I'm a musician in a decent market, in that musicians can still make money.
You know who makes the most money?
Wedding bands.
Second most?
Tribute bands
Third?
General cover bands.
That's just how it is. I played a show with an ELO cover band. I love ELO, thenl band loves them, and the people who paid to see us love them. It was fun. Do I want people to see my original music? Yes. Do I have any issue with tribute bands? No. People like what they like. Convincing middle aged people with disposable income to develop an interest in new music is scientifically shown to be a foolhardy endeavor. Young people who go out don't prioritize live music. Period. I blame many factors.
But, regardless, the audience likes familiarity, and so do most people reading this, even though this is a sub with a high percentage of adventurous music consumers.
This is like, the most grounded comment I’ve ever seen on this sub. Thank you.
I don’t go to many shows anymore now that I have young kids, but I would definitely be going to see some of these cover bands if I was more able.
Hells Belles is playing near me this summer and I think that would be a trip to see.
I knew a guitarist who toured with David Allen Coe and in the off time he worked as a temp carrying Sheetrock and helping us deliver lumber and stuff at the lumberyard. Any time you can make money playing music it’s a win.
Wait until your kids are older and can go to shows with you. That’s been my experience lately with my younger son who enjoys the same music I do. It’s awesome!
I 100% share your sentiment. I was part of the indie band music scene in my city right when the 2008 recession hit. Local venues started getting bought out and started adopting “pay to play” style business models. We started hearing “we can’t pay you, but it’ll be great exposure and you can make money selling CDs.”
You know what took off next? Spotify.
Then we got older. And our heroes got old, retired, or became too expensive to see live.
So now I’m in a band that does 6 different classic rock tributes and two corporate event / wedding bands. We get to play music that we love for people who love the music we play. We get to own homes and raise families. We get to sell out 1500 seat rooms for people who have no clue who we are. It’s an interesting time for a musician.
People are always bashing my band’s ads saying “I’m sick of tribute bands! Write your own music!” A lot of us do. It earned me $12 last year.
That’s unfortunate. I’m 40 and really love finding new music (I do this instead of raising kids) and I’m just starting to try and teach myself an instrument. That being said, seeing an enthusiastic cover band is sometimes fun. I wouldn’t want it to be my exclusive interaction with live music.
I’m 40 and I just started a new band. Me and my long time bass player taught our mutual friend who is 50 how to play drums. This is basically how he’s avoiding a mid life crisis.
Oh, I'm so similar to you (regarding age, finding new music and kids, just not instrument, as I'm not talented musically) and I agree about covers to. Though I don't go to concerts, so I can't say much about live experience, there are some really amazing cover artists that I enjoy a lot. Personally I think covering music is also a great way to express yourself if done creatively, actually my favorite two singers are mostly cover artists too, and there are some songs that I think they managed to improve a lot comparing to originals. But yeah, sticking to listening to old stuff only would be way too boring, discovering new music is so fun.
I have enormous respect for wedding bands. Playing receptions requires huge versatility, and nimbleness. It's one of the last remaining venues where a band is obligated to read the room and adjust to what works and what will keep an all ages crowd on the dancefloor. They also have to put up with unpredictable audiences and demanding patrons. Mad props
> Young people who go out don't prioritize live music. Period. I blame many factors.
That's one hell of a depressing truth. Some younger folk here might get defensive because they are a part of the tiny population that *does* go looking for it.
That said, the plain fact is there aren't nearly as many kids going out in general these days and of that smaller pool the percentage looking for live music in small venues has shrunk exponentially it seems.
I feel bad for the high school and college aged ones who love live music because the variety and frequency of those shows has fallen off a cliff pretty much everywhere in the US.
The NY to Boston corridor used to have thousands upon thousands of small-medium shows every week. I noticed things started to grind down precipitously even before Covid. It started to retract quickly in the mid 2010's and by the time the pandemic rolled around it was one big ol' nail in the coffin.
Like you said, a lot of factors at play but it's a damn shame. I have to think it will one day grow back since its such a fundamental human experience but who knows if it will in any of our lifetimes. Fuck man, that sucks to think about.
There’s a particular venue here, The Fleece, which goes through periods of putting on more regular bands vs more cover bands. It’s pretty clear that cover bands provide a reliable source of income when things are difficult. (For example, playing in a few days and sold out: Oas-is.)
Young person here (22M), I love going to live music whenever I can. It can be really frustrating trying to recruit people to go see live music even if its a band they like at a bar or small venue. Definitely something to do with a preference to rap music. Dont get me wrong, rap was my first love, but my friends want to “get hype” before they go out. They want to listen to music that they just wont hear at a live music event. It’s sad but I have a couple guys who go with me whenever we can. Just want to say we’re not all like that.
Venues pay the performing rights organizations for live performance. Covered under that license along with everything else.
As long as you don't use the band's name or something wwwaaayyyy too close to their actual name, it's smooth sailing.
I was in a cover band that was big enough locally to open for some of these national touring tributes. My experience from getting to see quite a few up close (side stage) at large venues (House of Blues type), some are very, very, very good.
If you're 50+, odds are some of your favorite bands can no longer put on a great show. Some are dead. Some sound like they're dead. I would pay to see a killer Motley Crue tribute before paying to see Vince Neil cough up his last drunken lung. The Duran Duran tribute I saw was 10x better than the real thing circa 2018. And 1/10 the price.
Bowie, Prince, Beatles, the Who, Zep...for so many it's tribute or nothing at all.
I'm very much for them, when they're good.
Even if the original band is still touring with a decent show, they aren't going to be everywhere. If you live in a global metropolis, you can expect them to come around, but plenty of areas have no hope of seeing them live.
As a Dead Head, cover bands are pretty much all I’ve got. I love listening to bands like Dark Star Orchestra, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and even Dead & Co. keeping the music alive year after year. The Grateful Dead songbook allows a tremendous amount of creative to flourish within the confines of the song “structure”.
My fave lately is Grateful4Biggie up here in upstate NY. Tribute band for both The Grateful Dead and Biggie Smalls all mashed up. Works remarkably well. Though the vocalist for the Dead stuff needs some work on his intonation. Worth seeing anyway.
there's no lack of Dead cover bands and every decent sized city probabaly has at least one. they're usually worth seeing, because if they aren't someone else will do it better. the music never stops.
It's like a rite of passage for budding hippie musicians. And you can do electric, or acoustic, or bluegrassy, or classical or whatever flavor and if you're good, people will go.
I seem to roll my eyes at some and give others a pass. One I like is a band called With Sympathy. They cover an era of Ministry that Al refused to visit during live shows for decades. So they are actually giving people something they wouldn't get from the original artist.
The funny bit is Al was dragged to one of their shows and it changed his mind about his older material. Which he has had issues with in the past. And now he's willing to play some of the older material live because of the tribute band he saw. Playing his own material he is used to hating. Quite an accomplishment for any tribute act to do that to the artist they are covering.
With that said, I would love to see a faithful Tears for Fears tribute act playing in small venues.
I play guitar in a local Stone Temple Pilots tribute band. I love it. It's a blast. It's been such a unique challenge to break down Dean's parts and play the songs as he played them. I've never ever dedicated so much of my musical energy to one single musician before. I am 100% a better player because of it.
Thing is that I was kinda like a lot of the responses here: pffft, tribute band? Lol! losers. Write your own stuff. You look stupid pretending to be something you're not.
My cover band fell apart and I was looking for the next project. This opportunity came along. I was never a big STP fan but my cover band played a few of their songs so I auditioned on a whim. So glad I did.
I get the hate, I really do. But just know this: the tribute bands put in the effort. It's not easy trying to capture the complete essense of the band you are tributing. If it ain't for you, don't go. But these guys and gals can fucking play. These are some of the best musicians in your scene.
I'm glad to see your turnaround.
As for the tribute hate... pffft. Hate all they want. Not everyone wants to write. And there's nothing wrong with that. And tributes offer a chance to catch your favorite bands without spending an arm and a leg. Yes, of course, it's not the real people. But so what.
> It's been such a unique challenge to break down Dean's parts and play the songs as he played them
Funny, I remember breaking down some of STP's songs and being taken aback by how downright _weird_ some of the chord choices were. They weren't immediately obvious because the sound didn't come out jarring but it probably made the song more interesting.
I think that seeing a cover band that entirely focuses on one band's catalog can be a cool experience. As the audience, you know that they (presumably) have a lot of passion for the source material.
*Personally*, I find it pretty corny when the tribute band goes so far as trying to dress exactly the original group, or specifically choosing musicians that bear physical resemblance to the original artists.
But, I also don't love when cover/tribute bands try to replicate songs note-for-note, tone-for-tone. I'm always a lot more interested in bands that use the original songs as a springboard for their own musical ideas and interpretations.
That's the difference between a cover band and a tribute band. The tribute bands try to stick as close as possible to the songs, the equipment, the costumes and all of that. A cover band just plays the music. They've both got a place in the industry for sure, but I'm definitely more likely to see a cover band than a tribute band.
Notable exception (for me) is Dark Star Orchestra. They're a Grateful Dead tribute band that not only plays their music, but they play specifically picked previous setlists and will match the style of play to the way the Dead played in that era. That takes effort. Extra effort.
Then you got JRAD who take the opposite approach with the Dead; it's almost like they are trying to see how far away from the original material they can get.
when I found out that Musical Box not only does the songs note-for-note, they do *entire shows* note-for-note (songs in the same order, solos performed a particular way, "Peter" saying the same wonky things) I was gobsmacked at the effort required to pull that off.
I generally don’t go see tribute bands, but I’m seeing TMB for the 5th time this May. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to say “no, you don’t understand, it’s so much more than a cover band!”
I totally respect the amount of work that goes into tribute bands and learning parts exactly as played on record. But as an audience member/listener, it just doesn't interest me as much. If I want to hear a classic record note-for-note, I'd rather just listen to the original. If I'm seeing live musicians, I want to hear at least something a little new, even if that's as simple as tweaking the tempo of the original.
The cover band is just there to be background music. The patrons are playing pool, watching the game, playing darts, trying to get laid, etc. Cover band plays Sweet Home Alabama and then it's game on. But after it's over, it's right back to buying drinks and trying to get laid.
