Tribute shows are terrible in so many ways. It's like, If I really wanted to hear that song the way I enjoy hearing it, I'd use my iPod, thank you.
But tributes are also fun to watch for their crash-and-burn performances. And sometimes, even because someone does a shockingly wonderful job of reinterpreting our fave song.
In any case, Idol worshipping can truly make for an entertaining night. And recently, Churchill's Pub has been hosting a monthly tribute show, so far with some tastefully rad choices, including Morrissey, Faith No More, and next up, Johnny Cash.
But where are the not-so-tasteful options? In celebration of bad taste tributes, Crossfade's put together a list of tribute shows we'd like to see.
Advertise the Beatles, but actually Rickroll everyone
If you advertise the Beatles, you can get a more diverse crowd than say the Pixies. You could pull in folks from Hialeah to Homestead. Seriously, the Beatles are basically the great uniters. The brilliance in this plan is that when everyone arrives, they get Rickrolled and end up listening to a bunch of bands performing their interpretations of "Never Gonna Give You Up." Bet Rick Astley gets a few new fans out of it.
Yoko Ono
This is sort of an off-shoot of the Beatles idea, except that to this tribute night, no one will come. If they do, they will have to listen to Yoko's shrill cat yelps from "Kiss Kiss Kiss." It's true, Double Fantasy is a personal favorite album. But Yoko can be a hard pill to swallow for most people, and a local band doing Yoko sounds like a YouTube sensation.
Weird Al Yankovich
Weird Al is a genius. This is a guy who needs to be honored for making our childhoods bearable. Through the moves, divorces, bullying, this was a guy who could always make you at least smile, and occasionally pee your pants. Besides, he just came out with another album, Alpocalypse, featuring a tune called "Polka Face." Who doesn't want to see a polka parody live, done by a 19 year old?
Enya
Wouldn't Enya make the most amazing tribute show ever? The combination of alcohol and this ethereal sound would certainly lull the audience in to a coma. A good night's rest never hurt no one.
2 Live Crew
Yeah, so, this is kind of obvious, but It would be great to see imitators of Luther and the boys. Ideally, there will be many tribute backup booty dancers to enhance these performances and some fake gapped teeth. Can everyone be as nasty as they wanna be onstage? Wouldn't you like to know.
A Tribute to Johnny Cash with Los Bastardos Magnificos, The Freestyle Fighting Monkeys, Rich Peirce (of Rambler), Lindsay Bell, and DJ Dracula's Daughter. Tuesday, July 5. Churchill's Pub, 5501 NE Second Ave., Miami. The tribute begins at 9 p.m. Call 305-757-1807 or visit churchillspub.com.
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