Building a Classic Rock Setlist

[WWLaidback]

I'm trying to put together a classic rock setlist for a live band and I need to add more songs.
I have some guidelines.
I want to keep it simple enough that average musicians can play it, yet interesting.
Good energy. Good beat. Not too slow, yet not real fast either.
Still relevant to a younger listening audience.

Here is what I have so far:
1) Alright Now - Free
2) Roll on Down the Highway - BTO
3) Been a Long Time since Rock and Roll - Led Zepellin
4) We're an American Band - Grand Funk Railroad





Here is my setlist page. thanks.

Music Happening - Setlist

We're an American Band

sites.google.com

 

[bgmacaw]

Since you're in the South, Lynyrd Skynyrd is a must...



...and, some Tom Petty, either American Girl or...



How about Long Cool Woman?



And what Tired Old Dad Band set list is complete without Mustang Sally?

 

[WWLaidback]

not bad. I've thought about those.
And I do appreciate it. Please don't take this as cristicism.

I think the younger crowd wants the basic rock sound a little more, without a whole lot of effects (other than over-drive, chorus, delay, and reverb), or a wangfest guitar solo that goes on for 5 minutes.

I ruled out Skynyrd because it requires more guitar power than I have, and goes too long on the solos.

Tom Petty's music is good, but the song selection is macabre.
I don't want songs about drugs, dying, etc.

Hollies Long Cool Woman has a great opening, but the part about working for the FBI aint so cool anymore.

Please don't get me wrong. I really do appreciate your inputs.

Let me please tell you what's out:
Hendrix -- nobody can measure up to him. Over-reliance on the wah pedal is outdated.
Metal -- the young people don't go for shred.
Van Halen for the same reason.
Songs about sleeze-bags -- like Mississippi Queen -- it's a great song, but just not the image I want to project.
Bread -- good music but it's too outdated
Bad Finger -- same
Foghat -- I'm avoiding slide guitar
Beetles -- too sophisticated
Stones -- out of date
Doobie Brothers -- great music, but maybe a little too pop.
Nugent -- just no.

 

[thunderbyrd]

Wow, hate to be non-useful, but exactly what DO you want? you've pretty much excluded everything classic rock. i would suggest the Raspberries, but they might be too dark for you. maybe the Archies?

 

[elihu]

Rebel Rebel…David Bowie

 

[ce24]

Hanna Montana....agreed you've dismissed most of rock n roll.

 

[kuch]

Beetles???

 

[SPUDCASTER]

Beatles up to Rubber Soul should be on the radar.

Tons of semi off the radar songs like "Lies" by the Knickerbockers.

 

[bebopbrain]

"The Passenger", but maybe rework it as "The Uber Rider".

 

[sax4blues]

This could seem very sterile and corporate, but I've always looked to the #1 hits of the genre/era. The very nature of these rankings indicates a lot of people will have heard the song very frequently in it's day, and by some measure it was popular. These may not always be the songs musicians want to perform. That's where you need to decide if your mission is to play your favorite covers, or play the audience favorites. Those could be the same song, but if it's not, which way will you tip the scale.

 

[DougieLove]

Dude, you're ruling out a big chunk of great classic rock songs that would go over well.

If you want more "rock" and less "roll" for the younger crowd, how about:
Pearl Jam - Better Man
Foo Fighters - Everlong or Learn to Fly
STP - Interstate Love Song
Weezer - any number of their songs
Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome
The Black Crowes - Hard to Handle

Those songs are all 20-30 years old now and fit the "classic rock" category

 

[timbgtr]

 

[radtz]

I'm trying to put together a classic rock setlist for a live band and I need to add more songs.
I have some guidelines.
I want to keep it simple enough that average musicians can play it, yet interesting.
Good energy. Good beat. Not too slow, yet not real fast either.
Still relevant to a younger listening audience.

Here is what I have so far:
1) Alright Now - Free
2) Roll on Down the Highway - BTO
3) Been a Long Time since Rock and Roll - Led Zepellin
4) We're an American Band - Grand Funk Railroad





Here is my setlist page. thanks.

Music Happening - Setlist

We're an American Band

sites.google.com

One of the most sucessfull cover bands I was in, the leader searched Billboard top 100 hits for various years from the 70s and 80s. You can find what was hot at the time and go from there.

 

[bgmacaw]

Metal -- the young people don't go for shred.

You should check out that Instrammer or TickerTock thingie sometime.

How about some Monkees?

 

[Texicaster]

I heard a band playing 3 Dog Night "Shambala" this afternoon! They metal'd it up a little bit and it rocked pretty hard. Guitar, bass ad drums...

 

[Jupiter]

I urge you to reconsider The Rolling Stones.

How can you put together a “classic rock” set list, but disqualify an iconic band for being out of date?

If their early stuff is TOO early, you might check out some songs from Some Girls (1978)

 

[WWLaidback]

good suggestion. It requires a lot of vocal though.

 

[Killing Floor]

I’d go like this:

 

[WWLaidback]

Here's an idea. Lenny Kravitz needed a lead guitar for this song. Now that's something to work with.

 

[radtz]

I’d go like this:

That's a lot of dog hair.