Tribute Bands

[Short on cash]

Last time I saw Cheap Trick tickets were $3.50
Just sayn'

 

[kctelegas]

I haven't seen them live but their videos are great. They aren't a tribute band because they don't try to recreate the look of the acts that they cover.

I agree. It's more about repertoire. And though they lean heavily on the Chicago book, they have expanded into recreating works by EW&F, Steely Dan, and other horn bands. I guess I make an exception because it comes across more as an appreciation of the music rather than creating some kind of illusion.

I haven't seen them live either, yet, but agree about the YT videos. Their drummer is awesome and alone is probably worth the price of admission.

I ran across this original composition awhile back.

https://www.youtube.com/@LeonidVorobyevandfriends/videos

 

[Mjark]

The Paul McCartney Experience is here tomorrow night. It looks like one to avoid it's only $15.00 Sometimes you do get what you pay for.

 

[trev333]

Nostalgia is a real cash cow..eh?....

 

[Frisco 57]

Ah yes, Tribute Bands... I miss the days when you could be blown away by a great cover band!

 

[Jakedog]

I’m going to PA and CO this year to see Dead and Co. It’s the last one, and I really enjoy it. But I’m done with huge acts outside of that.

I have great venues all over town that I can see indie acts and smaller bands at for very reasonable prices. I could see ten really good touring bands (plus the openers) for what it would cost to go to that Cheap Trick show. I can also land gigs opening for them.

I have no interest in seeing and hearing something I’ve heard and seen my whole life already. I feel the same way about the tribute bands. I’ll take something new and hungry for 1/10 the price of the big boys.

 

[ficelles]

No way would I pay modern ticket prices just to try and watch some distant figures through a sea of smartphone screens. Live concerts have been totally ruined by the smartphone / social media generation.

As for the ticket prices, I won't pay them but I can understand that since physical media sales have been destroyed by unfair streaming revenues and online pirating that bands have to try and make money somehow.

 

[ndcaster]

No interest in tribute bands here.

I saw an "80s tribute band" that covered a lot of 80s hits, across genres. They were fun, really good, and turned the place into an Xer party. Two thumbs up.

But let's not kid ourselves.

 

[wulfenganck]

My band mainly plays covers of songs we like. But we try to give them a different spin here and there.
I'm not interested in tribute bands, i.e. 100% copycat. I don't need a 100% copy of a studio song. Most songs started at a piano or with a guitar and a chord progression and a melody. If the song is good, it will catch on, even when played on a cheap beater at a campfire.
I love watching livemusic, but I'm certainly not interested in playing ridiculous amounts of money for a 2 hour show of one of my favorite bands. I'd rather cover their songs myself and watch new bands instead.

 

[Ash Telecaster]

I now play in a tribute band. Never thought I would see the day but the pay is good and the attitude is refreshing. The expectations are professional. Show up on time, have a good attitude, deliver the goods. The business like attitude may seem antithetical to the rock n roll idiom but frankly I like it. Good bunch of guys, we play for decent size audiences who are there to experience exactly what we are performing. And the audience enthusiasm has been great. So a win win scenerio. Thank God there are more options than tribute bands but there is definitely a place for them.

 

[cyclopean]

I saw a mixed bill of experimental, noise, industrial, and techno at a warehouse for ten dollars this past weekend.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Most people, I think, like to her songs covered "properly."

Define “properly“… If I wanted to hear an exact recreation of the original recording, I would stay at home and listen to the original recording.

I want to see what a performer can do with a great song.

I prefer Joe Cocker‘s version of “Feelin’ All Right” over the original by Traffic (which I also like, just not as much).

I like Willie Nelson and Ray Price’s version of “Faded Love” over Bob Wills’ version.

Stevie Vaughan’s version of “Texas Flood” is just as good, if not better, than Larry Davis’s version.

So a tribute band can perfect mimic the Beatles?
Awesome…but can you take that great song and do a funky/cool/different version of it?

