Your opinions on dodgy Cure/Sisters/DM cover bands?!

[funandprofit]

Well I play in an American Sisters tribute called The Reptile House. I couldn't stand tribute bands until I joined this. It is for FUN. I get together with 3 other highly talented musicians and play music I love and music that other people love. Hell, none of us in this band are playing our main instruments of choice even. I'm a singer and play guitar here. Our singer has never even sang before this as he is a hell of a talented drummer. Bartek, you don't have to get it. You like it or you don't. We know there are plenty of die hard Sisters fans that want nothing to do with "Fake" Sisters, "Tribute" bands or whatever. I'll tell you what. We are based in San Francisco and there is a huge demand for it. We just played a sold out show at a prominent club in San Francisco on Friday with a Smiths Tribute band. Having hundreds of people sing those songs while we're playing, jumping around having a great time does it for me. We're here for us and for Sisters fans. Take us or leave us, there is no ego to bruise here. We're all in other music projects and this gives us a little break from what were doing and it bring us joy. okay, sorry, I'm rambling here....getting late and I should get to bed!

www.youtube.com/thereptilehaus

[markfiend]

Prescott, for what it's worth, I most definitely did not have TBOT in mind. Your Sisters covers aren't mindless copies, you definitely bring something of your own to the tunes.

IMO Rosetta Stone certainly had a sound of their own too (even if Porl's use of an electric 12-string may have been influenced by someone else).

The Merry Thoughts? Not so much. And what is worse, something is lost in the translation.

*Edit to add: and hell, TMT aren't even a tribute band (which I agree have their place, and can be fun), they're just a ridiculous rip-off.

[Norman Hunter]

It is for FUN.

Amen, Brother

[Norman Hunter]

Imitation is the most lucrative form of flattery.

Again, ask Noel Gallagher.

[timsinister]

EDIT: Sorry, I've re-read Phono's original post and all is clear now

What prompted this, Paul? I'm curious, as Flock has - to my vague recollection - only run one tribute band, and that was the jampacked Smurphs farewell gig

Glad to see Heartland stand up and shout out for amusing knock-offs of their favourite artists...so to speak! It's a laugh, it's a quarter of the price to see an energetic version of a band you might only see once a year in a massive venue.

Long may it continue!

[mh]

Well I play in an American Sisters tribute called The Reptile House. I couldn't stand tribute bands until I joined this. It is for FUN. I get together with 3 other highly talented musicians and play music I love and music that other people love. Hell, none of us in this band are playing our main instruments of choice even. I'm a singer and play guitar here. Our singer has never even sang before this as he is a hell of a talented drummer. Bartek, you don't have to get it. You like it or you don't. We know there are plenty of die hard Sisters fans that want nothing to do with "Fake" Sisters, "Tribute" bands or whatever. I'll tell you what. We are based in San Francisco and there is a huge demand for it. We just played a sold out show at a prominent club in San Francisco on Friday with a Smiths Tribute band. Having hundreds of people sing those songs while we're playing, jumping around having a great time does it for me. We're here for us and for Sisters fans. Take us or leave us, there is no ego to bruise here. We're all in other music projects and this gives us a little break from what were doing and it bring us joy. okay, sorry, I'm rambling here....getting late and I should get to bed!

www.youtube.com/thereptilehaus

You may be rambling sir, but you are also quite damn correct!

