Songs you play that are not "popular"

I was wondering what songs some of you guys play that most people wouldn't except to hear walking into a bar/pub/festival...some of ours are


Can't stop- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Ain't that a shame- Paul McCartney/Fats Domino
Paranoid- Ozzy(not often but every now and then..)
Scar Tissue- Red Hot Chili Peppers
Know you enemy- green day

There are one or two others but I would like to hear some of yours (if you have any)

I like hearing some different stuff from bands and we cover a few genres so we threw in a few "interesting" ones.

Instrumental version of Low Spark of High Heel Boys in A instead of D.

Half my rep is pretty obscure for pub work - but somehow I keeps me working maybe because it sets me aside from others? Amongst the more obscure I do, some often others from time to time:

Walking Man, Frozen Man, Another Day - James Taylor
Victim of comfort - Keb Mo
Diamatina Drover - Redgum
Angelia - Richard Marx
Ghost in This House - Union Station
The Ark, Stealin' Time - Gerry Rafferty

We do...
"Hell of a Heart" by Sunny Sweeney
"Zero" by Tom Petty
"Looking at the World Through a Windshield" by Son Volt

and I'm always surprised at how well all three go over. Except if we make the mistake of telling people we're going to do a Tom Petty song before we play "Zero". They seem to expect "Running Down a Dream" or "American Girl" or something.

Half my rep is pretty obscure for pub work - but somehow I keeps me working maybe because it sets me aside from others? Amongst the more obscure I do, some often others from time to time:

... Frozen Man, ...

That's a great one! I haven't heard that in years! I used to call the local radio station requesting that tune so much that got to "know" me - in an annoyed kind of way:oops:!

We would do "Honey don't" beatles and "My Bonnie" the beatles version.

kc

Instrumental version of Low Spark of High Heel Boys in A instead of D.

Och, tamale! Memories of Merriam Hall.

That's The Bag I'm In - Fred Neil
Dark End Of The Street - Gram Parsons
Hard Working Man - Marty Stuart

The list goes on...

Names and Adresses - Junior Brown
Cowboys ain´t supposed to cry - Moe Bandy
Texas Boogie - Dale Watson
......

We played Sweet Jane - Lou Reed at the Tuesday night blues jam. We haven't been asked back.

"East Texas Pines" by Sunny Sweeney, "Chain Gang" Danni Leigh version, . We actually had people dancing to East Texas Pines the first time we played it... Was pretty cool...

qKSZTl51BZY

BtirVdcLTMM

Also Buddy Holly's "Modern Don Juan":

S7SKWEorbHo

Brown Eyed Women - Grateful Dead
- goes over suprisingly well, even in mixed crowds of old and young.

Banditos - the Refreshment
- get a lot of comments like "who's tune was that?" & "that was great!"

I'm good at what I do.
I can make ANY song unpopular.

Instrumental version of Low Spark of High Heel Boys in A instead of D.

Cool , i love this song from ' On the road '.

"Don't Bring Me Down," "Showdown" and "Telephone" -- Electric Light Orchestra (with all of 3 and 4-part harmonies)

"How Long" - Ace

"If You Don't Know Me by Now" -- Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes by way of Simply Red (a little corny and over-the-top, but everyone sings along -- whether they can or not!)

Your Gonna Get It!- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Magnolia- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Magnolia has become a really frequently requested song for us...go figure

I'm good at what I do.
I can make ANY song unpopular.

:lol:

A couple more...

Every Morning, Momma Where's My Daddy - Keb Mo
Everybody Has The Blues, Sunny Skies, Limousine Driver, Daddy's All Gone - James Taylor
She, Between Us - Harry Connick Jr
Bell Bottom Blues - Clapton
Can't Imagine Love Without You - Stevie Wonder

I generally get good feedback about my repertoire, but I think punters like hearing even just one or two non-popular songs that they happen to know or hadn't heard for a while, so ironically adding more obscure songs gets some people tuning in.

How bout "little Davy" by Paul Robeson?

So many treats in the bag - that nobody likes ha ha!

We do Lookout Joe - Neil Young and it's kind of a rocker. No response ever. We still do it, though.

No response ever. We still do it, though.

Champion. :twisted:

Bar Light Bar Bright - Charlie Robison
Hank Don't Fail Me Now - Keith Urban
Life Is But A Dream - Joel Feeney
Places I've Never Been - Mark Wills
Guided Heart - Don Nielsen


The last 2 I usually do accoustically. I always look for the songs nobody else does. :mrgreen:

-Jagg

You left the water running Dan Penn.
Ain`t got no home Clarence frogman henry

Shanty, Jonathan Winters.
Ghost Riders In The Sky.
I'm The Ocean, Neil Young.
Hundred Years, Rolling Stones.
Factory Girl, Rolling Stones.
Stranger, Johnny Winter.
Take This Hammer (Railroad Work Song) trad.