 

[Grodad]

When you are talking 'arena' bands that are living off a legacy then yes, it is unaffordable for many. To see that sort of band it is better value to buy a festival ticket and see a range of other acts with it.
We tend to go with up and coming artists and local original acts that are getting radio play or making a name for themselves, or more underground but well established artists. These are still great value.

Recently we saw one of our favourite well established Canadian folk singers, luckily for us touring Australia with a very talented local act, we paid less than $50 and got to chat with her at the gig. A great night for both of us.

 

[Tele-beeb]

My wife and I were looking at acts coming to venues around us. We found a few acts we would consider seeing, but OMG the prices!

Cheap Trick, MGM Casino, $289 each ticket, then ticketbastard fees (33% - 40%) would push this to about $400 each ticket, add in dinner on our way, one drink for each at the show, and this is a $900 evening.

John Melloncamp, Goo Goo Dolls. $200-ish, $280 with fees, parking dinner and drinks, and we are in the $650 ballpark for the two of us.

We could skip drinks, but that is only saving $15 or $20. We have one drink at the show, rarely do either of us have a second.

OMG. That is waaaaaaaay too much money for a single night out. We have money, but $900 for Cheap Trick? I like them, but not $900 worth. I am not sure who I would go see for almost a grand. Maybe if Led Zeppelin toured? Maybe? This is another reason I don't go with my wife to Rolling Stones shows - that would be north of a $1500 night, plus travel expenses.

But will we ever go to another live show?

Well, we looked at some local theaters. Saturday night, my wife, daughter, and I went to see "Out Of The Blue", a local ELO tribute band. Tickets were $20 each, so three tickets with fees was $86. It was at the Goodyear theater - 1100 seats on the floor, 500 in the balcony. Very nice, updated theater. Dinner was $70 for three of us, so the night out for three and a drink each was $170. Two of us would have only been $115. The band was good, and we had a great night.



There have been threads here about "Why does anyone see / care about / play in / etc. a tribute band?" This is why. Cheap Trick - $900 a night out for two. A decent Cheap Trick tribute - $115 a night out for two.

I am starting not to care if I never see original artists again. I think "the monopoly" is starting to price themselves out of the market. The boomers and older Gen-X crowd won't be paying those prices for that much longer.

You can get into The Grand Old Opry or the Ryman for way less. Cheap Trick is worth about $20 <opinion>
Sorry truth

 

[Burlington Dave]

My wife and I were looking at acts coming to venues around us. We found a few acts we would consider seeing, but OMG the prices!

Cheap Trick, MGM Casino, $289 each ticket, then ticketbastard fees (33% - 40%) would push this to about $400 each ticket, add in dinner on our way, one drink for each at the show, and this is a $900 evening.

John Melloncamp, Goo Goo Dolls. $200-ish, $280 with fees, parking dinner and drinks, and we are in the $650 ballpark for the two of us.

We could skip drinks, but that is only saving $15 or $20. We have one drink at the show, rarely do either of us have a second.

OMG. That is waaaaaaaay too much money for a single night out. We have money, but $900 for Cheap Trick? I like them, but not $900 worth. I am not sure who I would go see for almost a grand. Maybe if Led Zeppelin toured? Maybe? This is another reason I don't go with my wife to Rolling Stones shows - that would be north of a $1500 night, plus travel expenses.

But will we ever go to another live show?

Well, we looked at some local theaters. Saturday night, my wife, daughter, and I went to see "Out Of The Blue", a local ELO tribute band. Tickets were $20 each, so three tickets with fees was $86. It was at the Goodyear theater - 1100 seats on the floor, 500 in the balcony. Very nice, updated theater. Dinner was $70 for three of us, so the night out for three and a drink each was $170. Two of us would have only been $115. The band was good, and we had a great night.



There have been threads here about "Why does anyone see / care about / play in / etc. a tribute band?" This is why. Cheap Trick - $900 a night out for two. A decent Cheap Trick tribute - $115 a night out for two.