[Back in time]

Well I play in an American Sisters tribute called The Reptile House. I couldn't stand tribute bands until I joined this. It is for FUN. I get together with 3 other highly talented musicians and play music I love and music that other people love. Hell, none of us in this band are playing our main instruments of choice even. I'm a singer and play guitar here. Our singer has never even sang before this as he is a hell of a talented drummer. Bartek, you don't have to get it. You like it or you don't. We know there are plenty of die hard Sisters fans that want nothing to do with "Fake" Sisters, "Tribute" bands or whatever. I'll tell you what. We are based in San Francisco and there is a huge demand for it. We just played a sold out show at a prominent club in San Francisco on Friday with a Smiths Tribute band. Having hundreds of people sing those songs while we're playing, jumping around having a great time does it for me. We're here for us and for Sisters fans. Take us or leave us, there is no ego to bruise here. We're all in other music projects and this gives us a little break from what were doing and it bring us joy. okay, sorry, I'm rambling here....getting late and I should get to bed!

www.youtube.com/thereptilehaus

Very nice, on the other hand I like tribute bends, some of them are good and some of them remind me why the original is always an original.

[sultan2075]

They've changed their location to fucking Leeds. AAAAHHHHH they're from the sodding USA. I'll put good money he's never been to Leeds in his entire life. Does he think he looks cool? Surely he knows it makes them look rediculous.

American's shouldn't be allowed Goth - they just don't get the joke.

Do you really want to get into a pissing match with a couple of kids recording in their basement in Bumblefuck, Georgia? It's unseemly. Comport yourself with a little more grace. If you don't like it, don't listen to it.

[Bartek]

just to make things clear all my posts wasn't intended to be insult or attack to ANY of HLers. i was just curious about the idea standing behind running cover band. i get your reasons and now i can say that i understand it or at least now why.

[funandprofit]

No offense taken on my part. Just explaining my thougts on it since I'm in a tribute band. Cheers

[Maisey]

They've changed their location to fucking Leeds. AAAAHHHHH they're from the sodding USA. I'll put good money he's never been to Leeds in his entire life. Does he think he looks cool? Surely he knows it makes them look rediculous.

American's shouldn't be allowed Goth - they just don't get the joke.

Do you really want to get into a pissing match with a couple of kids recording in their basement in Bumblefuck, Georgia? It's unseemly. Comport yourself with a little more grace. If you don't like it, don't listen to it.

You're right, of course.

[Prescott]

Prescott, for what it's worth, I most definitely did not have TBOT in mind. Your Sisters covers aren't mindless copies, you definitely bring something of your own to the tunes.

IMO Rosetta Stone certainly had a sound of their own too (even if Porl's use of an electric 12-string may have been influenced by someone else).

The Merry Thoughts? Not so much. And what is worse, something is lost in the translation.

*Edit to add: and hell, TMT aren't even a tribute band (which I agree have their place, and can be fun), they're just a ridiculous rip-off.

Thank you very much Mr. Fiend. We do try to put a unique spin on any cover we do. I personally do not like when people try to replicate things perfectly. That's just my preference. Although if you are a tribute band like The Reptile House, it must be a fine line to balance upon as to how much you replicate the original band's sound, from what era of the band, etc. - The Reptile House seem to sound pretty darn tootin' good to me though. Now that the Smurphs are no more they definitely fill a vacuum.

Alas, Mr. Fiend, I beg to differ with you concerning The Merry Thoughts. Mr. Arkham is a first class gentlemen, is as technically knowledgeable as Eldo himself, seems to be very well read, understands dead Danish philosophers and writes very catchy power pop songs. Which the Sisters also do. They also seem to share a friend or two. But that's besides the point. The Merry Thoughts are a true enigma to me and many other people I know. Our discussions concerning this band have ranged from "tMt are a Sisters wannabe band" to conspiracy theories that are quickly denied or debunked or someone steps in with what seems like a damage control operation and shuts the whole conversation down.

-Go Figure.

I prefer to, pretend that I believe, that they are merely a pop band currently in a state of flux, that sound amazingly close to the Sisters by pure chance, inter alia, as well as sharing countless examples of literary and musical references with the Sisters. Yet I have been at the bitter end of the counter argument that tMt also share just as much in common with Depeche Mode, or that "red shoes syndrome" can get the best of anyone.
I tow the company line now, as I don't want to rock the boat or anger anyone or worse, whatever worse could be.

- Go Figure.

