Best Ecletic Covers for a Bluegrass Band???

[Merman]

Hey all... I'm playin' in a four-piece bluegrassy/americana outfit and we're looking for suggestions for some cover tunes.... I know the IC crew loves music, so I thought I'd ask for expert advice!

Here's a taste of the set list and a bit of what we're doing right now:

Ziggy Stardust - David Bowie
Driver 8 - REM
Hold On Loosely - 38 Special
16 Military Wives - The Decemberists
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
Just What I Needed - The Cars
Long Ride Home - Patty Griffin
Yer So Bad - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Shades - The Devil Makes 3
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
One Headlight - The Wallflowers
In Heaven There is No Beer - Flogging Molly

and so on....

If you were blazed at a backyard BBQ what would you want to hear?

 

[VictoryGardener]

The Dead- Jack a Roe
you said you were a bluegrassy band, yet you are playin hard rock?? I don't follow?

 

[Merman]

Thanks Victory... we've done quite a few Dead tunes and still keep a few in the hat: Ripple, Sugaree, and Fire on the Mountain are favorites.

We're all acoustic: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass (amp'd fretless), and the occasional egg shaker. Its fun to mix it up and since there are so many great (and very serious) bluegrass bands around here we don't want to embarrass ourselves too much with a traditional sound.

Think MTV Unplugged with that blistering two-four punch!

 

[Tarkus]

Foggy Mountain Breakdown - Flatt and Scrugs
Cannonball Rag - Merle Travis
Yakety Axe - Chet "Mr. Guitar" Atkins
Little Martha - Duane Allman
The Claw - Jerry Reed (Snowman from Smokey and the Bandit)
Pretty much anything by Creedence Clearwater Revival

 

[genkisan]

The Boys in the Bright White Sports Car

Iron Man

Mississippi Queen

 

[Tarkus]

The Devil went down to Georgia

 

[sow the seeds]

Ever heard of Iron Horse? They do bluegrass covers of metal like metallica (fade to bluegrass the album is called lol) and sabbath. As strange as it sounds its actaully really good!

 

[Tarkus]

The "Picking on" albums are good. I have Picking on Clapton and The Who. I might have Picking on Santana also, not sure....I know I have heard it though. It is Bluegrass covers of their songs. Pretty damn good too. They have a whole shit load out there, definitely worth a listen.

Not to be confused with Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles.

 

[James Morrison]

now you are in my kind of band!!!!

the who bluegrass would be interesting indeed

 

[genkisan]

Google Hayseed Dixie

 

[James Morrison]

dude..here is David Lee Roth doing "JUMP' bluegrass style..
now that rocks!!!! Seriously,, totally done as good as ya can...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX9qcggRo18

 

[VictoryGardener]

Steely Dan- Dr. Wu and Deacon Blues : )

 

[Verite]

Wheres your myspace page?

 

[Tarkus]

What instrument do you play?

 

[clorox]

hmmm, local band up here plays a VERY similar setlist in the blue grass fashion...

 

[GOT_BUD?]

Seriously - Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg.

One of the best tunes to play bluegrass style. The Gourds did the version I am thinking of.

There's another rap song that a young lady did an acoustic version of that is pretty good as well, but for the life of me I cannot think of her name, or the stupid song. It's a little girl singing a hardcore rap song, and is quite funny and clever.

Nina Gordon - Straight Outta Compton

 

[Merman]

Right on you all! That thar's some awesome tunes... we'll check'em out!

sow - Yup, we love the Iron Horse stuff. I've had metal roots for 25 years!

genkisan - I had not heard Hayseed Dixie... I had to get the AC/DC tribute album off iTunes right away.

James - thanks for the youtube link, Dave is a freak but that's a good example of what we're up to, 'cept those guys have real skills.

Verite - no myspace page... we're not even THAT good, we just play around in the neighborhood for BBQ's and such... its all about havin' fun!

Tarkus - I'm on the bass, trade off for the guitbox and mando on some tunes.

clorox - that's probably not us....

Keep'em coming!

 

[Tarkus]

Steve Howe's Mood for a Day or Clap
Some Al di Meola would probably sound pretty crazy in a bluegrass style, but hell it sounds crazy anyway.

Kick ass, the mandolin is badass. I keep meaning to get another bass, I sure love to plunk on em.

 

[hilljack]

life during wartime or cities - talking heads
illegal smile - john prine

 

[James Morrison]

I agree the mandi is fun as anything to play..learn where the notes are and go off!
I play guitar exclusivley but am musically trained and can play most basic instruments, percussianist all through lower education//
been wanting to pick up a banjo for years,,,need a moment to spend some time learning it. Give me a few months...bam, I'll be jammin

to my ears, there is nuthin like the sweet sound of a singin banjo...you just cant beat tight perfect rolls and runs..makes the hair stand on end

to sit on my porch,....pluckin my banjo with my dogs at my side/ tokin and growin...thats the life...ahhhhh
just like pappy