Why The Hate for Covers?

[pattywagon]

I'd say depends on the cover like everyone else is saying. I really liked some of the covers they played in 2008 like Money/Hey Hey. Sledgehammer is a great song but it gets played too frequently compared to other covers. I get it though because Dave wants Buddy to shine so I'm sure he considers that when making the set list. Maybe....

[dmbnut21]

Oh, I will also say, I do really enjoy when Dave does The Needle and the Damage Done solo. That being said, it is normally at at D&T show with 30 songs being played and it is short.

It was pretty awesome at Gorge 2015, though I still can't believe Let You Down wasn't played that night. I have to say, looking back though, what an amazing acoustic set:

Death On The High Seas (Dave Solo)
Angel From Montgomery (D Solo)
Needle and the Damage Done (D Solo)
Crush (D&T)
The Stone
Loving Wings
Raven
Tripping Billies
Captain

[dontdrink36]

Originally Posted by phoolhearted

Yeah.

To be clear -- I'm against a sledgehammer at every show, and even against a cover becoming a staple of a tour.

I just get the impression that some folks would prefer an all originals show/tour--and that's not something I'd want to be behind.

I think if we saw an all originals tour we'd end up with cornbread each night, or some other tunes that'd be bitched about.

I would prefer all original DMB songs outside of a handful of covers they have been playing since the early days like Watchtower, LBV, The Maker

[grilldanmo]

I forgot about all of the amazing unreleased tracks or the nice pile of miscellaneous tracks that have appeared on bonus editions (e.g.: Granny) or in deluxe editions (e.g.: the complete Little Red Bird disc).

If DMB were playing all of these other stellar tunes regularly (obviously they are w/ Granny, but so many others aren't getting played), then I say hold off on the covers until they do a better job exploring and performing the DMB, D&F, and Dave catalog.

I don't hate covers, I just want to hear their songs exponentially more than anyone else's at their shows.

[Dave&Tim41]

If they were playing one to two covers each night, and were playing songs like Long Black Veil, For the Beauty of Wynona, hell, even Runnin' Down a Dream or Slip Slidin' Away, I would have no complaints. The problem is that Sledgehammer is really not a great cover AND they are playing three to four covers on top of garbage like Stand Up, Bayou, You & Me, etc.

It's amazing that they ignore songs like Recently, PFWYG, DIDO, Cry Freedom, Last Stop, Dreaming Tree, The Stone, Pig, Spoon, Busted Stuff, YNK, Captain, KKJ -- and play Sledgehammer.

[Melted]

You all should listen to Stevie Wonders "You haven't done nothin" If there was ever a cover that played to DMBs style of music and had great lyrical content thats the one.

[DoDaFoo]

Originally Posted by dmbnut21

Oh, I will also say, I do really enjoy when Dave does The Needle and the Damage Done solo. That being said, it is normally at at D&T show with 30 songs being played and it is short.

It was pretty awesome at Gorge 2015, though I still can't believe Let You Down wasn't played that night. I have to say, looking back though, what an amazing acoustic set:

Death On The High Seas (Dave Solo)
Angel From Montgomery (D Solo)
Needle and the Damage Done (D Solo)
Crush (D&T)
The Stone
Loving Wings
Raven
Tripping Billies
Captain

One of the best acoustic sets they did. I love that they added Captain at the end.

[dmbnut21]

Originally Posted by DoDaFoo

One of the best acoustic sets they did. I love that they added Captain at the end.

Yep. It really rounded it out nicely. I'm kind of shocked that something that rare was just added on to the set list.

Amazing what 4 years will do...

[Bearclaw_]

The band does some great cover music but when I see DMB, I would rather see their own catalogue. They have 175+ songs that I would love to hear over a cover.

My first show had 3 covers. Sucks. Hey DMB, please play, ya know, DMB.

[Prezzy]

Originally Posted by Melted

You all should listen to Stevie Wonders "You haven't done nothin" If there was ever a cover that played to DMBs style of music and had great lyrical content thats the one.

The band would nail this song!

[Melted]

Originally Posted by Prezzy

The band would nail this song!

THANK YOU. All DMB fans should Youtube that song. Its a great song in general and they would nail it.

[Laurenkight]

With the exception of AATW and The Maker, I’m all set with the covers. I think I’d rather hear Jimi Thing than Sledgehammer.

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

Sledgehammer is actually a great cover. It’s definitely overplayed, but doesn’t mean they don’t do the song justice. Besides, my favorite artist covering my other favorite artist is pretty freakin sweet

[Melted]

Sledgehammer = boring.

[phoolhearted]

I'll second what was mentioned above... Stevie Wonder's "You Haven't Done Nothing" would be incredible. (I'd also like to hear them try "Just Go Have a Talk With God" Buddy could do some great stuff with that one.)

I Personally like Sledgehammer as Dave has the perfect voice for covering Peter Gabriel, though I think I'd rather see Solsbury Hill at a show.

And-- at the same time, I think they should diversify covers. Do new ones. Introduce the crowd to the music the band is currently into.