I played a gig on Saturday night where we played Animals straight through.

It was a blast and the people dug it!

:lol:

Bell Bottom Blues - Clapton


ooo good one!! :cool:

Couldn't help myself

RNc45FTenhg

Hendrix's Fire and All along the Watchtower, Gear Jammer by Thorogood, Zepplin's Immigrant Song, and Stevie Wonders Superstition come to mind for us.

Just Like Heaven-the Cure
Anything Dinosaur jr.
Any originals

COCAINE - Played Tempo di Reggae

Peter Gunn with lyrics

Over the years there's been plenty ...

I Saw the Light - T. Rundgren
Fooled Around and Fell in Love - E. Bishop (which I thought would have been hugely 'popular' ... never a reaction)
South bound - Allmans
Step in my direction - Mary Clayton(?)
Hey Blackberry - B. Crows
Still Alive and Well - E. Winter/R. Derringer
True confessions - tonio K
Vera - Pink Floyd (inst with a horn section)

I used to play in a country rock band in the 80's - and my favourite tune on the set list was "The end is not in sight" by The Amazing Rhythm Aces - People seemed to hate it..maybe it was just repetitive......... or maybe coz it was me singing it.

Loving Cup - Stones
Good - Better Than Ezra

Bodhisavta/Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan
Lessons in Love/ Something About You - Level 42
Who Did You TYhink I was/Bigger Than My Body -John Mayer
Lady Writer - Dire Straits
All This Time - Sting

Over the years there's been plenty ...

I Saw the Light - T. Rundgren
Fooled Around and Fell in Love - E. Bishop (which I thought would have been hugely 'popular' ... never a reaction)
South bound - Allmans
Step in my direction - Mary Clayton(?)
Hey Blackberry - B. Crows
Still Alive and Well - E. Winter/R. Derringer
True confessions - tonio K
Vera - Pink Floyd (inst with a horn section)

That's cool.

Instrumental version of Low Spark of High Heel Boys in A instead of D.

I'd be standing on the table cheering on that one (and then I'd force my way onstage to sing it).

I've snuck a lot of Harry Nilsson, XTC and Supertramp songs into cocktail hours at peoples' weddings. I have often played a jazzy acoustic version of "Anarchy In The UK" when I assume nobody is listening, but I always get at least one dude hears it and gives me a thumbs up.

For my acoustic shows, I regularly play tons of stuff nobody knows. Why? Because it's good, and everybody should get to hear it.

I play stuff by-

The Bottlerockets
Kim Richey
Lone Justice
The Stone Coyotes
Townes Van Zandt
Chris Knight
Kinky Friedman

And tons of other artists that most of the bar crowd is clueless about.

If somebody requests Skynyrd, I play "All I Can Do Is Write About It", not one of the cliches.

If somebody requests The Beatles, I play "I've Just Seen a Face".

If somebody asks for Dylan, I'll throw 'em "Boots Of Spanish Leather".

I do this almost every night. I see no point in playing a million songs everybody's already heard a million times. It does not seem to affect my employability at all. I'm in no way short of gigs, and make decent money.

I only play songs I like. That's all. If I wanted a job where I did tedious crap that meant nothing to me, I'd get one. Now granted, some of the songs I like ARE really popular and cliche, and I do those too. But because I actually like them, not because I feel I have to. So yeah, at acoustic shows I also play Fire and Rain, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, and Take Me Home Country Roads. Because they're awesome songs. But I feel no obligation whatsoever to stick with the usual suspects all night long, or even to make them the majority of the list. What's the point when nobody minds if I play whatever I please?

I see no point in playing a million songs everybody's already heard a million times. It does not seem to affect my employability at all. I'm in no way short of gigs, and make decent money.

I only play songs I like. That's all. If I wanted a job where I did tedious crap that meant nothing to me, I'd get one. Now granted, some of the songs I like ARE really popular and cliche, and I do those too. But because I actually like them, not because I feel I have to. So yeah, at acoustic shows I also play Fire and Rain, You Don't Mess Around With Jim, and Take Me Home Country Roads. Because they're awesome songs. But I feel no obligation whatsoever to stick with the usual suspects all night long, or even to make them the majority of the list. What's the point when nobody minds if I play whatever I please?

Kindred spirit you are. I raise my glass. Rock on Jakedog.

