Get To Play A Big Gig. Help Me Choose More Songs Please.

Neil Young, Ambulance Blues? Maybe a little depressing.

 

Here's something a little out of the box:

Mondo Cozmo - Shine

 

Elvis Costello, Brilliant Mistake

 

Looking at your list, Danny's Song by Kenny Loggins came to mind.

 

I played in cover bands from '68-'06, and one lesson that I learned long ago is that you can't go wrong with the Beatles.
You're doing a solo acoustic thing, there's lots to choose from:
I've Just Seen A Face, I Need You, In My Life, Black Bird. You get the idea. You're playing covers for a large crowd, so play songs that largest number will
recognize. If you can get them to sing along, you're in business.

 

Lucky man, Still, ELP. Angie, and Wild Horses The Rolling Stones. Laguna Surprise Black Sabbith. They are all good......

 

Lumineers- Cleopatra:

 

I am going to be slightly contrarian.

I assume you are playing your set early, before the "headliners." Years ago the band I played in had an opening slot for a "musicfest" held at my college. The band decided, against my judgement, to fill half our set with originals, and a few of those were long jammy dirges. At the time we went on there were probably 1000 people in the quad. I won't say we bombed, but literally no one could have cared that we were on stage except for family and friends. We generated ZERO excitement, and I think we would gone over much better if we played songs people knew.

If I was doing a solo acoustic set in a similar situation as you, I would find out what the other bands are likely to play, and then stack my set with uptempo cover songs, avoiding anything similar to their sets. Seriously I would play like "Brown-Eyed Girl," "Friends In Low Places" and "Friend Of The Devil" type stuff.

A few years back me and friend played a short acoustic set before the main act at a fundraiser for her kid's boy scout troop, so we just played "the hits," so to speak, and we went over pretty well. I know it not the most artistically satisfying thing to do, but at least we had fun and entertained the crowd.

Good luck with whatever you choose to play, and I for one would like to hear how it turned out.

 

If you're going to do Dylan, I'd suggest "The Times They Are A'Changing."

Other suggestions in no particular order include:

Land Of Hope And Dreams -Springsteen
Everlasting Love -U2 version
Let's See Action - The Who
Haiti - Arcade Fire
Follow That Dream - Elvis Presley
Cadilac - T-Rex
Just Like Heaven -The Cure
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
Happy - The Rolling Stones
1979 - The Smashing Pumpkins
Heroes -David Bowie
Listen To The Music -Doobie Brothers
Desire - U2
Better Things -The Kinks
Oasis - Wonderwall
Life By The Drop - Stevie Ray Vaughan

 

"Castles In the Air" - Don McLean.

 

From the pen of Jimmy Webb:
Wichita Lineman


From the pen of Paul McCartney:
I've Just Seen a Face (looser, jauntier for all three)
I'll Follow The Sun
Things We Said Today

From the pen of John Lennon:
I'll Cry Instead

From the pen of Carl Perkins:
Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby

 

Kooks - David Bowie
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - Neil Young
The Weight - The Band
Spaceball Ricochet - T. Rex
Where Do The Children Play - Cat Stevens
Ripple - The Grateful Dead
The Only Living Boy In New York - Simon & Garfunkel
Sin City - The Flying Burrito Brothers
Bob Wills Is Still The King - Waylon Jennings
Tennessee Stud - Johnny Cash
Sweet Jane (original slow arrangement) - The Velvet Underground

 

What songs do you know so well that you wouldn't hesitate to play, as you'd be on autopilot (in a good way)? What are some of the first songs you ever learned, that are close to your heart? Go with what you know, instead of learning a lot of stuff for which you may forget words/chords. Bluesy stuff never fails. You say some songs don't translate well by yourself. If in doubt, pretend you're Pete Townshend - play the songs differently than usual, add more attack to your playing. Put some Buddy Holly in too, if you like him, or Tony Joe White. Simple, honest songs that aren't too wordy always connect - playing really obscure stuff doesn't help anyone. More work may come out of it, you never know. I wish you all the best.

 

Wilco's discography would be a great place to find a few songs.

 

Teach Your Children!

 

Do you have suggestions as far as some songs?

 

Look into Dave Carter's catalogue of some wonderful music; very poignant and perceptive songs

 

Beeswing - Richard Thompson
1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson
MGBGT - Richard Thompson
Drowned Dog Black Night - Richard Thompson
Haisai Ojisan - Shoukishi Kina

 

Pay To Cum - Bad Brains

 

I would play this on the safe side with maybe a sprinkling of something a little more quirky or underground. Beatles, Bowie, Can't Find My Way Home, Fleetwood Mac, etc. Maybe something instrumental along the lines of Mood For A Day, Classical Gas, or instrumentalize a popular song. I think something from Schoolhouse Rocks would be fun...I'm Just A Bill, The Shot Heard 'Round The World, Conjunction Function, etc. I have many younger teacher friends and they are pretty hip to indie-rock so maybe something to make that part of the crowd happy.

 

I agree with bxbluesman's approach. You've already got the mellow folk bases covered---and some of your choices will be unfamiliar to most people---so I would say try some sure-fire crowdpleasers, as I suspect the main goal is to entertain these people rather than to impress them with your in-depth, Steve-Hoffman-forum-worthy musical knowledge. That's not meant to be a criticism; I'm just being pragmatic. The Beatles suggestions already given are good ones; I would consider some of the bigger faves that would work well in a solo acoustic guitar setting---maybe "Ticket To Ride," "We Can Work It Out," or "Eight Days A Week."

I would also consider some rootsier, familiar rockers---Springsteen, Petty and even CCR come to mind. "Glory Days," "Mary Jane's Last Dance," "Down On The Corner," you get the idea. Choose your Bruce tunes wisely though, because many of his songs are so lyric-heavy that they require some careful practice to get all the lyrics phrased correctly.

Bottom line---if they have fun, you will have fun, so meet them halfway with your song selection.

 

The Weight

 

"Thirteen" or "Watch The Sunrise" by Big Star
"Sweet Tuesday Morning" or "When I Say" by Badfinger

 

From another thread, that you and I visited just yesterday, which is PERFECT for your benefit ...

 

This obscure Jim Croce gem. It is instantly captivating even for those first hearing it, and musically a good change up. Good to mention its author, gets immediate attention.