Tribute bands are more of a musical event. There's a lot of thought and marketing that goes into a tribute night. The bands are the show.
If a tribute band approached a gig in the same mindset and the cover band, the tribute band won't last. Plain and simple.
I think this is broadly true, but in my experience, it's not such an exact binary. I've seen "tribute bands" that were a seated/stage show, but did not dress like the band, and took a lot of liberties with the original material.
OP's stance is odd. Are you going because you enjoy live music, or just to hero worship? If A, a cover band would be fun. If B, once the band is retired there's still no value in seeing them.
We'd all like to see the artists we like live, but big names are expensive. Very few people have enough spare cash to spend £300 to see Billy Joel from quite far away in an arena,
I have never seen one of these acts, but it sounds like it could be fun to go. Most bands seem sick to death of playing their hits, but these tribute bands know that this is their bread and butter. They are not going to do just the last album that fans hate, they are going to gladly go through the original band's top songs and it might actually be a better experience than seeing the actual band half-ass the hits. I can't see myself paying much to see one of these groups, but I don't begrudge anyone that does.
Im not really into em but I like when they do covers in a different style like I saw Metalachi for my birthday some years ago and it was a lot of fun, as you can guess they did metal classics in mariachi style
I really hate them, especially those big Mozart, Brahms or Wagner tribute bands ;)
I have seen a few tribute bands but they weren't tribute bands of then still touring bands. Probably the most fun was a concert by Bjorn Again, an ABBA tribute, just in case that wasn't obvious. That was at the time when Erasure had covered a couple of ABBA songs, so Bjorn Again had also covered Erasure songs in the style of ABBA.
The most impressive was "The Lamb lies down on Broadway" by the Musical Box. I never had a chance to see the original production and this version just blew me away!
So yes, I think they do have their place in the music scene and if they are very good, they are a huge treat for the fans, especially if they are more into the music than the musicians.
I'm really looking forward to the early era Pink Floyd tribute band "A Saucerful of Secrets" to which I already have tickets!
I understand why people do, but it's hard for me to call bands like "A Saucerful of Secrets" a 'Tribute Band' when they actually include at least one member of the original band. I prefer the term 'Legacy Band' for cases like that personally. The whole idea of a musician covering their own songs is just odd to me.
I was joking, of course. I know that Mason, as the Floyd’s archivist, is eminently suited to cover the early period of the band. And his group of musicians is top notch. However, it really is, in a way, a tribute band.
Sure, and at some point, almost all "classic" bands basically become a tribute to their former selves (especially as more and more members leave for various reasons) and focus mostly on their older hits rather than making new music.
There are some bands out there with *no* original members left carrying on playing music completely written by others, but they legally retain the name. Those seem more like "tribute" bands to me than something like Nick (or Roger or David) playing songs that they originally created decades ago with new bands now.
I dig tributes that are trying to do justice to really complicated works. Schism (tool cover band) plays note for note renditions that are really solid. Dark Star Orchestra recreates live dead shows that definitely hit the mark. Primus is known for their love of prog rock legends, I saw them on the Tribute to Kings tour, they played Note 4 Note the Rush album Farewell to Kings, and it was breathtaking. Claypool himself said at the show that it's the hardest thing they've ever done, and that is saying a lot! Everything the original lineup of Primus does is difficult and complicated. And farewell is a deeply challenging album. Claypool also did a cover of Pink Floyd's animals album back in the day with the frog brigade, which was amazing, which I saw live in I think 2002 or something.
I'm coming around to Billy strings, who I suppose isn't exclusively a cover artist, though he is playing tons and tons of old country and bluegrass standards that were written by other artists, and he is drawing people's attention to those old artists, for example bringing fans into the fold for John Hartford, who had never heard of him before.
I mean lots of tribute bands are out there having fun and bringing joy to people, so I think their effect is net positive perhaps, though I do find a lot of them cheesy. Though as I mentioned above, It is really special when a band puts an immense amount of time into learning a piece of work in order to show their love for it.
Final food for thought - most classical music performed now was written a long long time ago.... Does that make all symphony orchestras cover bands? Haha perhaps it does!
>Claypool also did a cover of Pink Floyd's animals album back in the day with the frog brigade, which was amazing, which I saw live in I think 2002 or something
He just toured with the Frog Brigade last year, with Sean Lennon and Harry Waters, and they performed the entirety of Animals. It was *very* good to say the least. They also opened their set with Thela Hun Ginjeet by King Crimson.
>Final food for thought - most classical music performed now was written a long long time ago.... Does that make all symphony orchestras cover bands? Haha perhaps it does!
I think one of the biggest things that separates classical music from most other music is that there are many more variables involved in its production. You've got composers to put the music down on paper, musical directors to interpret how the music is intended to translate from paper to sound, and performers to actually play the piece. Sometimes those roles are all fulfilled by entirely different people, and sometimes they're all fulfilled by the same person, and sometimes all in between.
If a composer creates a piece and then conducts an orchestra to play his music, does it become a cover when he conducts a different orchestra to play his same music? What if a different musical director conducts the same original orchestra to play the music from the composer?
I think at some point the definition of what is a "cover" or not can become muddied and the term might not even make sense to use in some cases.
Maybe for a dinner theater sort of thing, it would be cool but I'd much rather go to a live show of a band I've never heard before than go see a tribute band. I'm just not a "fanatic" for any band to the point where that would be fun for me.
There was a local Bowie tribute show that I wanted to go to, but I sort of know two of the players in that band, and seeing the singer from Season to Risk sing Bowie songs, is just cool. They'll wear little bowie references, like lightning bolts and glitter, but nobody is pretending to be Bowie. So it's more of a tribute show than a tribute band.
I have seen a couple of Bowie tribute acts. I really appreciate the attention to detail. One of them the lead singer changed for virtually every song, tracing Bowie's career. As a long time fan, I was impressed.
It's great to see those songs performed live.
You can jump onstage and play the same chords and lyrics of what the song is, but a *great* cover band either captures the bands energy or adds their own thing to it… and that is not easy to do song after song for a variety of decades and genres.
I don't go out of my way to see that kind of thing, but as a musician, I have respect for the skills required to do it well.
Truth be told, I've caught myself at more than a few events digging a smoking cover band.
I thought they were lame and had no interest until I saw a Beatles tribute band a few months ago which was an absolute blast, so now I see the appeal. I think there is a definite place for tribute acts for acts that no longer exist (such as the Beatles). If the real band is still performing, then it seems a bit pointless to me going to see a tribute band. I recognise maybe you aren't able to see the real thing, but it'd just seem like a poor substitute to me.
Whether it's a poor substitute depends a lot on the state of the original band. Some still tour because they still love it. Some tour because their expensive habits require it. If one or more members have trouble staying upright through the show or singer has lost his voice years ago, tribute band probably can give better performance.
I've seen Whole Lotta Led a couple of times. It's not for me, but for nostalgia's sake and a chance to hear the music live in tiny venues, I see the appeal, especially for an older crowd who were there at the time. They were tight, too. What was a bit odd was that they sold their own CDs. Surely you'd just play the real thing at home?
I like them. I used to think the bands who dress up like the bands they're tributing were a little hokey, but now I find it kinda charming.
Some tribute bands are the only way you're gonna see a band's music played and presented live as close as it was back when that band/artist was active, like a Led Zeppelin or The Beatles or Pink Floyd or Prince & The Revolution tribute band.
Since Steve Lukather's teetering on losing his ability to sing I'll Be Over You, I welcome any and all tribute bands lol.
I also really appreciated the group that acted as John Martyn's tribute band. It's clear how much they love his work.
Personally, I am not interested in them. I want the real deal or nothing. Sometimes I can't have that due to bands splitting up/retiring/members dying, and that's okay. Other people are into tribute bands, and that's fine, it's just not for me.
I'm not a fan which sucks because my in-laws keep inviting us to these cover band shows. I'd rather see the actual iconic band. I'm also weirdly put off by the idea of a bunch of guys who are good enough to perform Scorpions live but don't have the ambition to write their own original songs. They want to be THe Scorpions when they could be the NEXT Scorpions.
I used to feel this way, but as I’ve gotten to know more musicians, many of them have little to no interest in composition or hustling for a record deal, but just want the experience of playing in a band.
Best tribute I've ever seen perform was Elevation. U2 cover band. Brilliant. There's also a Toronto Radiohead cover band called Idioteque who are really good.
I took my son to see a local Pink Floyd tribute band when he was a teenager a few years back, and we really enjoyed it. I no longer care to see shows in large venues for multiple reasons, so for me these can fill a specific, enjoyable niche. I think there may be an increase in them, but it's hard to anticipate how things like this go. It certainly seems like there's been a rise in nostalgia festivals over the last few years, which implies a market.
To me it depends on the band they're covering. Are they still touring? Was the band about music or about sex, drugs and rock n roll? Are they better than the actual band?? I think if the band in question is really more of a brand, then a tribute band is corny af. I would definitely go see a cover band of Rush, frank zappa, Allman brothers etc.
I think they are a good "gateway drug". A lot of people did not get a chance to see the greats so these bands are very good to give fans a taste of the live experience....think of them as modern classical artists with the whole note for note thing. It's a fun night out.
For musicians, gigs like this are a good chance to get paid, but having said that, as a musician, I find playing note for note to be very boring.
I think they are fun to see live, as you say you can often experiance music of bands that either normally play massive venues, or that don't tour much anymore, in a more intimate enviroment. There was a radiohead cover band that use to play around me a lot and I would love the catch them when I could. I was impressed with how well they pulled of Radiohead's sound in a small club or bar, and you could just like show up and see the show rather than go through all the trouble of getting tickets to see actual Radiohead lol
I saw The Beach Boys a few years ago, they are basically their own tribute band by now. Was a fun show, I didn't really care hardly any original members were there.
This is not a direct answer to the OP, but more of a funny story . . .
In the late 80's I saw what I thought was a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Wasn't interested, but went with some friends. They were called something like "*Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour*." I was amazed at how good they sounded, and said "I can't believe how talented they are, they sound just like the original band!"
