Four bands will gather to cover some the best songs from the best musicians out there Saturday.
Local musicians will perform sets of songs by Dr. Dog, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen and Warren Zevon for the 13th edition of The Big Cover-Up at The Union, 18 W. Union St.
Blonde will cover its’ favorite Dr. Dog songs; employees of Casa Nueva are covering David Bowie’s album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars; The Wrong Hands will take on Springsteen’s legendary discography and Benji Brite will perform songs by Warren Zevon, perhaps most famous for the song “Werewolves Of London.”
The idea, said Scott Winland, booking manager for The Union, is to break up the normal schedule at the bar and to get bands to try something new.
“Originally, there was a rule that you had to form a band with members of other bands to keep it interesting and get some camaraderie going between local musicians,” Winland said.
Bands can choose any artist they want, and each one plays about a 40-minute set dedicated to whichever artist they have chosen for the show.
Winland, who usually plays in the Big Cover-Up shows, couldn’t perform this time around, but he did say it is a great way for musicians to grow and try out new things.
“It’s super fun to learn an entire set’s worth of material written by someone else. I think anyone who has ever played one of these would agree,” Winland said. “It makes you a better player usually … and sick of whatever band you’re covering for about a year.”
Blonde’s bass player, Conor Stratton, said the band chose Dr. Dog because the Philadelphia-based blues band is a big influence on the group’s music. Not to mention that Stratton said he has the band’s logo tattooed on his arm.
“We listen to a large range of music … but they are definitely a favorite from the contemporary scene,” Stratton said. “We have definitely taken inspiration from their harmonies, which they seem to be wizards in the realm of creating them …”
Stratton also said the band was glad to put together a set to perform at The Union.
“We were struck by the idea (of the Big Cover-up),” Stratton said. “It’s a cool thing that they are doing this.”
IF YOU GO:
What: The Big Cover-Up Vol. 13
Where: The Union Bar & Grill, 18 W. Union St.
When: 9 p.m., Saturday
Admission: Cover
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