Korg Forums

shaneblyth

Im getting back into playing live in pubs and the like.
Looking for a list of songs to learn/play that are the bread and butter of the circuit for these days. Anyone got any ideas for a list or where to find one?
Thanks
_________________
Korg Kross 61
Casio PX-5S 88
yamaha DXR10's
Macbook Air 13"
Mainstage 3

jeremykeys · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 2:56 am Post subject:

Wow! I can't beleive that nobody has swerved this yet.

First question. What kind of band re you in? Way up here in Canada we tend to pigeonhole bands into specific styles. There is absolutely no way you can play Prince and Metallica in the same band unless you don't want to get paid.

Unfortunately it seems that most bands in my neighbourhood want to play classic rock. Don't know why that is. It also depends on how good you are as a keyboard player and if you can cover the sounds. Deep Purple, Journey, Pink Floyd, some Van Halen if your guitarist is good enough, Genesis.

Bands like that seem to be the norm around here to cover.

Hope that helps.
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

shaneblyth · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 3:14 am Post subject:

jeremykeys · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 1:08 pm Post subject:

I think it also depends on your singer. I play in a hard rock/metal band, a country rock band and a duo. Both bands play mostly our own songs although there are several covers thrown in as well.
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

Joe Gerardi · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 3:03 pm Post subject:

Well are you asking what every band should know and play, or which ones they have to know and play because it's required in this stifled era?

Suggestions:

Don't Stop Believing
Old Time Rock and Roll
Separate Ways
Shout
Born to be Wild
Fourplay/Long Time
Stealin'
Shout
Don't Dream It's Over
Tempted
In The Air Tonight
Layla
Won't Get Fooled Again

That should be a good start. One I would add just for the sheer fun of it is "Turn It On Again" by Genesis. Because it's got such as great pulse girls always try to dance to it, but it's in 13/8, so they always think they lose a beat somewhere. Playing it later in the evening after they're a little greased makes them think it's them, and as musicians, it's friggin' hilarious watching them trying to find the step after the turnaround...

After all, if you have to play a bunch of music you may not like, it's only fair you get to have some fun too, right?

Very Happy

..Joe
_________________
Current setup: Korg Kronos 61, Roland XV-88 Korg Triton-Rack, Motif-Rack, Korg N1r, Roland M-GS64, Alesis QSR, Yamaha KX88 & KX76, Roland Super-JX, Juno-Stage, Kawai K4, Kawai K1II.

shaneblyth · Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 8:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks jape 13/8 sounds like fun lol
_________________
Korg Kross 61
Casio PX-5S 88
yamaha DXR10's
Macbook Air 13"
Mainstage 3

X-Trade · Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 1:29 pm Post subject:

Joe Gerardi · Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 12:05 pm Post subject:

K. If you liked that, you'll LOVE this:

Change the lyrics. But change them to be something stupid, sexual, or funny, but they have to fit syllable-for-syllable withing the lyric, and rhyme exactly with the original. You can't make a big deal about singing them, you just let them happen, and casually see if anyone in the audience notices. The majority won't, and what is fascinating is that those that do notice are overwhelmingly female, showing they they are the only ones that really listen to the music. A few Examples:

"Save my life/ I'm going down for the last time" becomes
Shave my wife...

"Aqualung my friend/ Don't you start away uneasy" becomes:
"Aqualung my friend/ The Jeffersons are George and Weezy"

Something to rhyme with the song "Venus..."
'Nuff said...

"Big Old Jet Airliner" becomes:
Big Old Wet Vagina"

"Jeremy Broke Wind..."

And so on.

Granted, it's a puerile, immature game, but it is quite fun. After you do it once, it becomes quite the competition to get them to stay subtle, but not so subtle that they're missed, and not so obvious that they're blatant. Where you put them also matters. "Shave my wife" works awesomely when you do it only on the last, acapella line, etc.

Yes, I gigged for far too many years. Very Happy

..Joe
_________________
Current setup: Korg Kronos 61, Roland XV-88 Korg Triton-Rack, Motif-Rack, Korg N1r, Roland M-GS64, Alesis QSR, Yamaha KX88 & KX76, Roland Super-JX, Juno-Stage, Kawai K4, Kawai K1II.

Sharp · Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:12 am Post subject:

To name a few that would be very popular here in Ireland with live bands....

Bellamy Brothers – Let your Love Flow.
Eagles – Lying Eyes
Eagles - Take it Easy
Eric Clapton – Lay Down Sally
Queen – Crazy Little Think Called Love.
Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall.
Smokie – Living Next Door To Alice.
Smokie – Oh Carol

SanderXpander · Platinum Member Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 7860

Haha I do this for work and the only two songs suggested so far I've ever played are Layla and Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

I guess we're more in the dance classics and modern corner (corporate parties and weddings), not sure how well that would go down in the average pub.

Just as general advice I would say play what you think will sound good with your band. If the drummer has terrible disco chops, don't do disco, if the singer can't really do rock as well as soul, don't make her rock too much etc.
Of course that's all a bit overstated and it can also be quite fun to make a song your own, but even then the same thing applies, really; play to your strengths. There are so many hits and every band thinks they're unique by doing something nobody else does, or that they have to play certain songs. I would start out by scouring old and new hitlists for songs you think will make you sound good, so that everything you put out kicks ass. People will usually sing and dance along to anything if it sounds good. We have 60 and 70 year olds dancing and losing their minds to "Titanium" and young people dancing Rock 'n' Roll to "Tutti Frutti". I really think the importance of song selection is overstated.

Of course, you do have to consider your setting, and they're may be a few that'll tank, but it'll take you at least a few gigs to realize a song isn't well received.

jeremykeys · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:19 am Post subject:

And just for those who DON'T know when a song is sucking, watch the audience as they all head outside for a smoke! I've played with more than a few people who after a lousy song; usually one they chose is played; say, "Wow" we rocked them right out of their seats!"

Uh huh.

Oh. And before I forget, never, ever, under any reason say just as you are about to play a slow song, "Here's one for the ladies." If my wife is in the audience, she WILL throw her glass of Strongbow at your head. Even if it is full. She's got a good arm!
Women wanna RAWK!
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

button · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 6:39 am Post subject:

Shocking Blue - Venus

jeremykeys · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:17 am Post subject:

That's a good one!
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!

SanderXpander · Platinum Member Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 7860

And Dutch! Smile

jeremykeys · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:41 pm Post subject:

Now there is something that I didn't know. Very cool!
_________________
If music is the food of love, play on and play loud!
Gear: Kronos 73, Triton Pro-X, Wavestation EX, Polysix, King Korg, Monotron and Monotron Duo, Minikorg, Moog Grandmother, 1 Roland U-20, Hammond M3, 4 acoustic and 6 electric guitars, 1 Ibanez 5 string bass, a bunch of microphones and other very cool toys, 1 wife and 3 cats!