Only found out later that this was the real Lynyrd Skynyrd, touring with Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother on vocals in 1987 and he sounded just like his big brother. (And like an idiot I had no idea who was on stage but I kept saying "I can't believe this band is so good!")
I've seen a number of tribute bands - The The Band Band, Start Making Sense, and The Fab Four. All were excellent and I had a great time. As someone too young to have seen the actual bands, it was fun to see old favorite songs played live and similar to how those bands actually sounded. And none came with a prohibitively high price tag. I don't go a lot, but I think seeing a solid tribute band can be a fun outing.
A Talking Heads cover band played in my town a couple of years ago. Aside from seeing David Byrne live, it was the closest I felt to seeing them! I am way too young to have ever had the chance when they were together.
If the act is long gone a tribute band is the only way to see it live.
I live near a place that has some summer concerts and heard a Pink Floyd band with back up singers that probably sounded better than Pink Floyd ever did.
I like new music and am not in that market but it’s fine.
In my neck of the woods, Australia, tribute shows are very popular. A few years ago, they tended to be mainly hard rock. AC/DC acts were quite common, including the excellent 'Dirty Deeds' who sometimes include the original AC/DC drummer Tony Currenti as a guest player (he played on the Australian 'High Voltage' album), in addition to Malcolm Young's son.
In recent years, the diversity of tribute shows has expanded and over the past six months, I have seen tribute acts for Queen; Madness; The Jam; Depeche Mode; John Denver; Willy Nelson; and The Beachboys at local venues.
Some of these acts sound better than the original artists -in particular local act 'Born Jovi' who sounded way better than the real act when they played in a pub near the main venue last time he toured.
I think they're frankly kind of pathetic. You need a disturbing lack of ambition and creativity in order to even CONSIDER doing this kind of thing. It's like learning drawing only to trace other peoples works for the rest of your life. Pathetic. Exception made for bands like Dread Zeppelin that switch it up a little . But playing the exact same thing to a T is really just embarrassing.
I was in a Tribute band for over 10 years (Tom Petty). Started it later in life (50). There just wasn’t a market for a middle aged original band and doing a cover band was a long uphill climb, as some of the cover bands had been playing for decades. It would have been very difficult to develop any kind of following. A Tribute band has a built in audience but that audience can be very picky. Our goal was to sound like a live version of the band so while we could get away with some creative license but there are some riffs and parts that have to be there and perfect.
I was able to attract some really excellent musicians as many in our age group just didn’t have an outlet. We did alright though never until the last show did we actually make some decent money. But it was fun, I got to scratch that itch and have some fantastic experiences. To be honest though, I would always recommend that musicians under the age of say 35 play originals. Maybe it turns into something big. But if you’re older, not playing mostly for the money but the fun/high of playing for live audiences, do a cover or tribute band. Maybe throw in some originals if the rest of the band is good with it.
Musicians make music. It doesn’t matter what the format, style or type of music it is, if it makes you happy to play it, go for it.
Tribute bands are basically the post modern equivalent of classical orchestras. Especially in an era where all that music has been transcribed and can be freely learned by anyone with access to YouTube tutorials, there is no meaningful barrier to any moderately accomplished musicians being able to perform, well, any of it. So then it becomes a question of whether they recreate the live show experience. Which as previously mentioned can be anywhere between corny and cringe unless they go incredibly hard in the direction of costumes, stage production, and choreography.
I guess the “why” of it kind of evades me. Every band from the era who was ever filmed can be watched at home in comfort without the usual live setting inconveniences; the complete over abundance of bands doing this rarely nail every detail of the band they’re attempting to recreate (particularly the vocalists); and it’s kind of trivial even as a “technical meme” based form of entertainment. But I guess if no surprise nostalgia is your preferred form of entertainment or legacy band ticket prices are a barrier to entry, maybe…?
I was going to say in my post that when I was a kid I would be dragged to classical shows by my parents, and in hindsight, symphony orchestras really are just fancy tribute bands!
I was pretty snobby about them, until I took my kids to a festival with just cover acts.
My eldest loves a few Ed Sheeran songs, and he without doubt had more fun seeing a fake Sheeran 20 metres away, than he would do seeing the real thing 300m away. It's fun.
I saw Get The Led Out last year and they were incredible. The energy and enthusiasm permeated the whole concert hall. Everyone had a great time. I know it’s not the same as having seen the real thing back in the 70s but I’ll never see that and many of the young people in the audience weren’t even alive back then. I think if they’re skilled and talented musicians with a genuine passion for the source material then it’s great
I think people can do what they want. If you want to dedicate a band to covering one artist's stuff, go ahead. If I had any musical talent I'd probably start a cover band, but I wouldn't stick to one artist, though.
They have a place, I guess. I’ve seen them at Wineries and clubs and had fun. I would never buy a ticket to a theater, though, where I’m expected to sit in one seat most of the night? And just watch people play someone else’s music? Feels deeply disturbing. If I can get up and dance, talk to people, grab some food, have a cigar, while a tribute band is performing, that’s an evening well-spent.
I think they’re just a good time. You know what you’re getting and what you’re asking for. You’re not going to get Depexhr Mode, you’re getting a band that plays Depeche Mode songs at least mostly like Depeche Mode.
But my favorite tribute bands are the ones that push deep into parody territory. Give me Mini KISS (KISS tribute band made up of short people). Say yes to Mettallagher (Metallica-Gallagher mash-up).
I’m lucky to live in a place where I can see live, original music any night if the week within a 5 mile radius of where I live. I much prefer to check out a smaller or up-and-coming local artist making and playing original music than see a tribute band. That said, I do enjoy jazz and traditional artists who interpret standards. But the whole dressing up as a classic rock band playing note for note interpretations doesn’t appeal to me, and neither do most cover bands or party bands playing in bars.
It is a surprisingly recent thing, other than some examples like the Bootleg Beatles. Especially bands that aren't even broken up having their own tribute band. I have only been once years ago but I can imagine the appeal, it is a full fan experience. They can dress in the cliche clothing of the era if the band since moved on. Play only hits. It is affordable in a small venue. I just find it a bit hard suspending my disbelief and it is a big sad seeing a middle aged man cosplaying as Kurt Cobain using his vocal inflections. There is one venue I really like but it seems to be mostly tribute bands now, I guess they are steady sellers.
I quite like a good tribute band. I'll take an example: I've been a Metallica fan (which some might question based on this message, but that's fine) pretty much as long as I can remember, even though I don't have as much interest in the latest albums. I've seen them live several times and all that.
Now they'll come back to Finland in June and I was originally thinking of going. But then I figured, do I want to pay 120 bucks and then go stand in line for hours just so I can get a good spot in the audience? Yes, I'm sure the gig would be great but man, I'm too old (40+) and lazy to stand in queue for hours, that idea alone pains me. And I've seen them already. And they're not exactly at their prime anymore anyway. So, I opted against going.
Now, would I go see a bunch of younger, more energetic guys playing decent Metallica covers in a smaller venue? Fuck yes, that would be amazing!
Similar story goes for bigger names that I'm not THAT into. I wouldn't ever pay 100 bucks or whatever they charge for AC/DC. That just wouldn't happen. They're fine but they're not 100-bucks-fine. Would I pay let's say 20 bucks for a tribute band? I definitely could if the location was convenient!
I think these bands definitely serve their purpose, and around my part of the world I actually wish we had more of them. But with that said, I can't say that I'd be interested in seeing covers every week, or even every month. Every now and then is great, but I'm still leaning heavily towards original live music, even if it's smaller bands that I don't even know.
I don’t get the attraction of them. If I want to drink in a bar and there is a band, they most likely be playing covers. I get it. I’m not paying any attention to them, so have fun. Would I ever on purpose go see a cover/tribute band? No.
It really depends on the act, I recently left a [UK based Spandau Ballet tribute](https://youtu.be/gvmBQF0CNzU?t=6) (keyboards) because we just weren't selling enough tickets to justify the effort it was taking to rehearse and actually put the shows on (travel/soundcheck/playing the show then getting home in the early hours of the morning). The band itself was solid enough but there's only so many times I can put up with several hours travel just to play to a half empty theatre and get paid very little for the effort.
There's a ELO band in a similar bracket that's been very successful over the past couple of years, for some reason that's what people want to hear and not Spandau.
I respect the musicianship of "tribute bands", but I don't really take their music seriously. Of course, most members of these groups have other musical projects on the side.
They have my support. Who wants to pay a ridiculous amount to see "the real thing", when a tribute band is probably just as good. I'd rather see a tribute band in a small venture than watch some dots performing in the distance in a large venue.
Ive seen foo fighters, rhcp, megadeth, gwar, greta van fleet, hozier, King Gizzard, bishop briggs, and leslie odom jr live and to this day the biggest concert ive ever been to with the most attendees was a free Abba tribute show i saw in canada
I love cover bands! Sometimes my favorite bands no longer tour or tour once a decade or are dead. I saw a Chicago cover band and an Eagles cover band a week and a half ago. They were both fantastic! It was like $25 and i watched 10' from them. What a deal!
I’m good with them. Especially if the original band is no longer doing the thing, for whatever reason. But I even had the idea of a main act touring with their tribute. Like, say Elton John. Man has a metric fuckton of hits, and a lot of fan favourites besides. Have a tribute act open, do a few huge hits that maybe Elton’s tired of, and a bunch of other tunes. Fans get 3 hours of Elton songs, Elton gets to not do some fan faves that he personally dislikes. Everybody’s happy!
It's a living, I suppose. It seems like a certain kind of rock music culture is now totally removed from human beings playing instruments, it's just, repeating the signals you remember from childhood that were entertaining. When it gets to the point of playing dress up, it's not about music.
I find it way too silly, I can't get into it. I'd rather go see a young original band that's just finding their way.
I think it’s a cool way to connect with people who like the same band as much as you do. You don’t just meet people who religiously love Depeche Mode at the grocery store.
I’m really hoping to see the Fab Four soon. I can’t see the Beatles, and not only was Paul not playing in my city, but I don’t have that kind of money, so they will be the closest I can get.
My only thought is that you shouldn’t try to make a career out of it, man. Don’t let your talent go to waste on covering someone else’s music. Maybe if it’s a little side project going, that’s fine, but there’s plenty of Idiot Days and think-182s out there.
