Social Distortion Tribute... Should I?

::::BASSIST:::: · #1 06-11-2008, 10:33 PM

I have been asked to join a Social Distortion tribute band. They're a punk band from SoCal. I confess that I am not that famaliar with punk and have never heard of SD. Sounds like good music to me and seems like it would be very fun to play.

Should I go for it?

**SoComSurfing** · #2 06-11-2008, 10:34 PM

Definitely.

beggar98 · #3 06-11-2008, 10:41 PM

Could be fun. I would consider Social D more than a punk band, more like straight up rock n' roll. Fun tunes.

GreggBummer · #4 06-11-2008, 10:54 PM

Social D is one of the core punk bands. They have a great sound... I am not a huge punk guy, but Social D is worth your time. Even if you decide not to join... pick up a few CD's.

If it were me... I would join.

G

winstonthecat · #5 06-11-2008, 11:33 PM

Social D is pretty cool. Sounds like fun. I love "Mommy's Little Monster"....great song.

CapnSev · #6 06-11-2008, 11:59 PM

I am not a punk fan at all but I LOVE Social D! It's like electrified old country songs. I would love to do a tribute to them, but I would rather do it as a gu****ist.

LiquidMidnight · #7 06-12-2008, 01:18 AM

Love Social D. but I honestly can't fathom there being much of a market for a tribute act. They pretty much play a club circuit themselves. In my opinion, if you're going to do a tribute act, it should be for a HUGE band that generally plays arenas (e.g., Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, the always popular Kiss).

Of course, I could be totally wrong. I've never been in a tribute band or claim to be real knowledgable of the tribute band scene.

::::BASSIST:::: · #8 06-12-2008, 01:32 AM

Well, we'll see how it goes when I meet the other band members. The basslines are super easy. I just learned 5 songs in an hour never having heard the songs previously. Not bad for me... I am an okay bassist but not as good as many here. It would be the first time singing BVs. So that should be interesting.

There is alot of punk /metal type bands around here but I only know of one club that books them exclusively. The other thing is the drummer says he likes to play VERY LOUD... his caps. That scares me a bit.

QORC · #9 06-12-2008, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I have been asked to join a Social Distortion tribute band. They're a punk band from SoCal. I confess that I am not that famaliar with punk and have never heard of SD. Sounds like good music to me and seems like it would be very fun to play.

Should I go for it?

tribute bands usually only work for very famous acts - with many many hits that lots of people know and who've been in the spotlight for a long time. And work best for bands that no longer exist or are in semi-retirement.

Besides, to be in a tribute band, you have to be willing to travel because there is over-saturation. You can't be a tribute band and play the same 3 clubs every month. People get bored. You have to hit the circuit around a State or a region or something. And to do that, you have to have a product that sells -- meaning tribute to an ICONIC band. A band of huge stature with 8-9 hits or more.

Social Distortion would not fit that mold. I can't see that being very popular except with a very narrow slice of the public. 90% of the general public would have a hard time even naming one song they did. It's not like the are The Police or The Who or something.

But if you're satisfied only playing in punk clubs, then why not? Have fun. That's what it's all about.

amimbari · #10 06-12-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QORC

Social Distortion would not fit that mold. I can't see that being very popular except with a very narrow slice of the public. 90% of the general public would have a hard time even naming one song they did. It's not like the are The Police or The Who or something.

But if you're satisfied only playing in punk clubs, then why not? Have fun. That's what it's all about.

I tend to agree with this post, however if you are NOT in any band now, it would be fun playing ANYTHING on stage, and not in the basement. I was in an Iron Maiden tribute for three years, and although exciting, tiring, frustrating, and a lot more, it was an audience of IronMaiden freaks, and we always had a hard time booking regular gigs with only ONE type of music being played.. BUT we had more than enough gigs in many places that kept our schedule busy for a long time.

QORC · #11 06-12-2008, 06:24 AM

Then we should restate the question to:

"If I want to be in a successful band, should I join a Social Distortion tribute band?"

The answer would be "no"

You can only have so much success with such bands. Tribute bands can do really really well, but as I said above, they have to really be a tribute to very very famous bands to work well.

