Killer Open Mike Song Suggestions
 

I played a ton of bass guitar "back in the day" in several bands, then life got in the way. Life is now getting back out of the way, and music is flowing through my mind and heart again. Yay.

Aside from bass, which is my first and only true love, I can strum some decent six-string acoustic. Open Mike events look like they'd be fun, but would represent several firsts for me. I have never played a guitar on stage with more than four strings. I have never sung lead (only the occasional harmony stuff). I have never been on stage alone. So....it's kinda scary. My plan is to practice practice practice.

I need to come up with three songs. Not just any songs, but songs that will make me feel successful. Songs people will enjoy hearing. Please help me with some suggestions. Fool-proof, wildly popular, fairly simple songs.

I have a wonderful woman in my life right now, and the songs will be for her. Also, I am moving toward a more simplistic lifestyle. Back to nature, so to speak. There is one song I know I will do. Apeman by the Kinks. That'll be fun. I may also do Lady by John Denver, since I already know the guitar part, which is very pretty.

So....help me out. Killer, easy songs.

Pick songs that speak to you - forget the audience. If you really feel it, then you'll be able to perform it and the audience will likely get it. And if they don't, no biggie...just do it again another time.

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Sounds good acoustic, not too hard to play, easy to sing (except that one part), easy to re-interpret, and chicks like it.

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One of my favorite acoustic songs is "Redemption Song." Don't know if Bob Marley is your thing but that song is great. Lots of others. Something by Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl? Old man? Or, you can take people by surprise - something like Cadillac (not sure if this is the name) by the Clash.

Three last thoughts: Pink Floyd, Elvis Costello and Billy Joel. All have some great ones that you can pull off acoustic.

Great idea. I am a bassman as well. Don't know if I could do this. My singing sucks.
Larry

Superstition
For Your Life
Paperback Writer

Get really, really drunk before you go on. Also take vid and post if you do....

It's so clear.....Highway to Hell

YouTube - &#x202a;Curtis Mayfield - People Get Ready&#x202c;&rlm;

Drop it back to acoustic.

nostatic's advice sounds real good....much better than mine.

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Youtube links aren't working for me. Sorry if this was already posted. I dunno about the kinks, dude, lol.

YouTube - &#x202a;Keith Urban - Making Memories Of Us&#x202c;&rlm;

Depends upon both you and your audience. (see Valdy's "Rock n Roll Song)

We had them up and dancing last night to "Wake Up Little Suzie", "Twenty Flight Rock" and "All Over Now", but if it had been a C&W crowd, they wouldn't have been impressed.

YRMV
Les

Wish you were here. pink floyd
harvest moon. neil young
What made milwalkee famous. jerry lee lewis

I saw a guy at a party do an acoustic version of Psycho Killer that was just amazing. Probably still the best acoustic song I've ever heard.

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Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen
I Used To Love Her - Guns N Roses (improvise the solo if you have to)

Bingo.

It's called Brand New Cadillac, and it was a cover, and has been covered many times since, for good reason - it's a great song.

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And speaking of the Clash and Bob Marley, here's Joe's rendition of Redemption Song. IMHO, it's every bit as good as the original, maybe even better:

YouTube - &#x202a;Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Redemption Song&#x202c;&rlm;

(embedding disallowed for some reason)

Change it to fit your SO's name if need be. Beth by Kiss. Listen to Ace. Smoke 4 packs before you go on stage to get Peter's voice.

YouTube - &#x202a;KISS "BETH"&#x202c;&rlm;

Black Crowes - She Talks To Angels

JA

1. Dude wants to impress Lady;
2. He wants to play songs that will make him sound good that aren't too hard to play.

Open Mike with a "house band?"
If that is the case then you might need to get back into the groove staying with the bass for now.
Probably any 1-4-5 12 bar structured stuff and you will knock 'em dead.
The blues can be a lot of fun because once you call out the key and name the tune, most
cats up on the stage can support the songs you call out. Good luck.

Thanks, guys. My Sweet Lady by John Denver is going to be a rainmaker, if I can hit the high note. Keep 'em coming, if you care to. I think Nostatic is absolutely right. I'll do songs that speak to me.

Sweet Jane -- Cowboy Junkies style

YouTube - &#x202a;Cowboy Junkies - Sweet Jane&#x202c;&rlm;

Clapton, Wonderful tonight.

This might not be exactly what you're looking for, but if I were in your shoes, I'd do Ralph McTell's "The Streets of London," probably as the second of three songs, with more upbeat tunes as bookends. Here's Tony Rice's cover of it - Ralph's version is also available on You Tube:

YouTube - &#x202a;Tony Rice - Streets of London&#x202c;&rlm;

Todd is certainly right...but, for the cost, I offer:

John Prine, Dear Abby.

Randy Newman, pick one.

James Taylor, Shower the People

Marley, I Don't Want to Wait In Vain

Hiatt.

You are a brave man, Sup: My voice is as Leo Kottke described his tenor: Geese farts on a muggy day...

Got to get off that LA freeway without getting killed or caught, Jerry Jeff Walker.

Brave is not the word that comes to my mind. Foolish comes to mind. More charitably, perhaps Intrepid. You know what they say......do something, every day, that scares you.

"Angel Mine" - Cowboy Junkies
"If I Needed You"
"Dead Flowers" - Townes Van Zandt
"I Don't Wanna Talk About It" - Danny Whitten (made famous by Rod Stewart)

All easy with minumum chords (remember, ya gotta sing too, don't need all those chord changes)

It would be scary to video it, and post here for your friends to enjoy.

Carolina in my mind, James Taylor.

For whom the bell tolls, as an encour.

Oh, I get that...I've spoken to many crowds, thousands in some cases, as comfortable as a down pillow. Play and SING, alone?

Wild horses.

Home with the Armadillo, Gary P. Nunn.

Maybe not an open mic kind of song, but I'll go with "The Animal Trainer and the Toad" by Mountain. Best bar band song ever! If I were in a band I would play this song every night!

be perilous - with relish

YouTube - &#x202a;perilousRelish's Channel&#x202c;&rlm;

Scroll down the uploads - plenty of fodder there for the solo guitar/singing thing. Some choices are perhaps better than others ;)

Lots of ideas here, with instructions.

Free Guitar Lessons - Guitar TAB - with Justin Sandercoe

Best on the web IMO, and its all free... gotten a lot from that guy. Love his Sultans of Swing lessons. A class act.:cool:

Old Man - Neil Young pwned

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I'm with Gorthar Justin is the best
Think about needle and the damage done by Neil young

Ripple. jdarks has a good instructional video on YT.

YouTube - &#x202a;Grateful Dead - Ripple&#x202c;&rlm;