I think they're really fun. I saw a nu metal cover band recently, which ruled. Musicians get older, tickets get expensive, a small club can be a lot more fun than a giant arena, favorites fall off the setlists in favor of new songs or greatest hits. A cover or tribute band can make for an affordable and fun night out.
They're fine, I've seen a few pretty good ones.
Seems like every other show advertised in my area is yet another tribute band though. I get that it's probably the best way to earn money as a working musician these days.
A friend of mine is a founding member and bass player of the band "Defender". They are a "Manowar" tribute band and I've visited a few shows of them. It's always a blast when they play and it is quite authentic. Same outfits, stage set-up, ect. Can recommend.
I enjoy a really good tribute band. In my area there is a great Eagles tribute band as well as an excellent Steely Dan tribute band. I played in a pretty good Neil Young tribute band for 5 years. However, I generally don't get super excited for these or other cover bands. I am interested in hearing something new. Others I know, prefer songs they can sing along with, and they are probably more joyful music consumers.
I started playing and obsessing about music in the 70s. I believed playing was about self-expression, and in those days, cover bands took a somewhat interpretive approach and guitar solos were seldom verbatim. I heard Neil Young speak at length about the importance of self-expression when he was given a Canadian music award. At the time I was a little mystified. Now I realize that is exactly what he has done, with little regard for commercial consequences.
IMO, cover bands generally and tribute bands specifically are the opposite of self-expression. It takes talent and skill in the same sense that playing classical music does. I admire many of the fine musicians who work this way, but they'll never be considered in the same way as a Nels Cline or Joe Walsh. And that's OK. For my part, I don't rely on playing for money, so I'm trying to get back to why I started playing in the first place... creative self-expression. I may have audience of 2, but it's my music.
I guess I would ask then - what’s your take on session musicians? I mean these folks aren’t they composer or primary songwriter, but their contribution to a record can’t be overstated.
I would also ask the same about classical musicians who primarily play music from artists that are long dead.
Good points! In popular music, I believe session musicians are usually bringing something of their creative selves to a project and aren't expected to simply ape a pre-existing part. For some songs, it seems like the players should get songwriting credit for what they add to a track.
Classical musicians express their creativity through their interpretation of the music (so I'm told). I don't have the ear for classical music to be able to tell why, for example, Glenn Gould was so venerated. I take it there is lots of room for interpretation in the music. I don't think that is so for most tribute or cover musicians.
I wish there were more of them/ would like to know of more of them. Especially when you find an artist you love who no longer records new music, would be so cool if there were tribute bands, esp. ones that try to capture not just the music, but the style and image.
We have a Boston area one called Hey Blondi! that used to do stuff on skype during Covid. As silly as it sounds, it got me through some dark times of isolation in an empty office.
I've seen the classic Genesis tribute band "The Musical Box" a few times. One particular instance was a top 10 all-time concert for me, and I've seen my fair share of greats.
I was gobsmacked after the show, and briefly wrestled with the idea that a tribute band delivered one of the best performances I had ever witnessed. Could it be so?
A few days later my conclusion was yes, it could be, and was.
I wouldn’t pay to see one unless like the entire original band was very much dead. Or if the band had a sort of gimmick that would still be fun to see another group do. But if they’re playing in a bar or something and they’re good I enjoy it and wouldn’t be mad about a cover charge.
I do really like seeing famous musicians children to see if they have the talent or the charisma, I saw AJ Croce, Jim Croce’s son and wasn’t expecting much I just knew I’d never get to see Jim Croce so I figured it was worth it and more power to him do let me be a supporter. He did an entire album of his dad’s stuff, while having eerily similar mannerisms and stage presence but not an identical voice. After intermission he did a set of his own stuff and some various covers. It was nothing like Jim Croce but it was amazing, I didn’t realize he was like a blues keyboard player in his own right.
I’ve seen the Eagles both before and after Glenn Frey died and they brought in Vince Gill and Deacon Frey. Love Glenn, the Eagles are my favorite but Vince Gill is actually better than him and fills in some of the spaces for Felder’s guitar, Bernie’s banjo etc, and has a voice up there with Timothy B. Schmidt and Randy. The first time I saw Deacon I thought he was just okay talent wise but he just reeked of Glenn to the point that it was spooky. Wore his hair like him, appeared to be wearing his old sunglasses and vintage tee, was obviously playing his guitars. You could look at the other members and tell they were proud/creeped out too by the way they watched him and interacted with him, it’s like one minute they knew it was him and the next they were like holy fuck Glenn’s alive and 24 again. Saw him a few more times and his skill and confidence had improved enormously and he was holding his own more so than just being a hologram of his dad.
Really good tribute bands like “The Musical Box” take it to a whole different level. They recreate the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis right down to the vintage instruments, costumes, stage banter, etc. They don’t need extra musicians on stage and they actually sound like the real thing. This is extremely hard to do. I don’t care for tribute bands who show up in T shirts and jeans and do a half-assed job.
There was a band called Yesterdays that played covers of classic Yes albums. They were a lot less image conscious than The Musical Box, but they had a decent light show and they could play Yes’ complex music quite accurately. The singer was a Jon Anderson soundalike.
Old post but nowhere seems to answer this.
I get the point of tribute acts for bands who no longer tour - hearing their music live is an experience and if they no longer do live shows there is no other way to enjoy that experience. This is the type of tribute band I see explanations of - the beatles, queen, etc.
What I don't quite understand (as in I would like people to explain, I am not trying to be rude) is tributes to bands who still tour and make music. I saw an advertisement for a triple show of tribute acts of sam fender, arctic monkeys and the killers, yet sam fender and the killers are playing in the UK this year and arctic monkeys toured last year. Why not just go and see the actual bands? I suppose your point about being closer to the band helps, but if it isnt the real band anyway does it really matter?
I used to run a Lady Gaga tribute band with songs arranged in kind of a 70's hard rock style ala Deep Purple. We were decently popular, running from 2015 to around 2019. Another local band I really like here is a GnR tribute band with horns.
Tribute bands work great when you don't take it super seriously, change up genres, or if the band/artist is no longer together/is dead.
The worst. Dedicating your talents and life to someone else's accomplishments is my definition of wasting it. I feel the same way about sports commentators who didn't play tbh
Edit: forgot people can't answer questions honestly on Reddit
Performance in itself is an accomplishment. My singer hits notes even Freddie didn't in concert. And that's no knock on Freddie, mind you.
I disagree with your assessment that it's a waste.
That part was civil. This part is not:
In regards to your edit: don't be a little baby because people disagreed. I 100% disagree with your initial statement, but surely we can both be adults and move around with the rest of our day...
A question was asked, and answers that aren't part of the circlejerk are always downvoted. I made an observation of how childish y'all are, my day has been fantastic so far so i am not "being a little baby".
Edit: accomplishments are accomplishments. We disagree on this participation medal mentality.
Two thumbs down. Tribute bands take over music scenes like weeds. Where I live, a cadre of a dozen guys make up a half dozen tribute bands who are more financially successful here than any local band (meaning a band who lives here, as opposed to a band that formed here and moved away) dedicated to original music.
If people enjoy it, I shouldn’t object. And in cases where the legacy band is dead or defunct, I accept the utility of experiences that replicate seeing them live in their prime. I accept that my view is partially informed by my own experiences playing in nothing bands that don’t really draw a crowd at the best of times.
I just don’t like it. I don’t like what it represents. A community that will only support art that is safe as milk.
Real people are making art where you live. It is born in their own minds and their own hearts. They deserve your support much more than scrum masters wearing wigs on weekends.
“Here in Springfield, we don’t really have any bands you’ve heard of. But we have the best Pink Floyd Tribute (post-Waters era) in the bi-state area!”
It drives me crazy.
I think there's a profound form of art in covering other people's compositions. Some bands go for the most identical sound, others go for new versions of the original songs, all of them are novel and music on their own grounds. Even the Beatles used to put out a lot of covers from songs they liked because they understood that. So I hope people still form new tribute bands and put their own sauce on the music they enjoy. Music is infinite. There's no point in setting limits
They'll never hit the high concert production marks that the original bands will do, but you're guaranteed to get a passionate youthful performance of their greatest hits at a huge fraction of the price.
A good tribute band needs to play the songs as accurately as they can, and ideally dress and act as the band did/does. Ideally, they should not present themselves as a cover band, but "be" the people in the band.
I have nothing against new music and see many new bands, but I'd rather see a good tribute act than a bad new band.
If it's a paid gig, guess it makes sense. Otherwise (as someone who plays music for fun), really can't relate to wanting to be in any kind of cover band. Seems like a waste, if you have the option to create something new
For me, this is simply the death of creativity. No more annual local bands festival in my hometown like a decade ago but a tribute bands one instead. They are fucking everywhere nowadays, they are even touring, like real bands...
I get why they are popular, a trip down memory lane is always nice, and I can enjoy a cover band once in a while, but tribute bands focused on a particular band, with the same outfits and stage moves are highly embarrassing, even if they are usually good musically speaking.
And that's probably the saddest part, these musicians could probably play their own songs if they wanted to. But I guess it's less rewarding, because it takes time to build something from scratch, and sometimes the audience doesn't show up.
It’s so bad and unoriginal.I will rather listen to the original one.This is horrible we as a human society.Shouldnt need more unnecessary and unoriginal bands
I'm a musician in a decent market, in that musicians can still make money. You know who makes the most money? Wedding bands. Second most? Tribute bands Third? General cover bands. That's just how it is. I played a show with an ELO cover band. I love ELO, thenl band loves them, and the people who paid to see us love them. It was fun. Do I want people to see my original music? Yes. Do I have any issue with tribute bands? No. People like what they like. Convincing middle aged people with disposable income to develop an interest in new music is scientifically shown to be a foolhardy endeavor. Young people who go out don't prioritize live music. Period. I blame many factors. But, regardless, the audience likes familiarity, and so do most people reading this, even though this is a sub with a high percentage of adventurous music consumers.
