• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

tribute band question

#21
I would think that most people going to see a Journey tribute band are "into" that particular band. If you go through all there albums, I'm pretty sure you will find more than 12 "recognizable" songs. For the songs that didn't necessarily make the radio, play them anyway. If you guys are doing a good job of presenting the songs, people will still dig it. You might even win over fans by introducing them to the less common tunes. Good luck :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoCal80s
#22
If you have the singer that can pull off Journey well, go all in on Journey and do it up right. If you want to switch things up, be your own opening act and rotate that through different genres / artists to give yourself some flexibility instead of getting tired of the same old ~20 songs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoCal80s
#23
If I were you, I'd be prepared with both Journey deep cuts and also some of other people's stuff - from the same era/genre. You may find places where a cover band is more welcome than a tribute band, and vice versa - having some flexibility might help you land more gigs.

In my youth, there were suburban places that booked only cover bands, no originals, and city places where the exact opposite was true. Having a mixed bag of tunes was helpful in a lot of places - we could double out audience by not being stuck in one approach to things.
 
#25
I used to be in a Rush tribute project, but the market in which we played had a lot of support for Rush. Where I live and play now, not so much. If I were to do another Rush tribute out here, It would only be for a set at most, sticking to the "hits". And then we'd do a set each for a couple of related bands... maybe a Yes, a Floyd, and/or a Genesis.
 
#26
I also was part of a Rush tribute band (4-piece; I did NOT sing - we had a female - but did do keys and bass). We were more about sound than looks, but some think tribute has to be about looks as well. Journey has many Tier-2 known, but not hit, songs. It should not be hard to fill a set be it 60, 90, or 120 minutes. The Journey "dirty dozen" is what it is. I would say there are a lot of bands doing Journey these days so there will be competition depending on your goals.

For Rush, we always tried to get some of the big songs in (i.e. Sawyer in every set) but had a few spots to do deeper cuts especially in shorter shows. The "die hards" love that stuff but also know your audience - if it isn't die hards, doing all second tier tunes will fall flat.
 
#27
*haven't read the thread*, but...

In So Cal there are a bunch of cover bands that will do multiple tributes in one night and market it as "Beatles vs The Stones" or "Heart & The GoGos." This is happening at some pretty popular clubs, it seems like a good formula.

But, I agree with most, if you're tributing a band, you need to be THAT band. But hey. maybe you can do a cover as THAT band would have done it... Like if the Stones did a Beatles cover.
 
#28
AGCurry said:
I think you've put your finger on why you see far more Beatles tribute bands than "tribute groups" to other performers. It helps to have such an abundance of material that you must choose which songs you play. Abundance of material vs. paucity.

What I suggest is that your nascent band work up ONE really-good Journey set and a bunch of tunes from other performers. Package the Journey set nicely, with medleys and segues and such, and audiences will remember it and like it as a show BEFORE they tire of all Journey all the time. You get to pay tribute to Journey without painting yourself into a corner.
Click to expand...

‘Good post. Our is not a pure tribute band. Our band does a Motown review show for our first set. The second set is mostly music we’ve developed. Seems to be working well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA and AGCurry
#29
I went to a show by a Beatles tribute band. During I am the Walrus they went into an extended jam that at one point morphed into Hendrix's Third Stone from the Sun. Nobody stormed out complaining about it being a non-Beatles tune. Did Journey ever cover other artists in their shows? You could cover those as well, with the argument being that if Journey played them, then a Journey-tribute band should play them too.
 
#31
Stay focused on who's tribute you are recreating. Every detail must be right. It takes a lot of work, a lot of patience. Work with mature pro's who won't squabble in frustration or cause ego driven friction. Unless you are 100% commited, I'd advise against a true tribute band.
 
#33
Seems like an interesting decision here would be whether you focus on material before Escape or material after it. Very different music. But I’d think there’s plenty of material.

I’m an “Escape and after” guy myself. But I’m at exactly the correct age to remember the Separate Ways video and thought it was cool at the time.
 
#36
Tribute bands always work best in festival settings where they only need to do 90 minutes or so. Doing bars and three hours is almost impossible unless the band spans decades (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elton John)

I think the best advice if you have to do longer is do the first half as your own opening act doing a similar genre, then come out "in costume" and go full force.

Doing "deep cuts" will tire the casual audience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JRA and LBS-bass
#38
I agree with others, you don't just have do justhe hits in a tribute band. Fans are the one's who come to see you, the real fans bought the albums and listened to all of it... they'll know the "flip side" songs as well as the rest.

I would stay away from doing songs by other groups, no matter how similar lest losing the tribute aspect and just revolving back into a cover band who plays a bunch of Journey.

Best of luck!
 
#39
AGCurry said:
I think you've put your finger on why you see far more Beatles tribute bands than "tribute groups" to other performers. It helps to have such an abundance of material that you must choose which songs you play. Abundance of material vs. paucity.
What I suggest is that your nascent band work up ONE really-good Journey set and a bunch of tunes from other performers. Package the Journey set nicely, with medleys and segues and such, and audiences will remember it and like it as a show BEFORE they tire of all Journey all the time. You get to pay tribute to Journey without painting yourself into a corner.
Click to expand...
Even the quintessential Chicago tribute band, Leonid & Friends play other, non-Chicago tunes.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back