So what happens to music post SHTF? Does no electricity mean no fun? What are you going to do for entertainment?
Have you ever been walking down the street or through a mall and suddenly heard live music playing? I don’t know about you, but I tend to wander over to see who’s playing.
I love music and the thought of going without it makes me cringe, so a few years back I picked up a guitar and learned some chords and figured out how to play some songs through reading tab and listening to stuff off the ‘net. There are tons of resources if you’re interested in doing it yourself, but the focus of this post is a little different today.
Have you ever heard a song done by a band or a popular singer then later heard an unplugged version of the same song and was blown away by it?
One of the bands that really surprised me was Aerosmith. I saw a show once where they were put on the spot to do a song unplugged (can’t remember now what it was) but they picked up the instruments and went at it and wow! They were fantastic! Steven Tyler later said this wasn’t a big deal for them because they’d be sitting around a lot of times and do the same thing.
Then again I’ve heard other singers try and do something without all the electronic wizardry that passes for music these days and they sucked out loud.
Having said all that I’m curious as to some good covers you might have found of your favorite songs out there where they were done unplugged. A cover is a song done by an artist and then someone else will do their version of it. Here’s a song I found recently and really like a lot.
It’s called “Sail” by AWOLNation. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap83zf7kwmU
Apparently this song has been out for awhile, but I don’t usually run in the same circles as the group who listens to this does, so I missed it until now. The video is a little weird, but hey! Aren’t they all?
Now here’s a cover I found on Youtube by two regular guys with acoustic guitars. They’re pretty good guitar players and the guy singing does a decent job. He’s got a lot of heart, and to me that’s what counts. If you really like what you’re doing it’ll shine through.
Have a listen:
Cool eh?
My opinion is that if the world ever goes to hell in a handbasket that people with musical skills like this will likely be able to make their way. Folks are always looking for an escape or a way to enjoy themselves and music is almost always a part of that.
How about it? Do you have any favorite covers of your favorite songs? Do you play an instrument or sing?
List ’em out below so can all enjoy them.
Questions? Comments?
Sound off below!
26 comments
That wasn’t bad – I haven’t heard that song before. Very cool.
I don’t have the patience for learning music – I know, thats bad. I think God gave me an autistic child just to teach me patience. Its a work in progress.
If I had to pick a SHTF instrument, I think I’d choose the harmonica. Its small, requires little maintenance, needs no replacement of parts (just wears out?) and is versatile. I used to really enjoy Blues Traveler, John Popper, the lead singer / harmonica player was awesome!
My wife will pick up the harmonica and play some crazy notes on it just for fun. She doesn’t really know how to play it, but sometimes it doesn’t sound half bad. I think it would be a great instrument to pick up. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
Always wanted to learn the harmonica…loved the ol’ harp being blown by Elwood Blues…
I play in two bands and currently concentrate on the mandolin and fiddle. In a world without electricity, people will need something to do or some entertainment after dusk, and that is where the musician will earn his keep. Like the olden days, everybody will play something, and the musicians always find each other.
I love the sound those two instruments made when they are played together! One year a friend and I hiked up Mt. Washington and there were two guys playing at a ranger station up near the bowl. It was awesome listening to them play and it made a party-like atmosphere that people were really into.
I come from a long line of fiddlers, and enjoy playing my great-grandfather’s instrument on tunes he played way back when. These include “Soldier’s Joy” and “Westphalia Waltz.”
Just like little house on the prairie, when pa would pull out his fiddle and start jammin. I play guitar and know quite a few 50s & 60s songs plus several originals that I’ve written. Entertainment for the fam, and income possibilities.
That’s right! Man, my grandfather (on my dad’s side) could play any stringed instrument I ever saw, the piano, the squeeze box (I used to love to watch him play that! Squeezin’ and stompin’ his foot!)
My dad is pretty good too.
One of my uncles is naturally gifted. When he was nine years old he was playing in an adult band back in Canada. Dad tells a story about how one of his teachers would make him stay after school just so he could play the guitar for her. He’s still an unbelievable player. I have just a shade of that natural talent.
Jarhead, thanks for point us to that music. I liked it.
As some one who dabbles with guitar, I was happy to see the skill those guys have. I didn’t watch the “music video” version.
