Give some love to a local tribute bands – from Starship to Joni Mitchell
Original members versus tributes
This week seems like a good time to put in a word for tribute acts, since they are obviously plentiful in the suburban area. Many of these groups are comprised of fine musicians who have honed their craft for decades and can really deliver the music of your favorite stars with precision, if not quite the charisma of the real acts. It is always a balancing act for fans, whether to pay the often astronomical ticket prices for the big-name stars, or simply opt for the much more affordable local tribute acts. Just what you might pay to park for a big stadium show could be less than the cover charge for tickets to a tribute act, and at the lower-priced show, you won't have to deal with the traffic jam afterwards either. It is also imperative to check out your vintage bands to see just how "vintage" they really are, because if they don't have many original or at least long-term members, you could be, in effect, just seeing a tribute act anyway.
Friday night's double bill at the Lynn Auditorium is a good example, with Starship and Foghat sharing the bill in what seems like a neat double-header of classic rock from the '70s and '80s. But both bands at this point boast only one original member. Starship – the outgrowth of Jefferson Starship after Paul Kanter left in 1984 – had its biggest hit in 1985 with "We Built This City," and the good news is that their remaining original member is singer Mickey Thomas. And today's Starship has rock vet John Roth, an alumnus of Black Oak Arkansas and Winger, on lead guitar. Foghat was at the forefront of British "blooze," but relocated to the States in 1972, and went on to earn eight gold albums and one platinum. Their only remaining original member is drummer Roger Earl, but their lead guitarist/singer is Scott Holt, a young man who previously played in Buddy Guy's band. Both of these acts appear to be highly professional, polished acts performing their classic songbooks, and fans can find musical clips online to judge whether they are worth the price of tickets. But with any vintage musical acts, it is always advisable to do a little research, and keep an open mind about local tribute acts.
THURSDAY, Feb. 29: Atlanta Rhythm Section coming to Plymouth
The Atlanta Rhythm Section has a string of hits and a lineup of superb musicians to bring that classic groove to the Spire Center in Plymouth. Martha's Vineyard funk-rock troupe Entrain delights City Winery in Boston. Maryland ska and rock band Ballyhoo! is sure to shake up Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Alt-rocker Madi Diaz sings at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Local country thrush Valerie Barretto is at Alba on 53 in Hanover. Destin Conrad is a 22-year-old R&B singer whose music garnered 85 million streams on Vine, and he's at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston. The Bored Teachers Comedy Tour has sold out Memorial Hall in Plymouth.
FRIDAY, March 1: Jon Pousette-Dart bringing his folk-rock to Scituate
The vintage folk-rock sounds of Jon Pousette-Dart at The River Club Music Hall in Scituate. Country star Scotty McCreery arrives at MGM Music Hall in Boston. Cliffside Push is a band devoted to the music of Phish, at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Comedian Dan Toomey gets the Spire Center in Plymouth rollicking. Street Survivors – a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute – is at The District Center for the Arts in Taunton. South Carolina rocker Hannah Wicklund, about to break through to bigger things, shakes up Brighton Music Hall. Twin Temple – described as "a Satanic doo-wop duo," – does their thing at Royale in Boston. Nasty Habits – a Rolling Stones tribute – at The Met Cafe in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A Fall Collective Celebrating Women's History Month at Club Passim in Harvard Square brings in Puerto Rican cuatro star Fabiola Mendez, with Olivia Soler. The TeleDynes roots-rock Nicakneee's in Providence, Rhode Island. Jazz vibraphonist Warren Wolf and his quintet at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston. Comic Tiera O'Leary headlines City Winery in Boston. The RegattaBar in Cambridge has a whole weekend of legendary saxophonist George Coleman and his quartet, with two shows Friday and Saturday.
SATURDAY, March 2: The Beach Bums hit Pembroke
The Spire Center in Plymouth has something really different; master illusionist and magician Lyn Dillies opens a two-night stay at the venue. The Subtronics' Tesseract tour brings dubstep to MGM Music Hall in Boston. The Beach Bums – a tribute to the Beach Boys – let's Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke know the surf is up. The insistent rhythms of Burna Boy fill TD Garden in Boston. Perennial favorites the Racky Thomas Band get down at The Next Page Cafe in Weymouth. Boston Harbor Distillery offers two folk-rock bands with Noble Dust and Love Crumbs. Jazz fusion when Bill Frisell's Three hit the Narrows Center in Fall River. Folk singer Dietrich Strause at Club Passim in Cambridge. The funk-rock frivolity of The Floozies at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Songsmith Lamont Landers at Cafe 939 in Boston. Crystal Ship – the Doors tribute – at The District Center for the Arts in Taunton. A Band of Killers performs at Warehouse XI in Somerville. Folkie Antje Duvekot sings at Harmony on the Green Coffeehouse in Lexington. Mutoid Man rocks The Sinclair in Cambridge. Songwriter Grant Lee Phillips, former frontman for the alt-rock band Grant Lee Buffalo, has sold out tonight's City Winery Haymarket Lounge show in Boston, but he's back there Sunday night too. Pianist Michael Weiss and his trio at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.
SUNDAY, March 3: Blues jam in Rockland continues
The Sunday afternoon (4-8 p.m.) blues jam hosted by the Michele Rockwell Band continues to be a hit at Players in Rockland. Sunday night, catch some jazz and R&B when MoBetta Brown arrives at City Winery's main room in Boston.
Coming attractions
MONDAY: Rapper BabyTron heats up Big Night Live in Boston; while Fleetwood Mask is the tribute act at City Winery in Boston; and Berklee College of Music professor Ayn Inserto's Jazz Orchestra performs some of her compositions at The RegattaBar in Cambridge.
TUESDAY: Jonathan Richman will be playing the state's rock anthem (at least it should be), "Roadrunner," when he arrives at the Spire Center in Plymouth with star drummer Tommy Larkin in tow; The Dandy Warhols rock Royale in Boston; Porno for Pyros – the Jane's Addiction offshoot with Perry Farrell – headlines the House of Blues in Boston; The Green's reggae rock at The Paradise Rock Club; and don't forget the residency of Boston jazz-rock quartet Neighbor continues at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke.
WEDNESDAY: Grateful Wednesdays continue at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke with Playing Dead; Tank and the Bangas rock at City Winery in Boston; The Duppy Conquerors reggae at The Lizard Lounge in Cambridge; and Hurrah for the Riff Raff alt-rocks The Sinclair in Cambridge.
MARCH 7: Ohio's Red Wanting Blue is simply one of the best rock bands anywhere, with smart lyrics and a driving heartland sound, at City Winery in Boston; The Mike Iannatuoni Quartet grooves for jazz fans at the Spire Center in Plymouth.
MARCH 8: Plymouth's own Delta Generators light up Boston Harbor Distillery in Dorchester; Buffalo Springfield alumnus, and half of Loggins & Messina, Jim Messina returns to the Narrows Center in Fall River; and the all-star instrumental group Circles Around the Sun plays at Brighton Music Hall.
MARCH 9: Danny Klein's Full House tribute to the J. Geils Band headlines The District Center for the Arts in Taunton; acclaimed songwriter Lisa Bastoni is at Club Passim in Cambridge; and Beantown rock quintet Co-Pilot headlines Brighton Music Hall.
MARCH 30: It's looking way ahead, but we're betting the Back to the Garden tribute to Joni Mitchell performed by Dawna Hammers will be a hot ticket at the Spire Center in Plymouth.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Where to see live music near Quincy and Boston from Feb. 29-March 3
