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A Disconcerting Night on the Town, and Your Thoughts on Tribute Bands

March 20, 2017 By Jeff 38 Comments

The Zombies show on Saturday night was interesting. The touring band played with the two main guys for about an hour, doing hits and rarities from their early British Invasion days, as well as a few new songs. Then there was a 20 minute intermission, and the original band came out. The four surviving members, anyway. For some reason they didn’t bring the dead one. And they played Odessey and Oracle in its entirety.

It was weird, to tell you the truth. I mean, it was great and I’m glad I saw it. But that album is such an obscure oddity, it was disconcerting to learn that actual human beings created it. The thing feels like it was captured by one of those giant radio telescopes that constantly listens for transmissions from outer space: otherworldly and mysterious. I’m not sure I was prepared to find out it was made by mere mortals.

Both incarnations of the band sounded fantastic, though. I saw a review a few days ago that said, “The Zombies, still led by original keyboard wizard Rod Argent and featuring the smoked-silk vocals of Colin Blunstone, is the best 60s band still touring which doesn’t have Mick Jagger as a front man.”

Blunstone was especially impressive. He’s thin as a knife blade, and seems almost timid onstage. Then he starts singing and it seems impossible. I wish I could do anything as well as that dude can sing. However, I didn’t much care for the extended-jam version of Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up,” and I’m not sure why they played “She’s Not There” twice. But those are only small complaints. It was a great show, and I’m glad I was on-hand to see it. The dude who brought them out referred to The Zombies as ‘rock ‘n’ roll royalty,’ and I certainly wouldn’t argue with that.

By the way… the man in the picture was sitting across the aisle from me. I snapped it moments before the show started. Yes, it was a youthful, raucous crowd. Very reminiscent of the time I saw Fugazi in Atlanta. My son and I were lucky to make it out of there alive on Saturday night.

I was looking at the acts who will be performing at the same venue soon. Plenty of “tribute” bands… Including Get the Led Out, Live Wire: The Ultimate AC/DC Concert Experience, and Islands In The Stream: An Afternoon with Dolly and Kenny. Have you ever seen a tribute show? I haven’t, and hopefully never will. I think I’d be so depressed I might cry. I mean, the true “ultimate” AC/DC experience would be AC/DC, right? Short of that, I’ll pass.

I saw they had Kick, an INXS tribute band there a few weeks ago. I’m not sure I’d go see the actual INXS, much less Kick (heh). And Hey Nineteen: The Steely Dan Tribute was there recently, as well. I’m starting to segue from sadness to laughter here… Is there a documentary about those kinds of bands? If not, there should be.

In the comments section, please tell us about the tribute acts you’ve seen. And feel free to justify that decision, if you must. Also, which tributes (real or imagined) would you LIKE to see? I’ll come up with a few that I wish were real, and turn it over to you guys. Let’s do it, shall we?

The Binghamton Who
Behemoth Rhapsody: The Morbidly Obese Queen Tribute
Thin Minnie: A Tribute to Thin Lizzy and Minnie Riperton
Harlem Hatchet: The Ultimate Molly Hatchet Doo-Wop Experience
Sir Mario: The Mexican Mix-A-Lot

I’ll see you guys again soon.

Have a great day!

Now playing in the bunker
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Comments

  1. Ognir says

    March 20, 2017 at 1:02 pm

    I never have – but I think there is a show about those types of bands on a TV channel I don’t get. I sometimes look at the websites of some of those bands. It impresses me when they dress up and use all the same gear as the original band. If I was to go see such a thing it would be Mac Sabbath or Beatallica.

    Reply
  2. Knucklehead says

    March 20, 2017 at 1:18 pm

    Nope. No way and I’m from the land of AC/DShe (female AC/DC tribute band), Dread Zepplin, The Ramonas (female Ramones) and too many more that I have thankfully forgotten over the years. Yikes.

    Reply
    • Barb says

      March 20, 2017 at 2:15 pm

      We’ve got Fem Zeppelin in my town.

      Reply
      • MikefromLI says

        March 20, 2017 at 3:57 pm

        We have a Lady Sabbath band here and I’ve heard of a Lez Zeppelin band.

        Reply
        • Ognir says

          March 20, 2017 at 3:59 pm

          There is also The Iron Maidens.

          Reply
        • chill says

          March 20, 2017 at 7:54 pm

          Once in a while Lez Zeppelin appears at the State Theater in Falls Church. Never been to see them.

          Reply
    • johnthebasket says

      March 20, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      Mio Dio, Knucklehead, I haven’t seen you comment out here since the trains ran on time. Are you still in Italy?

