Have we ever discussed cover bands?

Professional cover bands, or tribute bands is probably a better description, not original bands that occasionally cover other artist's songs.

A co-worker of mine, who is, shall we say, very seventies-centric (to be polite ) recently lamented that he'd never be able to see AC/DC perform live again. At the time all I thought was who would ever pay good money to see those old farts wobble around the stage. I've been saying basically the same thing about the Stones and a few other bands since the eighties.

Fast forward to today: the local non-com radio station was having throwback Thursday covering 1976. Man, what a lot of great music that puts most of the last decade or two to shame. The vast majority of what they played was stuff the classic Rock and oldies Rock stations never play.

I would have loved to have seen AC/DC, Ted Nugent, Rush, Queen, the Clash or many other bands from that era in thier prime!

That's were tribute bands come in right?

What really good rock tribute bands are around these days?

I'd love to see a tribute of early AC/DC, early Van Halen, The Clash maybe even Led Zeppelin or pre-The Wall Pink Floyd.

And while on the subject, what "Classic" era acts are still truly on thier A game?

The Pink Floyd Experience is AMAZING. I've seen them 3 times, they usually do a 2 part set. First part is mostly popular songs, then the second set they do an album. The first time was Animals, and just wow. I've seen them do the wall, but I think the band The Machine did better work with The Wall. The last set I saw them do was Dark Side of the Moon. As good or better than the Roger Waters concert tour where he did Darkside in its entirety.

The Led Zeppelin Experience, I'm pretty sure, has John Bonhams son on drums, and they put on a great show. A little different, Lez Zeppelin is an all girl Zep cover band, and they put on a good show too.

Rush still makes for a great evening, Dylan didn't suck when I saw him back in 2011. Little Feat still does their thing very well, but I think they've recently stopped touring again.

Social Distortion is still a great time, I'm counting them because they started in 79, and Mike Ness is surprisingly close to 60 and still kicking ass on stage.

I want to see a MiniKISS show before I die.

It's like the Disneyland ride compared to a real safari. berkeley that. Covers are for bar sing-alongs but being a "branded" cover band for one single band just screams "We do this for the pay check". Even a E36 M3ty comedian does more than one impression. It must be soul crushing to be in a band where you know you are never going to play your own material or have a hit of your own. Or have anyone know your name. Or care. It's a blue collar job playing gigs if there ever was one. berkeley that twice. In the backdoor. With something that is not smooth at all.

I don't see anything wrong with making a paycheck off of music. Most musicians can't

Huckleberry wrote: It's like the Disneyland ride compared to a real safari. berkeley that. Covers are for bar sing-alongs but being a "branded" cover band for one single band just screams "We do this for the pay check". Even a E36 M3ty comedian does more than one impression. It must be soul crushing to be in a band where you know you are never going to play your own material or have a hit of your own. Or have anyone know your name. Or care. It's a blue collar job playing gigs if there ever was one. berkeley that twice. In the backdoor. With something that is not smooth at all.

"Woah, woah, we're Cyanide - the loving tribute to Poison!"

If you're a Beatles fan, I'd recommend seeing the Fab 5. They are more of a "tribute" band and go so far as to copy the various fashion styles (hair and clothes) the original band strutted around in over the years.

The music and vocals are well-performed and you know it's not a lip-synch scam because the sound quality is what you expect from half a century of technological advances. They even fake British accents to "add" to the experience and, yeah, the bassist plays left-handed.

The performance was too over-the-top to my tastes but I admit it wasn't a bad way to spend an hour and a half.

Haven't seen them, but Zepparella look and sound good on video.

I prefer more, uhhhm, interperetive cover bands, like Dread Zeppelin.

Huckleberry wrote: It's like the Disneyland ride compared to a real safari. berkeley that. Covers are for bar sing-alongs but being a "branded" cover band for one single band just screams "We do this for the pay check". Even a E36 M3ty comedian does more than one impression. It must be soul crushing to be in a band where you know you are never going to play your own material or have a hit of your own. Or have anyone know your name. Or care. It's a blue collar job playing gigs if there ever was one. berkeley that twice. In the backdoor. With something that is not smooth at all.

Sounds like a lot of perpetual back marker NASCAR drivers too, I'd take that gig.

BTW, Giant Purple Huckleberry used to be in a band called Piss and the Vinagers. Only the most extreme hipsters know about them.

In reply to joey48442:

It's like skipping the game to watch the commercials. Would you pay to see a guy imitate George Carlin? You can just play his actual material. And you can still listen to the Beatles or Rush. I guess I just don't get it. I'd rather hear a good band cover 30 artists decently than do 1 really well.

Huckleberry wrote: In reply to joey48442: It's like skipping the game to watch the commercials. Would you pay to see a guy imitate George Carlin? You can just play his actual material. And you can still listen to the Beatles or Rush. I guess I just don't get it. I'd rather hear a good band cover 30 artists decently than do 1 really well.

