Opinions on Dire Straits coverbands?

[benlitmaath]

Hi all,

I'm very curious to see what you guys think about the many Dire Straits coverbands out there. And the quality of the musicians in particular.

A couple examples:

I've been to The Dire Straits Experience twice with Chris White being the only DS member and liked them very much. The band plays very tight and the sound quality is very good. I do feel Terence Reis overplays at times and gives very important guitar parts his own twist, in a negative way imo. Chris White on the sax and flute is wonderful though.

Dire Straits Legacy on the other hand i can't stand. They have the most "original" members but i wouldn't go to a show even if it was free. I'm not trying to bash them or anything but i can't understand Marco Caviglia being the frontman. Maybe someone can explain this choice? I personally don't like his accent and the way he fingerpicks the songs.

I also really like the spanish coverband "Great Straits". Their frontman Oscar Rosende is an amazing guitar player and has a slight accent as well but his doesn't bother me at all. I learned how to play a lot of Dire Straits songs by listening to and watching Oscar play.

What do you guys think about the musical quality of the cover bands?

[rmarques821]

Not for me. I've listened to one of them on Youtube (I think a Spanish one) and it all just looked so phony (the guy was using a headband, a wristband and a replica of the Live Aid jacket). Not to mention the terrible accent which rendered some of the lyrics undecipherable.

But I'm not a fan of tribute bands in general at all, so maybe it's just my bias.

P.S: If you want to learn MK songs, check out dear Pavel Fomekov's Youtube channel. There's no better source.

[Robson]

I am an orthodox. A few days ago there were DSLegacy concerts in my country. I was not there. My friends were at the concerts. Opinions are mixed. It's not for me. I respect and admire Alan Clark, Mel Collins, Phil Palmer and Danny Cummings, but I am an orthodox.

[Love Expresso]

I couldn't give a toss about any of these bands. I never understood the motivation of miming as the original. The closer they get to the original, the more ridiculous it is to me. I love top 40 Bands when they are paid to make a party going, but copying artists, I just don't know why.

LE

[quizzaciously]

Not for me. I've listened to one of them on Youtube (I think a Spanish one) and it all just looked so phony (the guy was using a headband, a wristband and a replica of the Live Aid jacket). Not to mention the terrible accent which rendered some of the lyrics undecipherable.

But I'm not a fan of tribute bands in general at all, so maybe it's just my bias.

P.S: If you want to learn MK songs, check out dear Pavel Fomekov's Youtube channel. There's no better source.

Thank you for the mention

Yes, like you and LE I also don't understand cover bands, to be completely honest. Since I was a kid, I thought about cover bands as tremendous acts of self-sacrifice. I figured I'd rather not be a musician at all than play in a cover band, which is exactly what happened. But I'm a tough example; I can barely suspend my disbelief when I see another biopic movie with actors looking nothing like their real-life counterparts. It's a bit easier with music, but I still can't do it.

However, I do understand the demand is also huge. Live music is live music, and you can't take this demand away, so if you don't have a problem with that, why not? I follow some of them, and it seems like good fun. A lot of people check them out, and it's practically the only way to hear this music live. They keep it alive, literally and figuratively. Also, Mark's manager also manages Pink Floyd tribute band

[quizzaciously]

The closer they get to the original, the more ridiculous it is to me.

LE

I think you nailed it right there. If I made a tribute band, that would be something like a complete rethinking of the material. Put a choir instead of the lead vocals, play guitar solos on a mandolin, and give the craziest ideas a go. Like Postmodern Jukebox — I like these guy's versions of songs sometimes better than the original.

The original poster asked about guitar players, and it's a tough talk. I can't discuss guitar playing as I never listen to the bands in question, but I can comment on people. Oscar is the GOAT, a really fine guy. I like his openness and attitude. Marco seems to be a little over the top with his Ferraris and whatnot, maybe not somebody I'd want to have a pint of beer with. Terence, if I remember correctly, according to Chris Whitten, gave the most faithful impression of the DS guitar player and singer's work.

Accent sucks, and it's something even I get bashed over and over with my bedroom videos, I can imagine them getting tons of hate because of that. On the other hand, it's completely understandable. Just like me, they'd rather sing songs in English that are in demand than resort to performing music in their native language, which, most of the time, is of a very mediocre quality. I'd hate to do that. Better to be in a tribute band, or like me at least do lessons on YouTube.

[wayaman]

People who don't like tribute bands telling how the tribute bands should be.

It's so funny.

I think tribute bands are ok if the original band don't exists anymore. The variety in their style is perfect to suit anyone who would enjoy them.

If

[Brunno Nunes]

People who don't like tribute bands telling how the tribute bands should be.

It's so funny.

I think tribute bands are ok if the original band don't exists anymore. The variety in their style is perfect to suit anyone who would enjoy them.

If

I completely agree, I look favorably on every sincere tribute. I've watched DSL twice and I went for the songs, especially to see them performed by Alan Clark, Jack Sonni, Mel Collins, Phil Palmer and Danny. It was an experience that was worth it for me. Those sounds of TOL, TR and BIA with Alan... it was a luxury, but for me, the tribute bands from Spain are to be congratulated, each one with their own proposal and they do it very competently. "Great Straits", Alchemy Project and Brothers in Band are the ones that have an excellent structure. Honorable mention goes to Real Straits, also from Spain, very cool. I would watch them all if I had the chance and I would have a lot of fun listening to the songs of the band I love the most, made by great fans who make up each of these projects!

