ok, i have been in a pub band for well over a year now and we have around 3 hours worth of material we can play off the top of our heads...

the one thing we have never been able to do is get our opening song right... the first song of the night... that one song people are gonna hear and judge how well the rest of the night is going to go.

so i thought i'd look to the GMC for help.

below is our current setlist (feel free to comment on it) along with extra songs we chuck in depending on the pub... we are currently learning new songs to add to it and we are on the search for the best opening song we can find!

1st set
Rock And Roll - Led Zep
Hurricane - Scorpions
Aint Talking Bout Love - Van Halen
Sin City - ACDC

Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolfe
Tush - ZZ Top

Wherever I May Roam - Metallica

Behind Blue Eyes - The Who

Fade To Black - Metallica

------------------------
2nd set

Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Aint My Bitch - Metallica

Kick Start My Heart - Motley Crue

How You Remind Me - Nickelback

Fear Of The Dark - Iron Maiden

Holy Diver - Dio

Rebel Yell - Billy Idol

Sweet Child - Guns n Roses
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
------------------------
Encores

Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Whole Lotta Rosie - ACDC
***Killing in the name*** - Rage against the machine

------------------------
Extras

dead or alive - bon jovi
between angels and insects - Papa roach
nothing else matters - Metallica
enter sandman - Metallica
Highway to hell - ACDC
Whiskey in the jar - Metallica version
Higher Ground - Red hot Chilli Peppers/Stevie Wonder


anyways, if anyone can pick a song from the list you guys think would be a brilliant opening song for a pub band, that would be great... we're also open to learning a few new songs for to pick an opening songs so even suggestions not on the list would be great.
you can see our style from the list of songs here

Cheers
Chris

Cool set list. Kind of classic hard rock, well known songs eh?

Of the ones you list, I guess I'd do Born to Be Wild, cause it's easy, it rocks, and probably just about everyone knows that song. Of course, you've got to pick what fits your bands strengths the best. I don't know if it's necessary to pick your best song for the first song, but it's probably a good idea to pick something that the band plays and sings well and maybe even makes a statement, like you said, about what the rest of the night is going to be like.


Good luck.

I totally agree with James, you should pick a well known song that gets the crowd's attention, but it should also be an easy one so the band can warm-up. It's better to start with a song your band can perform absolutely flawless no matter what happens, this will give you a good feeling for the rest of the gig.
Born to be wild is cool, I think Tush would also be a good choice.
Nice setlist, by the way!

I think you should sort out a little entry sequence...

start with something like the A-team theme tune, the singer can then introduce the band over that (good evening wembly etc we are ...)

then break straight into born to be wild or rock you like a hurricaine . (make sure the Ateam theme is in same key)

difficult one I always find, the first set I usually bung in the non preffered stuff, generally people are just warming up (at the bar) and you dont always have their full attention for the early part of the first set, make your first song of the second set as strong as possible as well, they`ve had a break and are getting into chatting with their mates, you wanna get them back on side as quick as poss.

The opener does need to be a whammy tune, a "here we are and this is what we do" statement

I wouldnt start with Born to be wild, thats a crowd pleaser for later on in the preceedings imo, personally cant stand the song (although I know its a classic) it always reminds me of New years eve partys and played just before "Hi ho Silver Lining"

personally I`d go with either your closing song "Paranoid", its a strong classic, or the one you already open with, again a strong rock classic.

Mate I wish we lived closer, musical tastes going by the set list is very similar to our bands set.

Having said the above though, I`ve watched the vid clips of your band and think that your a decent outfit, for me thats all that counts no matter what the opening song is, you know your about to watch a good band!

Alright mate,

Dont know if it helps but the list below is from our last gig.

HARD TO HANDLE (Black Crowes)
ARE YOU GONNA BE MY GIRL (Jet)
ALRIGHT NOW (Free)
RED HOUSE (Jimi)
COME TOGETHER (Beatles)
WISHING WELL (Free)
HEY JOE (Jimi)
PUMP IT UP (elvis costello)
YOU REALLY GOT ME (Kinks/Van halen)
TEAR DOWN THE WALLS (Davy Knowles)
GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN/SHARP DRESSED MAN (ZZ top)

INTERVAL

HUSH (Kula Shaker)
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO (Clash)
BORN TO BE WILD (Steppenwolf)
CRAZY BITCH (Chuckberry)
FIRE AND WATER (Free)
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN (Queen)
PURPLE HAZE (Jimi)
UNDER THE BRIDGE (RHCP)
I LOVE ROCK N ROLL (Joan Jet)
RIVERBED (Davy Knowles)
PURPLE RAIN (Prince)

ENCORE
HIGHER GROUND (RHCP)
BASKET CASE (Green Day)

I kind of agree ith Chris about the first set but its still important to end on a high to leave em wanting more from the 2nd set. As for openers I think you want something instantly recognisable, loud and strong for the opener to both sets to get people to look up from the bar, were putting Rock n Roll in our new set too and I think thats a great opener to have mate.

Wants to go to your pub! Great song list.

Maybe you guys could play a small intro where the singer will introduce the band and tell crowd what to expect from the evening. Then you could tie the intro to the first song you are going to play. From the list Paranoid seems like a really nice opener song.