Local Cover Bands

Local musicians talk about their passion for playing other people's music in front of enthusiastic crowds

You could argue they're lazy. Even unoriginal. But you could never say cover bands aren't savvy.

Think about it: Night in, night out they take to the stage and play songs everybody already knows the words to. Whether they're in Boise, Idaho, or New York City, they're instantly famous. And the best part? They don't waste a single minute writing lyrics. There's no wadded up sheets of paper with scribbled notes all over them. No arguing over which band member put them on the national map. They simply show up, enjoy a beer or six and belt out some of America's most famous jams — and everybody loves it.

You just gotta ask

The big question most people have when dealing with a cover band is, "Why?"

Why not be original? Why not write you own stuff? Why not blaze new musical trails?

"We decided a long time ago we were only in this for the money," Dante's Camaro lead singer Ben Criscitiello says with a laugh. "So we tried to figure out what was the easiest route to superstardom and we decided playing somebody else's stuff was the best way."

It's this kind of unguarded sense of humor that seems to permeate most of the cover bands in the Lowcountry. Their members are laid back, fun to be around and, above all else, good at what they do.

Big hair and spandex

The overwhelming genre of choice for most local cover bands seems to be '80s music: Journey, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams.

Caitlin Cahill, one of the lead singers of Joy Ride, simplifies it one step further: "We play stuff drunk people want to listen to."

But just because they play it, doesn't mean they like it. AS/If bassist and backup vocalist Chris Gould says, "People always seem to always request 'Don't Stop Believin' ' by Journey. I really hate that song. So we play it fast. We're typically done in about two and a half minutes."

What a Prince

Though most cover bands rarely have any interaction with the artists they cover, sometimes random encounters happen.

For instance, after one show, AS/If loaded a video of its gig to YouTube and within a few days were contacted by Prince's lawyers saying the band needed to take it down as well as stop covering his music.

"I think I read somewhere that he just tried to sue a mother who put up a video of her child dancing to one of his songs," Gould says.

Practice makes ...

... for a waste of time. In fact, one of the best parts of being in a cover band seems to be that practice is less necessary because the songs are more universal and most of the band members can learn them independently.

To take it one step further, Criscitiello says their shows essentially ARE their practices.

But that doesn't mean cover bands aren't professionals.

In fact, Charlton Singleton and his band, Plane Jane, are booked for private parties and wedding receptions all the time.

And on the off-chance the guys are asked in advance to play a song they don't know, they'll get together and practice until they've got it down.

Still working day jobs

Almost all members of cover bands have what most would refer to as "real jobs" as well. Sure, the pay is decent and it's a good time, but alone it won't pay the bills. That's why Singleton is the director of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra Cahill is a Web designer and Criscitiello is a tour guide.

"I never really set out to be a singer — this kind of just fell in my lap, and I've been doing it for two years now," says Cahill.

Criscitiello agrees, with an air of confidence only he can provide: "This isn't a full-time gig, but I am a full-time champion."

It's about fun

"When I first moved here, I was surprised because there were all these cover bands and I didn't get it," Cahill says. "And now I'm in one."

But she'll be the first to admit that there's something amazingly infectious about the whole thing.

"I can't complain. I get paid to sing songs, have some beers and act stupid," she says.

Even more seasoned is Singleton, who has been playing the trumpet, keyboard and singing with Plane Jane for more than eight years.

He says he gets as much enjoyment, if not more, out of the gigs now as he did when he first started.

But it's the energetic and charismatic Criscitiello who sums up being in a cover band best: "We just have a lot of fun. That's the bottom line."

Reach Bryce Donovan at 937-5938 or bdonovan@postandcourier.com