Tribute band talk...

W Houston near Zarzamora, San Antonio TX

Description

I've been wanting to start an Anthrax cover band. I'm kinda fat, white with no hair so I look nothing like Joey Belladonna, so I won't even try. I would look stupid. Last night at Bonds they all called themselves tributes but they didn't look or sound like the bands they are paying tribute to. The Van Halen tribute band just stood there in one spot. No energy. Only the singer looked like he was having a good time. Sounded nothing like Roth at all but at least he was having a good time, which is what VH was all about. The guitar player had an EVH guitar but that's all that resembled EVH. There is a no way a good VH tribute should be opening a show. I found out why they did after the first song. The guitar player does a good job at playing Rush songs in his Rush tribute band, Blah, but he doesn't have the sparkle to play Roth era VH songs. I was very bored of their set. But glad we showed up early because it was packed. The Metallica tribute the singer doesn't play guitar or sound anything like James. The rest of the band had t-shirts and jeans on. Which I prefer. Just go out there and do the music justice and not worry about looking like them. But I think i'm in the minority in that thinking. So this brings me to to my delima. I really want to start an Anthrax "cover" band. But I'm afraid the crowd will not support the band for not looking like them. Is it that important for the tribute band to look, sound and act like the band they are paying tribute to? What is the most important aspect do you guys think? I also sing in an original band so this will be just for fun for me. I call pull off the vocals really well but that's about it. But I don't think that's enough. I think the people would want more. One of the reason I'm asking is because I see a lot of musicians rag on tribute bands. I just want to understand why before I move forward. In my opinion SOUND is the main aspect. But I feel the common fan doesn't care at about that. I want to call it a cover band because when you say you're paying tribute to a band, in my opinion, you better look, act and sound like the real thing. I have yet to see a tribute band that makes me feel like I'm watching the real thing. Jason McMaster's old school Metallica tribute, Killa Maul, they come close. Exit Stage Left kicks ass but the singer doesn't sound like Geddy.