Tribute Bands

[JimC1702]

Originally Posted by Heroditus

In the last year we've seen two bands come through Reno that did Beatles stuff. First there was Rain, definitely a Beatles tribute band. They had the clothes, the hairstyles, the same instruments The Beatles played, and they very much sounded like The Beatles. An excellent group and about as close as any of us today will ever get to seeing The Beatles, as they were in the 1960's.

The other group was simply a Beatles cover band. I forget their name but they just did a whole show of all Beatles music. That was their thing. They did it well but you'd never confuse them with the real thing.

Given the two choices, Rain was by far the more enjoyable concert. These guys have taken their show to Broadway, toured the world, and are absolute pros. Would go see them again.

At this point, Id say that group touring as The Beach Boys these days is basically a tribute band.

"Rain: The Beatles Experience" is a fabulous show. Closest thing to actually seeing the Beatles. They play every note dead on and play songs that the Beatles themselves never played live. When the curtain went up to the instruments set up like the Ed Sullivan show, I got goosebumps.

If I were to play in a tribute band, though, it would have to be Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by JimC1702

"Rain: The Beatles Experience" is a fabulous show. Closest thing to actually seeing the Beatles. They play every note dead on and play songs that the Beatles themselves never played live. When the curtain went up to the instruments set up like the Ed Sullivan show, I got goosebumps.

If I were to play in a tribute band, though, it would have to be Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three.

Another fantastic Beatles tribute band is called 64 Tribute. They stick with early Beatles songs 62-65 and they're dead on accurate too.

I saw them in 2005 in a packed house of 950 people. It really felt like a Beatles concert!

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by Murphy Slaw

Lynyrd Skynyrd IS a tribute band...

That's true. There are a few other old bands out there that have one remaining original or semi-original member that still hit the county/state fair circuit out here.

I kind of like the tribute-with-a-twist angle, like the all women AC-DC tribute Hell's Belles or all women Iron Maidens. I also like Dread Zeppellin and Elvana (Nirvana tunes fronted by an Elvis impersonator).

[FLRon]

SW Florida is a Mecca for tribute bands, especially in the winter when the snowbirds come back. Name the popular band, there’s a tribute band playing their music. Some of them have a large following and are quite good.

[tinnitus]

Mrs. Tinnitus surprised me with Guess Who tickets a couple years ago.

My complaint? CRUSHING bass from a total overkill PA system. Painful even with foamy earplugs crammed in. Might've been fine for Woodstock or one of those massive sea-of-humanity music festivals in Britain, but it was awful in a small/medium casino auditorium. Punishing.

Back to the topic at hand... Not to demean the drummer (who seemed like a really nice, humble guy), but it felt a lot like a tribute band since he was the only "plank-owner" (original member). My wife likes 70's music but is more of a (classic) country listener and didn't realize that we weren't getting Bachman or Cummings in the mix. I didn't mention that, lest I seem unappreciative. They were actually quite skilled and brought the roof down when they finished with No Time.

Gotta say, though, in my mind it was a tribute band - something we older members should look out for if 10-90% of the original members in our favorite acts from years/decades past are no longer around (for any number of reasons).

[EZYPIKINS]

Originally Posted by Murphy Slaw

Lynyrd Skynyrd IS a tribute band...

Yeah, they're not the only ones.

This is the reason I don't go to concerts anymore.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Heroditus

...Rain, definitely a Beatles tribute band. They had the clothes, the hairstyles, the same instruments The Beatles played, and they very much sounded like The Beatles. An excellent group and about as close as any of us today will ever get to seeing The Beatles, as they were in the 1960's...

Originally Posted by Andromeda

Another fantastic Beatles tribute band is called 64 Tribute. They stick with early Beatles songs 62-65 and they're dead on accurate too.

I saw them in 2005 in a packed house of 950 people. It really felt like a Beatles concert!

If you're talking Beatles tribute bands these guys are scary good:



https://www.thefabfour.com/

[boombox]

I'm kind of divided on the whole "tribute band" or "is it a tribute band?" thing. My general rule is I won't see a tribute band for a band who are still about in some form or other, especially when they charge more for a tribute than for the original artists who might be doing something else. However, I have no problem seeing a band using their old name, even where there is only one original member, if they are doing the music well and keeping one of my musical heroes out working. So, no to Oyez Santana or Musical Box, however good the reviews are. Some of my favourite "is it a tribute band?" acts are:

Fairport Convention - only one original member in Simon Nicol, but Peggy's been there over 50 years, Ric joined in 1985 and Chris has been there over 25 years. Who can argue they aren't Fairport?

The Strawbs - Dave Cousins may be the only founder member, but Dave Lambert joined in 1972 and Chas Cronk a year later when they were undeniably at their commercial peak.

Love with Johnny Echols - only Johnny from the original line-up, but Mike, Rusty and Daddyo have been Love since the 90s, far longer than the "original" group, who barely managed three years.

Jefferson Starship - in the noughties, they could claim two to three founder members of the Airplane, one later member and a long standing Jefferson Starship drummer. Now, with Marty and the Baron gone, it's only David Freiberg left from the later Airplane, but he was a founder member of JS too (and wrote 'Jane', which he still sings at 84!).

Steve Hackett's Genesis Revisited - Ok, he didn't play on the first two albums, but he doesn't try to call the group Genesis, even though he was there during the classic era with Peter Gabriel. I didn't even consider buying tickets to the Genesis farewell tour, but will buy tickets to see him a year in advance.

Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman - only one original member, which is one more than the group who call themselves Yes, but that member is the voice of Yes and they have the greatest rock keyboard player of all time who played on all their best albums. I still live in hope that Howe will see sense and join these guys and revive the a true 'Yes'.

Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets - one original Floyd member alongside the bass player who took over from Roger Waters in the 80s. Gilmour and Waters are never going to play the early material and frankly, I don't think anyone can do Syd like Gary Kemp - and who knew too that the guy from Spandau Ballet could shred like he does?