If the question is "I really just want to have a little fun, should I join a Social Distortion tribute band?"

The answer can only be answered by the OP. No way any of us can tell him whether it would be "fun" or the right band for him. who knows?

::::BASSIST:::: · #12 06-12-2008, 09:20 AM

Well, if it were to go ahead it would only be a side project for me as my band Dick Cash, is top priority.

This band just sort of fell together, but its still at its inception so there is still alot of work to do.

A large part of it is the bandmates, if they are tools, then I'm out.

::::BASSIST:::: · #13 06-13-2008, 01:43 AM

I'm 'officially' not taking it.

The main reason is that I don't believe it will help me develop as a bassist. The vast majority of the basslines are just root notes.

The other reason is that the drummer/leader seems like a whack job, and I just dont have the time or inclination to be involved in a band with such personalities. Its got band drama written all over it. No thanks.

However, I have an audition for a band later this week. They strictly play instrumental surf-rock. Though I am much more famaliar with surf than punk, I think this band's original surf stuff would just be on the edge of my combfort zone. Meaning I can do it, but its going to take some work. Good. That's just the way I like it. If I'm bored playing music, what's the point?

The other advantage is that this band is already gigging (about once per week) and I can *just* be the bassist, for a change.

Check them out and let me know what you think:

http://www.myspace.com/thehighschoolgirls

Drucocu · #14 06-13-2008, 02:26 AM

go for the highschool girls!!!!

troy mcclure · #15 06-13-2008, 01:31 PM

Someone is starting a Social d cover band in Orlando, also.

They are a great band, and the upside is it won't take more than 2 hrs to learn ALL of their songs.

::::BASSIST:::: · #16 06-13-2008, 01:44 PM

Yeah, but its a little boring play root notes all the time. The tunes arent suitable to embelish on either.

Also, the punk attitude is a bit much for me. Surf-rock is a *bit* more sophisticated. Well, maybe not.

Beej · #17 06-13-2008, 01:50 PM

Well, as a fellow west-coaster in your general area, I honestly can't imagine there would be much of a demand for a Social Distortion tribute band. Think of the dozens and dozens of bands that play originals in your neck of the woods. I've always found the Vancouver scene to be pretty cutthroat when it comes to securing gigs...

Just a couple of cents for consideration...

karter2000 · #18 06-13-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Well, we'll see how it goes when I meet the other band members. The basslines are super easy. I just learned 5 songs in an hour never having heard the songs previously. Not bad for me... I am an okay bassist but not as good as many here. It would be the first time singing BVs. So that should be interesting.

You really don't give yourself enough credit as a bassist...I've seen you play and you're great! I agree with the other posters, if the music is too easy or boring for you then don't dumb yourself down just to be in the band.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

There is alot of punk /metal type bands around here but I only know of one club that books them exclusively. The other thing is the drummer says he likes to play VERY LOUD... his caps. That scares me a bit.

I should challenge that guy to a "drum off" with my drummer Jim. I think Jim is the loudest drummer I've ever heard, thus the Carvin B1500 and two 2x12 cabs!

Cheers,

Lyle

MEKer · #19 06-17-2008, 01:46 AM

SD was here in Medford probably about 5-6 months ago at the National Guard Armory. I love to be loud but they were painfully loud, I mean really painful so I couldn't appreciate any of it really. Huge crowd though so everyone had fun I guess. The bassist is really a rooter mostly and he is relatively new. The preceding bassist--no kidding--was killed when struck by a car while riding his bicycle. The short, older roadie guy setting up the bassist's gear actually gave me 2 sets of GHS flats as I yakked at him while they were setting up. So that was cool.

::::BASSIST:::: · #20 06-17-2008, 03:16 AM

Lyle, this group the High School Girls is crazy good. Surf rock. Who would of thunk it? Their stuff is MUCH more complicated than I am used to. Their song "The Cruiser" has 6 different parts. You can tell a guitarist wrote the basslines on some of the songs. Pretty busy. In my current band I'm told to play it simple and sometimes its nice to play more than 4 notes in a measure.

Anyway the SD guys took it pretty well when I told them the truth about why I wasnt going to join... well, I left out the part of the whack job drummer. That's just not nice.