Tribute Bands, Pink Slips, and Taylor Swift

Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

In this week’s Gig Gab episode, guest co-host Mike Schulte teams up with Dave Hamilton to tackle the world of music with humor and insight, and maybe a little controversy. They dive into why musicians often shun karaoke, dubbing it “beer league singing”—but that’s not a bad thing! Mike shares his whirlwind experience of playing 11 shows in 22 days, emphasizing the golden rule: “Don’t cancel shows!” Even when Murphy’s Law is in full swing, the show must go on. From discussing the joy of downloading full charts to perfect your performance to debating the merits of tribute bands, the episode is a goldmine for musicians. They even brainstorm hilarious tribute band names like “We’re Halfway There” for a Bon Jovi band and “Jonas Swift” for a Taylor Swift/Jonas Brothers mashup.

The conversation shifts to the longevity of Taylor Swift’s music and whether it will stand the test of time. The hosts humorously explore the idea of playing for “pink slips,” and compare the dynamics of sports teams to bands. They reminisce about epic Battle of the Bands war stories, noting how these intense moments can leave valuable “chips on our shoulders.” As always, the show encourages musicians to “Always Be Performing,” even when the going gets tough. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a newcomer, this episode offers a perfect blend of practical advice and laugh-out-loud moments.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 440 – Tuesday, July 30th, 2024
  • July 30th: Share a Hug Day
  • Guest Co-host: Mike Schulte
• 00:01:15 Why are so many musicians against karaoke?
  • Total Eclipse of The Heart Karaoke
  • Karaoke is Beer League Singing…and that’s great!
• 00:08:07 Mike played 11 shows in 22 days
• 00:09:29 Prime Directive: Don’t Cancel Shows
  • The Shows are too big, with too many people involved, to cancel… they must go on
  • Murphy is On Speed Dial
  • Jesus Gonna Pay My Tab Music Video
• 00:18:07 Downloading Full Charts to learn songs
  • Ultimate-Guitar‘s full drum sheet music for most songs
• 00:26:31 Finding Perfection in Your Next Cover Band
• 00:31:27 Tribute Bands vs. Variety Bands
  • “We’re Halfway There” — Bon Jovi tribute band name
  • “Fresh Fighters” Foo Fighters Tribute
  • ”Being Petty” on Gig Gab
  • Should There Be Territories for Tribute Bands? Spotify Poll
  • The thrill of playing for a crowd that’s singing the same song you are.
  • Would an REM Tribute Band Work?
  • Would a Kings of Leon Tribute Band Work?
  • The Little Mermen
• 00:49:35 Will Taylor Swift’s music persist across the decades
  • Jonas Swift
  • Playing for Pink Slips
• 00:54:29 Sports Teams vs. Bands
  • Gong Shows vs. Battle of the Bands
  • Battle of the Bands War Stories
  • Those Moments in Life that Put Chips on Our Shoulders are Very Valuable Moments
• 01:01:41 Gig Gab 440 Outtro
  • Contact Mike Schulte
    • Confused Breakfast
    • The Pork Tornadoes
  • Contact Gig Gab!
    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
    • [e-mail]
    • Sign Up for the Gig Gab Mailing List

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