50 replies to this topic

[Pilgrimager]

welliwonder, on 23 January 2012 - 01:42 AM, said:

T
The best name I heard for an r.e.m. tribute band was   'are we them ?' .

Problem with that is it's not obvious who they're supposed to be which I'd have thought was a prime consideration in working out a name.

[High_Speed_Train]

I don't think this is a tad bit too far, I think these guys are doing a well job in raising awareness of the band, which is always a good thing. If there was a copyright on the blue make up and the bald look then I could see a problem.

Speaking of cover bands a few months ago I discovered these videos by the so called New Monsters in Hi Fi, I think they have produced some very good covers. To this date I haven't quite figured where these guys come from, in some of the clips they play in front of crowds which seem to chatter in Spanish, although I could be wrong.

[welliwonder]

Pilgrimager, on 23 January 2012 - 07:47 AM, said:

Problem with that is it's not obvious who they're supposed to be which I'd have thought was a prime consideration in working out a name.

For some its not obvious maybe.

[Sweden]

High_Speed_Train, on 23 January 2012 - 08:56 AM, said:

I don't think this is a tad bit too far, I think these guys are doing a well job in raising awareness of the band, which is always a good thing. If there was a copyright on the blue make up and the bald look then I could see a problem.

Speaking of cover bands a few months ago I discovered these videos by the so called New Monsters in Hi Fi, I think they have produced some very good covers. To this date I haven't quite figured where these guys come from, in some of the clips they play in front of crowds which seem to chatter in Spanish, although I could be wrong.

Seeing that their youtube channel says "Italian R.E.M. tribute band" I'm gonna make a wild guess they are from Italy...
Musically they do a decent job but the accent is a bit too heavy for me.

Seeing some tribute band makes it obviuous what a unique vocalist JMS could be a times.

[High_Speed_Train]

Sweden, on 23 January 2012 - 10:39 AM, said:

Seeing that their youtube channel says "Italian R.E.M. tribute band" I'm gonna make a wild guess they are from Italy...
Musically they do a decent job but the accent is a bit too heavy for me.

Seeing some tribute band makes it obviuous what a unique vocalist JMS could be a times.

Thank you Sweden, I hadn't noticed the "Italian R.E.M. tribute band" description. I don't have an issue with the accent, i like their youtube videos and especially the Around the Sun covers.

[Driver Nate]

I know some people love them, especially if they didn't get to see a particular band in concert but for the most part I've found that tribute bands really aren't my thing. I went to see Dark Star Orchestra a few years ago but mainly because I had a couple of friends in town for the show. They're the ones that recreate a Grateful Dead show from a specific date. That's a pretty cool twist on the whole tribute thing. They don't really try to look like them or anything but it didn't stop me from feeling like I was at a Grateful Dead version of a Civil War re-enactment. After about an hour I was wishing I had spent my money on a local original band instead. One fairly huge exception I've made to the tribute thing is a three day concert that's held in Raleigh every year called The Great Cover Up. There, local bands get to assume the persona of their favorite bands for a night. That is a lot of fun, not just for the performers but for the audience as well.

[Blueface]

Al_beer, on 23 January 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

Surely the best name for a tribute band has to be 'Different Strokes'?

Though I reckon Amy Housewine is pretty good as well!

Noasis was another good name. At Oasis's height Noel Gallagher said they were the second best band in the world.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

Driver Nate, on 22 January 2012 - 12:48 PM, said:

Sting.

Sting was in REM??
What else did I miss?

[DrinkTheElixir]

Not good on any level.  I have heard them before and thought that they were absolutely awful.  These guys have been around for ages - which is another thing that irritated me, tribute bands that are around way before the real band have actually split up.  Seriously - is it just me? Or given the choice would you see the real thing or some poor imitation?  I don't necessarily have an issue with cover bands otherwise, but if you are riding on the coat tails of a band that is still recording (which they were until relatively recently) - then my opinion is that you are pretty fucking lazy.  No music to write, no songs to write, no look to carve out - there is nothing original. They can play instruments, but I fail to see a shred of talent there.  

Of course now that REM are no longer, there is a tiny bit of validity to their existence in my mind - but I sure as hell wouldn't waste my money seeing that. Mainly because it is horrible (to me) in which case the word 'tribute' in relation to this seems pretty ironic.  Their appearance on The One show was excruciating to watch.

[2headedcow]

Sweet Fanny Addams, on 24 January 2012 - 12:45 AM, said:

Sting was in REM??
What else did I miss?

