Instrumental Covers Band

Oddly

Oddly

Jan 17, 2014
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Dublin, Ireland.
#1
Slowly trying to get back into a gigging life, however casual or amater it may be.
It's proving real tough to assemble a full line-up, especially for vocals.
I'be been considering going with an instrumentals-only band, and am just wondering if any of you guys have tried this and how it's worked out?

I'm thinking stuff like Green Onions, Peter Gunn, Wipe Out... stuff known as instrumental, not just songs without the vocals.
Any suggestions/advice welcome.
 
#6
Oddly said:
Not helpful in my case, I'm afraid. Rush leaves me cold.

Thanks for the Ventures suggestion - I've just found a Booker T and the MGs box-set I forgot I had full of some very nice covers too - the list grows!
Click to expand...
I was going to suggest Santana. Are you a fan of his? Europa is a great tune.
 
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#8
Depends on your goals and target market. Maybe 2012-2014, I was playing guitar with an instrumental jazz band (we also included several pop tunes, sax covering melody lines). We had a very hard time holding the majority of people's attention, and lost two residences (1 restaurant, 1 bar) in our first year. From the first show we added a singer, and everytime after, full bars. My other experience was in a rock/pop band playing bars, corporate gigs, and weddings; vocals are an absolute necessity because the band in those settings is the entertainment and focal point.

There's a market for surf, instrumental funk, r'n'b, and such for sure - but I think you have to plan and market gigs accordingly. Theme parties, background music at events. Just my opinion.
 
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#11
I'd be interested in hearing how it ultimately works out.

I personally like instrumentals. Especially extended instrumentals if they're really good. But I haven't met too many people that share my tastes when it comes to that.

As far as local clubs and venues go, good vocals seem to rule. Instrumental pieces, or long instrumental breaks, are usually taken as the signal for a trip up to the bar (or a bathroom break) by most of the crowds I've ever been in. Right up there with bass solos when it comes to clearing the dance floor.
 
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#12
Yeah, I agree it wouldn't be a hugely popular concept, and certainly wouldn't even contemplate it if we were hoping to be a full-time working band.
I'm sort of thinking towards maybe a once-a-month session, maybe a situation where we act as a house band, and invite in guest vocalists to break the 'monotony' of instrumentals.
I don't think there's anything similar in my home-town (Dublin), and my guitarist and drummer pals seem keen.
 
#13
Oddly said:
Yeah, I agree it wouldn't be a hugely popular concept, and certainly wouldn't even contemplate it if we were hoping to be a full-time working band.
I'm sort of thinking towards maybe a once-a-month session, maybe a situation where we act as a house band, and invite in guest vocalists to break the 'monotony' of instrumentals.
I don't think there's anything similar in my home-town (Dublin), and my guitarist and drummer pals seem keen.
Click to expand...

If you're in Dublin I'd say go for it!

What a cool place.
 
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#14
I'm in a band that's playing only instrumentals, mostly rock with a slight fusion bent. We're not looking to gig a lot. It's more about learning and experiencing music that interests us. Here's a list of repertoire that either we're playing or considering playing:

Allman Brothers - High Falls
Allman Brothers - Hot 'Lanta

Billy Cobham - Stratus
Billy Cobham - Red Baron

Bob James - Angela (The Theme from "Taxi")
Charlie Musselwhite - Christo Redemptor
Deodato - Also Sprach Zarathustra

Jeff Beck - Cause We've Ended as Lovers
Jeff Beck - Diamond Dust
Jeff Beck - Freeway Jam
Jeff Beck - You Know What I Mean

Jimi Hendrix - Little Wing
Jimi Hendrix - Villanova Junction

Mile Davis - John Pierre

Santana - Europa
Santana - Toussaint Overture

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Chitlins Con Carne
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Riviera Paradise

Wayne Shorter - Footprints (ala The String Cheese Incident; Andy Summers)
Weather Report - Black Market​

We have our first gig as "The Blue Wind Quartet" on the day after Christmas in Harlem in New York City at the Shrine World Music Venue, Shrine World Music Venue The best part? It's the at the "geezer hour", from 6:00 to 8:00 PM!
 
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#15
Thanks Mark.
I will admit on first reading your list I felt - 'Nah, way too much jazz-fusion' - based on my notions of what, for example, Miles Davis or Billy Cobham were, but then I started running through them on youtube - and my eyes were opened!
It's clearly an area of music I haven't given the respect it deserves.
I especially loved SRV's Chitlins!
Best of luck with the gig!
 
#16
I tried. It's difficult in this "American Idol" world. These days, it's the person with the mic and everyone else is expendable somehow. I tried a smooth jazz sort of thing where we played popular songs as an instrumental where the guitarist took on the role of melody. But, much like playing jazz standards, not many people have the attention span for it. We were doing a gig and a woman actually came up to me and asked if we play any Springsteen! So.....seriously, I don't know. Musicians like it. But, we hardly play to many of THOSE! ;-)
 
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#18
i think the key is just making sure you have your melody lines taken care of. an instrumental band can't just play songs without a singer. your guitar or whatever mix of musicians have to be the singer (so to speak) or else it just is boring. I play in an instrumental band that does all originals. we actually get a ton of gigs, but you are playing for a more specific audience to be sure.
if you want, check us out!
Iced Ink
Iced Ink@The Way Station - LIVAMP
 
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#19
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