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tribute band question

#41
At the peak of their careers…

…Journey must have had enough songs for arena-type shows they were filling up.

Why not simply play that set list from the hay days?

If for some reasons, they played a few covers during these shows, you can justify to the die hard fans.

…et bonne journée mon ami!
 
#45
buldog5151bass said:
I have found the parts to put together a tribute band for Journey, which I think will have some interest in the area. One question for those who have been in successful tribute acts.

I figure there are about a dozen songs that will be recognizable for all fans. After that, things get thinner (not to mention mostly slower tunes, which slow down a stage show). Does it make more sense to do the "C" Journey songs, or maybe add in a few hits from similar bands (Styx, REO) that would be more recognizable to more fans, and better rocking tunes?
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I've seen Motley 2, The Bitchfits, a Pink Floyd tribute band, and a Beatles cover band. The only ones that weren't as good, if not better in aspects, was the Beatles cover band. They weren't the Beatles. They were just four guys playing their songs, and in no way sounded like them. Motley 2 rocked! Bitchfits rocked! Pink flood was awesome. Beatles sucked.

If you're in a "tribute band", you need to be the band.
 
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#47
buldog5151bass said:
I have found the parts to put together a tribute band for Journey, which I think will have some interest in the area. One question for those who have been in successful tribute acts.

I figure there are about a dozen songs that will be recognizable for all fans. After that, things get thinner (not to mention mostly slower tunes, which slow down a stage show). Does it make more sense to do the "C" Journey songs, or maybe add in a few hits from similar bands (Styx, REO) that would be more recognizable to more fans, and better rocking tunes?
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Do the slower ones towards the end and go back to the faster ones.

Playing songs from other bands will keep you from being a Journey tribute.
 
#49
lfmn16 said:
If you do other band's tunes, you're not a "Journey" tribute band. When I think tribute band, I think of a band playing songs by a single artist.

In the 70's I was with a band that did one set of all Rolling Stones tunes. The other sets were from complimentary artists. Of course back then you played four or five sets. You might try that approach - one "warm up set" of similar bands and then the big show - your set of Journey tunes.
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Didn’t Dr Hook perform as their own support band?
 
#50
I agree with mrcbass, but I would add an element.

I think people who are fans (fanatics) of Journey won't view too many of their songs as "C material".

My Junior High School health teacher was Schon's cousin so, we knew all about the band in 1976. I'm sure fans of the band would enjoy hearing songs from "Look Into The Future" or "Trial By Fire".

Of course, I understand I could be very wrong. It's one of those things you can only find out by incorporating it into a set and seeing how the people react.

In my experience, different crowds react differently. Until a following is established, reading/playing the room is a big deal.
 
#52
unlike a lot of bands, Journey had plenty of hits that would let you cover a 2 set show, with a few tasty deep cuts thrown in, and of course Steve Perry solo stuff. If you are good in both sound and look, and you don't have another preeminent Journey tribute in your city, you could do very well. You should get an agent too.

Tribute bands for the most part are not bar bands. You're not going to attract enough "uber-fans" to play 3 full sets of one band and hit the same bar every month. You have to shoot more for festivals, larger venues, and be willing to travel. And a lot of this really requires an agent who specializes in tributes. We use three of them.

so it's different. Let those that sneer at tributes sneer. but I never made more money as a bassist, or played larger crowds, than when I did tributes. it's a different animal.

but it can't be a tribute to just anyone. I know people that have tried to tribute Radiohead...or Queensryche. it made no sense. Even Rush, who I love. I've seen good ones. but there simply is not much demand. Not enough recognizable tunes to create DEMAND for the tribute.

and that's the dilemma. Tributes that do great or to ICONIC bands. Bands that had a ton of hits over a long period of time: The Beatles, ACDC, The Stones, Bon Jovi, Queen, Kiss (to some extent). I know a group that does Sabbath and Ozzy (and the guy really looks and sounds the part). He does pretty well although I have seen that metal tributes have a hard time booking. and yeah Journey is a popular one to do. The problem? The iconic ones already have a ton of tributes all over the globe and many are willing to travel and will drop into your city and take that big gig. so if you do a tribute that's popular, expect competition. If you are mediocre at what you do, you won't get far. If you do the songs, but not the look, you won't get very far. You have to have look and sound to the extent possible. if you can pull off two tributes, it makes booking easier too. You can open for yourself.

It's a tough genre to go at, but the rewards can be really good too. If you're good, you'll do more and get further than any cover band, and far more than the vast majority of originals.

Good luck
 
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#54
In my area there is one very popular Journey tribute band, which also does Bon Jovi, bands name is “Bon Journey “ they play all over the New York City suburbs and are very popular. Bon jovi and Journey set lists work great. There is another band called “Foreign Journey “ that plays the Long Island clubs, the Foreigner / Journey combo is pretty popular as well.
 
#57
I’m in a MetallicA tribute and we’ve played shows from 1-4 hours with no issues. Since MetallicA has done a ton of covers over the years we play a lot of their covers as well, the crowds love it. As many have mentioned, if you are doing Journey, then play setlists like they would have. There is at least one very active Journey band in the DFW area, and they play a lot. So it’s obviously in demand!
 
#59
JeezyMcNuggles said:
I've seen Motley 2, The Bitchfits, a Pink Floyd tribute band, and a Beatles cover band. The only ones that weren't as good, if not better in aspects, was the Beatles cover band. They weren't the Beatles. They were just four guys playing their songs, and in no way sounded like them. Motley 2 rocked! Bitchfits rocked! Pink flood was awesome. Beatles sucked.

If you're in a "tribute band", you need to be the band.
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Ha! I used to work with the Bitchfits’ lead singer…they used to call themselves the Ms.Fits until Danzig(who was an occasional customer at our store)caught wind and served them a C&D.
 
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#60
ComeHomeShane said:
*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.
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They actually did…
 
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