      John

      Reply
      • chill says

        March 20, 2017 at 8:11 pm

        A rare Knucklehead sighting! How is Big Bird doing these days?

        Reply
  3. Phantom Railfan says

    March 20, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    It wasn’t in person, but I saw a public-access-cable show that featured a morbidly-obese, profusely-sweating Elvis impersonator live from the entertainment tent of a local church fair. He was singing/ grunting “American Trilogy” to a backing track playing on a boombox, and the camera cut to a woman in the sparse crowd who was watching awestruck with tears in her eyes. To her, it must have been like the King had come back to life. Or maybe she was the guy’s mother and she was embarrassed for him?

    Also, there is a documentary on tribute artists that I saw some years ago, but I forget what its called. It had a segment on a Monkees tribute band that was breaking up and contained a scene wherein the guy dressed like Mike Nesmith was bitching because his bandmates weren’t respecting the music, or somesuch.

    Reply
  4. Lee Harvey Ramone says

    March 20, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    Gripe Ranger: The bitchiest Night Ranger tribute band in the world
    ELO (Eccentric Light Orchetra): Strange Magic indeed!

    Reply
    • Lee Harvey Ramone says

      March 20, 2017 at 2:32 pm

      Bling Crimson: The jewelry-laden Frippertronics masters (Not to be confused with Bling Crosby)

      Reply
  5. Joe T. says

    March 20, 2017 at 1:38 pm

    The party doesn’t start until Mini KISS takes the stage.

    Reply
  6. WV.Hillbilly says

    March 20, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    I saw a Jimi Hendrix tribute/imitator at the Galaxy 2000 in the late 70s-early 80s. I think it was Randy Hansen, but I’m not sure.

    I also saw the Brit Floyd show at the Keith Albee in Huntington. They were pretty good and had the visual show. All that was missing was the acid.

    Reply
    • AWG says

      March 20, 2017 at 6:49 pm

      Holy shit. Have not thought about galaxy 2000 in many years. Participated in the air guitar contest there doing Heartbreaker by Led Zep. Wrapped myself in aluminum foil and called myself the tin man.

      Reply
  7. Barb says

    March 20, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    I’m a performer and we do lots of covers but to be honest I don’t care for tribute bands. Although I once saw a Tina Turner tribute by accident and it was amazing. One of the problems I have with them is they take a lot of the good gigs away from non tribute bands because the clubs know they can attract a crowd of people who want to hear exactly what they listen to at home. I know it takes a lot of talent but I’m not sure about creativity.
    When I cover a song I like to do an interpretation not the exact copy. But that’s just me.

    Reply
  8. Tank says

    March 20, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    I saw “Who’s Bad,” a Michael Jackson tribute show, a few years back…not too long after he died. As with most of the things I’ve done in life, the only reason I went was because I was chasing a girl who was going to be there. But once I got there I have to say I was impressed. They followed various stages of his career all the way from Creepy Young MJ to Creepy Old MJ, along with several costume/set changes. With each costume change his complexion got, ahem, lighter. I’m not sure if it was a different performer each time or if they were just applying more makeup, but I’m pretty sure by the end I was watching a white woman sing Michael Jackson covers. If I’m being honest I’d probably go again though.

    Reply
  9. Rachael Smith says

    March 20, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    Only tribute band I’ve seen, which I’ve only heard them referred to as cover bands, was a Heart “tribut bandl.” They were playing in a park walking distance from our house in Reno. We strapped our maybe 18 mo. or so daughter into her stroller and wandered over. What I remember more than anything is chasing my wild ass toddler around! The band didn’t hurt my feelings or anything, so they must have been ‘aight. My kid, however, was a mess! Not much has changed, she’ll be 7 in August.

    Reply
  10. johnthebasket says

    March 20, 2017 at 3:59 pm

    I think it comes down to economics. You’re in a band to make music; you’re in a tribute band to make money. I’ve never seen a tribute band perform.

    John

    Reply
    • Lee Harvey Ramone says

      March 20, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      Not even Journey?

      Reply
      • johnthebasket says

        March 20, 2017 at 4:28 pm

        Not on a bet, but you made me laugh out loud and I need more of that.

        John

        Reply
    • Barb says

      March 20, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      I agree!

      Reply
  11. required says

    March 20, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    Aussie Floyd. Fantastic shows.

    Reply
  12. RuthlessDee says

    March 20, 2017 at 6:01 pm

    Sam the Sham and the Thank You Ma’am’s

    Reply
    • johnthebasket says

      March 21, 2017 at 3:15 pm

      Sam Samudio has just turned 80 and is long retired from the music business, but there was a time when, packing instruments and equipment in his 1952 Packard hearse, he and the Pharaohs kicked ass with Wooly Bully, Ju Ju Hand, and Li’l Red Riding Hood. I guess everything about him was a bit of a sham but, paradoxically, he was a genuine original.

