Local bands dress up and play famous
by Paige M. Travis
The joy of Halloween is embodying your idols, indulging a hidden part of your personality, or acting out a fantasy that doesn't come to light on other days of the year. Perhaps more than the rest of us, rock musicians get to live the fantasy every time they perform. Young players ape the moves of their favorite rock stars, play air instruments and shake their booties MTV-style in front of the mirror. Grown up (supposedly) players internalize their musical inspirations into an individual performance style. They don't necessarily want to be Axl Rose or Ozzy Osbourne anymore, but they've undoubtedly internalized a bit of their heroes' licks and stage presence. Halloween is the perfect time to let those old rock 'n' roll fantasies live again—and in public.
Three years ago, the Pilot Light hosted its first Halloween Masquerade Show wherein a handful of local bands played the songs—and copped the moves—of their more famous musical brethren. The concept stuck and has spread to other Old City venues; Barley's and the ThInQ Tank will host musical masquerades of their own this year. In their own words, the representatives of four local bands reveal their inspirations to embody the performers they admire.
Jason Trout of God Star Social on Television (Pilot Light)
Why Television? "Well, aside from the fact that they are one of God Star's biggest influences, they released what I consider to be one of the 10 greatest rock albums of all time in Marquee Moon, their debut album from 1977. I've always been way into the late '70s CBGB's movement in New York with Television, The Ramones, Talking Heads, and Patti Smith, and it's just exciting to step into that time and try and stir up some of that energy."
Challenges: "There have been challenges in getting these songs right. I mean, we respect this music way too much to do a half-ass job. The biggest challenge for me has been getting the vocal phrasing down while playing some very unique guitar rhythms, but I've got it now. Tom Verlaine's voice came quite easy. He basically just sings with this nervous delivery, so, come on, that's not much of a stretch for someone with an anxiety disorder. Mostly though, we're having fun—it's impossible not to when you're playing songs this good."
Strict interpretation or spirited homage? "We are doing a spot on imitation for sure. In fact, I'll take it a step further and tell you that those who are present at the Pilot Light on Halloween will see Television from 1977. We're channeling! I'm already in character."
What's the band wearing? "We're fortunate in that poor musicians in 1977 look a lot like poor musicians in 2003. The hair is the only real challenge. Television's drummer had that Juan Epstein from Welcome Back Kotter thing going on. That's rough. I just have to dye mine black."
Jonathan Kelly of The Rockwells on The Beatles (Pilot Light)
Why The Beatles? "We're specifically doing songs from A Hard Day's Night, which is, I would say, the pinnacle of the Beatles as a rock and roll combo. It was the peak of Beatlemania, when they were all still very excited about being famous. But one of the things about Hard Day's Night is that it tends to be viewed as a pop record, which it most certainly is, but not necessarily as a rock record. That would be one of my main complaints with the term 'Beatlesque.' It's a reference to things that are all pop and no rock. We're trying to play these songs as what they are: kick-ass rock songs."
Have you played any Beatles songs in previous shows? "Not really as the Rockwells, although we have worked up a version of "Two of Us" off of Let it Be that we're really happy with; it will probably make an appearance in our set from time to time. Beatles songs have are actually pretty tough to cover. They're easy to do passable versions of, but much harder to make your own. Plus, there's the eternal question: "Why do a cover of a song that they got right the first time." There's a stigma attached to covering songs to begin with, but it's particularly strong with the Beatles."
Challenges: "Beatles songs are notoriously tough to cover, not the least reason being that they were an extremely tight band. As for'being' the Beatles, it hasn't been a concern. We're not trying to be them. We're just trying to play the songs right; that's challenging enough."
Strict interpretation or spirited homage? "Neither, really, but spirited is an appropriate word to use. We're not going to act like or talk like the Beatles. That would be embarrassing for everyone involved. We've bent the way we play a little to do this; the arrangements are fairly faithful. The idea is to play the songs stripped down, to play the songs as a rock band."
What's the band wearing? "We're not exactly sure. Not suit jackets, definitely. Probably dress shirts, black ties, and maybe vests. We have neither the money nor the desire, I guess, to do it up authentically, but we would like to match. It is, after all, Halloween. It's a night to dress up and have fun. That's my plan, anyway."
Dave Campbell of The Coveralls on Guns 'n' Roses (ThInQ Tank)
Why Guns 'n' Roses? "As the Coveralls, we do '60s and '80s covers. We don't pick the old cheesy '80s; they're all rockers. Jonathan Sexton [of Red House Project] has a real high range. He's going to be Axl Rose. We've been working on it for a month and a half. Chris Canada is Slash, Bryan Garvey is Duff, I'm the first drummer, Steven Adler, Joe E. Mayhem McLemore is Izzy."
Have you played any GNR songs in previous shows? "We've done 'Paradise City' and 'Sweet Child of Mine.' It's weird because I usually sing lead on 'Sweet Child,' but being the drummer it's hard to work the crowd up when you're singing like Axl and playing drums."
What's the band wearing? "As the Coveralls, we wear suits....and then we'll go back and change into GNR. Everybody in the band has wigs, except Jonathan. Chris has the Slash wig, but he's having trouble finding the top hat."Strict interpretation or spirited homage? "We stay pretty strict to the songs as far as form goes, but we've added some harmonies. Axl layered his tracks like 20 times in the studio, so there's no way we can compete with that on stage. So we add our own harmonies. You'll see the difference from when we're the Coveralls. We're going to have the GNR attitude."
J.C. Haun of Limit Nine on Black Sabbath's Paranoid (Barley's)
Why Black Sabbath? "Just because it was a good match for Halloween. They're a dark band, and it's just an old album. I've grown to love Sabbath lately. This album—I've been amazed by it."
What's the band wearing? "We're not going to dress up as Black Sabbath, just do the album. Right now we're thinking about dressing up as The Lost Boys, but that's not set in stone. We're still trying to figure it out.... Tommy has a wooden finger and I'm not ready to lose mine yet."
Strict interpretation or spirited homage? "I've spent three weeks perfecting these licks. I just want to make sure it's authentic."
October 30, 2003 * Vol. 13, No. 44
© 2003 Metro Pulse
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