Line Out - Comments on Are Cover Bands Cool If You're Not a Cheeseball? http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee Three things have been capturing my attention lately on the subject of cover bands. 1) The upcoming performance of No Quarter, the world's premier Led Zeppelin cover band, at the Tractor on 2/23: They boast "Authentic Costuming!" and "Exclusive Audio... Copyright 2008 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:34:30 -0800 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:33:16 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by chops 1] there is a difference between 'cover band' and 'tribute band'. degrees of cheese TBD.

2] covers can be used for good, and covers can be used for evil.

]]> chops http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919707 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919707 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:53:18 -0800 Comment by cosby i want to point out that one of the greatest music projects ever could be labeled a cover band: this mortal coil. 'it'll end in tears' is an unfuckwitable masterpiece.

oh, and nouvelle vague are not bad either, right?

]]> cosby http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919757 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919757 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:08:31 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool But This Mortal Coil and Nouvelle Vague (and Seu Jorge, if you want another example) are all like the Cramps--playing cover songs that they basically completely re-worked into new songs, with just the basic melody and lyrics remaining. I want to outright cover things, like No Quarter. But not with cheese.

]]> Ari Spool http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919770 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919770 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:13:16 -0800 Comment by trent moorman Your Taco Bell comparison is right on.

There were these guys I saw in Athens, GA a few times called 'the Back Doors.' Doors cover band, imagine that. They would always pack wherever they played. It was right when the Doors movie came out. The guy who was Morrison thought he was actually Morrison. He wore this frikking wig. Even after the show, he stayed in character. They were playing a frat house one time and my friends and I infiltrated. After the show we found the Morrison singer and got into a conversation with him. I ripped off his wig and ran off. He chased me and tripped me, but I handed the wig off to one of my friends who made it out with the wig. It was one of the greatest nights of my life.

]]> trent moorman http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919810 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919810 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:26:50 -0800 Comment by trent moorman Wait they were a Doors 'Tribute' Cover Band.

]]> trent moorman http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919814 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919814 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:28:44 -0800 Comment by cosby i think it's funny / sad that 3/4 of the doors are in a doors tribute band with the ex-lead singer fuel.

]]> cosby http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919882 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919882 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:44:41 -0800 Comment by cosby question: has a tribute band ever had an audience bigger than a fraction of the tributee's original act?

]]> cosby http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919883 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919883 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:46:02 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool Answer: Sort of. Velvet Revolver.

]]> Ari Spool http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919890 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c919890 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:47:46 -0800 Comment by um ... Bikini Kill? Really?

]]> um ... http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920014 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920014 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:27:41 -0800 Comment by Morgan What??? No Quarter is an awesome song.

]]> Morgan http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920041 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920041 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:37:24 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool #9: Yes, but it changes semi-weekly.

#10: It's the worst Led Zeppelin song. I always skip it. It's especially a letdown coming right after "D'yer Mak'er", in which John Bonham seems to be having the fun of his life. Why listen to "No Quarter" when "The Ocean" could just be the next song you listen to?

]]> Ari Spool http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920056 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920056 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:46:45 -0800 Comment by I'm a Nuclear Bomb No Quarter is one of my favorite Zeppelin songs. It's dark and moody and John Paul Jone's organ intro on it fucking slays. Nirvana would later attempt to cover this song and fail miserably.

As for D'Yer Mak'er, that song was originally intended to be a reggae jam. Plant and Page really wanted to make it work but Bonham could not figure out how to play a reggae beat.

I have read "Hammer of the Gods" cover to cover more times than any other book.

Please kill me.

Cover bands have their place. I lost count on how many times I saw No. 13 Baby before the Pixies decided to reunite.

]]> I'm a Nuclear Bomb http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920131 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920131 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:20:07 -0800 Comment by Dougsf I wouldn't even worry about the "acceptability" (mostly in quotes in case I spelled it wrong) of your (future) cover-replete band, just do it! Up until maybe 25 years ago, just about every band had roots in doing sets of covers until their originals caught on. It's still rock n' roll.

Of course, if you're too closely aping the originals, it's just live karaoke. You have to make it your own, at least somewhat

All this "we're bad but it's cute" business is a pretty recent phenomena, really. Start covering those tracks you love, and see what it turns into.

]]> Dougsf http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920151 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920151 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:29:05 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo Speaking from experience, the best way to know if you are using the power of covers for good or evil is how sordid you feel about it during and immediately afterward. If the power of rock is truly flowing through your veins, you will find you want to burst out laughing or do a David Lee Roth spin-kick. If it is merely cheese fondue running through your veins, you will feel bloated, sluggish and full of shame.

]]> flamingbanjo http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920206 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920206 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:52:05 -0800 Comment by Paulus Ari, go see No Quarter. They destroy. Their Bonzo is worth the ticket price alone. Actually, he's the main reason to go.

]]> Paulus http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920249 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920249 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:27:28 -0800 Comment by rk "Cover bands have their place. I lost count on how many times I saw No. 13 Baby before the Pixies decided to reunite."

Those guys really sound like the Pixies should sound, but don't anymore. And they don't wear costumes or hairpieces.

]]> rk http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920317 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920317 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:36:24 -0800 Comment by Hernandez Punk rock Phil Collins cover band. Let's do it - call me.

]]> Hernandez http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920383 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c920383 ??!! Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:54:31 -0800 Comment by Stan OMG!!! You should definitly see these guys. If you are a Zeppelin fan you can't help but appreciate what these guys are doing. They maybe cheezballs but they are also excellent musicians and sound just as good as the real thing.
I just found the myspace site. Go to www.myspace.com/noquarterzeppelintribute to check them out.

]]> Stan http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c921548 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c921548 ??!! Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:47:30 -0800 Comment by pox Playing covers is perfectly good, honest, work. If any song you didn't write is a "cover", then 99% of all musicians at any given time are playing covers. Was Miles Davis cheesy? Yo Yo Ma? Two-thirds of Nirvana?

]]> pox http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923014 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923014 ??!! Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:22:51 -0800 Comment by Babes4Barack I think you should consider a muppet's cover band.

]]> Babes4Barack http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923604 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923604 ??!! Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:22:13 -0800 Comment by kebabs There's a Beatles cover band called the Fab Faux, made up of the guitarist from Conan O'Brien and the bassist from Letterman. They don't care about Authentic Costuming or correct vintage instruments. They just care about sounding good, which they do. And they cover songs from the entire Beatles catalog, not just the "She Loves You" early era.

]]> kebabs http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923646 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923646 ??!! Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:42:31 -0800 Comment by No Quarter Cheeseballs? Cheeznuts?
Just not Cornnuts...I hate Cornnuts.
Oh, just come out and see us... you will enjoy it!
Whether you want to or not!

www.myspace.com/noquarterzeppelintribute

CM
aka-JPJ

]]> No Quarter http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923978 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c923978 ??!! Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:44:29 -0800 Comment by bobcat The Dead Hensons from SF already do all your Muppet/Sesame/Electric Company cover goodness. Played at the Funhouse a while ago, it was awesome hearing everyone singing 'Rainbow Connection' at the top of their voices wasted

]]> bobcat http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c924686 http://lineout.thestranger.com/2008/02/are_cover_bands_cool_if_youre_not_a_chee#c924686 ??!! Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:33:16 -0800