Bodhisavta/Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan
Lessons in Love/ Something About You - Level 42
Who Did You TYhink I was/Bigger Than My Body -John Mayer
Lady Writer - Dire Straits
All This Time - Sting

That's great! I've never heard a band cover Level 42.

@Bedspreadpanic ... here's a soundcloud of Vera
http://soundcloud.com/klasaine/k03-vera


*The Level 42 reminded me that I was in a band that did
Roxy Music's - 'Angel Eyes'
Jealous Guy (Bryan Ferry version)
Set Them Free - Sting
and Maneater ... among other things that I can't recall anymore (because nobody liked them, lol!)

@Bedspreadpanic ... here's a soundcloud of Vera
http://soundcloud.com/klasaine/k03-vera


That's awesome. I'm not sure I would have recognized it.

Songs you play that are not "popular"



Uhhhhhh ...... all of them.

None of the songs I perform could be considered "popular."

Hy-owc_joKE

we do lots that might fit, but this is my favorite and it never fails to get the crowd rockin!

That's great! I've never heard a band cover Level 42.

@Bedspreadpanic ... here's a soundcloud of Vera
http://soundcloud.com/klasaine/k03-vera


*The Level 42 reminded me that I was in a band that did
Roxy Music's - 'Angel Eyes'
Jealous Guy (Bryan Ferry version)
Set Them Free - Sting
and Maneater ... among other things that I can't recall anymore (because nobody liked them, lol!)

yeah- Level 42 is fun as hell to play.
And I agree with Tjalla- We play them cause WE like them. people seem to sense the band is having fun, not just going thru the motions.

Nothin like an Assembly Of God spiritual to cross some wires in barfly's dark matter!

We do a rock version of Judy Collins" "Both Sides Now".

Samba Pa-Ti by Santana was in my acoustic duo repertoire years back.

I'm also with Tj , do what I like and yes, I do some hits, but exploring other sounds is most of the fun. Sting " Shape of My Heart" always turns a few heads plus I like the message and metaphor

Rory Gallagher's tattooed lady or Cradle Rock.

When I do coffee houses I do a neo Classical, pseudo James Taylor style Green Day's Basket case. That goes over well!

"East Texas Pines" by Sunny Sweeney, "Chain Gang" Danni Leigh version, . We actually had people dancing to East Texas Pines the first time we played it... Was pretty cool...

qKSZTl51BZY

BtirVdcLTMM

Also Buddy Holly's "Modern Don Juan":

S7SKWEorbHo

Somebody actually knows who James Intveld is?

Fantastic.

All This Time - StingWe do "All this Time" too! One of my personal favorites. Such great lyrics. "All fussin and flapin in priestly black like a murder of crows". I love it.


We also do a very rocked up version of California Dreaming into All Along the Watchtower (same cord progression) that usually gets a very positive response.

I played a gig on Saturday night where we played Animals straight through.

It was a blast and the people dug it!

I take it you're talking about the band, not the album.
We'll be doing the entire PF album next week. Talk about obscure songs :lol:

Gotta listen to klasaine's Vera this evening

I take it you're talking about the band, not the album.
We'll be doing the entire PF album next week. Talk about obscure songs :lol:


Yep, Pink Floyd's Animals.

Here's a taste: (I'm the guy on the right)
KL6odYeNJck

"Blue Train" (somewhere between Johnny Cash and Marty Stuart)
"Eagle Over Angel" Brother Phelps

In the band:
Meet Me Where They Play The Blues - Jack Teagarden


Solo acoustic shows:
"I don't know how to say goodbye to you" - Sam Phillips
"100 Nights"/"The Rakes Progress" - Marillion

My band covers a couple obscure but rockin' tunes that have become fan favorites!

Dead Broke, and Dirty - Bodeco
0berXtsWcjs

Perfect Confusion - Live for the Day
MCvwwThtC3w

I like to surprise people with songs they don't expect an acoustic guitarist [me] to do. solo...
Sultans of Swing--Dyer Straits
Angel--Hendrix
Stone free--Hendrix
Here Comes The Sun--Beatles
My Back Pages--Dylan [Byrds version]

Here's another one that 19 out out twenty in the room won't get....
Panic In Detroit--David Bowie [no relation to Jim Bowie]:wink:

That's awesome. I'm not sure I would have recognized it.
No way I would have recognized it :razz:
You guys are good musicians !

Yep, Pink Floyd's Animals.

Here's a taste: (I'm the guy on the right)
KL6odYeNJck

Tough on a 4 piece without keys nor talkbox but you did a pretty good job really.
The guitar harmonizing parts are very good and I love the wha of the other guitar player with the cap during the break on the second video of Dogs (or is that you in case you meant "on the right" seen from stage ?).
Sounds really excellent.

