Blues Band playing a Biker Rally.....the conundrum!

[2HBStrat]

Sort of a semi-serious question:

What do you wear, if you're a blues band playing a gig at a biker rally? And what do you play? "Born to be Wild" in 12 bar blues?!?

[Bluzeboy]

If you have to ask this.. I think I would pass on the gig :-)

[mannish]

Those are great gigs they like to party.....assuming it's 'bikers' and not weekend riders

The weekend riders would like 'dad rock'

[Scott57]

Tan shorts. Shirts with either flames or wolves on them.

[bluejazzoid]

If you're in a "blues band" —hired to play at any gig— then play blues!

...just don't wear shorts.

[thedroid]

I wouldn't change the way you dress for a gig, unless it's Halloween.

I wouldn't change what you play unless the people who hired you make a request. (You might ask if there's a particular song they want to hear.)

They picked you. If you're wrong for the crowd, it's the fault of whoever booked it.

[jeffm725]

Done a few of these, they are tough gigs. Southern Rock (Skynard, Marshall Tucker, etc...) always goes over well.

I was playing in a Grateful Dead Cover band at a Biker party gig years ago, and it was truly a Blues Brothers scenario. We had to abandon our normal setlist and start playing Cant you See and Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama. We actually played Cant you See 3 times that day and a couple others twice!

[bloozetubes]

dont play 'born to be wild'

[paulscape]

Canned heat - in more ways than one.

[radicool]

We did that once years ago - ONCE - we had to play Roadhouse Blues 3 times that day or risk great bodily harm. On the other hand, the front of the stage was littered with full bottles of beer that the guys bought us; more than we could possibly drink.

[soundbee]

Originally Posted by radicool

We did that once years ago - ONCE - we had to play Roadhouse Blues 3 times that day or risk great bodily harm. On the other hand, the front of the stage was littered with full bottles of beer that the guys bought us; more than we could possibly drink.

Yup - bring your drinking shoes, pedals that don't mind getting soaked, and a guitar that you don't mind putting in the hands of a drunk (either you or a patron)... and prepare to have a good time - seriously. Most importantly, don't bring any women and don't go home with any.

[mertzy]

RAWHIDE!

[Alister]

Originally Posted by radicool

We did that once years ago - ONCE - we had to play Roadhouse Blues 3 times that day or risk great bodily harm. On the other hand, the front of the stage was littered with full bottles of beer that the guys bought us; more than we could possibly drink.

That was my typical experience as well, but we're talking during the late 70's and 80's. And we're talking more 'Jack Daniels and PCP' than beer. There were several times I felt more in danger than I did in Vietnam, let's put it that way. Every dig was an Altamont, to greater or lesser degree. I wouldn't play another one of those g-damn gigs again for $10,000.

That said, OP, by "biker," are you imagining what I just recalled, or are you talking "biker," as in "Chad and Bernie, IT guys during the week, Harley club owners on weekend" bikers?

If it's the latter, I'd play all the bloose you want, and Tommy Bolin, and old Free songs, and on and on.

[Mark Robinson]

I've been doing this for years and years. Be yourself. If you play material that makes the hair stand up on your arms, so much the better. You can wear anything you want if you exude confidence and joy.

I'll tell you that SRV will get a big response, but so will the Rolling Stones, Skynrd, and most classic rock 70's material. Blues numbers covered by Cream, Hendrix and LZ go over huge too. Don't worry about dance numbers, you may get a dozen dancers, but nothing like the dance response of a drinking beach crowd.

[screamtone]

Did they know you were a blues band when they hired you? If so, do what you normally do.