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25 Apr 2008

THE GROUNDHOG SONG

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Posted By : Woody | Comments : 34

As everyone is adding their repertoire how about having the Groundhog Song or award. Its that song every band seems to play. The staple, the bread and butter number or is it the anchor?

I go to pubs and keep hearing "Whisky In A Jar", "Alright Now" and "Boys Are Back In Town".

How many "classic" songs are there anyway?

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# Posted by mr.nwb - 25/04/2008, 15:36 (GMT)
Looking through the NWB repertoire search facility I reckon Teenage Kicks and 20th Century Boy are amongst the leaders.

Ironically, I've never heard a band do "stairway to heaven", even though its ranked amongst the best classic rock tracks of all time. Same goes for Bohemian Rhapsody, but I can understand why bands stray away from it. - Mama mia!!!!


# Posted by Without Reason - 25/04/2008, 15:44 (GMT)
gotta be Born to be Wild


# Posted by viking - 25/04/2008, 16:05 (GMT)
Ironically, I've never heard a band do "stairway to heaven", even though its ranked amongst the best classic rock tracks of all time. Same goes for Bohemian Rhapsody, but I can understand why bands stray away from it. - Mama mia!!!!"
zep's "rock and roll!"?? and......
errrrrr- riff raff and mothers ruin do an outstanding cover of "stairway"!! :-)


# Posted by Woody - 25/04/2008, 16:10 (GMT)
Stairway does totally ROCK and I've never head a cover of that either.

Along side the "Groundhog Song", you can have the "Leprechaun", the one we never see (well hear, but I'm struggling for a name for that one).

I've always wanted to play "The Crunge" by Zep. Not heard that one either.


# Posted by viking - 25/04/2008, 17:17 (GMT)
the groundhog song of groundhog songs at any "classic rock" gig has to be "paranoid"?? mind you-has the amazing property of getting people who haven't moved all night trying to start a "mosh pit!!??


# Posted by Woody - 25/04/2008, 17:52 (GMT)
Just thought of the ultimate "Black Night".

Actually one of my favorites...


# Posted by viking - 25/04/2008, 18:06 (GMT)
oh yeah!! had "blocked" that one out? only band i know around these days who do that one justice are "tuskan"-unless someone knows different? (although-maybe-"smoke on the water" has the edge in "yawn" factor?)


# Posted by On The Edge - 27/04/2008, 12:17 (GMT)
There's a St. Helens band called Cargo that do a very passable Stairway....flute and all. Not seen em on here yet but they are worth a look.


# Posted by The Fabulous Eggs - 28/04/2008, 10:00 (GMT)
I once read that the most covered "covers band song" is Mustang Sally-



# Posted by THE SWAMPSTOMPERS - 29/04/2008, 00:26 (GMT)
Can't get enough of your Love - Bad Co


# Posted by Anthem - 29/04/2008, 03:18 (GMT)
we do stairway, rock n roll, waiting for an alibi and a few people have said we're the only ones that do more than a feelin. Check us out and give some feedback,good or bad whatever you feel is fitting.


# Posted by Woody - 29/04/2008, 08:31 (GMT)
Swampstompers - Yeah thats a good one.


# Posted by The Fabulous Eggs - 29/04/2008, 08:37 (GMT)
Yep Cant get enough- we do that (The Clan not the Eggs)

Johnny B Goode anyone??



# Posted by Drum Bloke - 02/05/2008, 15:24 (GMT)
Must be... 'Alreet Noo' !!


# Posted by Woody - 02/05/2008, 15:30 (GMT)
The list so far is:

Alright Now
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love
Mustang (twating) Sally
Smoke On The Water
Black Night
Paranoid
Teenage Kicks
20th Century Boy
Whiskey In a Jar
Boys Are Back In Town


# Posted by Threefold - 02/05/2008, 16:17 (GMT)
People would hang a band for doing stairway badly ....as a change we do Hocus Pocus which always goes down well.....but mustang sally what can you say ! But we do it because we cant get away as they know we do it and the girlies love it after all they do dance nice sometimes !!!!


# Posted by Threefold - 02/05/2008, 16:18 (GMT)
by the way cant get enough is the one but i love playing it !


# Posted by Full English - 02/05/2008, 16:33 (GMT)
those songs are Groundhogs for 70's type 'classic' rock bands out there, in our particular niche (punk & new waves), the old chestnuts are:

Anarchy In The UK
Pretty Vacant
Ever Fallen In Love
Teenage Kicks

i'd happily ditch em all, but the punters like em, which is what it's all about.. bums on seats laddie, etc :)



# Posted by viking - 02/05/2008, 16:34 (GMT)
how about the Kink's "you really got me"??


# Posted by The Fabulous Eggs - 02/05/2008, 16:35 (GMT)
how did we miss that one!!!


# Posted by The Fabulous Eggs - 02/05/2008, 16:38 (GMT)
I think Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis will soon join these list and some oasis tracks like Roll with it!!