Are you playing with a sampler (the psalm in sheep) or was that live ?

I'll try to post a video from our gig if I can manage to find one on the net

Uhhhhhh ...... all of them.

None of the songs I perform could be considered "popular."

I'm with you. I'm not sure many of the tunes / bands on this list are actually "not popular."

Ours would be
Adventure - Television
Hey Bulldog - The Beatles
Shake Some Action - The Flamin' Groovies
Jeepster - T.Rex

and all our originals.

Barlight - Charlie Robison
I Ain't Drinkin' Any More - Kevin Fowler
Pound Sign - Kevin Fowler
Beer Bait and Ammo - Sammy Kershaw (written by Kevin Fowler)
Don't Touch My Willie - Kevin Fowler
Wicked Game - HIM (a punk/rock'd up version - we actually do the Chris Isaak version too)

There are some more too, I just can't think of them off the top of my head . . .

We play these because we like them - and we make them our own. Because they aren't in the mainstream (except for Wicked Game), some people even think they are originals - and they are surprised when we tell them who wrote or sang them. :grin::grin:

No way I would have recognized it :razz:
You guys are good musicians !


I'm not sure that's an endorsement - :shock: lol!
I think this is in regards to my semi 'big band' version of Pink Floyds "Vera". Which originally is the last tune on the sndtrk of the Wall and is a big, weird, a capella vocal piece. I 'hear it' but I arranged it so ... It's definitely not your standard Floyd cover.

One more time: http://soundcloud.com/klasaine/k03-vera

I'm with you. I'm not sure many of the tunes / bands on this list are actually "not popular."

Ours would be
Adventure - Television
Hey Bulldog - The Beatles
Shake Some Action - The Flamin' Groovies
Jeepster - T.Rex

and all our originals.

Love Jeepster and Hey Bulldog.

I'm not sure that's an endorsement - :shock: lol!
I think this is in regards to my semi 'big band' version of Pink Floyds "Vera". Which originally is the last tune on the sndtrk of the Wall and is a big, weird, a capella vocal piece. I 'hear it' but I arranged it so ... It's definitely not your standard Floyd cover.

One more time: http://soundcloud.com/klasaine/k03-vera

:grin: No really, I love the way you arranged it and you guys ARE good musicians.

I just meant to say that I would not recognize the song if I picked it up after the first minute. The theme you play twice during the first minute is of course recognizable :smile:

:grin: No really, I love the way you arranged it and you guys ARE good musicians.

I just meant to say that I would not recognize the song if I picked it up after the first minute. The theme you play twice during the first minute is of course recognizable :smile:

Thanks man. I knew what you meant but you're right, other than the actual melody section - it's unrecognizable ... and unexpected with that instrumentation.

"Street Life" by Randy Crawford.

Heck its not popular within the band.

Its certainly not popular with audiences, it empties a dancefloor quicker than chucking a stink bomb out there

Why do we play it then, you might ask?

Well we have two sax players in the band, and Street life has a couple of sax solos in it.:roll:

Love Jeepster and Hey Bulldog.

Thanks. Sounds like your band and mine have a lot in common -- we've actually discussed doing Lookout Joe.

Pretty much all of them.

http://www.crashpadband.com/music.html

Brown Eyed Women - Grateful Dead
- goes over suprisingly well, even in mixed crowds of old and young.

Banditos - the Refreshment
- get a lot of comments like "who's tune was that?" & "that was great!"

Yep, there is two from our, WTF do we play now? set list.

Obscure but fun "It Doesn't Matter" Steven Stills & Manassas
"Blue Bayou" by Roy Orbison as an instrumental
"Reggae version of "I gotta Spell On You" requires massive ganja consumption before attempting to play or listen to, but suprisingly, works well.

When I was in Germany, I was in a band where we REALLY played what we liked and popularity was never considered. That's not because we were snobs, but because it really did not matter. German audiences are the best! They listen with really open ears. Greek audiences are the worst... they don't like to listen to anything they cannot sing along to and they show it.

Here's a typical setlist from a German show:

Fire (Bruce Springsteen)
Gotta get up (Harry Nilsson)
You ain't going nowhere (Bob Dylan)
Over the hill (John Martyn)
Don't go (Yazoo)
Abandoned love (Bob Dylan)
After dark (Tito and the Tarantula)
Easy to please (Mine)
Coconut (Harry Nilsson)
Egyptian reggae (Jonathan Richman)
Penthouse (Mine)

We were actually surprisingly popular. I do miss the glory days! :-)

According to the billboard charts, and MTV, none of mine, and almost zero of yours are "popular", so that about solves that mystery.