Yes he was a member at one point.

I believe he sang 'west of the fields of barley' and 'try not to breathe every breath you take'
Also 'walking on the moon unafraid'

I think there may have been a few more!  Anyone remember?

[alchemist2]

Haha others were Don't Stand (so close to me) and Dream of the electron blue turtles!

[fredrik]

alchemist2, on 24 January 2012 - 02:16 AM, said:

Haha others were Don't Stand (so close to me) and Dream of the electron blue turtles!

Right. Not to mention "Out of time all this time", "It's probably me in honey" and "Time after time (RoxanneElise)".

[2headedcow]

fredrik, on 24 January 2012 - 02:21 AM, said:

Right. Not to mention "Out of time all this time", "It's probably me in honey" and "Time after time (RoxanneElise)".

And 'around the invisible sun'
'king of painful comedy' and 'low life'

[welliwonder]

DrinkTheElixir, on 24 January 2012 - 01:30 AM, said:

Not good on any level.  I have heard them before and thought that they were absolutely awful.  These guys have been around for ages - which is another thing that irritated me, tribute bands that are around way before the real band have actually split up.  Seriously - is it just me? Or given the choice would you see the real thing or some poor imitation?  I don't necessarily have an issue with cover bands otherwise, but if you are riding on the coat tails of a band that is still recording (which they were until relatively recently) - then my opinion is that you are pretty fucking lazy.  No music to write, no songs to write, no look to carve out - there is nothing original. They can play instruments, but I fail to see a shred of talent there.  

Of course now that REM are no longer, there is a tiny bit of validity to their existence in my mind - but I sure as hell wouldn't waste my money seeing that. Mainly because it is horrible (to me) in which case the word 'tribute' in relation to this seems pretty ironic.  Their appearance on The One show was excruciating to watch.

Exactly.

[stipeeyes]

I agree Jonathan.

I had an online coversation with the Singer in R.E.M.UK(the nerve using the same name) and maybe it was me but he seemed kind of rude and kind of full of himself.  Michael is a much more nicer, down to earth person than his Imitator.

[Osyth Ann]

Well given the choice, ofcourse I would see the real thing, but even before they called it a day, most of the time, the choice wasn't available.

The cover band will never be the same and aren't likely to retire from their day jobs, but they enjoy playing some good songs in some tiny provincial clubs and theatres, and when I've seen them, have put on a good show.  They are nice blokes too.

It's good to follow some new bands, but sometimes, good familiar tunes is what you want...

[DrinkTheElixir]

Osyth Ann, on 24 January 2012 - 10:48 AM, said:

Well given the choice, ofcourse I would see the real thing, but even before they called it a day, most of the time, the choice wasn't available.

The cover band will never be the same and aren't likely to retire from their day jobs, but they enjoy playing some good songs in some tiny provincial clubs and theatres, and when I've seen them, have put on a good show.  They are nice blokes too.

It's good to follow some new bands, but sometimes, good familiar tunes is what you want...

Glad that you have gotten some joy out of watching them, Ann. I don't know - given the choice I really would rather have listened to an original local band or maybe an R.E.M album at home (if I wanted the good, familiar tunes)  I just can't get past the opinion that it is lazy crap and a bit karaoke.  But, as with most things that we individually dislike - there are always a few people that think those things are good.

[Driver Nate]

I know that Dave Matthews, Phish and Widespread Panic tribute bands are huge draws and often sell out. These are bands that are still active so I'm not sure what the attraction is. Even here in the Triangle area of NC, tribute acts are a big thing at some of the larger venues such as the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh and the Cat's Cradle (which books more original music but they also have a Michael Jackson tribute band called Who's Bad? pretty often). I've had this conversation with fans of Led Zeppelin who are also big into Zeppelin tribute bands. They have a way of rationalizing it that I just can't wrap my head around. If you want to go see four folks imitate Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham for an evening, more power to you but that doesn't really interest me at all.

[ebowtheloser]

fredrik, on 24 January 2012 - 02:21 AM, said:

Right. Not to mention "Out of time all this time", "It's probably me in honey" and "Time after time (RoxanneElise)".

For some reason, "It's Probably Me In Honey" really cracked me up!

[2headedcow]

ebowtheloser, on 24 January 2012 - 11:43 AM, said:

For some reason, "It's Probably Me In Honey" really cracked me up!

I imagine you would have to be rather drunk.