# Posted by The Fabulous Eggs - 02/05/2008, 16:39 (GMT)
I had Oasis soup the other day- it's called that coz you get a Roll with it HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA bonk

just laughed me head off!!


# Posted by Woody - 02/05/2008, 16:41 (GMT)
Full English, good comment, I do find probably 8 out of 10 regularly gigging bands are CLASSIC which got me thinking about these songs. I see them week in and week out an still love watching em :-)

Like most contributors on here its not a complaining (apart from Mustang Sally -sorry Threefold-) its more an observation...

and you are right about bums on seats. The venues are a little scared of something too difference from the classic as its a proven formula that seems to work.


# Posted by Anthem - 02/05/2008, 16:48 (GMT)
two words, two numbers.........one deja vu enducing peice of musical groundhog song...........SUMMER OF 69
(we do it as well lmao)


# Posted by viking - 02/05/2008, 16:49 (GMT)
that's spot on, woody!! having been both sides of the pa system-the crew i go to gigs with like to have a few (!) and get up and dance whilst singing along to familiar lyrics. the "covers/originals" debate will, i fear, never reach a satisfactory conclusion, there being excellent arguments for both points of view.and, a vital place in music for both??


# Posted by The Fabulous Eggs - 02/05/2008, 21:27 (GMT)
We play wedding and corporate and have a "list" of songs that the corporate gigs can chose- Take it Easy by The Eagles is chosen at every single gig! I HATE that song!!


# Posted by Threefold - 03/05/2008, 12:24 (GMT)
summer of 69 oh yes played every summer since release !!!! yes we have played it no we will not anymore it grates even to hear it now.


# Posted by Threefold - 03/05/2008, 12:27 (GMT)
Threefold we do Zeppelins "rock and roll" and will never drop it classic as in timeless.....we also do Whole Lotta Love....but it soon gets its real name by the punters "thats the top of the pops music innit?"


# Posted by Woody - 03/05/2008, 16:43 (GMT)
Don't get me started on Originals v Covers debate, thats another thread.

Summer of 69, I don't hear that that often. When I do I do still like it but then again I don't have to play it week in week out.

Just to prove I'm not picking just classics what about "All The Small Things"

With Groundhog song though, you get the short lived ones as well like, "Seven Nation Army", "Monster", "Song 2", oh and finally I can't forget "Vertigo". Oh and yes GUILTY.


# Posted by viking - 03/05/2008, 16:52 (GMT)
lol!! however-having said all the above- (and agreeing wholeheartedly!!) i've noticed there are a growing number of younger bands (age range between 18-20 something) who are getting the message that, by mixing a few "originals" in with their sets and getting them "known" by the fans they become "classics"!!-"Fury uk", being a good example of this.
re: "....but it soon gets its real name by the punters "thats the top of the pops music innit?"" always irritates me that one? cause it wasn't zep's music that opened totp-was one hit wonder called CCS with a rather tame cover version??!!



# Posted by Threefold - 03/05/2008, 20:06 (GMT)
A cover version of "whole lotta love "? is that not what all this is about ? YES it was C.C.S and a damn fine version of what a cover band could ruin ooops I am in a cover band.
the ultimate thing about covers abnds is that they all start as a mess around and the band plays their fauvourite stuff ie Zep,Sabbath,Level 42 whoever then it degenerates into what the audience want because we all like the applause then you get all smug and say lets do something no one else does ,say Bullfrog blues by Rory Gallagher and the audience just go quiet and one person may clap....I saw a band do the full version of Shine on you crazy diamond once....at the end of it I said to the other person still there "not bad that was it" he said "who was it by ?it went on long enough" lol so you o back to the groundhogs coz they pay.


# Posted by Woody - 03/05/2008, 20:30 (GMT)
We played at Whittle BoTB this year and there was a band of younger lads who played the most amazing version of "Whole Lotta Love". Real credit to them, the lead singer was also lead guitarist and played a blinder, can't remember what they were called though.

But back to the topic as that aint no contender for the Groundhog Award.


# Posted by 'Driving Force' - 18/05/2008, 13:41 (GMT)
At practically every gig we have done some boozette has requested a Meatloaf number, i usually point them in the direction of the buffet. We have on occasion done the 'full' version of Sultans of Swing, and whilst in itself i feel it is a damn fine toon the punters generally sit down and loose interest. We do Alr8 now, wishing well and Summer o 69 these seem to be staples for covers bands. G.


# Posted by Keef - 06/06/2008, 14:14 (GMT)
Hey Driving force- Wouldn't be a preston boozette by any chance. Had that a while back.
Way back If you didn't include Jeff Becks HiHo silver lining in the set every one wondered what was going on.

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