      John

      Reply
  13. DavidI says

    March 20, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    I’ve actually seen two different Talking Heads tribute bands. The first was quite by accident as we wandered upon them one Halloween night playing at a brewery we were interested in checking out. The opening act was in all Spanish language Ramones cover band by the way. We missed them unfortunately.

    The second time was on purpose quite frankly because we had such a great time at the first one. Now I’m normally against these kinds of things but in this particular case both experiences were a ton of fun and quite simply the only way you can see these songs played live with a crowd anymore. It was very dynamic and everyone was into it and it just felt like what it would have been like to see them for real . I never got a chance to see Talking Heads for real and they are one of my favorite bands. The second time they actually brought out the big suit.

    I did spend a lot of time contemplating the life of a tribute band after the show and wondering what it’s like to go around playing songs that they didn’t write to adoring crowds when they are probably very good musicians in their own right with their own music that nobody cares about or listens to. But that seemed too depressing to think about and so I just went back to remembering the enjoyable show.

    Reply
  14. chill says

    March 20, 2017 at 8:00 pm

    Now that I think about it, I did see a Queen tribute band one time. This was at Infocomm (trade show) a few years back. It was a Crestron party, I think.

    Reply
    • Jeff says

      March 20, 2017 at 8:35 pm

      Behemoth Rhapsody?

      Reply
      • chill says

        March 20, 2017 at 10:46 pm

        They seemed to be more or less “normal” sized individuals. I got the holy spirit, and flicked a lighter. But ultimately it was no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise.

        Reply
  15. Franky T says

    March 20, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    Be afraid, be very afraid …
    http://flavorwire.com/111421/the-10-funniest-tribute-bands/

    Reply
  16. Tony (The Dude Jr.) says

    March 21, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    I saw an Eagles tribute band once. I went to the bar and ordered a white russian and asked the bartender to have someone turn it down because “I hate the fuckin’ Eagles”. The bartender told me “Fuck you” and had me thrown out.

    Reply
    • madz1962 says

      March 21, 2017 at 9:35 pm

      Maybe your Jackie tree horn t shirt pissed off the local constable.

      Reply
  17. Lucie in Tampa says

    March 21, 2017 at 1:57 pm

    I seen Brit Floyd & I have to say they were actually good. I’m not into cover bands, except some of my local bands I see out on occasion.

    Reply
  18. Dave says

    March 22, 2017 at 5:57 am

    The Fatones: NSYNC/Backstreet Boys covers in the style of the Ramones. I’m still convinced that this needs to happen.

    Reply
  19. scoobybri says

    March 22, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    I lived in Vegas for many years and there was a Prince tribute band there called Purple Reign that was absolutely spectacular. The guy who was the Prince impersonator moved and sounds exactly like Prince, albeit being about 6 inches too tall. The band is dressed up like The Revolution and there was even a Morris Day impersonator. I swear it’s like being at a Prince concert in 1984 again. Even friends and family who I would drag to the show when they would visit Vegas would come away going “Wow that was good.” I think they are still playing in Vegas.

    Reply
  20. Eugene B. Sims says

    March 23, 2017 at 10:55 am

    I’ve seen A LOT of KISS tribute bands. Hotter Than Hell, Strutter, KISS Army Band, and some others where the names escapes me. I like the kitsch factor with KISS tribute bands. They not only get the costumes and make-up down… They get the mannerisms down. They usually stick to the original 4, but I’d love to see some Eric Carrs and/or Vinnie Vincents in the mix. Most of those bands stick with material from the 70s.

    I’ve also seen Appetite for Destruction who were very good. Their Izzy was impeccable.

    And I’ve seen ZoSo which were probably better than Led Zeppelin live. The guitarist wasn’t as sloppy as Page.

    But the big daddy would be the tribute band 1964. They opened for Cheap Trick at the Coca-Cola 600 Speed Street Festival in downtown Charlotte. They were ON!

    Reply
  21. Lee Harvey Ramone says

    March 23, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Saul McMurtry and Wyngz was not a good show.

    Reply
  22. Basket O' Deplorables says

    March 25, 2017 at 9:12 am

    Bwaaaaaaaaah!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur07OFbHs9c

    Reply
  23. PamInPA says

    March 31, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    I don’t think I would buy a ticket to see a tribute band in a concert setting; many of these bands belong on the party circuit, in my opinion. I grant an exception for Zappa Plays Zappa.

    Reply

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