As for a SHTF instrument, guitars are good, but I have been helping my daughter learn piano. In doing so, I found her a craigslist studio for free, and am having it brought in and tuned for her. (She currently rocks on a Roland electric piano).
Music speaks to the soul. It is a universal language.
Your last sentence is 100% correct! That’s awesome that you’ve got your daughter involved too.
YouTube Aaron Lewis. If you like his solo career, you’ll love his covers.
That guy is good! Love that video, “Country Boy.”
For covers, Big Jim Wheeler and The Wheels of Fire. Does some really good Johnny Cash. Plenty of U tube videos of him. Worth checking out.
Thanks, Steve. I’ll give him a listen.
I thought Sail maintained the same bass drone background as The Gael which was one of the theme songs for Last of the Mohicans. I thought that Sail was sort of a mash up of sorts. The words for sail are funky but I like the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_R7bJahcwc
eieio
I thought exactly the same thing!!! I went looking and from what I could find the name of the song is “Promontory.” As a matter of fact I bought it off Amazon and have it next to Sail in my playlist.
We’re on the same wavelength eieio!
PS. If we are still playing music when the SHTF is upon us, we have a chance. No animal except man plays and creates music. Birds sing but I think it is more communication than art. But maybe it is art.
If there is no music, I think we won’t have much of a chance. We will probably devolve to an animal level.
Better stock up on BBBH. Beans Boolits Bandaids and Harmonicas.
eieio
A solar panel, Battery powered speakers and some kind of MP-3 player, spare rechargeable batteries and you have music handled for a long time.
I would guess most of us already have these things, so it’s not even a big expense to do.
I prefer this cover version of that song:
http://youtu.be/ltxiez8DuIg
Definitely liked the acoustic version better.
I have an iPod and battery powered speakers to keep things hopping. I hope the rechargeables last a decade or two. My daughter plays the drums a little and I am hoping to learn the harmonica, it’s a start.
Do you remember when MTV came out? Stevie Ray Vaughn and other greats, now it is awful. The end is near. Just kidding, it’s a new beginning. Maybe Rap will become extinct, cross your fingers.
I’ve played guitar for many years, and have a couple extra sets of acoustic strings stowed away in my house preps. The Gibson and the Fender Deluxe won’t be much use if there’s no power, but acoustics will always work if they have strings. I always took entertainment pretty seriously for SHTF preps; it’s an excellent distraction from stress and a way to bring a family closer. A deck of cards, some board games, and a non-electric musical instrument or two will go a long way towards staving off problems if there’s long-term trouble coupled with personal proximity.
As for covers, I’ve always dearly loved “You Were Always On My Mind”, the Willie Nelson version. Also, the cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” by the Barenaked Ladies is extremely awesome. Great ramping-up energy (love the drums), and incredibly talent by one of the more underrated bands out there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_oOc3Zj0KU
you could get a “pignose”, and keep the electrics operational. even a “first-act” amp would be better than nothing. traditional tube type amps should hold up pretty well against an EMP event, if you can filter out generator noise…
never give up.
I was even experimenting with a Delco car radio, to see if I could make it into an amp…
I bet these guys would have no problem training to shoot the long gun strong side around the right corner, then transition to pistol to shoot on the same side till slide lock. Then drop the mag and reload and re-holster. Then take up the long gun and switch to weak side to shoot around the left corner, clear a fail to fire round by doing a tap rack sequence, shoot till bolt hold open, drop the mag and simultaneously reload, release the bolt with the Magpul BAD (Bolt Activation Device), shoot till empty and repeat the sequence with 95% hits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgD5p1XiVT0
eieio
But I like this version best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7gUfyhBYoI
And some things just make sense. Like Jello and Cool Whip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHQvx2zXsmw
Then the loop station guys just amaze me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPezE1lLa4c
eieio
I have been playing acoustic guitar since I was a teenager. It is one of the finer things in my life.
Check out Igor Presnyakov on you tube. This guy never ceases to amaze me with his interpetations of familiar songs.
I know this is a bit different than an un-plugged cover by an original artist but I thought I must share with the group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5F6OOxnkGM
Thank you JS and CJ for what you do.