Some of you ask: what shows are out there?
Go here: Pollstar. Individual band pages are worthy but take longer to sift through. Other sites exist and are fine (Bandsintown, JamBase, etc.) But Pollstar has been my go-to for a long time, and you can search by city, venue, or band quickly and easily.
So, what should these good people see?
Whatever you want! And if what you want is to see a big-name act that costs more than it should and you're stuck in row YY or at the back of the lawn and you're watching the band on a screen and they look like Fisher-Price figures, at the very least... at the very least... they should be the band you intended to see.
What the hell does that mean, Whitney?
Okay, forgive the rant, but there is a growing trend I'm seeing wherein older bands of prior popularity are touring the globe with a hodgepodge of musicians who were not a part of the original incarnation of the band. Sometimes those stand-ins have replaced vital elements without whom, this really isn't the same band, now is it? But you see no asterisks or disclaimers. And it's crap.
Obviously, things happen in the course of the life of a musical act. People die. People fight and leave. People go solo. People just get tired.
Obviously, there are some slots in the roster of a given band that could be filled by just about anyone. For Random Idiots, that was 2nd pots/pans player. Scott MacDonald took Jason Elliott's spot there for "Dr. Seuss" because Elliott was on the john or talking to his girlfriend or something. Nothing was lost, and the rest is history, of sorts.
But when either the role that is replaced is a major one, or the talent that is lost is formative and foundational to the band, please don't ask the listening audience to just nod along like it's the same ol' same ol'. It's not.
Lead singers are tough to replace, fair or not. When Brian Johnson replaced Bon Scott, AC/DC recorded an amazing classic album's worth of material before hitting the road. A quick switch of Brian as Bon just wouldn't have worked. Talking Heads cannot continue without David Byrne. It would rob the public of what they paid to expect. Say what you will about Dead and Company, but at least they aren't out there peddling the name Grateful Dead without Jerry. Without John Fogerty, the rest of the dudes took to Creedence Clearwater Revisited. It's about truth in advertising.Here we go. I've taken the liberty of doing some work for you. I'm taking a look at the landscape of summer tours and letting you know which are the real deals, which are close enough, and which are pale facsimiles for which you should be paying knock-off prices.
To preface this, I include an interview from Derek Trucks after Gregg Allman died. Keep an eye out for the subtle dig:
Trucks closed the book on the Allman Brothers Band forever after the deaths of both Allman and his uncle, who died in January. "You can't have an Allman Brothers gig without an Allman brother," Trucks said. "I've heard people try to argue that you can, but I'm not buying it. If [late band co-founder] Duane [Allman]'s not there, Gregg certainly better be there. There are a few bands out there right now that are using names that maybe shouldn't be. That's another discussion."This is that discussion. Here goes.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Hey, boys, if your ears were ringing, it's because you are the A#1 band out there that's using a name you maybe shouldn't be. Ronnie Van Zant and Steve and Cassie Gaines died in one of rock's greatest tragedies. Ronnie's voice and lyrics were at the core of every Skynyrd song. After a 10-year hiatus, a handful of the survivors reformed as Lynyrd Skynyrd. Maybe shouldn't have. Ronnie's little brother Johnny has manned the mic since. Through the years, original members have faded to the point where it's only guitarist Gary Rossington left. Admire the perseverance, but it's not Skynyrd and if even one unknowing ticket-buyer thinks they're getting the original... hell, maybe they deserve what they get at this point. Anyway... Verdict: Cover Band.Fleetwood Mac
Last month the band announced that Lindsey Buckingham was no longer a part of the band. Okay, so the band has had numerous lineup shifts throughout its 50-year career, and maybe you were big fans of the Peter Green or Bob Welch eras of the band with hits like "Black Magic Woman" and "Albatross." You weren't. The core lineup since' 75 of Fleetwood/McVie x 2/Buckingham/Nicks was a hit machine for a brief moment, and they are a terrific live act to see. But Buckingham is a living genius and the heart of too many of those hits. He and Nicks left the band in the late 80's, and the number of people that attended Mac shows without them you could fit on a single school bus. And they were disappointed. Stevie is there, but without Lindsey, leave it be. Verdict: Not the Same.
