What do you open up with?

[Dave_O]

Originally Posted by swooda

I dunno man...
Lot depends on the type of gig depending on club or venue, but invaribly it's something with a lot of dynamics so the band can get an idea of the acoustics of the room or hall and let everybody adjust....

I just don't get some of the posted tunes.... Why blow your load right out of the gate. I try to read the crowd, pull em in and then when you do hit em between the eyes you've already got the hook set....

The first bit, swooda... well, that's what soundcheck is for.

And as for the second bit, when you're in a noisy bar full of people playing pool, drinking and talking too loud you need something to.... get their attention.
And nothing works quite as well as a sucker punch Misrlou ain't the ballsiest thing we do, and I don't really don't like watching bands who kinda slink up and go "Excuse us, is it ok to play some music??"
Maybe it's "once a punk, always a punk..."

[garytelecastor]

Loud by Big & Rich
High Maintenance Woman-Toby Keith
Ticks-Brad Paisley
We usually try to hit 'em right in the snoot on the open gate.

[bender-freak]

as already said....back when i was actively gigging, it just depended on the type of crowd me and my buddy Red were playing for...examples:

in the mood
panhandle rag
speedin' west
bud's bounce
honky tonk
green onions
tequila
cissi strut
cannonball rag

we did lots of Chet Atkins type instrumentals, lots of big band stuff we were able to pull off quite succesfully since we both used MIDI tone generators.

other instrumentals later in a gig interspersed with Red's vocals would be:

sleepwalk
harbor lights
i'm a fool to care
vaya con dios
sugarfoot rag
malaguena....our version....don't ask
theme from Dr. Zhivago (somewhere my love)

of course the "gotta do" stuff

wildwood flower, but with banjo, piano, sax, fiddle, via MIDI
under the double eagle
foggy mountain breakdown..
steel guitar rag
drifter's polka

lotsa others

[Dean Gray]

"Water of Love" - Dire Straits, laid back Mark Knopfler feel to let the band get a feel for the venue and the crowd, like others have said.

(which is not to say I can play it like Knopfler, but let's stay positive...)

Boris - that cracked me up!

[Tim Bowen]

I've heard that Willie Nelson considers the tune Whiskey River to be "roll call" for his shows, and usually dives into it with that one.

The only act that I've been associated with that always starts off with the same tune is my duo. Our "roll call" is No Expectations. We've launched off with original tunes and covers by other folks on a few occasions, but for us, it's never quite the same as starting the evening with this Rolling Stones tune. It's medium tempo, and for my partner, it's medium vocal range. I don't sing harmony on the tune, and I can take as many instrumental rides as I'd like until I've got a handle on the acoustic properties and quirks of the venue. By the time the tune is done, we've introduced ourselves to the room, I've tweaked my circuits, we've tweaked the PA - which we do on the fly - and we're good to go. We're two guys that are typically charged with entertaining a roomful of folks for 3-4 hours, sans rhythm section (other than ourselves), and for us, this tune sets our parameters and acts as our divining rod.

Regardless of whom I'm working with, I'll always push towards a comfortable opening number, and there are plenty of ways to project such while still maintaining "attitude". If there's a technically ambitious tune that I know in my heart of hearts will translate better after all involved have managed to get comfortable within their environment, I'll (strongly) suggest that such be positioned accordingly within a projected set list.

I can't begin to say how many times I've witnessed project leaders all intent on "kicking ass" from jump street (a good thing, at least in theory) - but in effect, asking drummer and/or rhythm section to be 'ON' from the first downbeat; If they're seasoned, sure, they can deliver it, but chances are pretty good that the set will transpire better with pacing that recognizes how human beings operate under newfound conditions (live environment, no matter how many times you've been there). Jeff Beck doesn't start his set with "Space Boogie".

[pick & 2 fingers]

Depends on the bar/crowd. One bar we play at is decidedly more country than the others w/a few more older folks to start out with, so it's usually something like "Big City", "Crazy Arms", or "Heartaches By the Number". Most of the other bars have younger folks so we start w/something like "Got a Lot of Leavin to Do" by Dierks Bentley. "Drinkin Bone" is a good opener also.

We almost always start the 2nd set w/"Seven Bridges Road", though.

[Doug Ferguson]

Muddy Waters: "I'm Ready".

