Tonight I brought my guitar to a friends house. I played with another guy. We've played once before. He likes cover songs a lot. He's got a weird taste of music. Some obscure and cool Pink Floyd and some Mr. Big and other bad 90's music.
I played that Mr. Big song, "I'm the one who wants to be with you..." -You know the one.
A part of me died.
I hate playing covers. I'm finally okay admitting it. I fucking hate it. I'm done.
This song was recorded in 45 minutes. It's about tonight.
No doubt. Some of the most fun I’ve ever had on stage is playing covers with a band. This was so different. This guy asked me to get my guitar to try and force the group to listen. Not organic and not songs I’d ever opt to play. 100% my fault. I should have said that I’ll never compromise my musical integrity again. It was a super bummer.
That's pretty impressive for forty five minutes of work. I'm curious though. Do you always hate it? Do you ever hear a song that resonates with you, and you think, "I like this song and want to play it, but I'd like to do this part differently." I don't make music, but sometimes I wish I did, because I feel that way about certain songs from time to time. That all said, sometimes songs get covered so much, they almost seem to lose meaning. I'm looking at you, "Wagon Wheel."
I don’t always hate it. If I had a band I would enjoy covering songs. I hate it as something I’m asked to do at a party or gathering. Last night every person got up and left. It was awful. Seriously awful. And btw, if I were them, I may have done likewise.
I was glad to hear this follow up comment. When it happens organically, and some friends sitting around the fire start singing some songs that connect us - it’s powerful and deepens those connections. But “hey bring your guitar and help me sing some terrible songs as if we were performing a show” feels more like cheap party trick.