[Brunno Nunes]

Anyone who is a Dire Straits fan and became a guitarist due to their connection and love for these songs will easily be able to play DS songs in their band, and will naturally be encouraged to have a DS tribute band. The thrill of being a DS fan, being in a band, being able to play these songs live for an audience and contemplating the synergy is something that those who have not had this experience have no idea about. If there is demand and financial return (which is fair, since all of this is an investment), they will exist and it is good that they do. After all, where and when in this lifetime will we be able to see these songs live again, especially those who have never had the opportunity to see DS live? These bands can be important both for new generations and for those who have seen a DS concert; the band has not existed for at least three decades. What would become of the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Tchaikovsky... without classical music concerts with musicians reproducing these songs, offering that experience to the listeners? This could be a very worthy future for the legacy of bands like DS, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Police...

If there is a place with more orthodox fans than this wonderful forum, I don't know of it.

[Love Expresso]

None of these guys can reproduce the magic of seeing MK live and doing his magic. And the Mozart Beethoven Bach Chopin Tschaikowsky guys had no way of recording, DS and MK had. If you are going only for hearing the compositions, you miss the most important thing from my point of view.

However if you like to go and enjoy it, please go and I am happy for you! My posts are only part of this thread's discussion and give my opinion, I don't want to convince anyone.

In Germany we have Dire Strats btw which are touring and going strong for years now and obviously make a living of it. I saw them once and it was the most cringe live music situation I ever witnessed even if I must say that they are very good. But just not my cup of tea. I missed Mark and the band more than ever during those two hours and went home sadly because I can never see the original thing live again.

LE

[dustyvalentino]

The only one I've seen live was Brothers in Band and they were fantastic.

Like many here I was sceptical, for many of the same reasons. But I have to admit, it was quite something to see and hear these tracks played live by good musicians.

[superval99]

I am one of those who never wanted to see a tribute band.  However last year a band called Alchemy Live came to my local music venue and as I was really missing going to MK concerts we decided to take a chance and go to see them.  It was a very intimate venue and I was surprised at how good they were.  They didn't try to dress or behave like DS, but the songs were played as though I could have been at the Alchemy concert.   I loved every minute and have now seen them twice and will be seeing them again when they next come my neck of the woods.

https://www.alchemylive.uk/about

[peterromer]

I have never experienced a cover band but I would certainly love it, simply to see what they are capable of since both DS and MK are no longer active and will never happen.
I remember Chris Whitten mention that DSL is a proper very good live band experience.
His recommendation is enough for me. 

[Brunno Nunes]

None of these guys can reproduce the magic of seeing MK live and doing his magic. And the Mozart Beethoven Bach Chopin Tschaikowsky guys had no way of recording, DS and MK had. If you are going only for hearing the compositions, you miss the most important thing from my point of view.

However if you like to go and enjoy it, please go and I am happy for you! My posts are only part of this thread's discussion and give my opinion, I don't want to convince anyone.

In Germany we have Dire Strats btw which are touring and going strong for years now and obviously make a living of it. I saw them once and it was the most cringe live music situation I ever witnessed even if I must say that they are very good. But just not my cup of tea. I missed Mark and the band more than ever during those two hours and went home sadly because I can never see the original thing live again.

LE

Just like you, I'm not here to convince anyone. If you don't like these tribute band acts, that's fine. If you don't see magic happening in any of them, I can only say, what a shame. I can, I see magic, because it's clear to me that any big fan who is involved with these songs, the MK technique and plays these songs with passion like all those I mentioned, including Pavel, or the YouTuber Dylan Guitar, who are in another department, is not a tribute band. I see magic happening in each occasion, because they are literally "invoking" something wonderful. They are doing it with a sincere heart. First of all, they are fans like all of us here, and it's from fan to fan. This is my point of view on this subject, my contribution to this debate.

[rmarques821]

None of these guys can reproduce the magic of seeing MK live and doing his magic. And the Mozart Beethoven Bach Chopin Tschaikowsky guys had no way of recording, DS and MK had. If you are going only for hearing the compositions, you miss the most important thing from my point of view.

However if you like to go and enjoy it, please go and I am happy for you! My posts are only part of this thread's discussion and give my opinion, I don't want to convince anyone.

In Germany we have Dire Strats btw which are touring and going strong for years now and obviously make a living of it. I saw them once and it was the most cringe live music situation I ever witnessed even if I must say that they are very good. But just not my cup of tea. I missed Mark and the band more than ever during those two hours and went home sadly because I can never see the original thing live again.

LE

Just like you, I'm not here to convince anyone. If you don't like these tribute band acts, that's fine. If you don't see magic happening in any of them, I can only say, what a shame. I can, I see magic, because it's clear to me that any big fan who is involved with these songs, the MK technique and plays these songs with passion like all those I mentioned, including Pavel, or the YouTuber Dylan Guitar, who are in another department, is not a tribute band. I see magic happening in each occasion, because they are literally "invoking" something wonderful. They are doing it with a sincere heart. First of all, they are fans like all of us here, and it's from fan to fan. This is my point of view on this subject, my contribution to this debate.

One thing is to play those songs at an amateur level or even teaching others how to play, I think that's magnificent. Another is to go out on the road, selling tickets (and sometimes selling yourself with a name that fools naive people into buying tickets: Dire Strats, really?!) and making a living out of another person's work. To me, there's an element of repugnancy about the whole ordeal that makes me dislike tribute bands. I always think: why don't you write your own songs instead of leeching?