Playing Sweet Home Alabama at a gig. Your opinion?

[Scottunes]

"Playing Sweet Home Alabama at a gig. Your opinion?"

If it's an interesting arrangement, why not! I don't like "copy-cat" covers, and won't play 'em. Live jukebox isn't for me... But, playing a good arrangement of a popular tune is ok, and keeps it interesting for the band. Just my 2 cents...

 

[gigs]

Maybe you have not done the cover band thing but the song choice process can be gruelling, weighing pros, cons and personal philosophies.
Playing whatever you want is rarely an option.

Been doing it for about 40 yrs. I was referring to "you" as the band. I understand the song selection process and agony very well.

 

[johnny q]

I think if it's presented right and played respectfully and properly - it always goes over well. My band plays it in medley: Werewolves Of London-->All Summer Long--> Sweet Home. I make sure to play the guitar solos note for note. It's a simple tune, but easy to butcher (based on how many bands I have seen butcher it.)

 

[alexanderplatz]

If the crowd yells for SHA or Freebird, play "Gimme Three Steps" instead. Half the crowd will love it even more, and the other half won't know the difference.

 

[HoboMan]

It was always in the first set of one of my cover bands.
It's overplayed because people want to hear it.

 

[Tony]

I was in the “meh” crowd until I sat down and learned how to play it properly. There’s a ton of bad@$$ musicianship in that tune. No doubt.

It’s harder than it sounds and fun to play. And the peeps dig it.

 

[Brad8008135]

If I lived in the northern US or genteel Canada as many of you do, I'd probably vote no. But Alabama is my home, so as the token Alabamian, I'll vote yes.

 

[TonePilot]

Its over-played. But its fun to play, and most people enjoy it right? So, do you think it's over played to the point its annoying? Or so you think its a good iconic song to get peoples attention?

Honestly. I've never played a gig and don't have a band. But I want to at some point down the road. Just for fun, play some southern-rock covers. Try to have a good time you know?

It's a great song with a great riff. When playing a gig, you're there for the audience as much as you're there for your love of music. I haven't learned it yet but it's on our band's list of future songs. We currently do Simple Man.

 

[eddie knuckles]

It is really good if you mix the lyrics to "Werewolves of London" with the SHA backdrop and play and sing between the two of them. Good crowd snatcher...

 

[vintagelove]

Everyone loved it at any gig I played it.

 

[Sam Hill]

Not even being difficult, but depending on your audience, post George Floyd that could be a fight starter.

To some Skynyrd fans I’ve known, that’d be a feature, not a bug.

 

[No_Stairway]

Do people cheer when you play it? Do you get paid when playing it? I say tell the haters to have a coke and a smile and......(reference Eddie Murphy's Richard Pryor/Bill Cosby bit for the rest of that sentence).

 

[JoeInOttawa]

Nope.

Never.

Nada.

And I will openly mock and heckle anyone that does.

Mock away. We play it, and we get paid for it 60 times a year.

Well, we USED to...

 

[magdream]

It's a necessary evil.

 

[Jon C]

Overplayed. We pass, and as with other requests we’re not doing (eg, “Play some Hendrix!”) I’ll sometimes say “we honor him by letting his sound live on in our memory.” Translation: no: we’re not playing that.

 

[RCM78]

It's one of the many we have in our back pocket. A request is all it takes...

 

[scmavl]

they looked like the biggest slobs I'd ever seen; grungy, stained t-shirts and jeans, crappy sneakers, etc.

Gonna go ahead and venture a guess that you weren't a Nirvana fan...

 

[rockinstephen]

If that's what the people want to hear, then I guess you should make them happy...

 

[Tommy Biggs]

I've never played it in a band, and don't think I ever would. Bands that I enjoy who do covers don't seem to play it.
But I don't object to whatever you want to do. It's a cool song, fun to play.

 

[ford]

There are a LOT of other songs that I find more intolerable. Sweet Home is a fun song to play with some cool riffs. People love it. I have no problem with it. Now, if you ask me about Brown Eyed Girl, Margaritaville, or Mustang Sally...................

Mustang Sally is the worst....


Sweet Home Alabama done right is always a good time.