open mics song choice

[nsakers]

i am planning on doing an open mic on monday and i wasn't sure what songs to do. i have never been to this particular coffee house so i don't know much about it. the open mic is only 3 hours and i am not sure how many people will be there so i am only planning to play 3 songs. the three songs that i was planning to play are "41", "the maker", and john mayer's "slow dancing in a burning room". do you guys have any suggestions for other songs i should consider playing?

[Dave45]

Those are all good tunes, man. I guess if it's a coffee house it's not really necessary, but I'd throw in at least one "up" tune... meh... just a thought.

[ryangibson]

What Would You Say is upbeat and has a fun jam. It's fun to play.

[thom hudson]

Last time I played an open mic night, I did Scarlet Begonias (Dead)-->Lawn Boy (Phish), then one of my own songs.
People clapped. It was fun.

[ryangibson]

Last time I played an open mic night, I did Scarlet Begonias (Dead)-->Lawn Boy (Phish), then one of my own songs.
People clapped. It was fun.

Desired effect. ;)

[georifer]

WWYS was the first song that I thought of as far as a Dave song that everyone would know

[CrashDMB237]

A little Ants would probably go a long way if you're looking for the crowd to clap.

[ryangibson]

If I could play an open mic night, I'd play these three...

So Damn Lucky
WWYS
#27

On reserve, in case I change my mind...
Lover Lay Down
Say Goodbye
Don't Drink the Water
Bartender

[Taylor/Martin]

Just pick whatever you feel you'd enjoy playing the most. You have a nice selection there with #41, The Maker, and SDIABR. I just played an open mic and played Spoon, an original song, and Pearl Jam's cover of Last Kiss, and they went over well. I wouldn't worry so much about song choice, but rather the performance of the songs that you do pick.

[SatanZilla]

I do Grey Street all the time, and it goes over really well.

[Crazy#41]

Something people want to sing..

I always play Wonderwall, Trippin Billies, Ahead by a century, Crash and Heart of Gold with the harmonica headset set too...

Those are what I normally start with. Then play originals in between..

[jarguitar86]

I like to do If I had a boat.. not necessarily DMB but a fun one none the less!

[Dmbsst]

Piano Man! sounds great on guitar with the walk down bass line. EVERYone joins in a sings everytime. People get a kick out of it played on guitar too.

[MGH4007]

honestly, unless you can nail #41, or you put a personal spin on it...I wouldn't try it.

[jarguitar86]

Those are all good tunes, man. I guess if it's a coffee house it's not really necessary, but I'd throw in at least one "up" tune... meh... just a thought.

That's key right there! I played a great #41 one night and it didn't hold a candle to Scarlet Begonias. Anything to keep the crowds attention.

[St.Jimmy]

honestly, unless you can nail #41, or you put a personal spin on it...I wouldn't try it.

OP, do yourself a favor and ignore this post.

[MGH4007]

OP, do yourself a favor and ignore this post.

wtf...:ugh

Do you know how many kids get up on open mic night and completely fucking butcher #41, or two step or crash. IDC, im a realist, if you suck at covering a song, which a lot of people do at dmb because its pretty hard to do...than dont fucking do it.

[otsegoflake]

I used to play Save Me, Bartender, and Halloween, among many others, a lot at parties and whatnot and everyone always digs those.

[Rodey]

Just play Last Stop.

[jarguitar86]

My friend that I jam with can sing & play some songs that I can't (and vice versa) we have fun w/ LIOG, DDTW, 41, Typical, The Maker, Long Black Veil, & If I Had a Boat. That's just the Dave stuff and we always invite other musicians (Madolin/banjo/harmonica/bass.. anyone) to sit in and whether someone falls on their face soloing or even plying rhythm in front of a crowd or not, it's all in fun. That's what it's about: if you like to play it and have a good time doing it, knock yourself out.

now on a side note, most guitar players know what they can and can't pull off. For instance, I'd never in my wildest try Rhyme and Reason.. I just can't sing and play it at the same time. Shy away from stuff like that, but if it's something you do pretty well, do it up! :thumbsup

[Rodey]

I'll throw "What Light" by Wilco out there too.

It's one of the easiest songs to play on guitar, yet is a great song and fun to play.

[Dobler]

i use to host a jam night at my university. We were a 2 piece acoustic act... we played some johnny cash- boy named sue, 25 minutes and hurt, radiohead- Fake Plastic Tree, alice in chains-Nutshell, U2-with or without you (with a looping pedal), Blind Melon-Change, Weezer-El Scorchio, Foo Fighters-my hero, everlong, smashing pumpkins-cherub rock, pearl jam-elderly women, black, yellow ledbetter, Incubus-pardon me, A Perfect Circle-3 Libras, DMB- 41, minarets, jimi thing etc.... we would change it up all the time though so the crowd didnt get bored.. we use to have these guys that came up every wednesdays and would play the same 3 tunes every single time.. it sounded good the first 3 times, after that we would go outside because we were bored of it!!

[Voittaa]

I'd play more crown pleaser songs.

Stuff like Brown Eyed Girl. People will eat that shit up no matter what.

[Sniper15]

Play original shit

[bound2be]

I usually do me and my takamine eg523sc and I do a version of warren g. and nate dogg regulators and a version of pomeroy's summernite and mix in some gin and juice or some g.love just something that people don't normally here, acoustic guitar and raps

[bound2be]

yah i had to learn to rap because I suck at singing

[eric1786]

hey, anybody from the houston area know of any good places to play open-mic nights at? thinking of giving it a try, and i'm new to the area...

[n3wyears]

i play mary had a little lamb. crowd goes crazy

[Hawk#41]

My friend and I are trying to find a place to play, just a coffee shop type place or something like that .. anyone have ideas for how to easily find a place to play?

[tarheel997]

yeah, you go to a coffee shop and ask...

but seriously, if you ask at a nearby guitar store they will probably know

[MCP318]

Throwing in an instrumental creates some variety here and there if you've got the audience for it. Other than that the token Bob Marley song always makes people happy.