First song of the set

[BlackHatHunter]

Do you have a song with which you always start your live set?

 

Willie Nelson is famous for saying that if you play in his live band, and you hear Whiskey River, and you're not on stage, then you're late

 

I start most if not all my sets with Colin Hay's Beautiful World. It seems to be a good song to get the crowd into the music that is about to unfold, it's a positive song - so I don't start w/ a downer right off the bat - and it starts w/ the letter "B" which means that it is at the beginning of my folder of songs

 

You?

[Frets99]

Willie Nelson is famous for saying that if you play in his live band, and you hear Whiskey River, and you're not on stage, then you're late

[FoonkySteve]

it starts w/ the letter "B" which means that it is at the beginning of my folder of songs

That's some good oganisation right there:thu:

[Jersey Jack]

Something very free and easy--either Dead Flowers by the Stones or Ryan Adams's Sixteen Days.

[Willyguitar]

Something that doesn't have more than about four chords, and with no intricate finger picking or complicated opening riff.

Usually, my hands are shaking a bit, and I need something easy and upbeat to settle in.

[BlackHatHunter]

Something very free and easy--either Dead Flowers by the Stones or Ryan Adams's Sixteen Days .

 

 

Those are great songs right there. Thanks for the suggestion!

[BG76]

Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys or On the Road Again by Willie Nelson.

 

If you have a bass player and a drummer you can really jazz them up. Try using the chord melody style.

[FUBTAG]

a band that I am in starts every gig with Two Tickets to Paradise. it's played loud, it's abrupt, even a bit of harmony ... Kinda really sets the mood...

[Mudder1310]

I notice some bands always open the same. For example, David Gilmour always opens with Breathe. Great tune and a great call.

 

We usually open with something like Cowboy Song from Thin Lizzy, sort of a moderate pace, smooth start, fun tune, and a good representation of what we're about.

[realtree71]

Stranglehold

Want to make sure they're awake:thu:

[aenemated]

there're a handful we like to start with, but it's not always the same. since we crossover a pretty good range of venues (punk rock clubs to traditional country ... hell, we're doing a short set alongside a buncha metal bands next week) we try to cater the sets (and thus first song) to the venue/crowd.

[caveman]

Brandi likes to start with Bad Company's "Can't get enough of your love". Says it gets her pipes going and it certainly gets the folk's immediate attention.

[csm]

For Crosstown Lightnin' gigs, either an original of mine called She's The Kind Of Woman (They Write Blues Songs About) ... or Freddy King's Hideaway.

[brewgoodbeer]

Don't always start with the same one, but try to pick a moderate song that is not a set stealer. Depending on where you playing, the first song of a set can be a throw away. Regardless it should be one you are very familiar with and pay well. If you want to dig in the past, something Back on my Feet Again or Head First by the Babys comes to mind.

[DFB]

I only gigged a handful of times,but we always started off with The Ramones : Lobotomy

[FoonkySteve]

In a cover band i played with years ago, we always started with 'Pink' by Aerosmith. Nice easy going tempo, in a major key and great harmonies in the chorus. Usually went down well

[conuvial]

Elvira by the Oak Ridge Boys or On the Road Again by Willie Nelson. If you have a bass player and a drummer you can really jazz them up. Try using the chord melody style.

 

 

I see you are a student of "The Conklin Method". You can never go wrong by emulating such a consummate performer.

[sleewell]

one time we opened with "peaches" by presidents of the usa. the ending can be really sweet; high energy that gets an audiences attention and interested in what is about to happen.

[Patuney]

If we're in a younger bar scene, we start with Clapton's Rock and Roll Heart. If we're doing an American Legion show, it's Big City.

[MDLMUSIC]

Believe it or not, I usually open with Brown Eyed Girl. Not too slow, not too fast, nice harmonies on the chorus and I even throw in a short guitar solo.

[bsman]

When I played out, I used to mostly start with "I wanna be sedated".

[guitarman3001]

Been opening with I Drink Alone for the past 3 years.

[BG76]

I see you are a student of "The Conklin Method". You can never go wrong by emulating such a consummate performer.

[9-Pin-Phoenix]

We usually start with Bring Me Some Water. Good tempo, nice build up in dynamics, and the singer really lets loose on it, so she wants it early in the set while she is "fresh".

[Mav64]

Always start with Gel by Collective Soul....people seem to like it...