Song selection is key when performing in a live setting with your cover band. Sure, you can choose a tune that everybody knows, that every other cover band does, or that showcases the individual skills of the members of your band.Or you could be bold and pick a song that only some people know, was a... Read more
8 Things I’ve Learned as a Full-Time Cover Band Musician
(This article was originally published on Spinditty in January 2017. It has been edited here to reflect the current time passed.)I've been playing in cover bands ever since I started learning an instrument nearly 40 years ago. There have been over forty different cover bands in which I was either a member or a frequent... Read more
“Come Together” The Beatles Cover by Sershen & Zaritskaya — Video of the Week 03/29/21
If you're a YouTube junkie like me, you'll notice that there are more and more collaborations popping up. Musicians (and other artistic types) are hooking up with fellow creators with the video version of joint venture partnerships in order to expand their audience...and to simply have fun.Back in December of 2020 we featured a young... Read more
“Tennessee Whiskey” Chris Stapleton/David Allan Coe Guitar Cover by 9-year old Taj Farrant — Video of the Week 03/22/21
"These kids today don't understand real music." This is a claim that gets parroted often in the Cover Band Central Facebook Group, and elsewhere in the world of music purists. Part of CBC's mission is to debunk that myth, while also attempting to inspire said younger generation. Gone are the days where children playing instruments... Read more
“Beginnings” Chicago Cover by Leonid & Friends — Video of the Week 03/15/21
Part of what I enjoy about writing this feature every Sunday night is exploring the deep catalog of bands I've never even heard of before. I'm on the lookout constantly, videos get suggested, and as a result I always end up finding some serious talent, which is why I'm doing this in the first place.Our... Read more
“Crazy” Gnarls Barkley Cover by IMY2 — Video of the Week 03/08/21
For those of you who follow along with the artists that we support, you'll notice that we like to focus on the up-and-comers quite often. In many cases, it includes the younger generation who have taken advantage of the multitude of opportunities available for musicians in the digital age.Websites such as YouTube and Facebook, and... Read more
“Jane” Jefferson Starship Cover by Dino Jelusick featuring Mike Portnoy – Video of the Week 03/01/21
Each week I scour the web for a video to feature, and sometimes it's a long process. But sometimes, a friend will send me a video that blows me away. That happened this week.For decades now, when things shift in the music business, you'll hear the cry of rock being dead. It's happened over and... Read more
“How Deep Is Your Love” Bee Gees Cover By REO Brothers — Video of the Week 02/22/21
Despite what some musicians may spout, playing covers is not easy. You have to be good at your craft to pull it off well, and it does take a lot of work. If you're writing an original, nobody can tell you that you played something wrong. The same is not true for covers. As we've stated... Read more
“Baby Come Back” Player Cover by Phaze V — Video of the Week 02/15/21
It's a tough time for people in New Orleans. It's a tough time for people everywhere, I know. But it's where I am, and where I've worked for the last decade, so I'm feelin' it.Everybody on planet Earth is familiar with Mardi Gras. Hundreds of thousands of people come to the Crescent City every year... Read more
New Orleans Musicians Get Left Out in the Cold with Complete City Mardi Gras Shutdown
The term "Black Friday," which refers to the shopping day after Thanksgiving, is termed so not because of the darkness of people trampling over each other to secure a $99 big screen TV, but rather, it's when retailers expect to go into the "black" (as opposed to red) on their P&Ls for the year. Put... Read more