Comments on: Ultimate Music Challenge 2

By: Marissah

Marissah — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:51:31 +0000

I have to disagree with some of you about cover music and cover bands. Although I do agree there are some pretty redundant and stale ones out there, its a great start for some performers and singers that ARE original artists to get over their “green-ness” and gain practice performing on a very regular basis while making decent money at the same time and gain exposure. How many times have there been recording artists who sound great on a record and in the studio, yet have no experience performing live and so when they get on stage, it’s no good. I think cover music is a great avenue, especially for young”er” artists to get their feet wet performing and learn the ins and outs of live performance. If performing and entertaining is something that someone has a passion to do, and if people enjoy listening or dancing to that cover band, then the band is doing their job. There are many talented singers and musicians who sit on their ass all day long and never share their talents just because they don’t want to be in a “cover band”. I think that is sad. It’s all about fun. There are some very talented people in cover bands, if you would just open your ears and give them a chance, you might be surprised.

By: edwin decker

edwin decker — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:02:55 +0000

P.S. for me it was Beatlemania at the Winer Garden Theater at 14 years old. My parents brought me and a friend. It was more than great. It was my first concert ( if tribute bands qualifiy). They were the first tribute band ever. They were a tribute band before there was even the term “tribute band”.

By: edwin decker

edwin decker — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:59:51 +0000

I agree Brian, there is so much music out there that is deserving of our hate. It’s just not always a cover band.

I think people underestimate the art and the difficulty of cover music. In many ways, it’s harder than writing original music.

Because, if you’re in an original band, nobody is expecting the new song you wrote to sound like what it sounds like in their head. How could they, they haven’t heard it yet?

But when a cover band plays, they have to freaking nail it every time because everybody in that room knows exactly how each of those songs are supposed to sound.

Look, I fully get that cover music is a lesser art form than original music. Art is about creation, sure. but shit – why does it have to be art in order for me to enjoy it? Beer ain’t art either but I drink the hell out of it.

This is the main difference between me and Cat Dirt. If I walked into a bar that had a good cover band playing, I’d have a great old time and rock out with a bunch of guys who were loving and performing some good old rock and roll, while Cat Dirt will sit in the corner and sip his Stella Artois and sneer at them for not being artistes.

By: brian

brian — Fri, 30 May 2008 07:00:55 +0000

Tell you what – admittedly, I’m one of the biggest music snobs around. I just can’t help it – there’s just so much out there to be overly critical about. And yes – yes – it is so fun. I’ll bet I can out hate this “cat dirt” any day of the week. IE: Muslims, what a bunch of over-rated rubbish if you ask me (‘specially since they let go of one of the most talented & creative SD musicians I’ve heard in quite a while). Weren’t they a VU cover band for a while (which was alright). Now I understand they are trying that Violent Femms thing out – ewww.

Note to the Muslims – go back to the VU thing and try to win that 20K! I happen to know that one of the judges actually likes ‘Loaded’ quite a bit.

Better to give 20K to a band that admittedly “covers” well than a band that simply “rehashes” the same ol same ol and tries to pass it off as their own “original” work.

Anyway – point being – last year’s final did rule Mr. Decker. Friggin’ good time fo’ sure. I’ll take Cash’d out over so much out there these days. Ed – count me in for one or two nights – probably closer towards the final. I’ll let you thin out the contestants a bit thank you very much.

Side note – I’ve been in original bands and I’ve even done a cover band on occasion. Both are fun (sometimes not so fun) AND hard work.

Finally – I’ll admit it. Beatlemania at Knott’s Berry Farm when I was 10 changed my life!

By: edwin decker

edwin decker — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:57:02 +0000

oh yaaaaawn. More music snobbery from the filthy feline. Cover bands, especially some of these top shelf types, are extraordinarily talented at what they do. So what if maybe these guys don’t have the talent or desire to write original music, I bet you don’t either. I know I don’t. So what’s wrong with doing someone else’s stuff? You have no concept of how difficult it is to cover some of these songs/bands and hating them is like hating a comic because he does impressions.

It is what it is yo.

By: cat dirt

cat dirt — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:25:58 +0000

how incredibly lame is it that a 20K first prize is going to a freaking cover band, and not a band that writes and plays its own music? this contest contributes nothing positive to the world. boo to you, sir. boo to you.