I'm now working on an early December multi-band show featuring "American" r&r cover songs. This is an interesting challenge: to find American songs that can resonate with an audience, songs fun and not too difficult to sing and play, and songs that have something to say, or are worth dragging out into the night.
Lots of songs tossed around by all the participants. And once you eliminate the British Invasion from the scene, the possibilities, new vistas, open up.
There's the early stuff: Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis. There's Johnny Cash. Dylan - but we already had a show devoted to him.
Some of my favorites include: Warren Zevon, Tom Petty, Tommy James, IGGY POP, Springsteen!
And then there's the primal essentials: The Ramones and Nirvana! These two bands are hard to emulate. Simple, primal, brutal and hard to play. So much energy and velocity to their music. And then of course, Cobain - one of the great all-time r&r voices.
There's also The Grateful Dead, Smashing Pumpkins, Lady Gaga. The great traditionalists: ZZ Top, Muddy Waters, The Band!
Someone tossed in Grand Funk Railroad. The road is endless. Our American song book is large, a sprawling mess of music. There are too many choices, genres, and no consensus on what's good.
There's Journey and Gnarls Barkley, and The Monkees, and... well, whatever, and everything to boot!
Should be an eye-opening night!