Weezer
Their songs have faded into dreck, but
I've seen Rivers Cuomo and Co. in recent years. Still good, 3/4 intact,
and Cuomo is most everything to Weezer. Verdict: Good to Go.Pixies
Pixies were a band most (included me) missed seeing in their original stint ('87-'92). I did catch them when they reformed in 2004, and they were great. Black Francis still leads the band around the country, (now with Weezer in tow) but there's one problem. Kim Deal left the band 5 years ago this week. There's a reason the Dandy Warhols sang "Cool as Kim Deal." Her voice, her bass, her cool. An irreparable divot. Verdict: Not the Same.
Steely Dan
A two man classic. Fagen and Becker. Becker and Fagen. Walter Becker died in September. To tour again as the Dan without him there? Verdict: Eat Bat Prick
Guns N' Roses
It's simple. Axl, Slash, and Duff is good enough. Axl and Buckethead and whoever else? You're crazy. They have the core together right now, so go see 'em before they implode again. Verdict: Good to Go.
Eagles
A strong assemblage of talent from their earliest days, but Henley and Frey were at the center. Minus Glenn Frey, the best days of the Eagles are already gone. Verdict: Not the Same.
Stone Temple Pilots
Name someone in this band beyond Scott Weiland. He died. Verdict: Not the Same.
Alice in Chains
I grant you, you can likely name Jerry Cantrell. But Layne Staley meant too much to the band. Verdict: Not the Same.
Styx
Tommy Shaw and a couple of others are in. Dennis DeYoung and Mr. Roboto are out. Verdict: Not the Same, but do any of you guys really give a crap?
ZZ Top
All present and accounted for, sir. Verdict: Good to go.
Def LeppardLead guitarist Steve Clark died of alcohol poisoning when the elder gheorgies (excepting Monsignor KQ) were in college poisoning themselves with alcohol, and Rick Allen is missing an arm, but otherwise they're the same. Verdict: Close enough.
Journey
Wow, this one is interesting. Dude, if you love Journey, and more people than ever seem to, go see Arnel Pineda. The sound is extraordinarily similar, and Steve Perry ain't walking back through that door. Verdict: Good to go.
The Who
Keith Moon died 40 years ago. The Ox 16 years ago. Daltrey and Townshend are all-timers among all-timers and worthy, though. Verdict: Legit.
Little Feat
Lowell George 1945-1979. Enough said. Verdict: Cover Band.
The English Beat
Dave Wakeling is still the voice, and that counts for a lot. Verdict: Good enough.
Cheap Trick
Amazingly, mostly intact. Touring with "Skynyrd." More authentic. Verdict: Good to go.
Foghat
Also touring with "Skynyrd" this summer. Only the drummer from the original lineup. Verdict: Cover Band.
Violent Femmes
2/3 together. Vitally importantly -- with Gordon Gano. Verdict: Good to go.Phish
Simple. They are still the same dudes. Verdict: Good to go.
Chicago
Rob's first concert featured Peter Cetera and the gang. Now it's just the gang. Verdict: Not the same.
REO Speedwagon
Mostly still together, Kevin Cronin still singing. Roll with the non-changes. Verdict: Good to go.
Steel Pulse
David Hinds and Selwyn Brown and a newer crew. Get behind me Satan. Verdict: Good enough.
The Wailers
Debatable, a pale imitation of their former leader, but at least Family Man Barrett is there. Verdict: Eh.
U2
Just kidding. Some things never change. Verdict: Duh. Good to go.
10,000 Maniacs
Natalie Merchant left during the Clinton administration. Verdict: Not even close.
Barenaked Ladies
Steven Page left in 2009. Sang most of their best songs. Verdict: Not the Same.
Pearl Jam
Locked and loaded with most of the original crew. Verdict: Good to go.
Yes
This one's for Mr. KQ. The roster rotates every few years. Steve Howe is pretty much the only original in the current iteration. Verdict: No. (Sorry.)
The CultIt was always Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy. Still is. Verdict: Good to go.
Squeeze
Same with Squeeze: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. Verdict: Good to go.
Dave Matthews Band
You know what's odd? Dave is obviously still there, but with LeRoi passed on and Boyd now out (in lots of ways), is it the same experience? Verdict: Debatable.
INXS, AC/DC, and REM aren't doing this any more, but they were never the same after losing members of the band and now they are all kaput.
If you're at the State Fair and see "Quiet Riot" or "Thin Lizzy" playing, keep in mind that there are no original members in either band.
And Michael McDonald is... out of the Doobies.
Oh, one last one.