Not really. Yes, you can still hear a band in its prime, via recorded media. But, that experience will pale in comparison to how they sounded live. The question is, is there a tribute band that is close enough to the original to beat what you can play in your home or car? I'm sure there is.
I may not be getting your point completely, but the way I figure it, I've been chasing the best sound reproduction I can get in my house for decades. Many, many pieces of equipment has passed through my home, and even now, with over 2,000 watts and more driver surface than you can shake a stick at, I can't reproduce anything close to actual live music. Live music is an experience. Tribute bands provide that like no recording can.

I think Dr Boost gets where I'm coming from.

Let's go back to where I started this: old geezers wobbling across a stage in a huge arena. Those old geezers may have produced some of the best Rock music ever when they were young bucks at their peak, some was so good that it will never be matched.

Now those old geezers are a meer shadow of their former selves, yet they are charging top dollar for seats in huge venues. They may be playing songs from thier game-changing debut album from 30 or even 40 years ago, but let's be honest, the vibrant, visceral, energizing quality of the performance that made them legendary is long gone. In some cases the actual key performers are long gone too.

I don't want to pay to see my musical heroes let me down by only going to 6 or 7 10ths. I'm not the type to convince myself that the original version of whatever is always best just because it's original and costs more.

I'd much rather see a faithful tribute done by enthusiast that can go to 10 10ths. Chances are that they will be playing in a smaller, intimate venue too.

An all original NASCAR engine really isn't any good if it has low compression and can't rev out to its redline anymore. A mostly accurate replica that can would make me happier.

We saw Chicago with Earth Wind and Fire this past year. Had the same discussion. I agree with a faithful tribute band.

How about when a tribute band is better than a half replaced "original" band. Badfish is better than Sublime(with Rome). Tickets run 1/3 the price and SwR won't do my favorite song.

Obviously the real thing is better. I can't see myself going out of my way to see a cover band, but if a group of friends were going, I'd probably tag along. I certainly have nothing against them. If they are able to make a buck doing it, more power to them.

The "original" band with new members is a trickier question. AC/DC is touring with Axl Rose now. I like GnR, and I like AC/DC, but I have no desire to see that show. Journey has been touring for years with a Filipino guy who sounds just like Steve Perry. But he isn't Steve Perry. So are you really seeing Journey if you see them now?

It's funny how many people complain about never getting to see the "original" AC/DC again even though Bon Scott died before they were born.

The great thing about art is that it stands entirely units own merits. If you're a cover band, and people come see you and you make a living, you clearly have a viable product. Cover bands are the biopics of the music world. They are actors playing the role of culturally significant figures. Here's a little secret: That guy in "Hamilton"? He's not actually Alexander Hamilton.

The related question that has more interest to me is what actually defines a band? Is AC/DC with Axl Rose still AC/DC, or a different band? Was Genesis still Genesis when Peter Gabriel left? Was Sammy Hagar ever REALLY in Van Halen, or was that just some weird abomination with the wrong name?

JG Pasterjak wrote: It's funny how many people complain about never getting to see the "original" AC/DC again even though Bon Scott died before they were born. The great thing about art is that it stands entirely units own merits. If you're a cover band, and people come see you and you make a living, you clearly have a viable product. Cover bands are the biopics of the music world. They are actors playing the role of culturally significant figures. Here's a little secret: That guy in "Hamilton"? He's not actually Alexander Hamilton. The related question that has more interest to me is what actually defines a band? Is AC/DC with Axl Rose still AC/DC, or a different band? Was Genesis still Genesis when Peter Gabriel left? Was Sammy Hagar ever REALLY in Van Halen, or was that just some weird abomination with the wrong name?

My Miata has a different body and a different engine than original. In fact I think the only thing that matches is the trans, dashboard and vin... But it's he same Miata lol! Bands line ups have changed a lot of times. I think if, for example, suddenly the Rolling Stones broke up, and Keith Richards got together 4 random dudes and called it the Rolling Stones that would be disingenuous... But take rush for example, Neil isn't the first drummer I don't think, I honk the first album had a different drummer. But I would still call the band rush!

JG Pasterjak wrote: It's funny how many people complain about never getting to see the "original" AC/DC again even though Bon Scott died before they were born.

Maybe a better term is the "classic" lineup. I think that's the term that Eddie Trunk uses. I was 9 when Scott died, and "Back in Black" is one of the seminal hard rock albums of all time, so to me, Brian Johnson is the definitive AC/DC singer. Axl is not....

The great thing about art is that it stands entirely units own merits. If you're a cover band, and people come see you and you make a living, you clearly have a viable product. Cover bands are the biopics of the music world. They are actors playing the role of culturally significant figures. Here's a little secret: That guy in "Hamilton"? He's not actually Alexander Hamilton.

