EyeShotFirst said:

I'm not against playing other people's songs, but most cover bands just play what was top 40, years ago. I'm a b-sides man, with a love of folk songs, jazz standards, blues standards, country standards, and anything else that excites me musically. I don't feel that I am a good songwriter, which seems to be all an artist is judged on these days, but I come up with some interesting melodies and different ideas. I think it is sad that musicians have to be songwriters anymore. Sinatra, Elvis, Crosby, and many others didn't write their own music, but they were highly respected.

It seems like after Bob Dylan, everybody had to be a songwriter.

That's one reason I loved The White Stripes, a third of their sets were usually covers (And different covers every night). It was a great way to go off exploring their influences. Jack White's cover of Arthur Lee's 'Five String Serenade' at the Brixton Academy, 12th April 2003 was one the greatest moments of my life... I'm still hoping a fan recording will surface one day but perhaps it's best as a perfect memory.

That same night they also played songs by Dolly Parton, Blind Willie McTell (Two songs), Brendan Benson, Screaming Lord Sutch, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, Cab Calloway, Burt Bacharach, Public Nuisance and Lead Belly. I would love it if more bands did this.