Saturday, March 6, 2010

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!!