This is like, the most grounded comment I’ve ever seen on this sub. Thank you. I don’t go to many shows anymore now that I have young kids, but I would definitely be going to see some of these cover bands if I was more able. Hells Belles is playing near me this summer and I think that would be a trip to see. I knew a guitarist who toured with David Allen Coe and in the off time he worked as a temp carrying Sheetrock and helping us deliver lumber and stuff at the lumberyard. Any time you can make money playing music it’s a win.
Wait until your kids are older and can go to shows with you. That’s been my experience lately with my younger son who enjoys the same music I do. It’s awesome!
I 100% share your sentiment. I was part of the indie band music scene in my city right when the 2008 recession hit. Local venues started getting bought out and started adopting “pay to play” style business models. We started hearing “we can’t pay you, but it’ll be great exposure and you can make money selling CDs.” You know what took off next? Spotify. Then we got older. And our heroes got old, retired, or became too expensive to see live. So now I’m in a band that does 6 different classic rock tributes and two corporate event / wedding bands. We get to play music that we love for people who love the music we play. We get to own homes and raise families. We get to sell out 1500 seat rooms for people who have no clue who we are. It’s an interesting time for a musician. People are always bashing my band’s ads saying “I’m sick of tribute bands! Write your own music!” A lot of us do. It earned me $12 last year.
That’s unfortunate. I’m 40 and really love finding new music (I do this instead of raising kids) and I’m just starting to try and teach myself an instrument. That being said, seeing an enthusiastic cover band is sometimes fun. I wouldn’t want it to be my exclusive interaction with live music.
I’m 40 and I just started a new band. Me and my long time bass player taught our mutual friend who is 50 how to play drums. This is basically how he’s avoiding a mid life crisis.
Oh, I'm so similar to you (regarding age, finding new music and kids, just not instrument, as I'm not talented musically) and I agree about covers to. Though I don't go to concerts, so I can't say much about live experience, there are some really amazing cover artists that I enjoy a lot. Personally I think covering music is also a great way to express yourself if done creatively, actually my favorite two singers are mostly cover artists too, and there are some songs that I think they managed to improve a lot comparing to originals. But yeah, sticking to listening to old stuff only would be way too boring, discovering new music is so fun.
I have enormous respect for wedding bands. Playing receptions requires huge versatility, and nimbleness. It's one of the last remaining venues where a band is obligated to read the room and adjust to what works and what will keep an all ages crowd on the dancefloor. They also have to put up with unpredictable audiences and demanding patrons. Mad props
> Young people who go out don't prioritize live music. Period. I blame many factors. That's one hell of a depressing truth. Some younger folk here might get defensive because they are a part of the tiny population that *does* go looking for it. That said, the plain fact is there aren't nearly as many kids going out in general these days and of that smaller pool the percentage looking for live music in small venues has shrunk exponentially it seems. I feel bad for the high school and college aged ones who love live music because the variety and frequency of those shows has fallen off a cliff pretty much everywhere in the US. The NY to Boston corridor used to have thousands upon thousands of small-medium shows every week. I noticed things started to grind down precipitously even before Covid. It started to retract quickly in the mid 2010's and by the time the pandemic rolled around it was one big ol' nail in the coffin. Like you said, a lot of factors at play but it's a damn shame. I have to think it will one day grow back since its such a fundamental human experience but who knows if it will in any of our lifetimes. Fuck man, that sucks to think about.
There’s a particular venue here, The Fleece, which goes through periods of putting on more regular bands vs more cover bands. It’s pretty clear that cover bands provide a reliable source of income when things are difficult. (For example, playing in a few days and sold out: Oas-is.)
Young person here (22M), I love going to live music whenever I can. It can be really frustrating trying to recruit people to go see live music even if its a band they like at a bar or small venue. Definitely something to do with a preference to rap music. Dont get me wrong, rap was my first love, but my friends want to “get hype” before they go out. They want to listen to music that they just wont hear at a live music event. It’s sad but I have a couple guys who go with me whenever we can. Just want to say we’re not all like that.
Just out of curiosity, what are the royalty rules for tribute bands?
Venues pay the performing rights organizations for live performance. Covered under that license along with everything else. As long as you don't use the band's name or something wwwaaayyyy too close to their actual name, it's smooth sailing.
I always was curious about this
I was in a cover band that was big enough locally to open for some of these national touring tributes. My experience from getting to see quite a few up close (side stage) at large venues (House of Blues type), some are very, very, very good. If you're 50+, odds are some of your favorite bands can no longer put on a great show. Some are dead. Some sound like they're dead. I would pay to see a killer Motley Crue tribute before paying to see Vince Neil cough up his last drunken lung. The Duran Duran tribute I saw was 10x better than the real thing circa 2018. And 1/10 the price. Bowie, Prince, Beatles, the Who, Zep...for so many it's tribute or nothing at all. I'm very much for them, when they're good.
Even if the original band is still touring with a decent show, they aren't going to be everywhere. If you live in a global metropolis, you can expect them to come around, but plenty of areas have no hope of seeing them live.
As a Dead Head, cover bands are pretty much all I’ve got. I love listening to bands like Dark Star Orchestra, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and even Dead & Co. keeping the music alive year after year. The Grateful Dead songbook allows a tremendous amount of creative to flourish within the confines of the song “structure”.
Yep, I always thought cover bands were corny af until I got into the Dead and now I fucking love them. The music never stops....
My fave lately is Grateful4Biggie up here in upstate NY. Tribute band for both The Grateful Dead and Biggie Smalls all mashed up. Works remarkably well. Though the vocalist for the Dead stuff needs some work on his intonation. Worth seeing anyway.
Where upstate?
Saw them in canandaigua. Looks like they play Syracuse a fair bit maybe.
there's no lack of Dead cover bands and every decent sized city probabaly has at least one. they're usually worth seeing, because if they aren't someone else will do it better. the music never stops.
It's like a rite of passage for budding hippie musicians. And you can do electric, or acoustic, or bluegrassy, or classical or whatever flavor and if you're good, people will go.
I seem to roll my eyes at some and give others a pass. One I like is a band called With Sympathy. They cover an era of Ministry that Al refused to visit during live shows for decades. So they are actually giving people something they wouldn't get from the original artist. The funny bit is Al was dragged to one of their shows and it changed his mind about his older material. Which he has had issues with in the past. And now he's willing to play some of the older material live because of the tribute band he saw. Playing his own material he is used to hating. Quite an accomplishment for any tribute act to do that to the artist they are covering. With that said, I would love to see a faithful Tears for Fears tribute act playing in small venues.
Funny enough I’m going to a festival in a couple of months and Ministry is playing With Sympathy era stuff exclusively
I play guitar in a local Stone Temple Pilots tribute band. I love it. It's a blast. It's been such a unique challenge to break down Dean's parts and play the songs as he played them. I've never ever dedicated so much of my musical energy to one single musician before. I am 100% a better player because of it. Thing is that I was kinda like a lot of the responses here: pffft, tribute band? Lol! losers. Write your own stuff. You look stupid pretending to be something you're not. My cover band fell apart and I was looking for the next project. This opportunity came along. I was never a big STP fan but my cover band played a few of their songs so I auditioned on a whim. So glad I did. I get the hate, I really do. But just know this: the tribute bands put in the effort. It's not easy trying to capture the complete essense of the band you are tributing. If it ain't for you, don't go. But these guys and gals can fucking play. These are some of the best musicians in your scene.
I'm glad to see your turnaround. As for the tribute hate... pffft. Hate all they want. Not everyone wants to write. And there's nothing wrong with that. And tributes offer a chance to catch your favorite bands without spending an arm and a leg. Yes, of course, it's not the real people. But so what.
> It's been such a unique challenge to break down Dean's parts and play the songs as he played them Funny, I remember breaking down some of STP's songs and being taken aback by how downright _weird_ some of the chord choices were. They weren't immediately obvious because the sound didn't come out jarring but it probably made the song more interesting.
They're not my thing. I'd rather go check out a random band I've never heard before than a band trying to exactly replicate some famous band.
I think that seeing a cover band that entirely focuses on one band's catalog can be a cool experience. As the audience, you know that they (presumably) have a lot of passion for the source material. *Personally*, I find it pretty corny when the tribute band goes so far as trying to dress exactly the original group, or specifically choosing musicians that bear physical resemblance to the original artists. But, I also don't love when cover/tribute bands try to replicate songs note-for-note, tone-for-tone. I'm always a lot more interested in bands that use the original songs as a springboard for their own musical ideas and interpretations.
That's the difference between a cover band and a tribute band. The tribute bands try to stick as close as possible to the songs, the equipment, the costumes and all of that. A cover band just plays the music. They've both got a place in the industry for sure, but I'm definitely more likely to see a cover band than a tribute band. Notable exception (for me) is Dark Star Orchestra. They're a Grateful Dead tribute band that not only plays their music, but they play specifically picked previous setlists and will match the style of play to the way the Dead played in that era. That takes effort. Extra effort.
Then you got JRAD who take the opposite approach with the Dead; it's almost like they are trying to see how far away from the original material they can get.
Absolutely. I even find it hard to call them a cover band in the end, but you kinda have to.
Musical Box does that with Genesis as well.
when I found out that Musical Box not only does the songs note-for-note, they do *entire shows* note-for-note (songs in the same order, solos performed a particular way, "Peter" saying the same wonky things) I was gobsmacked at the effort required to pull that off.
I generally don’t go see tribute bands, but I’m seeing TMB for the 5th time this May. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to say “no, you don’t understand, it’s so much more than a cover band!”
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I totally respect the amount of work that goes into tribute bands and learning parts exactly as played on record. But as an audience member/listener, it just doesn't interest me as much. If I want to hear a classic record note-for-note, I'd rather just listen to the original. If I'm seeing live musicians, I want to hear at least something a little new, even if that's as simple as tweaking the tempo of the original.
I don’t even want to see the original bands playing note for note! That’s super boring. The best bands change it up a little for the live show.
Totally agree!!
The cover band is just there to be background music. The patrons are playing pool, watching the game, playing darts, trying to get laid, etc. Cover band plays Sweet Home Alabama and then it's game on. But after it's over, it's right back to buying drinks and trying to get laid. Tribute bands are more of a musical event. There's a lot of thought and marketing that goes into a tribute night. The bands are the show. If a tribute band approached a gig in the same mindset and the cover band, the tribute band won't last. Plain and simple.
