Lists of good tunes to play at concerts - Guitars101

Sampson1 · 02-07-2006, 03:53 PM

If I was going to perform a concert (which I probably wont for a while), I would open up with Stranglehold, by Ted Nugent. Thats a good song to open up with, and the break/solo part would be a good time to introduce the band or members. A good song to end on would be Freebird...Lynyrd Skynyrd. Another bitchin' song. That song sounds kickass live...

Kind of a useless post, but I thought I would share an idea.

El_jalepeno · 02-07-2006, 04:02 PM

Here is what we do sometimes to start... Get the drums going on a trippy jungle vibe for a minute or two until the cymbal crashes for Hot For Teacher, then I turn up my guitar with a good zap of feedback and kick in to the intro. Good stuff and gets them going

utemonth

3fingers · 02-07-2006, 04:14 PM

When I played out, we never introduced the band members until late into the second set. The opinion being, the people are there to jam. Really, they don't care who you are. When the drinks flow, then you can become a part of the crowd and family that night and then intoduce the members to the audience.

Open with something short and tight, then flow 3 songs in a row at least before saying anything. Let the music talk. My thoughts.

**VHF** · 02-07-2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sampson1

If I was going to perform a concert (which I probably wont for a while), I would open up with Stranglehold, by Ted Nugent. Thats a good song to open up with, and the break/solo part would be a good time to introduce the band or members. A good song to end on would be Freebird...Lynyrd Skynyrd. Another bitchin' song. That song sounds kickass live...

Kind of a useless post, but I thought I would share an idea.

I'm not sure dude.....I would think you don't want to open with a long song like that and introduce band members.....that's halfway thought the night or later.

You hit them with short songs one-two-three without even a break. Then you break and talk to the crowd. If you are the warm up band playing a 10 song set....don't even stop long enough to hear the "boos".....just rapid fire them off!

And "Freebird"???? Cool song but it's almost a running cover band request joke from the crowd.

Good first songs....HMMMM.....The Stones go with "Start Me Up"......Bon Jovi uses "Lay your hands on me".....something from AC\DC might work well to kick things off for a cover band....Highway to Hell maybe?

I can't remember what the Armadillos use......

**VHF** · 02-07-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3fingers

When I played out, we never introduced the band members until late into the second set. The opinion being, the people are there to jam. Really, they don't care who you are. When the drinks flow, then you can become a part of the crowd and family that night and then intoduce the members to the audience.

Open with something short and tight, then flow 3 songs in a row at least before saying anything. Let the music talk. My thoughts.

LOL....I didn't even see your post until after I wrote mine...great minds thing alike 3F.....it's like you have ESP or something.

Sampson1 · 02-07-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VHFan

I would think you don't want to open with a long song like that and introduce band members.....that's halfway thought the night or later.

And "Freebird"???? Cool song but it's almost a running cover band request joke from the crowd.

Yeah, you changed my mind on the Stranglehold opener haha, I agree. As for the freebird, yes it may be a joke, but when I saw a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band (with one of Van Zant's cousins), the crowd seemed to like it, me too

JM5150 · 02-07-2006, 05:14 PM

What little live music with have up in the wasteland of NW Michigan, ACDC tunes are a staple, along with some Uncle Ted, throw in a couple newer rock tunes (3 Doors Down and Nickelback seem to work with the bar crowd), maybe "Pride & Joy", if your guitar player wants to get a little bluesy.

That said, we're backward around here, so take it with a grain of salt!

guitaral · 02-07-2006, 05:15 PM

where's the van halen? and hendrix? i think eruption is a nice segue into the star spangled banner... but really, you should start out with a few short, to the point tunes that get the crowd ready (and drunk, perhaps), introduce the band, then unleash the fury! if you're playing an eighties crowd, the 5-minute guitar solo is a must

JM5150 · 02-07-2006, 05:26 PM

Well put. It always pisses me off that none of the bands around here ever do any VH (although a couple do the occassional Hendrix).

Eruption, into You Really Got Me might be a good opener....

SLoB · 02-08-2006, 04:52 AM

wot 3fingers said

we always used to open up with a mid 3 min track that ripped their heads off lol

shoot first ask questions later
then into 3/4 4/5 min tracks but mostly our own stuff
introduce a few covers if you feel theyr needed, but that also depends on if u got yer own material to begin with

Rythameen · 02-08-2006, 12:42 PM

Well, back when I played out, (way back) we usually started out with Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, just to set the approriate mood for the evening, then a few short quick ones like Stone's Brown Sugar, Nugent Hey Baby, and Aerosmith Mama Kin almost non stop, by that time they knew we were there to party and rock.

Sampson1 · 02-08-2006, 01:19 PM

of course, you gotta put in some led, hendrix, ozzy, styx and metallica. I like to do star spangled banner, then go into foxy lady...

**T.A.Z** · 02-09-2006, 05:47 AM

Last gig i played at I opened playing Eruption (or something to that effect anyway

) then as i finished on the divebomb people clapped and cheered and blah blah blah, and we kicked straight into Ace Of Spades, which is a really good one to start with, fast upbeat awesome!!!!!

Another one to start with would be Welcome to the Jungle, generally quite good, with the guitar intro and stuff, also Boys Of Summer, stupid as it may sound, if anyone has heard the Ataris version, thats a great one, because a lot of people know it, and its a good song to get people pumping.

guitaral · 02-09-2006, 06:34 AM

you could also do some iron maiden... aces high or -ahem- run to the hills... i never really see anybody here talking about them. i think they're a decent band... hey, how about opening your act up with some esteban? just kidding, of course.

**Avalon** · 02-09-2006, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satchsquatch

Another one to start with would be Welcome to the Jungle, generally quite good, with the guitar intro and stuff

That sounds a cool idea, some thing like that is a great opener, put a bit of an improv/intro on it would be perfect.
Highway Star played at break neck speed (like Purple used too) would be cool too, as said above though, its always good to open with atleast 2 mood setting songs (followed up by an original of your own for the 3rd song maybe), that was the setup i used (for the short time i played in a band

).
One Vision by Queen used to go down well too as an opener, it all depends who your playing for, and the type of music you play.
And we used to introduce the band before the last 2 songs.