I am starting not to care if I never see original artists again. I think "the monopoly" is starting to price themselves out of the market. The boomers and older Gen-X crowd won't be paying those prices for that much longer.

Agreed. I actually approached tribute bands from the opposite direction. Having played in a 9 piece cover band (with 3 horns) for 11 years , I watched venues expecting more an more for less and less. “Can you bring 100 people? Can you play for exposure?” Was heard all too often. But tribute bands were getting hotter and hotter! So I started a tribute band.

Being in Canada and seeing virtually every major rock act from around the world already being done, I looked to Canada’s most enduring current band, Blue Rodeo. With 16 or so albums and national popularity, and still filling theatres across Canada, plus playing a great mix of country rock, rockabilly, rock, and country, and not having any good tribute currently out there, I put together True Rodeo just before the pandemic hit.

They’re a great bunch of guys and I think we do a helluva job paying tribute to Blue Rodeo. Check us out on YouTube or on our website at www.truerodeo.com, and come see a show if you’re ever in southern Ontario! Next one is Feb 4 in Brampton, ON, $15 at Ticketweb.ca

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[2HBStrat]

Define “properly“.......

Well, first of all I was quoting someone who used the term "properly" so I don't want to presume to know his thinking, but...to me playing a song properly is to play it with the same feel, vibe and tones as the original recording. I'm not interested in seeing Leonid & Friends do a cover song bar band style which is usually just hitting the high spots. YMMV...

Nostalgia is a real cash cow..eh?....

It really is. People love oldies especially done well and with enthusiasm.

Ah yes, Tribute Bands... I miss the days when you could be blown away by a great cover band!

A really great cover band is hard to find these days

I’m going to PA and CO this year to see Dead and Co..........

I would love to see the. From the videos I've seen John Mayer is doing a great job with them.

I now play in a tribute band. Never thought I would see the day but the pay is good and the attitude is refreshing..........

I would be in an Allman Brothers tribute band if I could be the Duane Allman and the band recreated "At Fillmore East "

 

[maxvintage]

I've just got zero interest in tribute bands. People like 'em, it's their business, not mine, but I don't want to see an imitation of some old band. I mean I don't much like nostalgia to beign with, and nostalgia in the form of a recreation of some band from when i was younger is especially unappealing.

 

[Boxla]

I play guitar in a Sublime tribute band. I had never even played a cover song before joining this band. All me previous bands played original music. I joined the band because I like Sublime and I love playing Brad's guitar parts. They are a lot of fun.

But, I'm not big on going out and seeing these tribute bands, besides the Grateful Dead ones. There's a even a Sublime one called Badfish. I've seen them, they are OK, I think we're better and I'll probably never go out of my way to see then again. But, if I see a Waylon Jennings tribute or someone else who I really love, I'll probably go check em out. I know there are some VH ones I'd like to see.

 

[Stringbanger]

I have no interest in tribute bands. The ability and the desire to recreate the sound of another band is impressive, though.


Most people, I think, like to her songs covered "properly."


I haven't seen them live but their videos are great. They aren't a tribute band because they don't try to recreate the look of the acts that they cover.


Does McCartney sing "When I WAS 64" now?


Acts like The Platters, The Four Tops, The Drifters, and others, have been performing with no original members for years. And aren't some bands from the big band era still working?

The current version of The Glenn Miller Orchestra have been together and touring worldwide since 1956.

The Blind Boys Of Alabama have been performing since 1939.

The closest that I came to seeing a tribute band was an Elvis impersonator show. They had a fat Elvis and a skinny Elvis. They were both actually good, but the skinny Elvis was better. My wife talked me into going.

 

[Gimble]

Mrs. Gimble and me are going to go see GA-20 tomorrow.

$12 a ticket, local bar & grill type place.

Love all three of their albums.

So, good music can still be had at reasonable prices…