can bring their own interpretation to things rather than just copy. Some of these can be as good as or better than the original.

I'm really quite jealous of your own ability to be creative in music Boingy. I'm proficient enough on guitar to be able to be so but lack the confidence or the creative spark to do so. Maybe it's because I cannot sing for toffee that hampers me so don't even attempt song writing!😁 Don't have this creative problem in other things I do like drawing/ painting even if I am not particularly proficient at the latter.

For the present I'm happy enough to play around with my Ableton and learn more about how songs are arranged and (slowly!) improve my keyboard skills. My lack of technical nouse when it comes to programming drums is still a hindrance though😂

The age old debate around which is more important in art, the idea/concept or the execution/craftsmanship is always one I have found interesting. Ultimately I suppose successful pieces are a balance of the two?

[baggieal]

Looks like a group advertised in a Haven Holiday Park! Hope the chap in the hat does not have an heart attack FFS!

[boingy]

Nothing wrong in covering the songs of others as it is how we learn but, of course, if no one created anything new (acknowledging we all have our influences) then nothing would really progress. Straight covers are ok but personally prefer it if people can bring their own interpretation to things rather than just copy. Some of these can be as good as or better than the original.

I'm really quite jealous of your own ability to be creative in music Boingy. I'm proficient enough on guitar to be able to be so but lack the confidence or the creative spark to do so. Maybe it's because I cannot sing for toffee that hampers me so don't even attempt song writing!😁 Don't have this creative problem in other things I do like drawing/ painting even if I am not particularly proficient at the latter.

For the present I'm happy enough to play around with my Ableton and learn more about how songs are arranged and (slowly!) improve my keyboard skills. My lack of technical nouse when it comes to programming drums is still a hindrance though😂

The age old debate around which is more important in art, the idea/concept or the execution/craftsmanship is always one I have found interesting. Ultimately I suppose successful pieces are a balance of the two?

Agree with you Omeg, and to be fair I’m pretty driven to be my own person probably because I have no “family” identity at all. It’s been said that the only way you create an identity when you have no sense of self is to achieve things. It’s not an identity but it’s the next best thing to be “known for”. “Something”. You are creative Omeg, and I’m glad you are, it’s good for us. Lots of different ways of showing it.

[albion68]

I like to hear 70’s and 80’s classics done by good musicians like these guys.

a good start would be aqualung by jethro tull.a music and lyrist master piece.also foxtrot by genesis excellent.me personally like to play these alone .been listening to these for over 40 years and still find them fresh..p.s these are albums.