Joined a Stones Coverband - your opinion please

[Mynameisfritz]

I joined this band shorty after this appearance on TV, taking Brain's, Mick's and Ronnie's part. They put up a really great Rolling Stones Show, don't they? I never was into clone bands that much - but anyway, it's really fun and it's a pleasure to play in front of more than 50 people.

Check it out and tell me your opinion please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3j_Ws30izs

[SteadyEddie]

I think y'all sound great.
But my problem with tribute bands is when they try to ape the look of the original band, it seems contrived. Mostly with the singer trying to copy Jagger's histrionics, waving his hands and pointing his fingers and all that.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'd enjoy it a whole lot more if it weren't for all that. And it's not just this band, I feel the same about all "tribute" bands.
Now, the positive... I really think the band sounds great.

[Mynameisfritz]

Right, I see your point. There are definitely people out there who overdo it. That's why I was critical about Randy Hansen for a long time - but then I went to one of his shows and realized that he doesn't take to whole thing too serious, had a lot of fun on stage and just gave the people a good time. There's a fine line between the urge to be someone different, someone famous by giving up your own personality - which is kind of stupid - and playing a role in a show. I see the whole thing as a show and not just as a band - so I can live with it.

[fillmore nyc]

I think y'all sound great.
But my problem with tribute bands is when they try to ape the look of the original band, it seems contrived. Mostly with the singer trying to copy Jagger's histrionics, waving his hands and pointing his fingers and all that.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'd enjoy it a whole lot more if it weren't for all that. And it's not just this band, I feel the same about all "tribute" bands.
Now, the positive... I really think the band sounds great.

Right, I see your point. There are definitely people out there who overdo it. That's why I was critical about Randy Hansen for a long time - but then I went to one of his shows and realized that he doesn't take to whole thing too serious, had a lot of fun on stage and just gave the people a good time. There's a fine line between the urge to be someone different, someone famous by giving up your own personality - which is kind of stupid - and playing a role in a show. I see the whole thing as a show and not just as a band - so I can live with it.

I was gonna mirror what you said here, Eddie, but after reading Fritz's take on the whole thing, I say go for it!! I think the band sounds very good, and is entertaining as well.
I've known lead singers that ape someone, and they take the shit WAY too seriously... it just becomes weird after a while, but when someones having fun with it, and the band (and more importantly, the audience) knows that, it can be a lot of fun.
Best of luck with it!!

[Janglin_Jack]

I think the band sounds excellent, that is the first and biggest step. I think having the singer do some Jagger-esque moves is needed. But there is a fine line of over the top and looking cheesy and doing just enough. I think this was probably just enough.

I like how this AC/DC tribute band KC/DC, (from Kansas City) do it. Singer cops the Brian attitude and sound and wears the cap. I love the big huge guy dressed like Angus, looks so funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfjHvT2HEtg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Photios is the big guy playing the Gretsch. Which just happens to be my old guitar.... He contacted me and wanted it for his tribute band and I felt that is where it belonged.

Anyhow, fine line between cheese and awesome tribute.

Girls doing AC/DC....Hells Belles. It works, mainly because the music kicks ass. The rest is gravy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97BUxoVx ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SteadyEddie]

Hell's Belles just made me re-evaluate my attitude about tribute bands. First of all, they're kicking ass! Second of all, they aren't "trying" to look just like them. They're doing their thing while paying a little homage to the originals.

[Mynameisfritz]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments.

There's this australian guy Simon Meli who really does some great interpretations not only of Stones songs. Although he sounds quite a bit like Chris Robinson, I think he's not trying to copy him at all, it's just in his blood. Very natural. I guess that's what you mean, Eddie. Check it out.
Oh yes - and the background singers are sexy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7_I8I20MIc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KwuTv8_0Uc

[Mynameisfritz]

The real deal:

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

[Janglin_Jack]

Doing a tribute of someone like Lynnyrd Skynnyrd (Ronnie Van Zant) you just have to get the sound right and get the look right, no weird Angus Young moves or David Lee Roth Spandex Splits. Doing the Stones you have the added challenge of getting the Jagger thing right. The dancing around and the hands and finger stuff, strutting like a chicken. Many times Jagger himself looks nutty, but that is his thing. Trying to emulate that and not look rediculous would take a lot of practice and talent.

I would focus on the music, (as you guys sound great already). For the singer..vocals first, look second..moves third. He is either going to need minimize the chicken dancing or go the other way entirely and go over the top...enough to make Jagger himself say...whoa.

BTW - Drummer, (Watts) and Bassist, (Wyman) have it the easiest. Those guys are like mannequins with instruments. LOL

Mike

[somethin'else]

Sounds like a great chance to spread out and just rock and roll with some of the best material. And you get the sweetest spot, the 2nd fiddle! (B.Jones, M.Taylor, and R.Wood) That's the gig dude, have fun!

BTW, COOL BASS!

[NY Chief]

I used to think tribute bands were stupid but then I got to thinking about it. If you play in a cover band you have to sound like everybody (VH, Zep, Ozzy, Who, Stones, etc). There will always be one or two your band is naturally good at so why not do what you do best? Zep would never sound like the Stones, so why should we??

[Mynameisfritz]

After being with the boys for several weeks now, I have to say that the fine line IS crossed sometimes. But we reflect on this and work on it. Nevertheless - getting more and more involved in this coverband scene is kind of strange. It seems like many of these players don’t get their inspiration from the inside, from their hearts, but just from the outside, by what they perceive when they look and listen to their idols. Many of them just don’t recognize that they reduce the individuality and personality of great musicians to some stupid and sometimes embarrassing roleplaying. I don’t understand why people go that far. I could never do that.

Anyhow – on the other side of the coin there still are great tributebands out there who do a great job and make you wanna shake what you got. Tomorrow we’ll be playing a gig together with this AC DC coverband, and I never heard someone that close to Bon Scott’s voice.

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZVJVSua0V8

[somethin'else]

Fritz, you sound a bit . . . crestfallen. Are you hanging with it, or are you trying to break out the box too much?! And I'll bet they are trying to get you to wear the satin bellbottoms and platform shoes too, huh? Hell, hope it's fun to jam though. I get no action, so covers don't sound bad to me right now. Just do Mick Taylor and turn it up to Eleven!



That's a killer Bon voice that guy's got. Looks like a good night out.

[Mynameisfritz]

Crestfallen - haha, what a beautiful metaphor. But no, it's still fun - despite it's also a bit strange sometimes. But that's alright. I really enjoy having plenty of room for improvisation in the solos.

And I'll bet they are trying to get you to wear the satin bellbottoms and platform shoes too, huh?

No, no bellbottoms, no plateau shoes, it's chains!!! Well - just silver key chains.

Guess we'll have a good rocking gig tonight!

[somethin'else]

Cool! Have fun! Try to get some audio or video captured!