The 40 songs every cover band and sub player should know

Every cover band is a little bit different. While almost every band plays the same core songs, each one adds in their tunes that no one else, or at the very least not EVERYONE else, is doing. That’s what makes a modern rock band different from classic rock, while they will both likely play Sweet Home Alabama, Brickhouse, Plat That Funky Music, Brown Eyed Girl, etc. However, there’s a lot of times when these bands need fill-in, or sub, players. Now whether you are in a band that needs, or may need, a sub player, or you are a musician aspiring to be a sub player in the cover music scene, I think it’s important that you know the following 40 songs. Some songs on this list appear there because of their sheer popularity, while others appear because of their simplicity. If you know these 40 songs you can’t really go wrong whether you need a sub, or you are trying to throw together a band for a last minute engagement. I encourage you to learn all the songs on this list, and start circulating this list around the music community. While some of you may read this list and think that I am merely just stating the glaringly obvious, others may see one or two songs that they never thought of playing, while others still may be brand new to the scene and looking for a great place to start. Playing ALL the songs on this list won’t make you the hippest, coolest, most unique band on the block, but they can get you through a tough gig, and knowing these songs REALLY well will please an audience and make you sound like a great (if not entirely original) band. Enjoy!

Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love	Van Halen
All Right Now	Free
American Girl	Tom Petty
Ball and Chain	Social Distortion
Born on the Bayou	CCR
Brickhouse	The Commodores
Brown Eyed Girl	Van Morrison
Creep	Radiohead
Dancing With Myself	Billy Idol
Evil Ways	Santana
Feel Like Making Love	Bad Company
Folsom Prison Blues	Johnny Cash
Freefallin’	Tom Petty
Hard to Handle	The Black Crows
Honkey Tonk Woman	The Rolling Stones
Jenny (867-5309)	Tommy Tutone
Johnny B Goode	Chuck Berry
Keep Your Hands to Yourself	Georgia Satelites
Kryptonite	3 Doors Down
La Grange	ZZ Top
Last Dance With Mary Jane	Tom Petty
Margaritaville	Jimmy Buffet
Mustang Sally	Wilson Picket
Play That Funky Music	Wild Cherry
Pride and Joy	Stevie Ray Vaughn
Proud Mary	CCR
Roadhouse Blues	The Doors
Santeria	Sublime
Sedated	The Ramones
Simple Man	Lynyrd Skynyrd
Smooth	Santana
Sweet Home Alabama	Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Joker	Steve Miller Band
The Middle	Jimmy Eat World
The One I Love	REM
Tush	ZZ Top
What I Got	Sublime
What I Like About You	The Romantics
You Really Got Me	Van Halen
You Shook Me All Night Long	ACDC

E-mail me with any questions or comments, and remember to visit my website at www.brettcohenmusic.com!!