The Beach Boys
A few years back, I took my daughters to see them when Brian and Al joined #1 d-bag Mike Love for the 50th reunion tour. It was great. Soon thereafter, of course, it fell apart again, and now it's back to just Mike and not-quite-original-but-close Bruce Johnston and others (not John Stamos). This is bullshit of the highest order, as Mike Love continues to sue for the right to be the only Beach Boy in The Beach Boys™. Honestly, people. Verdict: Bad cover band. Don't do it.Be forewarned, and don't be afraid to write into Dear Gheorghe with questions about a band coming to your town.
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30 comments:
Not many people have enough knowledge to write this. I assume you had help. Kidding.
I recently saw that Blind Melon was touring. How is that possible. They have to be a "No," right?
indigo girls in full touring glory. as far as i know.
Blind Melon is such a no. Can't mimic Shannon Hoon's pipes.
Creedence Clearwater Revisited?
Foreigner is a cover band, except for last July, when Lou, Al Greenwood & Ian McDonald joined Mick on stage for three songs on Long Island AND IT WAS GLORIOUS. But otherwise don't waste your money, as it's Mick & a bunch of hired hands and Mick doesn't usually even show up.
Poison still has all four original members. Unfortunately, they play the same hour-long set list they did almost 20 years ago, too.
jerry beach!
i missed an opportunity to go with ‘jerry beach, far away in time’
Oh, Egypt. What a heartbreaker.
Nice work, Jerry. That's what I'm talking about.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creedence_Clearwater_Revisited
I've got Bettye Lavette on my calendar for 8/3 at The Harvester in Rocky Mount. Her latest is a collection of Dylan tunes and it's real damn good.
Gordon Lightfoot is coming to the same venue on 8/5, but I'll be en route to Maine then, and from what I hear Gord's voice is pretty well gone.
This post is fantastic! A lot to process here.
1 - Don’t forget Don “Fingers” Felder!
2 - is Gordon Gano related to Graham Gano?
3 - Skid Row toured after Sebastian Bach left. All due respect to Dave “Snake” Sabo, but that’s a cover band.
4 - Widespread Panic replaced their lead guitarist almost 15 yrs ago after the original died of pancreatic cancer. The eventual replacement is Jimmy Herring, who shares their jam band roots. And they booted their boozy drummer a few years ago, replacing him w/ a young Trucks who is damn good. I say “Good to go” on them. Age is the big limiting factor for that sextet right now.
i assume the cougars in the outfield have peeped morocco's coach, harve renard. he's pretty dreamy.
herve, not harve. still dreamy.
Renard is French for fox, after all.
And canard is French for duck, after all.
TR, I just started drinking the Kool-Aid on Widespread Panic 3 years ago. A lot of the cool kids down here in SEVA are all-in on them. I'm enjoying them. Jimmy Herring is great.
Whit, check out the 'Space Wrangler' album by Widespread it's old as dirty but they still play a bunch of those tunes live.
I prefer Everyday, but they are the two backbone “CDs” of that band.
Forgot one...
UB40
A number of people around town are clamoring to go see UB40 at the Norva in the fall. Too bad lead singer Ali Campbell and two other originals, Astro and Mickey Virtue, left to form... wait for it... UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue. Now there are two 1/2 UB40 bands. They should each call themselves UB20. Go see neither, but especially avoid UB40, who has Ali's younger brother Duncan attempting to imitate Ali's inimitable voice. BTW, Ali seems like a dick. Glad I saw them at the Boathouse in 1989.
For whatever it's worth, check out either The Singles Album or The UB40 File from the early 80's pre-"Red Red Wine." Great stuff, less fluff.
It’s official. Kawhi wants out. This summer of NBA feee agency is going to be great.
This game is fucking fun.
I'm out and about, and the audio stream I can access is just the tv broadcast, which is suboptimal.
I prefer it to be narrated by someone from somewhere in the United Kingdom, who is committed to describing the action.
that game was amazing. i detest ronaldo, but he was a god.
We might not see a better match all tournament. That was so fun.
That free kick was unreal. And he kept his shirt on - what restraint!
Nothing caps off a Friday like a text from TR of a picture of two donuts shaped like the number 9, which he is eating at a 9 year olds birthday party, and which he has arranged into a 69. A good omen for the weekend.
Big thumbs up to this post. And who wasn't cruzin the streets of Nova in a sweet GTO and rockin out to Come Sail Away when it came out in 77?
We're lined up for Isbel at Wolftrap and PJ at Fenway Labor Day wknd so not a bad start. Rock on.
Not bad, KT. I only have the Avetts in July. Looking to add more. Anyone want to see the Old 97's at 9:30 on 6/29?
i do, whit
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