Here we are, mid-summer, and the concert scene is hot, literally and figuratively. With more indoor or outdoor venues than ever available in the area, the choices can be inundating. Lately, I’ve found myself prioritizing seeing artists that, well, might not be doing live stage shows much longer.
Important transitions happen to musicians across the years, and it goes like this: If your favorite performer or group started up less than a decade ago, it’s likely you’ll see the original group on stage. After that, expect a “dropoff,” as founding members start falling by the wayside, leaving for a variety of personal or professional reasons.
The essence of a band, or rather its brand, generally holds together if replacement musicians perform up to par. The biggest difference comes with the loss of the lead singer(s), the voice(s) of the band that projects its uniquely iconic sound. To keep the group’s “brand” as closely intact as possible, a “sound-alike” vocalist is brought in. Not really the same, but, you know, just listen while squinting your eyes and imagine what you heard on the radio in bygone days, and you convince yourself it’s just as good. Still worth the $120 ticket, right?
Like life, as time marches on, more things will happen to your aging group. Boomers and Gen Xers know this well. I attended a Little River Band concert a few years ago at the River City Amphitheater. Musically and vocally, they were absolutely on point. These gray-haired dudes sounded as outstanding as they did in the ‘70s! But wait, I later learned all the members of this “Australian” band were from the United States, most from Tennessee. This wasn’t the group I listened to 40 years ago. Doesn’t that make them a “tribute” band? No, as I found out that LRB’s body of work had been sold over to an entirely new set of musicians. The band, or rather “brand,” survives!
So when I bought tickets to see the Marshall Tucker Band next month, I was thrilled to learn the lead singer who knocks out the classic “can’t be wrong” line is still with the group after 55 years! Two days after my purchase, however, his doctor apparently advised him to step back from the stage. What!? That’s not what I expected, and if I had known, I would have balked at the tickets. No original members remain, so isn’t this a type of “tribute” band now? Why no, the venue’s box office informed me. The lead singer is still “connected” with the tour, so contractually it’s still the MTB. Does this mean he’ll wave from the side of the stage? Who knows, it’s a risk you take. But the “brand” — and the money it pulls in — still lives.
The situation can be more dicey as performers get a lot older. I jumped at it when I heard legendary trumpeter Herb Alpert was coming to town next month on the 60th anniversary of his album featuring “Taste of Honey,” a catchy tune that was one of my earliest music memories. My family had the album, which featured a brunette-haired woman looking alluringly at the camera, completely covered in whipped cream.
Herb is now 90, and I was admittedly embarrassed to ask the box office if there were refunds given for “unexpected news.” I was told no, but according to reviews, he still has the lungs to belt out a fantastic two-hour show. Keep going, Herb, I’m rooting for you! You’re irreplaceable.
