I'm on my way to playing my first Open Mic Night and the song is up to me. What's a good first song to play for a beginning drummer? I learned the beat to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" but the fills and stuff are still challenging for me. (I'm practicing, though. This week's lesson is opening/closing the high hat.)

I'm thinking something like "Gimme All Your Lovin'" by ZZ Top? Good basic rock 'n roll. And my peeps already know how to play that song. But I want something that the crowd will LOVE. I mean, it's a good song, but any interesting/innovative ideas?

(And no funny jokes like "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin. I WISH!)

Thanks in advance for your expertise!

Maybe some "soft music". Something "Yacht Rock".

You mean like "What A Fool Believes" by Michael McDonald?

What about "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO?

Your on the right track with ZZ Top but I'd rather do Got me under pressure instead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRcQmvVRYjw

I love playing this on guitar..

Toto - "Georgy Porgy"

For a drummer it should be fairly easy. Plus... it's "Yacht Rock".

Anything by Def Leppard.

What about "Smuggler's Blues" by Glenn Fry?

By the way, I can't watch YouTube videos at work anymore. LAME. :rolleyes:

How about "Bang a Gong" by T-Rex?

Maybe a little Dinosaur Jr.?

I keep meaning to order that shirt!

What about "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain? I can play it on Rock Band on Medium level.

If you want to do ZZ Top... how about "La Grange".

Here it is in MP3 .

No need for the mp3. I LOVE that song. It's my favorite ZZ Top song. Hmm...I gotta listen to the drums more.

You and your buddies going to play Rock Band at Best Buy again?

Saw Rush last night. Neal Peart for the win.

ZZ Top is good basic stuff.

I am going to video tape my first performance and post it on YouTube and I'm going to the new pop culture sensation!!!

Enya.

Oh wait...no drums on that, is there...

That's too gay. I think she said a rock n' roll song.

If you play that in a rock club, you better hope you are playing behind a fence like the bar in "The Blues Brothers". Beer bottles will be flying all over the place.

What about "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac?!?!?!?!

I don't know.

Any place you go will have a lot of young people. Even younger people who like older music from the 70's and 80's might not be so thrilled about that song.

If you have a good female singer, do Heart's "If Looks Could Kill" . It has a faster and better rocking sound to it. If you can pull it off, the crowd will love you. But you need a really good singer.

The Black Crows: Too Hard To Handle.

Not only is it a crowd-pleaser, but it's pretty easy to play.

Magic Carpet Ride

Good one! Listening to it now. I could do this. Gotta practice my fills! But I just learned how to play that main beat! We don't have anyone on keys, though. Is the song the same without them?

"We don't have anyone on keys, though. Is the song the same without them"
If your guitarist rocks, no one will notice.
Good luck by the way!

OK - no one's said it so I will:

Typical in Jacksonville.