Loving this book Bob. I think the "cover syndrome" was true all over the country. Our band played mostly covers from '71 to '74 with a couple of originals thrown in. We opened for a band that had 2 hit singles that was touring through and they were the only original tunes they played at the gig in our local armory in Hagerstown MD in '72. We were better than they were...we actually had a couple of the same tunes on our set list. They never had another hit and evaporated. Tommy James and the Shondells were never part of a "local scene" like San Francisco, but Tommy persevered and got recorded and survived for awhile with some major hits. But he eventually became a nostalgia act like so many others...KC, Average White Band...only a few had staying power and remain(ed) current. I'm glad to see the ABB catalog, the Dead and the Band being "preserved" and mentored at Butch's "Roots Rock Revival". I don't think that's happening with any other American Bands, especially with members of the groups like Oteil participating and 2nd generation family members like Melody & Vaylor Trucks, Lamar Jr, Duane Betts, Berry Jr, Amy Helm and Graham Lesh. The road goes on....
Great stuff Mike! Covers are how musicians learn their craft and also how they make money gigging. To get any sort of longevity, the band had to be something original, either a unique take on a cover (like Hendrix on "Like a Rolling Stone") or an original song (or set of songs in the album era) that folks liked. But it all starts as cover artists for most people. The road goes on forever, indeed...
Loving this book Bob. I think the "cover syndrome" was true all over the country. Our band played mostly covers from '71 to '74 with a couple of originals thrown in. We opened for a band that had 2 hit singles that was touring through and they were the only original tunes they played at the gig in our local armory in Hagerstown MD in '72. We were better than they were...we actually had a couple of the same tunes on our set list. They never had another hit and evaporated. Tommy James and the Shondells were never part of a "local scene" like San Francisco, but Tommy persevered and got recorded and survived for awhile with some major hits. But he eventually became a nostalgia act like so many others...KC, Average White Band...only a few had staying power and remain(ed) current. I'm glad to see the ABB catalog, the Dead and the Band being "preserved" and mentored at Butch's "Roots Rock Revival". I don't think that's happening with any other American Bands, especially with members of the groups like Oteil participating and 2nd generation family members like Melody & Vaylor Trucks, Lamar Jr, Duane Betts, Berry Jr, Amy Helm and Graham Lesh. The road goes on....
Great stuff Mike! Covers are how musicians learn their craft and also how they make money gigging. To get any sort of longevity, the band had to be something original, either a unique take on a cover (like Hendrix on "Like a Rolling Stone") or an original song (or set of songs in the album era) that folks liked. But it all starts as cover artists for most people. The road goes on forever, indeed...