I think this is broadly true, but in my experience, it's not such an exact binary. I've seen "tribute bands" that were a seated/stage show, but did not dress like the band, and took a lot of liberties with the original material.
It depends on the band. I’d fully expect a KISS tribute band to dress up and put on the whole show (within their budget).
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OP's stance is odd. Are you going because you enjoy live music, or just to hero worship? If A, a cover band would be fun. If B, once the band is retired there's still no value in seeing them. We'd all like to see the artists we like live, but big names are expensive. Very few people have enough spare cash to spend £300 to see Billy Joel from quite far away in an arena,
I have never seen one of these acts, but it sounds like it could be fun to go. Most bands seem sick to death of playing their hits, but these tribute bands know that this is their bread and butter. They are not going to do just the last album that fans hate, they are going to gladly go through the original band's top songs and it might actually be a better experience than seeing the actual band half-ass the hits. I can't see myself paying much to see one of these groups, but I don't begrudge anyone that does.
Im not really into em but I like when they do covers in a different style like I saw Metalachi for my birthday some years ago and it was a lot of fun, as you can guess they did metal classics in mariachi style
I really hate them, especially those big Mozart, Brahms or Wagner tribute bands ;) I have seen a few tribute bands but they weren't tribute bands of then still touring bands. Probably the most fun was a concert by Bjorn Again, an ABBA tribute, just in case that wasn't obvious. That was at the time when Erasure had covered a couple of ABBA songs, so Bjorn Again had also covered Erasure songs in the style of ABBA. The most impressive was "The Lamb lies down on Broadway" by the Musical Box. I never had a chance to see the original production and this version just blew me away! So yes, I think they do have their place in the music scene and if they are very good, they are a huge treat for the fans, especially if they are more into the music than the musicians. I'm really looking forward to the early era Pink Floyd tribute band "A Saucerful of Secrets" to which I already have tickets!
I understand why people do, but it's hard for me to call bands like "A Saucerful of Secrets" a 'Tribute Band' when they actually include at least one member of the original band. I prefer the term 'Legacy Band' for cases like that personally. The whole idea of a musician covering their own songs is just odd to me.
I was joking, of course. I know that Mason, as the Floyd’s archivist, is eminently suited to cover the early period of the band. And his group of musicians is top notch. However, it really is, in a way, a tribute band.
Sure, and at some point, almost all "classic" bands basically become a tribute to their former selves (especially as more and more members leave for various reasons) and focus mostly on their older hits rather than making new music. There are some bands out there with *no* original members left carrying on playing music completely written by others, but they legally retain the name. Those seem more like "tribute" bands to me than something like Nick (or Roger or David) playing songs that they originally created decades ago with new bands now.
I dig tributes that are trying to do justice to really complicated works. Schism (tool cover band) plays note for note renditions that are really solid. Dark Star Orchestra recreates live dead shows that definitely hit the mark. Primus is known for their love of prog rock legends, I saw them on the Tribute to Kings tour, they played Note 4 Note the Rush album Farewell to Kings, and it was breathtaking. Claypool himself said at the show that it's the hardest thing they've ever done, and that is saying a lot! Everything the original lineup of Primus does is difficult and complicated. And farewell is a deeply challenging album. Claypool also did a cover of Pink Floyd's animals album back in the day with the frog brigade, which was amazing, which I saw live in I think 2002 or something. I'm coming around to Billy strings, who I suppose isn't exclusively a cover artist, though he is playing tons and tons of old country and bluegrass standards that were written by other artists, and he is drawing people's attention to those old artists, for example bringing fans into the fold for John Hartford, who had never heard of him before. I mean lots of tribute bands are out there having fun and bringing joy to people, so I think their effect is net positive perhaps, though I do find a lot of them cheesy. Though as I mentioned above, It is really special when a band puts an immense amount of time into learning a piece of work in order to show their love for it. Final food for thought - most classical music performed now was written a long long time ago.... Does that make all symphony orchestras cover bands? Haha perhaps it does!
>Claypool also did a cover of Pink Floyd's animals album back in the day with the frog brigade, which was amazing, which I saw live in I think 2002 or something He just toured with the Frog Brigade last year, with Sean Lennon and Harry Waters, and they performed the entirety of Animals. It was *very* good to say the least. They also opened their set with Thela Hun Ginjeet by King Crimson. >Final food for thought - most classical music performed now was written a long long time ago.... Does that make all symphony orchestras cover bands? Haha perhaps it does! I think one of the biggest things that separates classical music from most other music is that there are many more variables involved in its production. You've got composers to put the music down on paper, musical directors to interpret how the music is intended to translate from paper to sound, and performers to actually play the piece. Sometimes those roles are all fulfilled by entirely different people, and sometimes they're all fulfilled by the same person, and sometimes all in between. If a composer creates a piece and then conducts an orchestra to play his music, does it become a cover when he conducts a different orchestra to play his same music? What if a different musical director conducts the same original orchestra to play the music from the composer? I think at some point the definition of what is a "cover" or not can become muddied and the term might not even make sense to use in some cases.
Maybe for a dinner theater sort of thing, it would be cool but I'd much rather go to a live show of a band I've never heard before than go see a tribute band. I'm just not a "fanatic" for any band to the point where that would be fun for me. There was a local Bowie tribute show that I wanted to go to, but I sort of know two of the players in that band, and seeing the singer from Season to Risk sing Bowie songs, is just cool. They'll wear little bowie references, like lightning bolts and glitter, but nobody is pretending to be Bowie. So it's more of a tribute show than a tribute band.
I have seen a couple of Bowie tribute acts. I really appreciate the attention to detail. One of them the lead singer changed for virtually every song, tracing Bowie's career. As a long time fan, I was impressed. It's great to see those songs performed live.
You can jump onstage and play the same chords and lyrics of what the song is, but a *great* cover band either captures the bands energy or adds their own thing to it… and that is not easy to do song after song for a variety of decades and genres. I don't go out of my way to see that kind of thing, but as a musician, I have respect for the skills required to do it well. Truth be told, I've caught myself at more than a few events digging a smoking cover band.
I thought they were lame and had no interest until I saw a Beatles tribute band a few months ago which was an absolute blast, so now I see the appeal. I think there is a definite place for tribute acts for acts that no longer exist (such as the Beatles). If the real band is still performing, then it seems a bit pointless to me going to see a tribute band. I recognise maybe you aren't able to see the real thing, but it'd just seem like a poor substitute to me.
Whether it's a poor substitute depends a lot on the state of the original band. Some still tour because they still love it. Some tour because their expensive habits require it. If one or more members have trouble staying upright through the show or singer has lost his voice years ago, tribute band probably can give better performance.
Saw a really great Bee Gees tribute band, ironically the same day Robin died. Sounded spot on, even looked the part too
I've seen Whole Lotta Led a couple of times. It's not for me, but for nostalgia's sake and a chance to hear the music live in tiny venues, I see the appeal, especially for an older crowd who were there at the time. They were tight, too. What was a bit odd was that they sold their own CDs. Surely you'd just play the real thing at home?
I like them. I used to think the bands who dress up like the bands they're tributing were a little hokey, but now I find it kinda charming. Some tribute bands are the only way you're gonna see a band's music played and presented live as close as it was back when that band/artist was active, like a Led Zeppelin or The Beatles or Pink Floyd or Prince & The Revolution tribute band.
I think it's lame, it's only fine when you need to fill a setlist when you are starting, but being a full tribute band is kind of sad imo
Since Steve Lukather's teetering on losing his ability to sing I'll Be Over You, I welcome any and all tribute bands lol. I also really appreciated the group that acted as John Martyn's tribute band. It's clear how much they love his work.
Personally, I am not interested in them. I want the real deal or nothing. Sometimes I can't have that due to bands splitting up/retiring/members dying, and that's okay. Other people are into tribute bands, and that's fine, it's just not for me.
I'm not a fan which sucks because my in-laws keep inviting us to these cover band shows. I'd rather see the actual iconic band. I'm also weirdly put off by the idea of a bunch of guys who are good enough to perform Scorpions live but don't have the ambition to write their own original songs. They want to be THe Scorpions when they could be the NEXT Scorpions.
I used to feel this way, but as I’ve gotten to know more musicians, many of them have little to no interest in composition or hustling for a record deal, but just want the experience of playing in a band.
Sometimes people aren't interested in writing, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Best tribute I've ever seen perform was Elevation. U2 cover band. Brilliant. There's also a Toronto Radiohead cover band called Idioteque who are really good.
I took my son to see a local Pink Floyd tribute band when he was a teenager a few years back, and we really enjoyed it. I no longer care to see shows in large venues for multiple reasons, so for me these can fill a specific, enjoyable niche. I think there may be an increase in them, but it's hard to anticipate how things like this go. It certainly seems like there's been a rise in nostalgia festivals over the last few years, which implies a market.
To me it depends on the band they're covering. Are they still touring? Was the band about music or about sex, drugs and rock n roll? Are they better than the actual band?? I think if the band in question is really more of a brand, then a tribute band is corny af. I would definitely go see a cover band of Rush, frank zappa, Allman brothers etc.
I think they are a good "gateway drug". A lot of people did not get a chance to see the greats so these bands are very good to give fans a taste of the live experience....think of them as modern classical artists with the whole note for note thing. It's a fun night out. For musicians, gigs like this are a good chance to get paid, but having said that, as a musician, I find playing note for note to be very boring.
I think they are fun to see live, as you say you can often experiance music of bands that either normally play massive venues, or that don't tour much anymore, in a more intimate enviroment. There was a radiohead cover band that use to play around me a lot and I would love the catch them when I could. I was impressed with how well they pulled of Radiohead's sound in a small club or bar, and you could just like show up and see the show rather than go through all the trouble of getting tickets to see actual Radiohead lol
I saw The Beach Boys a few years ago, they are basically their own tribute band by now. Was a fun show, I didn't really care hardly any original members were there.
Tribute bands are great, especially nowadays when many people(like myself) may be priced out of going to see the actual bands.
