Cover band

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A cover band (or covers band) is a band that plays only cover songs. Most wedding bands can be considered cover bands^{[citation needed]}. Other common terms are party band or function band.

[edit] Overview

Cover bands play songs written and recorded by other artists, usually well-known songs (as compared to "original" bands which play music they themselves have written). There are a wide variety of cover bands - some cover bands play material from particular decades, for example an 1980s cover band. Others focus exclusively on the music of a particular group, usually iconic groups, and are called tribute bands: it is not uncommon to find Led Zeppelin cover bands, Pink Floyd cover bands, or U2 cover bands. Some cover bands will play a variety of song styles, widely different artists, genres and decades. Another type of cover band is one that covers song in a different genre or style than that of the original composition.

For example, Highway to Hell, a Florida-based, popular tribute band, portrays the look and sound of ACDC.

Cover bands are very popular^{[citation needed]} for weddings and corporate events, as well as in bars and clubs because they play many songs guests are familiar with.

[edit] Examples

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Some examples are:

Highway to Hell - a popular, Florida-based Tribute band that recreates the look and sound of AC/DC
Björn Again, an ABBA tribute band
Capitol Offense, a cover band featuring 2008 Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on bass guitar

Some cover bands perform covers that are of a different music genre from the originals. For instance:

Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine covers rock and rap songs in the style of lounge music
Gregorian covers pop and rock songs in the style of Gregorian chant
Gabba covers the pop songs of ABBA in the punk style of The Ramones
Nouvelle Vague covers New Wave era bands with a bossa-nova twist
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is known for punk covers of other artists, with each album picking a different genre or era (i.e. hits of the 70's, showtunes, etc.)
Dread Zeppelin specialized in reggae versions of Led Zeppelin songs, with an Elvis impersonator on lead vocals.
Hayseed Dixie started as a, "hillbilly tribute to AC/DC" and has become a Bluegrass tribute band covering many well known rock bands in their own "rockgrass" style.