AXS TV Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands - Bon Jovi - Blaze of Glory

As I get more exposure to the tribute band scene, I am seeing that it has developed into its own subculture. Most of my exposure to tribute bands in the past have been at concerts in the park at my local City Hall. Some are good and some should not quit their day jobs. With the baby boomers getting older and a lot of the bands from our youth have either stopped touring or are no longer alive to tour, we have moved over to tribute bands as a way to hang on to some part of our youth.

Each week I see a lot of the same people. One of the regulars, Manny has a dedicated Facebook page covering most of the tribute bands through out So Cal. He seems to be everywhere.  Maybe there is more than one of him. Some are just fans and enjoy seeing some great performers. However, many of these baby boomers are not just fans of a particular band,  they have become fans of specific tribute bands.  Each week when I talk to the different people at the show,  I will hear them talking about where they saw the particular tribute band in the past. This reminds me of people touring with the Grateful Dead or Jimmy Buffet and seeing every show on a tour.

This weeks Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands  on AXS TV brought out Blaze of Glory, The Bon Jovi Experince from Dallas Texas. Being from Dallas, no body really knew who they were. They did not have the mass of fans to support them here in LA.  Unlike last week when I felt like I was in a sardine can, the crowd was very light.  there were some of the regulars who just want to see a good band perform. While it is human nature to go see and do the things you know, I kind of felt bad for the band.  But by the time the show started the room was pretty full and the crowd was very much into the show.  Those who attended were not disappointed.

Trae had the Bon Jovi look and sound down.  He even has the same tattoos that Bon Jovi has on his arms. Roy Lee was able to deliver the Richie Sambora sound on the guitar and on vocals.  Bassist Dave is every bit the rocker as his counter part Hugh McDonald is. On keyboards, Boris and as with many key board players is off in the corner and is not always seen.  However, you could not miss his sound.  He was able to easily fill the shoes of Bon Jovi keyboardist Dave Bryan. It was hard to see Wayne and even hard to get any good pictures with the drum kit he was playing on. Wayne brought the hard-hitting rhythm of drummer Tico Torres.

These guys deserved their spot on Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands and I am sure they pack the house in Dallas. 

Go to my web site to see more pictures from last nights show, JM Photography. Or follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates

Dave

Wayne & Dave

Trae

Boris, Trae, Wayne & Dave

Trae & Dave

Roy Lee & Trae

Dave

Trae

Roy Lee

Roy Lee

Roy Lee

Roy Lee, Trae & Dave

Roy Lee, Trae & Dave

Roy Lee

Boris

Boris & Trae

Boris & Trae

Trae

Roy Lee

Roy Lee, Trae,  Wayne & Dave

AXS TV Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands - Pink Floyd - Which One's Pink

When I arrived at the show,  the parking structure had a familiar aroma to it.  There was a group in a car setting the mood for the Pink Floyd tribute show.  As I walked up to the Roxy, the line was longer than normal and you could hear the band running though their sound check from outside. You could tell this was going to be a good

When the doors opened at 7:00, the room filled up quickly. The guy next to me was already hammered and still sipping on a flask. The room soon had the same aroma as I smelled in the parking structure. This was truely a tribute to the 70's.

As the curtain rose for week 6 of AXS TV Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands we heard the ring of a cash register and the iconic bass riff from Which One's Pink. I was taken back to 70s when music was played from vinyl records. Paul Samarin sounded great. He had David Gilmour down to a tee.  Michael Forbes a guest saxophonist was spot on. And Scott Richards had the Roger Water bass down.

As the band continued it was clear that Which One's Pink have perfected the Pink Floyd sound.  Each song was played to the same level as the real band.  The singers have tuned their voices to sound as remarkably close to their counter parts.  The lighting and laser helped to set the stage for a great tribute to Pink Floyd.

As the band ended the first set and  Katie Daryl came on the stage before the commercial break, the crowd was so loud that I could not hear a word she was saying from less than 3 feet way.  It was evident by the crowds enthusiasm that Which One's Pink is the best Pink Floyd tribute band around.

The second set was short but just as good.  With these shows only being an hour long, they fly by. We got the very best of Pink Floyd by the very best Which One's Pink. I would highly recommend seeing these guys.  Check out their web page and see them the next chance you get.

The first set included Money, Happiest Days of Our Lives, Another Brick in the Wall, Part II, Breathe, Time, Hey You, Empty Spaces and Young Lust.

The second set comprised of Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb, Run Like Hell and Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun.

Go to my web site to see more pictures from last nights show, JM Photography. Or follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates

 Michael Forbes

Michael Forbes & Allen Moreno

Dan Johnson & Allen Moreno

Allen Moreno & Nick Feduska

Nick Feduska

Allen Moreno

Nick Feduska & Larry Isenberg

Paul Samarin

Scott Richards

Allen Moreno

Paul Samarin, Marty Brumer & Allen Moreno

Paul Samarin & Allen Moreno

Paul Samarin & Allen Moreno

Paul Samarin

Marty Brumer

Paul Samarin

Allen Moreno & Larry Isenberg

Allen Moreno

Scott Richards

Dan Johnson

AXS TV Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands - Alice Cooper - Alice in Cooperland

We reach the half way point of season 2 from AXS TV's Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands. There was a lot of anticipation for this weeks show for two reasons.  One, Alice Cooper was one of my favorite bands growing up.  I loved the Welcome To My Nightmare album.  I could never get enough of Cold Ethel. And I always looked forward to the end of the school year when all of the radio stations would play School's Out. The second was Katie said in tweet last week that she was "shopping for new slutty dresses to wear on The World's Greatest Tribute Bands." If you saw the show, you know the answer, If not,  scroll down and you will see what she picked up.

When the curtain rose, the stage looked like Vincent Price's living room. Complete with a coffin, a guillotine and several decapitated dolls.  Alice in Cooperland opened with Billion Dollar Babies and Alice appeared from his coffin.   The show was filled with all of the theatrics of a real Alice Cooper concert, including a Wayne and Garth, we're not worth appearance. No Alice Cooper show would be complete without the slutty nurse and the secret service to protect Alice when he is Elected. The show was loud and the band sounded great.  All of the band members are top notch musicians and are worth seeing out side of the tribute show. 

There was also a special appearance by David Brighton, the lead singer from the David Bowie tribute band Space Oddity.  Space Oddity was the first show of season two and a great show to watch.

The Alice in Cooperland band member consists of Jeff Schofield on Lead guitar, Rob Lontok on Bass, Jeff Page on Drums, Michael Jacobson on Keyboards and Larry Cornwall as Alice.  There were also several stage hands/props to assist with the show including the slutty nurse / dominatrix / throat slashing victim to give the show the realism of a real Alice Cooper concert.

If you are a Alice Cooper fan, I highly recommend seeing Alice in Cooperland.  You will not be disappointed.

The first set opened with Billion Dollar Babies and then continued with I'm Eighteen, Feed My Frankenstein,  Under My Wheels, Only Women Bleed, Welcome To My Nightmare, Go to Hell, Poison, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Be My Lover, Killer, and to finish the first set, I Love the Dead.

The second set was short and sweet with School's Out, Elected and Cold Ethel.

Go to my web site to see more pictures from last nights show, JM Photography. Or follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates