Old School Country/Americana Duo. Help us expand our setlist into the present.

Eilif

Eilif

Grooving under the MDW runway.
Oct 1, 2001
9,653
9,318
5,261
Chicago
#1
Hey Folks I need some help.
Tall Paul and I are looking to expand our setlist a bit. We're going to drop a few rock covers that didn't quite fit the 2-piece honky tonk vibe and replace them with more recent country covers that our audience would know. However, we want to keep the old-school vibe. Thus I need some suggestions for songs that ideally are...
-Recent
-Popular, ideally by big-name acts.
-Old school in style or easily adaptable to honky tonk and/or classic americana style.
-workable as a 2-piece

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
#2
Steve Earl? We did Guitar town in my old band to some crowd happiness. galloway girl is fun too.
Some recent Robert Earl keen I like. Recent is "Who do man" , "play a train song"
Older stuff i preferred was new Life in Old mexico (prolly my favorite of his)

Randy Rogers :
in my arms instead
Fuzzy (kind of more funky)
Buy myself a chance

....Hope that helps!
 
#5
Thanks folks, I'll check these out. Are these tunes that your average fan of modern country would like? We're trying to stick to our style while also accommodating those who listen to country radio.

Keep em coming!
 
#8
Eilif said:
Thanks folks, I'll check these out. Are these tunes that your average fan of modern country would like? We're trying to stick to our style while also accommodating those who listen to country radio.

Keep em coming!
Click to expand...

I don't think they're the same audience, but that doesn't mean they won't like it. If you're talking more mainstream, then Chris Stapleton is the first artist that comes to mind.
 
#10
If you really want to pull one out that is a killer song and very very few people have ever heard, look up Rodger Miller's River in the Rain.

Best song ever HE* wrote in my opinion.

Edited: I meant best song *Rodger Miller ever wrote.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 10cc
#11
I play in a modern Country cover band, what goes over big:
Country Girl (Shake It For Me), My Kinda Night: Luke Bryan
This Is How We Roll: Florida-Georgia Line
It Ain't My Fault: Brothers Osbourne
Point At You, Lettin' The Night Roll: Justin Moore
Chillin' It, You Ain't Worth the Whiskey: Cole Swindell
When She Says Baby, Take A Little Ride: Jason Aldean
Beer Money: Kip Moore
Head Over Boots: Jon Pardi
Die A Happy Man: Thomas Rhett
Drink in My Hand: Eric Church

Not really old school but, easily identifiable choruses and the youngsters will sing along.

Stuff like this is pretty much standard radio fare but it sells and we have to decline gigs. After about 40 shows a year + - we start to long for a weekend off. We do *some* bars. Mostly we gig weddings, private parties and corporate-civic events. Those are usually better hours & pay better. Club work is labor intensive for what it pays, we try to limit our exposure there. These songs go over well in that environment too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mike N
#12
Eilif said:
Hey Folks I need some help.
Tall Paul and I are looking to expand our setlist a bit. We're going to drop a few rock covers that didn't quite fit the 2-piece honky tonk vibe and replace them with more recent country covers that our audience would know. However, we want to keep the old-school vibe. Thus I need some suggestions for songs that ideally are...
-Recent
-Popular, ideally by big-name acts.
-Old school in style or easily adaptable to honky tonk and/or classic americana style.
-workable as a 2-piece

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I know you said recent but check out Mike Ireland.

417GQTM71NL.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: AaronVonRock
#13
Maybe some Chris Stapleton type stuff?



Nothing more to add, but I just wanted to say that I saw Tall Paul in Murfreesboro Tennessee about eight years ago and it was one of the most fun shows I've ever seen. It makes me happy to see his name mentioned here. Best wishes!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: p-lo and GregC
#15
Songs that tell a story go over well, it never hurts to throw some in. In my book you can't beat the classic honky tonk songs of the 50's and 60's. Change them up and make them your own.


Perhaps some Jesse Winchester
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces
#18
Why not take a pop song from today or yesterday and rework it into a honky tonk style ...shouldnt be too hard to do ,id pay to see that if its done well.
 
#20
Listen to some of Zak Brown's stuff. Lots of the singles (Toes, etc) are tiki-bar material, but everybody has heard them, and I think they would go over as sing-alongs, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back