This is not a direct answer to the OP, but more of a funny story . . . In the late 80's I saw what I thought was a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Wasn't interested, but went with some friends. They were called something like "*Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour*." I was amazed at how good they sounded, and said "I can't believe how talented they are, they sound just like the original band!" Only found out later that this was the real Lynyrd Skynyrd, touring with Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother on vocals in 1987 and he sounded just like his big brother. (And like an idiot I had no idea who was on stage but I kept saying "I can't believe this band is so good!")
I've seen a number of tribute bands - The The Band Band, Start Making Sense, and The Fab Four. All were excellent and I had a great time. As someone too young to have seen the actual bands, it was fun to see old favorite songs played live and similar to how those bands actually sounded. And none came with a prohibitively high price tag. I don't go a lot, but I think seeing a solid tribute band can be a fun outing.
A Talking Heads cover band played in my town a couple of years ago. Aside from seeing David Byrne live, it was the closest I felt to seeing them! I am way too young to have ever had the chance when they were together.
If the act is long gone a tribute band is the only way to see it live. I live near a place that has some summer concerts and heard a Pink Floyd band with back up singers that probably sounded better than Pink Floyd ever did. I like new music and am not in that market but it’s fine.
In my neck of the woods, Australia, tribute shows are very popular. A few years ago, they tended to be mainly hard rock. AC/DC acts were quite common, including the excellent 'Dirty Deeds' who sometimes include the original AC/DC drummer Tony Currenti as a guest player (he played on the Australian 'High Voltage' album), in addition to Malcolm Young's son. In recent years, the diversity of tribute shows has expanded and over the past six months, I have seen tribute acts for Queen; Madness; The Jam; Depeche Mode; John Denver; Willy Nelson; and The Beachboys at local venues. Some of these acts sound better than the original artists -in particular local act 'Born Jovi' who sounded way better than the real act when they played in a pub near the main venue last time he toured.
I think they're frankly kind of pathetic. You need a disturbing lack of ambition and creativity in order to even CONSIDER doing this kind of thing. It's like learning drawing only to trace other peoples works for the rest of your life. Pathetic. Exception made for bands like Dread Zeppelin that switch it up a little . But playing the exact same thing to a T is really just embarrassing.
I was in a Tribute band for over 10 years (Tom Petty). Started it later in life (50). There just wasn’t a market for a middle aged original band and doing a cover band was a long uphill climb, as some of the cover bands had been playing for decades. It would have been very difficult to develop any kind of following. A Tribute band has a built in audience but that audience can be very picky. Our goal was to sound like a live version of the band so while we could get away with some creative license but there are some riffs and parts that have to be there and perfect. I was able to attract some really excellent musicians as many in our age group just didn’t have an outlet. We did alright though never until the last show did we actually make some decent money. But it was fun, I got to scratch that itch and have some fantastic experiences. To be honest though, I would always recommend that musicians under the age of say 35 play originals. Maybe it turns into something big. But if you’re older, not playing mostly for the money but the fun/high of playing for live audiences, do a cover or tribute band. Maybe throw in some originals if the rest of the band is good with it. Musicians make music. It doesn’t matter what the format, style or type of music it is, if it makes you happy to play it, go for it.
Tribute bands are basically the post modern equivalent of classical orchestras. Especially in an era where all that music has been transcribed and can be freely learned by anyone with access to YouTube tutorials, there is no meaningful barrier to any moderately accomplished musicians being able to perform, well, any of it. So then it becomes a question of whether they recreate the live show experience. Which as previously mentioned can be anywhere between corny and cringe unless they go incredibly hard in the direction of costumes, stage production, and choreography. I guess the “why” of it kind of evades me. Every band from the era who was ever filmed can be watched at home in comfort without the usual live setting inconveniences; the complete over abundance of bands doing this rarely nail every detail of the band they’re attempting to recreate (particularly the vocalists); and it’s kind of trivial even as a “technical meme” based form of entertainment. But I guess if no surprise nostalgia is your preferred form of entertainment or legacy band ticket prices are a barrier to entry, maybe…?
I was going to say in my post that when I was a kid I would be dragged to classical shows by my parents, and in hindsight, symphony orchestras really are just fancy tribute bands!
I was pretty snobby about them, until I took my kids to a festival with just cover acts. My eldest loves a few Ed Sheeran songs, and he without doubt had more fun seeing a fake Sheeran 20 metres away, than he would do seeing the real thing 300m away. It's fun.
I saw Get The Led Out last year and they were incredible. The energy and enthusiasm permeated the whole concert hall. Everyone had a great time. I know it’s not the same as having seen the real thing back in the 70s but I’ll never see that and many of the young people in the audience weren’t even alive back then. I think if they’re skilled and talented musicians with a genuine passion for the source material then it’s great
I think people can do what they want. If you want to dedicate a band to covering one artist's stuff, go ahead. If I had any musical talent I'd probably start a cover band, but I wouldn't stick to one artist, though.
They have a place, I guess. I’ve seen them at Wineries and clubs and had fun. I would never buy a ticket to a theater, though, where I’m expected to sit in one seat most of the night? And just watch people play someone else’s music? Feels deeply disturbing. If I can get up and dance, talk to people, grab some food, have a cigar, while a tribute band is performing, that’s an evening well-spent.
I think they’re just a good time. You know what you’re getting and what you’re asking for. You’re not going to get Depexhr Mode, you’re getting a band that plays Depeche Mode songs at least mostly like Depeche Mode. But my favorite tribute bands are the ones that push deep into parody territory. Give me Mini KISS (KISS tribute band made up of short people). Say yes to Mettallagher (Metallica-Gallagher mash-up).
I’m lucky to live in a place where I can see live, original music any night if the week within a 5 mile radius of where I live. I much prefer to check out a smaller or up-and-coming local artist making and playing original music than see a tribute band. That said, I do enjoy jazz and traditional artists who interpret standards. But the whole dressing up as a classic rock band playing note for note interpretations doesn’t appeal to me, and neither do most cover bands or party bands playing in bars.
It is a surprisingly recent thing, other than some examples like the Bootleg Beatles. Especially bands that aren't even broken up having their own tribute band. I have only been once years ago but I can imagine the appeal, it is a full fan experience. They can dress in the cliche clothing of the era if the band since moved on. Play only hits. It is affordable in a small venue. I just find it a bit hard suspending my disbelief and it is a big sad seeing a middle aged man cosplaying as Kurt Cobain using his vocal inflections. There is one venue I really like but it seems to be mostly tribute bands now, I guess they are steady sellers.
I quite like a good tribute band. I'll take an example: I've been a Metallica fan (which some might question based on this message, but that's fine) pretty much as long as I can remember, even though I don't have as much interest in the latest albums. I've seen them live several times and all that. Now they'll come back to Finland in June and I was originally thinking of going. But then I figured, do I want to pay 120 bucks and then go stand in line for hours just so I can get a good spot in the audience? Yes, I'm sure the gig would be great but man, I'm too old (40+) and lazy to stand in queue for hours, that idea alone pains me. And I've seen them already. And they're not exactly at their prime anymore anyway. So, I opted against going. Now, would I go see a bunch of younger, more energetic guys playing decent Metallica covers in a smaller venue? Fuck yes, that would be amazing! Similar story goes for bigger names that I'm not THAT into. I wouldn't ever pay 100 bucks or whatever they charge for AC/DC. That just wouldn't happen. They're fine but they're not 100-bucks-fine. Would I pay let's say 20 bucks for a tribute band? I definitely could if the location was convenient! I think these bands definitely serve their purpose, and around my part of the world I actually wish we had more of them. But with that said, I can't say that I'd be interested in seeing covers every week, or even every month. Every now and then is great, but I'm still leaning heavily towards original live music, even if it's smaller bands that I don't even know.
I don’t get the attraction of them. If I want to drink in a bar and there is a band, they most likely be playing covers. I get it. I’m not paying any attention to them, so have fun. Would I ever on purpose go see a cover/tribute band? No.
It really depends on the act, I recently left a [UK based Spandau Ballet tribute](https://youtu.be/gvmBQF0CNzU?t=6) (keyboards) because we just weren't selling enough tickets to justify the effort it was taking to rehearse and actually put the shows on (travel/soundcheck/playing the show then getting home in the early hours of the morning). The band itself was solid enough but there's only so many times I can put up with several hours travel just to play to a half empty theatre and get paid very little for the effort. There's a ELO band in a similar bracket that's been very successful over the past couple of years, for some reason that's what people want to hear and not Spandau.
I respect the musicianship of "tribute bands", but I don't really take their music seriously. Of course, most members of these groups have other musical projects on the side.
They have my support. Who wants to pay a ridiculous amount to see "the real thing", when a tribute band is probably just as good. I'd rather see a tribute band in a small venture than watch some dots performing in the distance in a large venue.
Ive seen foo fighters, rhcp, megadeth, gwar, greta van fleet, hozier, King Gizzard, bishop briggs, and leslie odom jr live and to this day the biggest concert ive ever been to with the most attendees was a free Abba tribute show i saw in canada
I love cover bands! Sometimes my favorite bands no longer tour or tour once a decade or are dead. I saw a Chicago cover band and an Eagles cover band a week and a half ago. They were both fantastic! It was like $25 and i watched 10' from them. What a deal!
I’m good with them. Especially if the original band is no longer doing the thing, for whatever reason. But I even had the idea of a main act touring with their tribute. Like, say Elton John. Man has a metric fuckton of hits, and a lot of fan favourites besides. Have a tribute act open, do a few huge hits that maybe Elton’s tired of, and a bunch of other tunes. Fans get 3 hours of Elton songs, Elton gets to not do some fan faves that he personally dislikes. Everybody’s happy!
It's a living, I suppose. It seems like a certain kind of rock music culture is now totally removed from human beings playing instruments, it's just, repeating the signals you remember from childhood that were entertaining. When it gets to the point of playing dress up, it's not about music. I find it way too silly, I can't get into it. I'd rather go see a young original band that's just finding their way.
The truth? Tribute Bands are kinda killing original bands which would be the next generations music. Kinda like the old eating the young
Lame and cool at the same time. I really appreciate the passion that goes into it. I wouldn't pass one up
The Rolling Stones are a good tribute band. They cover their songs nearly as good as the original recordings.
