Live: LarkFEST, Part I

The first in our series of LarkFEST wrap-ups:

Yes, you really can tell a lot about a band by the covers that they select to perform.

Especially at a free outdoor festival, where the bands know that the crowd isn’t made up of strictly their fans. Or even of music fans, for that matter.

Rather, a large percentage of LarkFEST-goers were simply there to people-watch. Or get drunk.

So how do you get them to pay attention to your band? Play something familiar.

Here are a few of the cover tunes that we heard at LarkFEST on Saturday:

SIRSY: The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down”

KAISER CARTEL: Lucinda Williams’ “Something About What Happens When We Talk”

KAISER CARTEL: John Mellencamp’s “Worn Out Nervous Condition”

ELI “PAPERBOY” REED & THE TRUE LOVES: Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away”

THE JIM KELLER BAND: Elvis Presley’s “Mystery Train”

CHRIS BARRON & THE TIME BANDITS: “Happy Birthday”

(Photos by Sebastien Barre.)