It seems that the issue is less about the band playing covers, and ultimately that the fans think covers are at the expense of older rarities.
I don't think that's the case. We'd be more wise to frame it as, ever cover is a break from a lackluster original.

[pattywagon]

Even though it was played more during the acoustic sets I really liked Sugar Man. It has a cool vibe to it. Another one that someone mentioned above is slip sliding away. I'd like to catch LBV or The Maker this summer but chances are probably slim.

[ElijahSoRight72]

I go to DMB shows for DMB songs- I remember N1 in Chicago 2014 had 4 covers and that’s just way too many. I’m just generally bored by them.

[*loverulesme*]

Originally Posted by dmbolp

Sledgehammer every night?!?!? 15 plays already just in 2019; 23 in 2018...that's not what a cover is supposed to be

What is a cover supposed to be?

[DMBCardinal]

I don’t mind a cover every once in a while, but I don’t think they should ever become tour staples.

[TJtennisPro]

WSP has over 600 songs in the rotation. They play more songs. Longer sets and much better covers. I didn’t realize that DMB shows had become so similar. WSP is always a treat and you never miss a Sunday show. Disappointed in DMB. Won’t go again.

Originally Posted by grilldanmo

I'm behind this, because every cover is another DMB song we aren't hearing. I can't think of a cover tune that I'd rather over anything on:

R2T
UtTaD
Crash
BTCS
tLWS/BS
BW
AFtW
CT

If the cover is replacing anything off of ED and SU, then I'm 100% behind it.

The other peer bands from the jam crowd of DMB do regularly play covers, but not at the same ones nor at the expense of HUGE portions of their catalog. You go to a two or three night run for Widespread Panic, you'll hear a cover or two each night, but you'll also hear a fair greater representation of their catalog and less of the same songs.

[RiotAct]

Originally Posted by Melted

Sledgehammer = boring.

agreed, not even top 10 in Gabriel’s catalog.

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by RiotAct

agreed, not even top 10 in Gabriel’s catalog.

This is because his entire catalog is fantastic.

[podiumboy]

I saw DMB play "Sweet Emotion" last November in Columbus. It was fine, but I already saw Aerosmith play that song, much better, in that same venue years before. I don't need to see DMB do it. I'd rather they play something awesome, like "Last Stop", in that slot. Just seems like a waste to me, when they have such an extensive, epic body of original work.

I do enjoy the occasional "Watchtower" cover though.

[Cptn. Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by podiumboy

I saw DMB play "Sweet Emotion" last November in Columbus. It was fine, but I already saw Aerosmith play that song, much better, in that same venue years before. I don't need to see DMB do it. I'd rather they play something awesome, like "Last Stop", in that slot. Just seems like a waste to me, when they have such an extensive, epic body of original work.

I do enjoy the occasional "Watchtower" cover though.

The thing is, a cover is never going to be in the slot of a deep cut. It is in the slot of a hit, so everyone in the crowd can sing along. So instead of What Would You Say, you may get Burning Down the House

[TrippinNancies1]

Imagine if the band did covers of PG's great songs... Rhythm of The Heat, San Jacinto, No Self Control, Sky Blue, etc... Beating any cover into the ground is lazy and uninteresting...

[rhizingbines]

I just don’t want to hear the same cover every night. I’d appreciate them more if there was some variety.

[grilldanmo]

Originally Posted by TrippinNancies1

Imagine if the band did covers of PG's great songs... Rhythm of The Heat, San Jacinto, No Self Control, Sky Blue, etc... Beating any cover into the ground is lazy and uninteresting...

I love Dave and know he's got a great unique voice. And while he even sounds good to great some nights on Sledgehammer and sounded great nearly 16 years ago singing Solsbury Hill, he's not really up to singing most of Gabriel's material. Peter's higher register is not something Dave can easily tackle now, which is not to say it would have ever been "easy" for him.

That said, bring on more Gabriel covers...and new ones from other artists. Maybe have fun with more recent hits (not that I'd recognize any).

[DMBstandUP1984]

Originally Posted by podiumboy

I saw DMB play "Sweet Emotion" last November in Columbus. It was fine, but I already saw Aerosmith play that song, much better, in that same venue years before. I don't need to see DMB do it. I'd rather they play something awesome, like "Last Stop", in that slot. Just seems like a waste to me, when they have such an extensive, epic body of original work.

I do enjoy the occasional "Watchtower" cover though.

Unrelated story

I saw MGMT open for Weezer. Weezer covered a MGMT song and blew away the same song MGMT did about 30mins before.

[kelchlsm]

Sledgehammer is still a great song, just because its played more than the Last Stop doesn't take away from it being a good song.

Now songs like Stand Up being played over Last Stop or DT is the issue.

[prdstmnky36]

Originally Posted by grilldanmo

I'm behind this, because every cover is another DMB song we aren't hearing.

Originally Posted by grilldanmo

That said, bring on more Gabriel covers...and new ones from other artists. Maybe have fun with more recent hits (not that I'd recognize any).

Ya cant have it both ways, lol.