[swooda]

Originally Posted by Dave_O

The first bit, swooda... well, that's what soundcheck is for.

And as for the second bit, when you're in a noisy bar full of people playing pool, drinking and talking too loud you need something to.... get their attention.
And nothing works quite as well as a sucker punch Misrlou ain't the ballsiest thing we do, and I don't really don't like watching bands who kinda slink up and go "Excuse us, is it ok to play some music??"
Maybe it's "once a punk, always a punk..."

Well like I said a lot depends on the gig and reading the crowd. If we're following another band or are playing for a 1000 rowdy bikers, i'm coming out of the gate pedal to the metal. As far as a sound check I'm familiar with my equipment enough not to need one. IMO they're distracting and annoying to the audience....

[wilkat1]

We used to open with either "Settle for Love" by Joe Ely or "99 1/2 (Won't Do)" by Wilson Pickett.

[51tele]

always "steppin out"---john mayall and the blues breakers

[Dave_O]

Originally Posted by swooda

Well like I said a lot depends on the gig and reading the crowd. If we're following another band or are playing for a 1000 rowdy bikers, i'm coming out of the gate pedal to the metal. As far as a sound check I'm familiar with my equipment enough not to need one. IMO they're distracting and annoying to the audience....

I hear ya, swooda. BTW, no disrespect was intended in my previous post. I usually get on here after work, (it's 3am here) I'm a nightshift truckdriver, and sometimes I get a bit.... strange.....

[swooda]

Originally Posted by Dave_O

I hear ya, swooda. BTW, no disrespect was intended in my previous post. I usually get on here after work, (it's 3am here) I'm a nightshift truckdriver, and sometimes I get a bit.... strange.....

Its cool Dave... I probably came off as a bit of an ass myself... Take care bro..

[mlove3]

with the now defunct (gawd I miss it) blues/soul band ' flip flop fly'
with the classic cover band usually 'last dance with maryjane'

[drewsblues]

Originally Posted by D.K. Buchanon

With Blistered Soul : Groove Machine

The King's X tune?

[Tony474]

Depends on the gig. If it's an older crowd we'll ease in with a couple of Don Williams things, "Love Me Tonight" segued into "I Would Like To See You Again" (there's a hint in the titles ).

But sometimes, if it's a pub gig with mixed ages, we'll start off with the intro to "Get Back", extended a bit to build it up, and just at the crucial moment sing "I Can See Clearly Now" in that style instead, before following on into "Get Back" itself. Never fails!

On sixties tribute jobs we'll invariably kick off with "Every Time That You Walk In The Room", stopping to let the audience sing the punch-line.

[D.K. Buchanon]

Originally Posted by drewsblues

The King's X tune?

Yep. We are huge KX fans and that song pretty much sums up where we are going the rest of the night. When we first put Blistered Soul together , one of the first tunes we played together was " Fall On Me".

We start off with Groove Machine which , sadly, not many people know...but it always gets a great round of applause and gets people moving towards the dance floor right away.

Great to see another KX fan here!

[drewsblues]

Originally Posted by D.K. Buchanon

Yep. We are huge KX fans and that song pretty much sums up where we are going the rest of the night. When we first put Blistered Soul together , one of the first tunes we played together was " Fall On Me".

We start off with Groove Machine which , sadly, not many people know...but it always gets a great round of applause and gets people moving towards the dance floor right away.

Great to see another KX fan here!

"Welcome to the Groove Machine." Great opener for a heavy set.

The only problem with King's X songs (where I'm concerned) is the expectation that the guitar player is going to play like Ty Tabor.

[D.K. Buchanon]

Originally Posted by drewsblues

The King's X tune?

Originally Posted by drewsblues

"Welcome to the Groove Machine." Great opener for a heavy set.

The only problem with King's X songs (where I'm concerned) is the expectation that the guitar player is going to play like Ty Tabor.

I hear ya ! Of course the upside is: your average person at a gig has no idea who Ty Tabor is...which is a bummer...but...I can pull off a passable Tabor ...cept for all that stupefying stuff he does...so yeah...um...yeah...

[marksound]

Usually it's Robben Ford's "Start It Up." Not too tough guitar- or vocal-wise, it gives everyone a chance to get warmed up.

[pbenn]

Instrumentals. It depends on the bass player.

30-60-90
Hip Hug Her
Night Train
Time is Tight