It's official!

Jon3b

Blues Newbie
Frank, I told Willie that I had the BGU trip planned so I wouldn't be available. As it turns out, he doesn't have any gigs that week.
I did get his schedule and we have a gig (that I may not be able to make)  on March 17 in Corinth,Tx, then one in Denton,Tx on March 30. In April, we have gigs in Kansas City, Mo on the 11th, in Rockford Il on the 13th, Mankato Mn. On the14th then back to Tx for two shows in Del Rio on the 26 th & 27th.

  Is that Rockford, Il date April 13th? Is not very far, a couple hours drive, from here. Toss me a little more info and I'll try to make that show.
 

FrankL

Mr. Bites Off More Than I Can Chew
Frank, I told Willie that I had the BGU trip planned so I wouldn't be available. As it turns out, he doesn't have any gigs that week.
I did get his schedule and we have a gig (that I may not be able to make)  on March 17 in Corinth,Tx, then one in Denton,Tx on March 30. In April, we have gigs in Kansas City, Mo on the 11th, in Rockford Il on the 13th, Mankato Mn. On the14th then back to Tx for two shows in Del Rio on the 26 th & 27th.

Well, it doesn't sound like you'll be anywhere near Colorado cuz if you were I'd make it a point to make to your show.  I guess I'll just have to see you at BGU Live.  And now it sounds like you have an invitation to sit in as guess bassist for some of the rest of us. 
 

MikeS

Student Of The Blues
Staff member
Mike that's just awesome news.

I know in my neck of the woods the whole "tribute act" thins is really huge right now. In fact, it's pretty tough to get a gig if you're NOT in a tribute band of some sort.

If you're ever in my neck of the woods please let me know and we'll come out and see the show.

And by the way - Mark mentioned that if anyone wants to sit in on bass he's more than happy to take a break at any time throughout the afternoon :)

[smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

Griff

Yeah, it's good for guys like me, but not so good for others. At one of the casinos just over the border in OK, tribute bands get the weekend gigs, while Buddy Guy, B.B. King and others get mid week slots.

As far as sitting in on bass, that would be cool and a real challenge. From what I've seen so far, blues bass is much harder than the simple oom-pah bass lines in Willie's songs.
 

KevenKanten

Blues Newbie
Mike that's just awesome news.

I know in my neck of the woods the whole "tribute act" thins is really huge right now. In fact, it's pretty tough to get a gig if you're NOT in a tribute band of some sort.

If you're ever in my neck of the woods please let me know and we'll come out and see the show.

And by the way - Mark mentioned that if anyone wants to sit in on bass he's more than happy to take a break at any time throughout the afternoon :)

[smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

Griff

Yeah, it's good for guys like me, but not so good for others. At one of the casinos just over the border in OK, tribute bands get the weekend gigs, while Buddy Guy, B.B. King and others get mid week slots.

As far as sitting in on bass, that would be cool and a real challenge. From what I've seen so far, blues bass is much harder than the simple oom-pah bass lines in Willie's songs.

Congrats Mike. The experience should help you leap frog in skills.

hmmm... I'm conflicted over tribute bands. Shameful here where a tribute band for Queen can sell more tickets on the same night than Robert Plant? Shame. One is a living legend and the other are living on someone else's career is how I see it.

Reminds me of the 70's and 80's when if you weren't playing the top 10, you couldn't get a gig in this city if you played original music.

Different strokes for different folks. And one of my clients used to be The Booking House in Canada which is the major tribute act booking/management company this side of the 49th parallel. Led to a fun ad campaign "Britney Spears on your reserve? Almost!" Had a series of them.

But I guess they play the soundtrack to a lot of people's memories and even the original artists can't be trusted to play the old standards.

But for those like me... I like original music and I can be honest, I don't think I'd ever pay to see a tribute band when I can go see someone playing original music across the street.

But for the experience... congrats Mike.
 

MikeS

Student Of The Blues
Staff member
One is a living legend and the other are living on someone else's career is how I see it.

In our case, My "Willie" actually got a meeting with Willie Nelson to get his approval/blessing, so if it's ok with Willie (he felt that anything that keeps people listening to his music is good for him), I don't see how it could be a problem. Also, how is it any worse than listening to a Willie Nelson (or any bands) song on YouTube or the radio? (Except that he's better)

Reminds me of the 70's and 80's when if you weren't playing the top 10, you couldn't get a gig in this city if you played original music.

Well, most people that go out for an evening want to hear songs that they know, can sing along or dance with. Clearly not all people, but I'd bet that if you could poll the general public, you would find that over 90% want to hear what they know.

