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I’ve been thinking recently about tribute shows.
It stuck with me after writing somewhat disapprovingly two weeks back about ‘Jazz Room’ concerts happening in Tauranga throughout this year.
They are tribute shows of New Orleans jazz and Marvin Gaye soul. Aside from providing good money for musicians, the whole thing seems a very impersonal business model with music simply a convenient product.
And maybe that’s all it is. As I said then, I hang out with musicians a lot so it’s possible I don’t have the clearest view of the world. But call me a hopeless romantic or musical snob, I don’t care – I expect more from music than just being a convenient product.
So, tribute shows ... I don’t even really know how to define tribute shows. Is any concert of songs by a specific artist, by definition, a tribute show? Or do you have to dress up and pretend to sing and act like them?
Helluva lot
One thing I know: there are a helluva lot of them.
At Totara Street on August 1 there’s Woodstocked, a ‘Live Rock Tribute Fest’ featuring a set each of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Weezer, and Pearl Jam.
Meanwhile, Baycourt is already advertising Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, Credence, The Bee Gees, The Traveling Wilburys, and Fleetwood Mac, with November 22 offering a remarkable double bill: Taylor Swift at 2pm then Neil Diamond at 7pm.
Everyone has their opinion of tribute shows, whatever the exact definition. Personally, I have no interest in the pretend dress-up approach. I don’t want someone imitating someone else. But I’m all for a concert where someone’s music is interpreted and presented by someone else. Shows like that can even be revelatory.
Still, there are contradictions. I know musicians in Beatles shows who are some of the most dedicated players I’ve met, obsessed with exactly the right tone and look. Fine, it’s a Beatles show. Similarly, Pink Floyd Experience’s The Wall tour. If I went, would I want a wall? Hell yeah!
Caitriona Fallon. Photo / Brydie Thompson Photography
There’s a local show at Baycourt on August 8, which seems to be doing all the right things: Caitriona Fallon is leading a 10-piece band for Rolling in The Deep – Songs of Adele.
The ambition
Fallon is about as good a singer as I know in Tauranga, which you need to be for songs with the range of Adele’s. She’s assembled a crack band under the musical direction of arranger and sax player Mark Dennison, whose boundless CV includes the Auckland Last Waltz tribute concerts featuring Band legend Garth Hudson.
Dennison confirms the show’s ambition: “Most singers would run screaming in the other direction if they were asked to perform a night of Adele songs. They’re notoriously demanding, both emotionally and physically”. He’s been “blown away with Caitriona’s amazing voice and her generous, warm stage presence”.
“To do Adele’s music justice, we needed more instruments and vocalists,” Dennison said. “Luckily, there’s many talented musicians in the BOP, so we’ve included two local singers, a string section and Ben Wilcock from Rotorua on piano.”
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