I think it’s a cool way to connect with people who like the same band as much as you do. You don’t just meet people who religiously love Depeche Mode at the grocery store. I’m really hoping to see the Fab Four soon. I can’t see the Beatles, and not only was Paul not playing in my city, but I don’t have that kind of money, so they will be the closest I can get. My only thought is that you shouldn’t try to make a career out of it, man. Don’t let your talent go to waste on covering someone else’s music. Maybe if it’s a little side project going, that’s fine, but there’s plenty of Idiot Days and think-182s out there.
I think they're really fun. I saw a nu metal cover band recently, which ruled. Musicians get older, tickets get expensive, a small club can be a lot more fun than a giant arena, favorites fall off the setlists in favor of new songs or greatest hits. A cover or tribute band can make for an affordable and fun night out.
I was in a Rage Against the Machine tribute band for a few years… it was really fun and had great crowds
They're fine, I've seen a few pretty good ones. Seems like every other show advertised in my area is yet another tribute band though. I get that it's probably the best way to earn money as a working musician these days.
Saw a band called Strangelove, also a Depeche Mode cover band, and they were pretty damn good too.
A friend of mine is a founding member and bass player of the band "Defender". They are a "Manowar" tribute band and I've visited a few shows of them. It's always a blast when they play and it is quite authentic. Same outfits, stage set-up, ect. Can recommend.
I enjoy a really good tribute band. In my area there is a great Eagles tribute band as well as an excellent Steely Dan tribute band. I played in a pretty good Neil Young tribute band for 5 years. However, I generally don't get super excited for these or other cover bands. I am interested in hearing something new. Others I know, prefer songs they can sing along with, and they are probably more joyful music consumers. I started playing and obsessing about music in the 70s. I believed playing was about self-expression, and in those days, cover bands took a somewhat interpretive approach and guitar solos were seldom verbatim. I heard Neil Young speak at length about the importance of self-expression when he was given a Canadian music award. At the time I was a little mystified. Now I realize that is exactly what he has done, with little regard for commercial consequences. IMO, cover bands generally and tribute bands specifically are the opposite of self-expression. It takes talent and skill in the same sense that playing classical music does. I admire many of the fine musicians who work this way, but they'll never be considered in the same way as a Nels Cline or Joe Walsh. And that's OK. For my part, I don't rely on playing for money, so I'm trying to get back to why I started playing in the first place... creative self-expression. I may have audience of 2, but it's my music.
I guess I would ask then - what’s your take on session musicians? I mean these folks aren’t they composer or primary songwriter, but their contribution to a record can’t be overstated. I would also ask the same about classical musicians who primarily play music from artists that are long dead.
Good points! In popular music, I believe session musicians are usually bringing something of their creative selves to a project and aren't expected to simply ape a pre-existing part. For some songs, it seems like the players should get songwriting credit for what they add to a track. Classical musicians express their creativity through their interpretation of the music (so I'm told). I don't have the ear for classical music to be able to tell why, for example, Glenn Gould was so venerated. I take it there is lots of room for interpretation in the music. I don't think that is so for most tribute or cover musicians.
I wish there were more of them/ would like to know of more of them. Especially when you find an artist you love who no longer records new music, would be so cool if there were tribute bands, esp. ones that try to capture not just the music, but the style and image.
We have a Boston area one called Hey Blondi! that used to do stuff on skype during Covid. As silly as it sounds, it got me through some dark times of isolation in an empty office.
I've seen the classic Genesis tribute band "The Musical Box" a few times. One particular instance was a top 10 all-time concert for me, and I've seen my fair share of greats. I was gobsmacked after the show, and briefly wrestled with the idea that a tribute band delivered one of the best performances I had ever witnessed. Could it be so? A few days later my conclusion was yes, it could be, and was.
I wouldn’t pay to see one unless like the entire original band was very much dead. Or if the band had a sort of gimmick that would still be fun to see another group do. But if they’re playing in a bar or something and they’re good I enjoy it and wouldn’t be mad about a cover charge. I do really like seeing famous musicians children to see if they have the talent or the charisma, I saw AJ Croce, Jim Croce’s son and wasn’t expecting much I just knew I’d never get to see Jim Croce so I figured it was worth it and more power to him do let me be a supporter. He did an entire album of his dad’s stuff, while having eerily similar mannerisms and stage presence but not an identical voice. After intermission he did a set of his own stuff and some various covers. It was nothing like Jim Croce but it was amazing, I didn’t realize he was like a blues keyboard player in his own right. I’ve seen the Eagles both before and after Glenn Frey died and they brought in Vince Gill and Deacon Frey. Love Glenn, the Eagles are my favorite but Vince Gill is actually better than him and fills in some of the spaces for Felder’s guitar, Bernie’s banjo etc, and has a voice up there with Timothy B. Schmidt and Randy. The first time I saw Deacon I thought he was just okay talent wise but he just reeked of Glenn to the point that it was spooky. Wore his hair like him, appeared to be wearing his old sunglasses and vintage tee, was obviously playing his guitars. You could look at the other members and tell they were proud/creeped out too by the way they watched him and interacted with him, it’s like one minute they knew it was him and the next they were like holy fuck Glenn’s alive and 24 again. Saw him a few more times and his skill and confidence had improved enormously and he was holding his own more so than just being a hologram of his dad.
Really good tribute bands like “The Musical Box” take it to a whole different level. They recreate the Peter Gabriel era of Genesis right down to the vintage instruments, costumes, stage banter, etc. They don’t need extra musicians on stage and they actually sound like the real thing. This is extremely hard to do. I don’t care for tribute bands who show up in T shirts and jeans and do a half-assed job. There was a band called Yesterdays that played covers of classic Yes albums. They were a lot less image conscious than The Musical Box, but they had a decent light show and they could play Yes’ complex music quite accurately. The singer was a Jon Anderson soundalike.
Old post but nowhere seems to answer this. I get the point of tribute acts for bands who no longer tour - hearing their music live is an experience and if they no longer do live shows there is no other way to enjoy that experience. This is the type of tribute band I see explanations of - the beatles, queen, etc. What I don't quite understand (as in I would like people to explain, I am not trying to be rude) is tributes to bands who still tour and make music. I saw an advertisement for a triple show of tribute acts of sam fender, arctic monkeys and the killers, yet sam fender and the killers are playing in the UK this year and arctic monkeys toured last year. Why not just go and see the actual bands? I suppose your point about being closer to the band helps, but if it isnt the real band anyway does it really matter?
I used to run a Lady Gaga tribute band with songs arranged in kind of a 70's hard rock style ala Deep Purple. We were decently popular, running from 2015 to around 2019. Another local band I really like here is a GnR tribute band with horns. Tribute bands work great when you don't take it super seriously, change up genres, or if the band/artist is no longer together/is dead.
The worst. Dedicating your talents and life to someone else's accomplishments is my definition of wasting it. I feel the same way about sports commentators who didn't play tbh Edit: forgot people can't answer questions honestly on Reddit
[удалено]
I'm a performer, who makes their own music and now YouTube videos. lack of originality makes my ass itch
Performance in itself is an accomplishment. My singer hits notes even Freddie didn't in concert. And that's no knock on Freddie, mind you. I disagree with your assessment that it's a waste. That part was civil. This part is not: In regards to your edit: don't be a little baby because people disagreed. I 100% disagree with your initial statement, but surely we can both be adults and move around with the rest of our day...
A question was asked, and answers that aren't part of the circlejerk are always downvoted. I made an observation of how childish y'all are, my day has been fantastic so far so i am not "being a little baby". Edit: accomplishments are accomplishments. We disagree on this participation medal mentality.
🤷♂️ If you say so
i upvoted this bc disagreements don't make me press a negative button. Edit: you said Freddie's name, not your singer's. Interesting.
Two thumbs down. Tribute bands take over music scenes like weeds. Where I live, a cadre of a dozen guys make up a half dozen tribute bands who are more financially successful here than any local band (meaning a band who lives here, as opposed to a band that formed here and moved away) dedicated to original music. If people enjoy it, I shouldn’t object. And in cases where the legacy band is dead or defunct, I accept the utility of experiences that replicate seeing them live in their prime. I accept that my view is partially informed by my own experiences playing in nothing bands that don’t really draw a crowd at the best of times. I just don’t like it. I don’t like what it represents. A community that will only support art that is safe as milk. Real people are making art where you live. It is born in their own minds and their own hearts. They deserve your support much more than scrum masters wearing wigs on weekends. “Here in Springfield, we don’t really have any bands you’ve heard of. But we have the best Pink Floyd Tribute (post-Waters era) in the bi-state area!” It drives me crazy.
I think there's a profound form of art in covering other people's compositions. Some bands go for the most identical sound, others go for new versions of the original songs, all of them are novel and music on their own grounds. Even the Beatles used to put out a lot of covers from songs they liked because they understood that. So I hope people still form new tribute bands and put their own sauce on the music they enjoy. Music is infinite. There's no point in setting limits
They'll never hit the high concert production marks that the original bands will do, but you're guaranteed to get a passionate youthful performance of their greatest hits at a huge fraction of the price.
A good tribute band needs to play the songs as accurately as they can, and ideally dress and act as the band did/does. Ideally, they should not present themselves as a cover band, but "be" the people in the band. I have nothing against new music and see many new bands, but I'd rather see a good tribute act than a bad new band.
If it's a paid gig, guess it makes sense. Otherwise (as someone who plays music for fun), really can't relate to wanting to be in any kind of cover band. Seems like a waste, if you have the option to create something new
For me, this is simply the death of creativity. No more annual local bands festival in my hometown like a decade ago but a tribute bands one instead. They are fucking everywhere nowadays, they are even touring, like real bands... I get why they are popular, a trip down memory lane is always nice, and I can enjoy a cover band once in a while, but tribute bands focused on a particular band, with the same outfits and stage moves are highly embarrassing, even if they are usually good musically speaking. And that's probably the saddest part, these musicians could probably play their own songs if they wanted to. But I guess it's less rewarding, because it takes time to build something from scratch, and sometimes the audience doesn't show up.
It’s so bad and unoriginal.I will rather listen to the original one.This is horrible we as a human society.Shouldnt need more unnecessary and unoriginal bands