But I guess they play the soundtrack to a lot of people's memories and even the original artists can't be trusted to play the old standards. 

Exactly right!


But for those like me... I like original music and I can be honest, I don't think I'd ever pay to see a tribute band when I can go see someone playing original music across the street.
But for the experience... congrats Mike.

Afraid I disagree here. Most original music I've heard at clubs is self indulgent delusion. Plainly, it's crap. Professional artist put out a CD and for the most of them they have one or at most two really good songs on it and the rest are filler (sure there are exceptions). What kind of ego would it take to think I could do better?

Fortunately for my band, you seem to be a minority. Loads of people will and do pay to see tribute bands.

Would I rather be playing a great mix of music (mostly covers, but an occasional original), instead of just Willie? Of course.
Griff recounted a conversation that he had with Walter Trout that I thought hit home  " ...we were talking about doing "less that ideal" gigs and we both had the same opinion that no matter what you're playing, it's better than the alternative of not playing."
I guess that sums up how I feel about it too.
 

Spencer

Blues Newbie
One is a living legend and the other are living on someone else's career is how I see it.

In our case, My "Willie" actually got a meeting with Willie Nelson to get his approval/blessing, so if it's ok with Willie (he felt that anything that keeps people listening to his music is good for him), I don't see how it could be a problem. Also, how is it any worse than listening to a Willie Nelson (or any bands) song on YouTube or the radio? (Except that he's better)

Reminds me of the 70's and 80's when if you weren't playing the top 10, you couldn't get a gig in this city if you played original music.

Well, most people that go out for an evening want to hear songs that they know, can sing along or dance with. Clearly not all people, but I'd bet that if you could poll the general public, you would find that over 90% want to hear what they know.

But I guess they play the soundtrack to a lot of people's memories and even the original artists can't be trusted to play the old standards. 

Exactly right!


But for those like me... I like original music and I can be honest, I don't think I'd ever pay to see a tribute band when I can go see someone playing original music across the street.
But for the experience... congrats Mike.

Afraid I disagree here. Most original music I've heard at clubs is self indulgent delusion. Plainly, it's crap. Professional artist put out a CD and for the most of them they have one or at most two really good songs on it and the rest are filler (sure there are exceptions). What kind of ego would it take to think I could do better?

Fortunately for my band, you seem to be a minority. Loads of people will and do pay to see tribute bands.

Would I rather be playing a great mix of music (mostly covers, but an occasional original), instead of just Willie? Of course.
Griff recounted a conversation that he had with Walter Trout that I thought hit home  " ...we were talking about doing "less that ideal" gigs and we both had the same opinion that no matter what you're playing, it's better than the alternative of not playing."
I guess that sums up how I feel about it too.


+1,000 brotha!  [smiley=beer.gif]
 

FishKiller

Blues Newbie
Any time you play & sing a song written by someone else---it is your tribute to that artist. I live in a place that is off the beaten path, and we get tribute bands, like Mike said--in an old movie house.  I have gone to see a few, the Pink Floyd one was Freaking Awesome!!  Maybe the Willie tribute will come here one day, keep us posted on your gigs.

Carlos
 

MikeS

Student Of The Blues
Staff member
I don't know if I'm going to be able to get video of the gig at the dealership (Don't want to set up my camera and have it walk off. maybe if I can get someone I know to tape it.)
We are going to have a professional video our gig at the Denton Country Club. From that we will have several promo videos (90 second, 3-4 Full songs and... Can't remember what the other config is).
 

PapaRaptor

Father Vyvian O'Blivion
Staff member
Mike, congratulations!  I hope you have a great time and it proves to be a very satisfying experience for you!
 

giayank

Just another day in paradise
Mike congrats . Man that is awesome news . Wishing you all the luck in the world . You keep this up and we'll have a tribute band of you. [smiley=beer.gif]  [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]
 

SunnyOne

Blues Newbie
Mike, how cool are you! Much congratulations and good luck and tons of fun in your journey! Are you going to be able to post any of your music for us? Or maybe you already have.  Much Success!!  [smiley=beer.gif]
 

MikeS

Student Of The Blues
Staff member
Sunny, here's a short clip of one of our songs. I haven't had time to convert and edit the others yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m67guMUCMS4
 

Spencer

Blues Newbie
Sunny, here's a short clip of one of our songs. I haven't had time to convert and edit the others yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m67guMUCMS4

Thanks for putting the up Mike! That was great to watch. I was wondering how your gig went. Also, with as much as "Willie" wants to keep everything authentic, how accurate is his "trigger"?? I was curious how much effort he put into relic'ing it?
 
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