How was your last gig?

[sspadowsky]

My thoughts on the "cover band" thing: Cover bands, in general, suck. However, I've seen some good ones. Any time you can hear a cover band pull off Rush when the drummer has a 5- or 6-piece set, you're seeing a good cover band.

I think that knowing other peoples' songs is a good and healthy thing. It lends perspective to songwriting. Musicians are, by nature, thieves. What we know, write, and play, is nothing more than a composite of what other artists have done. Knowing what other artists play, and how they play it, shows a true understanding of, and appreciation for, good music. By all means, learn other stuff. But if you're making a living being known as "the world's greatest Pink Floyd tribute band," then, yes, they're warming up a special place in hell just for you.