When I first joined a band there were many cover bands on the circuit where I lived. Most of them got the school dances, and they generally played copies- note for note- of the popular music of the time, which was the 1970's. It was as miserable as it sounds, endless rehashes of Bad Company, Boston, Kansas, Nazareth, etc. Into this arena I entered when I teamed up with Steve Soto in late 1979. He was playing in Agent Orange, a band he had formed with his friends Scott Miller and Mike Palm. They relied on a handful of surf covers, and a slew of originals. We had determined at that time that the future of our considered project would rely on our ability to write our own songs- the first of which were songs on our demos album, "Naughty Women in Black Sweaters." While the earliest incarnation of the Adolescents did indeed play a handful of cover songs ("Wild Thing" and two occasional surf songs- "Miserlou" and "Pipeline"- the covers were really employed as warm ups at rehearsal or pulled out when the p.a. system was not working. By the time we actually played a live show we had about nine original songs.
From the very beginning we felt an affinity with another very young band from the south bay- Red Cross- and their wonderful interpretation of punk rock and the beach, but we were especially fond of their song "Cover Band," a kitschy little goof on bands that relied on the music of others. I saw a few Red Cross shows between 1979 and 1980, and I always found their taste, humor, and style to be a refreshing blast of musical freedom.
This particular line up was prior to the interference of the actual Red Cross, who intervened and stopped the band from utilizing their name (hence the name change to Redd Kross) and ending the wonderful years in which their friends the Disposals would don armbands emblazoned with red crosses while singing back-ups on songs like "Who Are The Mystery Girls." It was a blast, and the line up- the McDonalds sharing bass and vocal duties, Greg Hetson on guitar and Ron Reyes on drums- was all the proof I needed: If you had the desire to play music and the ability to write your own songs- then age didn't have to factor in at all.
************************
Nowadays there are tons of cover bands, and many of them are actually firmly entrenched in the punk rock scene. They are generally fun, funny, and have their tongues firmly planted in their cheeks. There are also a ton of tribute bands that cover anything from the Doors and Van Halen, to the Clash and the Cure. I have no love for tribute bands- at all- but I have found the punk rock party cover bands to generally deliver the goods. They are fun. I myself have even recorded a number of cover songs ranging from the Kinks to Alice Cooper, as well as a number of punk rock songs, including a full album of covers called "Pinups" which came out around 1991 and which is long out of print. It featured 15 punk rock cover songs, and tons of great musicians- Mat Young and his brother Warner, Rikk and Frank Agnew, Johnny Two Bags, and a number of backing vocals from Steve Soto and Rik L. Rik. It was a great experience, and it was fun for me, but it was never anything I wanted to reproduce live.
Just the same, cover songs are fun, and I have lightened up somewhat from my earlier belief that they are an utter waste of time. I still believe that bands that write their own songs are infinitely better than bands who do not, but that doesn't mean that all cover bands are a waste of tie (case in point: Manic Hispanic) but I have become rather finicky about cover songs and their ability to transcend the originals. I began weighing the songs on a few factors that generally determine whether or not they are worth the energy, effort, and royalties expended to record them- and I have narrowed it down to a few factors, none of which carry any wight against the others, but which generally determine whether or not they will stand the longevity of time and actually get more than a single listen to me.
1. Is it a good song? Does the song rock? Duh. If it doesn't, what is the point? How many covers are out there that are just crap because the original song is crap? I mean, let's face it, some songs are just duds, and the danger of tribute albums is that every band has a few duds- and there are always bands out there covering those crappy songs.
2. Does the cover bring anything to the table? Is the band bringing something new to the song, an interpretation, for example, or is it just a straight play through of the song as it was originally recorded?
3. Is it a joke, or does it actually work on an aesthetic level? This is significantly tied to number one and two, but on a deeper level. Does the band's cover version of the song bring aesthetic value to the song? This is dangerously subjective, but it means everything. Does the cover version have soul?
I weigh all of these when I hear a cover version of a song, and these critical pieces really determine whether or not a song- any song, really- is going to work for me. With that self bloated intro, here is a batch of kick ass covers.
************************
The Clash- Pressure Drop
The flipside of "English Civil War" was a cover of Toots and the Maytals. "Pressure Drop" caught the Clash in excellent form, merging the best of punk and reggae in a way that has often been honored, but rarely captured.
Leatherface- True Colors
Leatherface captured this Cyndi Lauper song (actually written by a member of her band) in such a way that it not only opens the song up as lays it ot, but demonstrates using minor chords why the song is a heartbreaker in the first place. It was upon hearing this version the first time that I realized what a powerful song this is (see points one and three above.)
Dickies- Paranoid
The Dickies are easily the undisputed kings of the cover song, if you ask me. Trying to choose a single Dickies cover song is nearly impossible because throughout the years they have mined gold again and again ("Gigantor," "Hair," "Banana Splits," "Solitary Confinement.") Give it another spin; you've heard it a billion times- and marvel at the pure rock that the Dickies delivered from the gate.
Blue Cheer- Summertime Blues
What's there to say? It shreds. Blue Cheer took this one and made it their own.
Redd Kross- Citadel
Like the Dickies, Redd Kross have the cover song down to a niche, and their covers are generally pretty awesome expenditures of rock. Hard to chooses, this one is still my favorite, though their covers of "Deuce," "Puss 'N Boots," and "Blow You a Kiss in the Wind" are all pretty stellar.
Stiff Little Fingers- Johnny Was
Reggae songs proved to be fertile ground for cover material, and SLF definitely hit pay dirt with this version of a song by Bob Marley and the Wailers. None of the message is lost; melancholy and well placed rage, all wrapped up in just under ten minutes.
Agent Orange- Surf Trio
Miserlou/Pipeline/Mr. Moto. Three fer, a great listen. I liked not having to choose one because they are all great. Taken from the Posh Boy releases which are sill in print. These songs still sound incredibly fresh some thirty years after their release. I used this version of "Mr. Moto" to have a group of students re-enact the Boston Tea Party. Paired with Arrows Theme for Paul Revere's ride, it made for a powerful representation of revisionist US History.
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers- Great Big Kiss
Love this version. There is a great studio version on "So Alone" buth this one just caught the joy that was Johnny Thunders live so well. Sax birdwalks a bit, but the breakdown is everything that was engaging and enduring about Thiunders live.
****************
and with that, I am out until next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment