Best tribute bands?

swiftmaker20 said:Can you lean harder into the whole gay vibe? 😬

Oh, I could certainly dial it up. 🙂 But honestly, I think it’s probably for the best if I just quit while I'm ahead. 😳 🤣

feraltrucker5 said:That isn't respect; it's just social conditioning. 😁

Half the composers we treat like untouchable icons today were probably being laughed at in their own time.

It's just socially conditioned snobbery, plain and simple. 🍿

Pretty much. 👍
Alter-snobizam, which is actually worse than standard snobbery because those people find basic pretentiousness absolutely revolting. 😁

Who actually likes snobbery? Not me!

redmarlin3 said:Don't start some lecture about metal being parasitic music:
:Don't start some lecture about metal being parasitic music:
:Don't start some lecture about metal being parasitic music:

🇴🇲 😎

Seriously? 😁

I wouldn't bother going to see some tribute band. Anyone who picks up a guitar, piano, or cello probably dreams of making their own mark one day, right? That’s why I think mindless copying is pointless. It always was, and it always will be.

Man, and it's still music. Some people just don't have the ambition to create something original (and let's face it, how is a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band supposed to innovate when they're so obsessed with replicating the original?), so I don't see the point in bashing them.

A few of you on this thread claim to have your own bands and a "unique" style, but at the end of the day, you aren't being much more inventive than anyone else.

I happen to like one of the vocalists, so I'll keep my mouth shut for now. 😍🤷

Robin Rodriguez5 said:Believe it or not, Beethoven wrote way more than just symphonies. He actually started out as a pianist playing other people's music before he really hit his stride as a composer. That Ninth Symphony you mentioned was one of his final major works.

Look, I don't get why you're lecturing me. It's not that I don't believe you; it's just that anyone with a high school diploma already knows this stuff.

But you still can't compare modern rock bands—in any sense of the word—to classical music. There is zero point in me sitting here trying to break down the flaws in that analogy or explaining the massive gap between a composer and a rock band. They come from completely different worlds. You already know that. 😁

Robin Rodriguez5 said:Are you suggesting Ciccolini was the first to record Mozart or Beethoven? He certainly wasn't, nor was he the last. Besides, no one ever attacks an artist just because they chose not to perform their own original compositions.

I specifically stated he was the first to record Mozart—please, let's try reading for comprehension here. As for the rest, I agree with hollowseal33.

At the end of the day, even if forum members aren't famous composers, they're still part of this community. Some of them probably fly fighter jets or drive tanks; does it really matter?

If you're going to finally leave the metalheads alone, just know that EVERY single one of us writes songs—and they’re damn good ones 😠
...

Well, I only mentioned them as an example because they have a Billy Idol Tribute show out in San Diego 😁

I’ve always had a soft spot for tribute bands. They have this strange way of making you laugh, letting you down, blowing your mind, or making you absolutely loathe certain songs, but they almost never leave you feeling indifferent, right? Sure, they aren't the actual legends, but let's be honest—half the time, catching the original act feels like chasing a ghost anyway.
And if they actually hit their stride? Man, I can practically see the greenbacks dancing in front of my eyes. You can make some seriously decent money doing that—certainly a much better hustle than waiting around for an indie album to sell a hundred copies on the local market, which we all know is a dying breed.

Anyway...
I noticed someone above already brought up the tribute scene. I've caught a few shows here and there, but if I'm being totally honest, the Billy Idol Tribute was probably the most fun I've had in a while. Those guys just know how to throw a real party. 👍
But out of everyone I've seen, I think the absolute peak was the Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute at the local stadium during the festival last year... honestly, the musicians were top-tier, they nailed every single note, and they left me completely speechless. 🙏

Tribute bands are essentially just glorified séances at this point—trying to conjure up a ghost that isn't there.

If someone actually pulls together a Jesus Lizard tribute, I’ll make it my mission to hit the singer in the head with a bottle, just to keep things authentic. 😬

that’s basically what you’d expect from a Morrissey tribute 😬

It’s this incredibly massive, overwhelming indifference—so thick you could practically stick a spoon upright in it. Yeah, I finally wrapped my head around that after spending a few days meditating on this absolute garbage pile. It’s honestly the only thing tribute bands ever make me feel. 🤷

I don't really have a strong opinion on tribute bands, honestly, but I actually enjoy checking them out just to hear music from an original band I love. For me, nothing beats the energy of seeing a live show, even if they miss a few notes. I’d much rather catch a raw, imperfect live set than just sit there listening to a studio recording on a CD or DVD.

redmarlin3 said:I am starting this thread based on a conversation I was just having in real life. (That is supposedly what still exists outside of forums, though I cannot be entirely certain. 😕)

So, do you enjoy attending concerts by tribute bands? [By this, I mean tribute acts for bands you actually listen to].
If so, what is your general impression? Just speaking broadly.
If not, why is that? Do you view such bands as posers, or perhaps something else entirely?

Do any of you happen to play in a tribute band?
I am also curious about what motivates people to form a tribute act rather than attempting to develop their own original material.

Finally, if you have seen a particularly good tribute band, please provide some recommendations here.

🙂

Tribute band concerts can be excellent, provided the musicians are actually talented.
I recently attended a tribute to Diana Dvornik at an outdoor venue in Austin, and I am heading back again on February 20th at Boogaloo. The band is superb; they are essentially the same crew from that live album recorded in Munich.

Let’s talk about Sisyphus—that little nod to the Romanian Parliament😁

redmarlin3 said:So, do you guys actually enjoy going to Tribute Bend shows?

It’s not like I live for them, but I’ve hit up a few and they weren't terrible. To me, it’s just hearing songs I like played live—nothing more, nothing less. I’m not interested in debating whether it's "right" or not.

edit: since I'm staying neutral😁

Classical music is one thing, but cover bands are an entirely different breed. Though, if you look closely, you could argue they’re both just performing trained monkeys. You have musicians who spend years in conservatories perfecting their craft, and then you have the guys playing butchered tabs just to fleece some naive crowds.
In a real band, someone lays down a melody line, and the rest of the members layer in their parts—everyone contributes their own unique piece to the puzzle.
What can you even say about a group that’s basically a family business, where the son of a seasoned gigging musician 🙄 is willing to do just about anything to land a spot on a major national televised competition?
Imagine they take on a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but they absolutely butcher it with a weak vocalist and a guitar that stays out of tune the entire set. It doesn't matter to them; they're just there to grab a quick paycheck. If they actually respected the original work, they wouldn't tear it apart like that.
On the flip side, it’s actually pretty fun when a brass band does a rendition of Maiden. You know they're having a laugh, and they manage to pass on that sense of joy and energy.
Then you have the promoters who make their living organizing shows. That’s fine, and perfectly legal. The problem arises when they run out of quality acts to book; suddenly, they start begging mediocre cover bands to play their clubs just so they can turn a profit. At that point, they don't care if they ruin the original song, as long as the cash keeps flowing. 🙂
Ultimately, it all comes down to who is playing those covers and what their motivation is. Some people genuinely love doing it, but for most of these performers, it’s just a job.

Obviously, nothing beats seeing the actual person whose music you’re listening to—but if you’re a huge fan and never got the chance to catch them live... it still hits different. You probably won't get another shot at it either. 😳 😁