Help with set list

Dr Dave · September-30th-2005, 11:39 AM

Foolishly inspired by the video of Cream doing "White Room," I have convinced myself that a guitar trio is a workable model for making loud popular music. Ray and I are writing (what we're really doing is exchanging old attempts at tunes and hoping fresh eyes will make them into something worthwhile) and also looking for stuff to cover. I envision a sound that will incorporate the slang-and-bang of very early Cheap Trick (We're gonna cover "Hot Love," for sure) and the heavy slow-pulse funk of George Clinton et al. (I'd cover "Atomic Dog," but I haven't a clue how to make it work for a three-piece). I await your learned and discerning suggestions. And in answer to the obvious question, yes, I've been listening to "Pocket Full of Kryptonite," which has all the ingredients, just not nasty enough.

Chris D · September-30th-2005, 12:16 PM

If you're gonna do early Trick -- a stellar idea -- you gotta take on their cover of Terry Reid's "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace."

You could get really nasty on some early Who, like "Call Me Lighting."

It'd take a litle simplifying, but Little Feat's "Easy to Slip" would seem made for you, Doc.

Black Sabs were some of the heaviest thre-piece stuff ever; "War Pigs," anyone?

Don't know how you'd slim it to three pieces, but the '70s era Isleys are jsut waiting for revival. Fuzz tone it out for "That Lady."

You could very well work out a nice arragement of "For the Love of Money."

Going lean and mean, take on "Look-a-Py-Py."

Is it possible to do Badfinger with one guitar? "No Matter What."

Cem · September-30th-2005, 12:29 PM

I don't know whether it's your bag, Doc, but Morphine's Cure For Pain album is imo a masterpiece, many great songs on there. I'll keep thinking.

Cem · September-30th-2005, 12:37 PM

Another good one for a small unit that comes to mind is "Eternity", written by Willie Dixon and can be heard on a Bob Weir & Rob Wasserman's Live recording.

Gentle Giant · September-30th-2005, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cem

I don't know whether it's your bag, Doc, but Morphine's Cure For Pain album is imo a masterpiece, many great songs on there. I'll keep thinking.

Excellent suggestion.

If you have the CD of The Who's Odds and Sods, there's an early Who track on it called "Leaving Here" that wasn't on the original album (it may even be credited to the High Numbers). I put that tune on a mix disc recently and I keep hitting the repeat button.

There was a good reaction on another thread when I mentioned early Joe Jackson. That stuff kicks.

Chris D · September-30th-2005, 01:40 PM

"Leaving Here" was a Motown hit for Eddie Holland first (that Who version's a cover).

Gentle Giant · September-30th-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

"Leaving Here" was a Motown hit for Eddie Holland first (that Who version's a cover).

Well, it's a damn good one!

Dr Dave · September-30th-2005, 10:25 PM

I'll check out the Who sides, and thanks, Chris, I think "Fight The Power" and "Live It Up" are distinct possibilities. Ray is Mr. Effects (builds his own pedals, etc.) and I'll bet he's got something that will at least recall Ernie Isley's great Hendrix-inspired riffing.

Don't worry about what's my bag or not. This is very, very helpful.

Chris D · October-1st-2005, 08:37 AM

Well, since you were inspired to do this by the Cream reunion, how about something by the poor man's Cream, Mountain? Maybe "Theme from an Imaginary Western."

I always thought glam Bowie would make good power trio material, something like "Rebel, Rebel" or "Cracked Actor."

On the funk end, you could probably get some mileage out of arranging one of those Allen Toussaint-Lee Dorsey collaborations, like "Everything I Do Gohn Be Funky" or "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley" (although you probobably won't want to be mistaken for a Robert Palmer cover band).

Somehow I see a Martha and the Vandellas song in your set list, like "Nowhere to Run" or "Motoring."

Throw a curve with some early Velvets like "I Heard Her Call My Name."

Husker Du's "Makes No Sense at All" is an all-time great trio raver.

Dr Dave · October-4th-2005, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

Throw a curve with some early Velvets like "I Heard Her Call My Name."

Just because I play in a blues band and was caught unawares by the quality of the Cream reunion does not mean I'm actually in favor of open-ended jams. "I Heard Her Call My Name" was thrilling when it first appeared, but it sounds really and truly amateurish to me now. Ugh, ugh, ugh, what a terrible rhythm section! And the guitar playing is interesting for about 30 seconds, which is about how long it takes for Reed to say everything he has to say--hell, everything he can say.

Then again, maybe you're on to something. I wonder what it would sound like with a drummer who could actually keep time.

Chris D · October-4th-2005, 09:43 AM

Yeah. I imagine all these as going through your own sonic filter.

"Waiting for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago"

Dr Dave · October-4th-2005, 03:47 PM

Now here is an interesting bit of cross-cultural something-or-other: I most recently heard "Jesus..." sung by local saxophone heroine Ruby Mayfield. Her version beats Gibbons's. By a mile. On the other hand, I like my chances vs. Ruby on "Waitin' For The Bus." Love that turnaround on "got my brown paper bag and my take-home pay."

Dr Dave · October-13th-2005, 07:53 PM

"Heaven Tonight" just arrived. I remember "Surrender" as suitable radio fodder, but I had not anticipated the great dumb thumping cover of Roy Wood's "California Man." This is going on the set list, absolutely, especially since guitarist Ray Soave spent many many productive years in L.A.

Chris D · October-14th-2005, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

"Heaven Tonight" just arrived. I remember "Surrender" as suitable radio fodder, but I had not anticipated the great dumb thumping cover of Roy Wood's "California Man." This is going on the set list, absolutely, especially since guitarist Ray Soave spent many many productive years in L.A.

Are you going to include the "Brontosauras" bridge? It's tight!

Dr Dave · October-16th-2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

Are you going to include the "Brontosauras" bridge? It's tight!

Of course. And here, especially for you, Chris:

Apu sings "Dream Police"

Dr Dave · October-17th-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

If you have the CD of The Who's Odds and Sods, there's an early Who track on it called "Leaving Here" that wasn't on the original album (it may even be credited to the High Numbers). I put that tune on a mix disc recently and I keep hitting the repeat button.

Just got Odds and Sods. "Leaving Here" is fantastic! Thanks!

Gentle Giant · October-18th-2005, 08:51 AM

Good luck with it. My own synagogue-based band has dwindled to a trio (my singer, Naked Lunch, now fronting his own Steely Dan tribute band, the traitor!) so we're looking at such repertoire, too. However, I'm currently handling the vox from the drum throne, which is taking some getting used to, so we won't be doing much in the way of screaming tunes.