So thank you again for the compliments to TBOT Mr. Fiend. We can have a private conversation about tMt through a few PM's if you'd like.

[Maisey]

I don't mind you lot chatting away about tMt - I quite like the band. Never thought of them as too Sistersey anyway (although Dreamland is just a speeded up version of Heartland).

Personally I think The Merry Thoughts sound like a slightly Germanic interpretation of classic early 90's UK Goth - closer to bands like Star Industry (yes, I know they're not from the UK) than too the Sisters.

Who are TBOH? I assume they're your band...

[funandprofit]

Your comments are much appreciated Prescott! Yes, it is a fine line. When the idea first came around to throw this together the projects originator wanted to focus on early and rare material, including FALAA. Then we started getting so many reauests for Floodland era material on top of that. Now people are asking for Vision Thing material. Now we're even considering doing Summer and Crash and Burn in the future. We're trying to keep the feel and production of whatever material we're doing, of that particular time period. Being we all work full time jobs and are involved in other projects theres only so much we can do but we feel we do a decent job. At least we usually get positive feedback. There are things though that I think we tend to put in of our own style of playing etc, that just naturally comes through. We now have the 25 anniversary of FALAA coming and we intend to do a special show playing the whole album live in its entirety with associated B-sides sprinkled in for encores. (Hey Doc, we're going to film this one!) We have 2 fog machines with more on the way as well so as much as it is FUN we're still trying to do the best we can. We really would like Sisters fans to come from our shows and feel like they might have been thrust into a Sisters show from way back.

We're all in our 40's and have been into the sisters since the early 80's so give us Yanks a break! We're doing it for FUN like I said before more than anything else It certainly isn't a moneymaker!

We have vids on our youtube page but the quality sketchy as well as dodgy sound. And yes, we know we're not every Sisters fans cup o' tea but we love doing it and we'll do it as long as people want it.

Okay, enough of my rampling part 2 Back to my hole.

[Prescott]

I don't mind you lot chatting away about tMt - I quite like the band. Never thought of them as too Sistersey anyway (although Dreamland is just a speeded up version of Heartland).

Personally I think The Merry Thoughts sound like a slightly Germanic interpretation of classic early 90's UK Goth - closer to bands like Star Industry (yes, I know they're not from the UK) than too the Sisters.

Who are TBOH? I assume they're your band...

Yes, The Brothers Of Tyranny and yes the 'O' in "Of" is to be capitalized!


I like your vocals, yet that's another point to be made. Many of us like to sing along with the music we listen to, for some of us it's only natural to like to sing along with a singer who sings in a range natural to us. If then we form our own musical endeavor and we happen to sound a bit like our favorite singer, it might be for less obvious reasons, other than simple imitation. There are people out there that stress the baritone so badly when trying to emulate Eldritch that it's embarrassing. Then there are many who sound like yourself, myself, Porl or Arkham naturally. Although production always go a long way, even for

The Brothers Of Tyranny do not sing in an assumed English accent.

[Maisey]

I just googled TBOT and the page that came up seemed to be pretty keen on The Sisters & Miserylab but I couldn't find any of your own stuff...?

I've never even tried to imitate Eldritch when I sing, I started a band because I liked singing along along to Rosetta so much, so my original point of reference is Porl. On the other hand I've spent the last few months a) trying to sing in tune more often and b) trying to sing in my own voice as much as possible. Our newest song is the closest I've come to it.

[Being645]

Nice song, Maisey and a nice performance of the band ... ...

Look here for a link to TBOT ...
http://www.myheartland.co.uk/viewtopic. ... 093#500093

[Prescott]

Thanks Being645.

[Phono Paul]

What prompted this, Paul? I'm curious, as Flock has - to my vague recollection - only run one tribute band, and that was the jampacked Smurphs farewell gig

Um, I just wondered if anyone had seen the Cureheads and/or the DM tribute act (Was it Black Celebration?) and whether they were any good live, as it were.

