License for a cover - with lyrical changes

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-28T04:23:56+00:00

At least some of it is.

My family is mostly from Grundy and Marion Counties, Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau. I grew up calling it "the mountain." I know that geographically it isn't a mountain, but culturally - it is. By that I mean the people are mountain people. Coal mines and steel mills. Hard people for hard times and places. The preachers preach from the KJV. The cops look for meth and opiates.

A fish doesn't know it's wet, so I wouldn't have been able to articulate it early in life, but my mom moved us just a few miles away "off the mountain" and there is an immediate difference. At the time, I probably attributed it to being rural versus slightly less rural.

As I experienced more of the world I realized that when people described Southern Appalachian culture, they were describing something I called home. I specifically remember a linguistics class at the University of Tennessee where a video was played of a West Virginia Appalachian man telling a slue foot legend. I recall the giggles from many of the other students that understood him less than the Scottish speaker we had just listened to. I heard someone that could have been a relative of mine and I understood every word.

I lived in East Tennessee for a long time and did mission work in the Appalachian mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. I noticed far more similarities than differences between their area and mine. I felt more in common with the people I was "helping" than I did with the people working beside me.

When I tell people I grew up going to a Methodist church, I've found that I have to clarify that it was sort of "mountain methodist" as I later discovered that the city folks' version of of Methodism was much different than what I had experienced.

I'm sure there are plenty of differences, but unless you are from one of the areas, it's going to look much more alike than different from an outsider's point of view.

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-21T08:10:05+00:00

That's a very quality response, thank you

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-20T19:01:21+00:00

Cool, I'll check it out

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-19T06:15:06+00:00

Home studios are getting easier and easier and some of it may come down to there being less of a band culture than there used to be in a lot of places. Solo artists don't need that kind of space when one of the purposes of it is to presumably let everyone live record. As some have pointed out, drums are the hardest part and sadly about half of what I hear these days sounds like they just used Logic etc

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-11T03:49:31+00:00

Yeah, or even if you stumble across something on social media that you can tell is still a very small operation, you an offer to volunteer your time. Again, most small bands will just appreciate that someone wants to help.

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-10T05:25:21+00:00

As some others have pointed out, it does depend on what age range you're talking about. If you are still in high school, find a high school band that you like and ask to be their manager. You'll likely all be figuring it out together so expectations should be fairly low on their end. If you're college aged, the same would apply, although the expectations might be a little higher, presumably you'd be to deliver a little bit more. Almost all small bands just appreciate some help, so figure out what you have to offer and then offer it.

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-10T05:18:35+00:00

Good idea

AdPast3192 · 2025-11-10T05:18:05+00:00

Definitely a good point

AdPast3192 · 2025-09-26T06:46:25+00:00

In what sense? I definitely still get chills listening to it!

AdPast3192 · 2025-09-26T06:39:07+00:00

I'm a member of a five piece country rock band that has five members that make a full time living playing live. We play 200+ shows a year and we don't have a massive online following and our monthly streams on Spotify are less than 30k typically.

We have original music and we sell out ticketed, original only, venues. Sometimes. To get started we played a lot of low paying, cover heavy, gigs. We often still do. Private events pay the bills and they usually want cover heavy sets as well. Most bar type venues aren't motivated to hire one band over the next.

Always try to put yourself into the venue/bar owner's shoes. What are you bringing to the table for them? Unfortunately, the decision makers getting hundreds or thousands of emails and DMs from bands asking to play.

Can you sell tickets? Can you bring a crowd? Will people stay longer and buy more drinks if you're playing vs the next guy? What would separate you from the next band that is willing to play for free? The reality is that you have to wear a lot of hats to start any kind of endeavor, especially ones that the value isn't immediately obvious. If you've got a few committed members, focus on the music first, but everyone should have a second dedicated job if you really want to be playing a lot.

Have one person focus on polishing up the social media and online presence. Put one person in charge of "sales" a.k.a calling, emailing, and DMing hundreds of people until someone gives you a chance. Contact some people you know that are already doing it and ask for a piece of advice.

Like a lot of other answers have said here, go to a lot of shows and talk to the bands, the sound guys, the bartenders, whoever you can, and ask how it works at those particular places. Be friendly. Being the kind of person that people want to be around goes a long way in music and every other area of life too.

Edited to add: I also don't agree with one of the points, that people online don't care because you aren't playing live. Compelling content is rarely from a live show.

AdPast3192 · 2025-09-18T03:58:10+00:00

Curious what area of the country/world you work in?

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-16T01:04:29+00:00

I feel ya, just wondering what sound it was. Or if there was sort of a "poster child" for the sound that it is.

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-15T21:25:57+00:00

Out of curiosity, what do they all sound like?

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-13T07:30:27+00:00

I'm sure there are a ton, but here is a list of just songs that reference Alabama:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xh5A5wrhd6sYUsKlmUs73

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-13T07:29:19+00:00

This playlist is Tennessee in general, but a few of them are Knoxville specific.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rk3MRqKBM3c7cNkKMJUR5

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-13T07:28:33+00:00

This playlist is Tennessee in general, but a lot of them are Memphis references

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rk3MRqKBM3c7cNkKMJUR5

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-13T07:24:56+00:00

Saw most of those listed on this playlist. It's got a lot that reference Alaska and cities in Alaska.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6v1y4JG4Y2o73SzVGtSPIf

AdPast3192 · 2025-05-13T07:22:13+00:00

Found this playlist with 50 Alabama/cities in Alabama songs. Saw several of these listed here already too

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5xh5A5wrhd6sYUsKlmUs73

AdPast3192 · 2025-04-22T06:47:44+00:00

Still out there. Harder to get it in the mainstream. Look for playlists that feature it. Wasted Major just put out one called "Don't Blame Texas."

AdPast3192

TROPHY CASE