Well, the real Alexander Hamilton has been dead for 200 years, so seeing him isn't really an option, is it?

The related question that has more interest to me is what actually defines a band? Is AC/DC with Axl Rose still AC/DC, or a different band? Was Genesis still Genesis when Peter Gabriel left? Was Sammy Hagar ever REALLY in Van Halen, or was that just some weird abomination with the wrong name?

First off, there's nothing wrong with Van Hagar, it was a different style, but still a great band, IMO. Second, it really comes down to semantics. How many "original" members do you need to have it still be the same band? Metallica's been through like 4 bassists but it's still Metallica. I believe that Daltrey and Townsend are still touring as The Who even though Keith Moon and John Entwistle have passed. Even the current Van Halen lineup is Alex and Eddie, Eddie's kid, and the animated corpse of what was once David Lee Roth. Is that Van Halen? Without Michael Anthony, I say no.

By this logic, most orchestras should be considered 'cover bands' when they're performing Mozart or Beethoven.

Getting back to the topic, one night I happened across a pretty good cover band from Georgia while surfing Youtube one night: https://www.youtube.com/user/reallad1/videos They do more pop / country stuff, with some older rock songs.

One good example is their cover of Hopelessly Hoping by Crosby, Stills and Nash - they have some killer harmonies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaqTl1jLdkE

If anyone is in Baltimore tonight, my Dead Kennedys band will be playing with a Pixies, a DEVO, and a Turbonegro cover band tonight at the Ottobar.

https://www.facebook.com/wellpaidscientist/

I think we voice our true feelings when/if we buy tickets.

We saw Van Halen on their last tour. Killer show. Would I have paid like $175/ticket to see Sammy? Honestly, no. I'm in the DLR camp. I figured this was our last chance to see Dave and co., too.

A few years ago Rush and The Who both played Central Florida on the same night. I love both bands but went to see Rush.

Mike Muir is the only remaining original member of Suicidal Tendencies, but we still see them every time they tour Florida. Why? Solid performance. Plus what's the alternative? Stay home, I guess.

Next week we're seeing Flag. Is that a Black Flag cover band or a variation of the original? I dunno, but I'm expecting a killer show.

As far as tribute bands, I know a guy looking to form a Duran-Duran/INXS tribute band. Why? Fairly steady work and decent pay without touring too far. Plus he figures it could be fun.

HappyAndy wrote: I think Dr Boost gets where I'm coming from. Let's go back to where I started this: old geezers wobbling across a stage in a huge arena. Those old geezers may have produced some of the best Rock music ever when they were young bucks at their peak, some was so good that it will never be matched. Now those old geezers are a meer shadow of their former selves, yet they are charging top dollar for seats in huge venues. They may be playing songs from thier game-changing debut album from 30 or even 40 years ago, but let's be honest, the vibrant, visceral, energizing quality of the performance that made them legendary is long gone. In some cases the actual key performers are long gone too.

There was an awards show a couple of years ago that had the usual lineup of performers dancing around and performing their hit - and then Jagger closed out the show. He might be an old geezer, but he's a prototypical Rock Star and just wiped the floor with all the kids who had been on stage. It was eye-opening. And this is from a guy who calls the Stones "dinosaur rock" I'd go see a Stones show based on that performance.

You could call them old geezers, or you can figure that they've been rock stars for longer than I've been alive so they're better at it than anyone in the world.

But the bands that have only one or two of the original members are cover bands in my mind. I saw Al Jardine (one of the Beach Boys) playing in his "not allowed to call them the Beach Boys" band with his son and a bunch of session players. It was sad, the only one who cared that he was on stage was the son.

You want to see an old geezer on stage, go see Dick Dale. I've been catching his concerts for 25 years, and he never disappoints. We saw him a month or so ago, and it was full of wow.

This footage is a few years old, but you get the picture.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/XnreN5LsjvQ

I have a lot of friends who are in tribute/cover band side projects. Hell my wife is in a small faces cover band. It is just a fun thing to do. We have a Cramps tribute here in Eugene called "hot pearl snatch" which is awesome.

Some friends are in a band that only performs the first 2 or 3 B-52's albums. In a few months the actual B-52's will be coming through on tour. I will probably skip that and go see my friends play in the "wanna b-52's" instead. I won't have to suffer through "roam" or "love shack" and they will definitely play my faves like "52 girls"

I want to put together a group of friends to do a "one album, one night" tribute shows, maybe 3 times a year. Pick one great album that will never be performed by the original band, learn it back to front and do one epic performance of it. First show will be Wire's "pink flag"

David S. Wallens wrote: Next week we're seeing Flag. Is that a Black Flag cover band or a variation of the original? I dunno, but I'm expecting a killer show.

Flag was absolutely awesome. Not sure if War On Women will be on that leg of the tour, but if they are make sure to check them out - also Baltimore friends.