But you know what Heartlanders are like

Imitation is the most lucrative form of flattery.

[Padstar]

So tribute bands.....

Well for me it was and is very much for the pleasure i get from playing the songs i love, in bands with people i love.... that was very much the case in the Smurphs. Add to that the people ive met through the 12 years of smurphing and the handful of "particularly good gigs" we were fortunate enough to have been offered and there you have it.

I can see why people might look at it from the reflected glory angle but in the end do people want to see it and if so can it be such a bad thing? Ive written a tonne of songs in my time, recorded two and a bit albums of original material and have several folders of stuff ive written on the acoustic guitar.... thats just something different to me, a different buzz.

I would also say that in some small way its the general public's activities too that make the tribute scene a large one as having gigged with Grinn a fair amount, you dont see that many people as passionate about original live music as you would like to. If people made the effort to go and see original bands more there would be a lot more original music as venues would be putting them on and making it worth their while gigging.

My mindset with the Smurphs was always this;
Treat the music with respect, make sure you are slightly self deprecating as you cant take yourselves too seriously and make the same effort on stage for a man and his dog as you would for a fairly busy Shepherds Bush as you owe them a performance if they paid to get in.

Within those confines im hugely proud of the The Smurphs.

Bartek, do you play at all? Just curious fella! I only ask as im a bit of a tribute whore (previously The Sisters, Now Prince, The Wonderstuff, soon a bit of The Cure, and almost Ministry!) and i know i like tributes more just because of the outlook i have as a guitarist!

Long live The Reptile House.... hope i get to see you sometime.

Paddy.

[Bartek]

i play on bass guitar but i play only on my home, i tried to play with other but let's say didn't worked. i'm not witirng at all and even if i ''made'' some tunes i simple forget them day after.
to be fair i never been on cover band gig. and i seriously wanted to know why.

[funandprofit]

So tribute bands.....

Well for me it was and is very much for the pleasure i get from playing the songs i love, in bands with people i love.... that was very much the case in the Smurphs. Add to that the people ive met through the 12 years of smurphing and the handful of "particularly good gigs" we were fortunate enough to have been offered and there you have it.



My mindset with the Smurphs was always this;
Treat the music with respect, make sure you are slightly self deprecating as you cant take yourselves too seriously and make the same effort on stage for a man and his dog as you would for a fairly busy Shepherds Bush as you owe them a performance if they paid to get in.

Within those confines im hugely proud of the The Smurphs.


Long live The Reptile House.... hope i get to see you sometime.

Paddy.

I agree with you Paddy. I had the pleasure of being able to see you guys at the SBE and was highly impressed. I was sorry to hear it was the end of the Smurphs. Seeing you did inspire and I hope we do the songs justice. Thansk for your comments. Comradery amoungst friends within the group is another reason we do this. Nothing beats playing those songs in a fun, drama free atmosphere. I've made new friends doing this as well and these are friends ships I'll keep a life time.

[timsinister]

What prompted this, Paul? I'm curious, as Flock has - to my vague recollection - only run one tribute band, and that was the jampacked Smurphs farewell gig

Um, I just wondered if anyone had seen the Cureheads and/or the DM tribute act (Was it Black Celebration?) and whether they were any good live, as it were.

But you know what Heartlanders are like

Sorry, wheels within wheels, smoke and mirrors, chasing my own shadow...



Apologies.

[Ed Rhombus]

What prompted this, Paul? I'm curious, as Flock has - to my vague recollection - only run one tribute band, and that was the jampacked Smurphs farewell gig

Um, I just wondered if anyone had seen the Cureheads and/or the DM tribute act (Was it Black Celebration?) and whether they were any good live, as it were.

But you know what Heartlanders are like

Imitation is the most lucrative form of flattery.

I've seen The Cureheads Paul. I've also read their technical rider, which was hilarious.

Paddy's seen them too, ever the diplomat