Two Smiths tribute bands - What do you think?

[dom]

Hello all

In my travels in order to find a video of 'Sweet and Tender Hooligan' I have come across a tribute band called 'Sweet and Tender Hooligans' - and also in the meantime un-earthed another called 'These Charming Men'

Just wondered what you thoght of them basically?

My humble opinion is that T.C.Men are more tight packed musically and better performers - where as the S.A.T.Hooligan front man makes himself look like a bit of a prat and the band sound out of shape some-what.

I have pasted a link of three songs from each band:

This Charming Man
Sweet and tender hooligan
Bigmout strikes again

If anyone wants to hear for themselves - mind you, no-one can really comment on what they think unless they listen first of all.

Feel free, if you so wish, to listen to more songs from either band in order to make opinions. I am very happy to be proved wrong and discussed against :-)

Last thing - Yes, we know, there is only ONE Morrisey - ONE Johnny Marr - ONE Andy Rourke - and ONE Mike Joyce ... We all know NO-ONE can ever match Mozza and his crew, that is a given... However ... Comment if thou all pleases :-)

(The audio and visual quality of some clips are poor but they were best i could find)


These charming men

This charming man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ9TNNByjc8

Sweet tender hooligan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4uJFQOLc5s

Bigmouth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk3nYm5haHY

.................................................. ...................................




Sweet and tender hooligans

This charming man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJcyCoY71tI

Hooligan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mo-YnoX5DY

Bigmouth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GH7Ro0wvPA


Dom

[Not Right in the Head]

This is an awesome idea: a tribute band face-off. I've heard two of them here in the US; I should look for vids to post here, and we can vote on them. :D

For your listening pleasure:

Baltimore/Washington, DC's Girlfriend in a Coma (http://www.morrisseytribute.com) (audio only)
This Charming Man (http://www.seylermusic.com/giac/audio/charming.mp3)
Bigmouth Strikes Again (http://www.seylermusic.com/giac/audio/bigmouth.mp3)

New York City's Sons and Heirs (http://thesonsandheirs.com)
(can't figure out how to embed the vids individually, so here are all of them (http://thesonsandheirs.com/wp/videos))

mistermarr and Quinn, please post more if you have 'em!

[Kewpie]

Earlier discussion about tribute bands:

http://forums.morrissey-solo.com/showthread.php?t=71319&highlight=tribute+bands

[vivabob]

there are a few british tribute bands as well -

smiths indeed
ambitious outsiders

too name but a few ...

allot of these bands have myspace accounts as well which gives you some info about them

[DAVID is my HERO]

I've been to both of their shows. And I'll say this now: the MP3s online do not do them justice. The Sweet and Tender Hooligans are great. Truly awesome band. The best part about them is the chance to hear both Morrissey and Smiths songs that will probably never be played live again. I recommend the SATHs.

On the other hand, These Charming Men are absolute shit. Believe me. I should know. I was there. I supplied the sandwiches.

[dom]

Ah, ok, fair enough. You will be the one who has best idea having seen and been to both. However, I don't understand why you say Morrissey and Smiths songs will be played ever again cos Morrissey tours and sings them.

[Uncleskinny]

On the other hand, These Charming Men are absolute shit. Believe me. I should know. I was there. I supplied the sandwiches.

Well, it's all a matter of opinion, but I've seen These Charming Men in Dublin, and the place was packed and rocking, and the band were amazing. No mention of The Smyths yet? Top, top geezers, fantastic musicians.

Peter

[Musley]

I've seen The Other Smiths who weren't bad and The Smyths who were much better. It's a good night out and a laugh, just take it for what it is and you will enjoy it. I#d definately go again. The Smyths played all the favourites from There Is A Light to I Know It's Over and Bigmouth Strikes Again. Coupled with copious amouts of alcohol it was a good night!!!

[Jukebox Jury]

I saw 'These Charming Men' at one of the Morrissey conventions in LA and were very good indeed, though I believe the singer now is different from the one I saw.

Yes 'The Smyths' I'd certainly recommend and on the events page they have a plug for dates this month in Hartlepool, Oldham and London.

'The Other Smiths' I've seen a few times and are well worth a look if you haven't seen them.
Then there is 'Smiths Indeed' who I have not seen so cannot comment on.
The Sweet & Tender Hooligans have twice toured the UK and the one gig I saw I was very impressed - Jose the singer is the only 'Morrissey' I've seen who takes his shirt off and bares his chest to the audience, but then, if I had a chest like his I'd show it off too!

Finally, 'Ambitious Outsiders' are a Morrissey tribute band and have only played 2 gigs to date and went down a storm in a packed Manchester venue for their first ever gig. They do play Smiths songs that Morrissey performs himself now as a solo artist. I think most of the above tribute bands also cross over into solo territory.

Jukebox Jury

[vicarinatutugal]

My brother saw The Smyths and he told me they were fantastic, said it was a brilliant night out. I have not seen any of these bands though.

[laughing_anne]

This is not as off-topic as you'd think. Can anyone tell me who the guy is at 2:25?

f7ni3aXwgPU

[DAVID is my HERO]

Ah, ok, fair enough. You will be the one who has best idea having seen and been to both. However, I don't understand why you say Morrissey and Smiths songs will be played ever again cos Morrissey tours and sings them.

Well what i mean is the last time Morrissey sang I Know It's Over for example, was 1986. The SATHs do a great job performing this song. Also, they perform songs that have never been performed live such as Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning. While These Charming Men also do that, performing Well, I Wonder, their singer is simply God awful. I can't shake it, sorry. :(

[vicarinatutugal]

This is not as off-topic as you'd think. Can anyone tell me who the guy is at 2:25?

f7ni3aXwgPU

hahaha funny! I do not know though.

[DAVID is my HERO]

This is not as off-topic as you'd think. Can anyone tell me who the guy is at 2:25?

f7ni3aXwgPU

Hahaha i know exactly who that is. It's Jose Maldonado of the Sweet and Tender Hooligans. Positive ID was the hair, poorly cuffed jeans a la Morrissey, and the dancing. hahahah. It's him alright. Also, it's at the Knitting Factory in LA. A venue frequently used by the SATHs.

[dom]

Well what i mean is the last time Morrissey sang I Know It's Over for example, was 1986. The SATHs do a great job performing this song. Also, they perform songs that have never been performed live such as Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning. While These Charming Men also do that, performing Well, I Wonder, their singer is simply God awful. I can't shake it, sorry. :(

Oh ok. I get it. Yea, i know what you mean.

Yea, the Charming Men front man does have quite the voice. WOuld be good to see both live like you have, can never make a proper decision till one has :-)

[laughing_anne]

Hahaha i know exactly who that is. It's Jose Maldonado of the Sweet and Tender Hooligans. Positive ID was the hair, poorly cuffed jeans a la Morrissey, and the dancing. hahahah. It's him alright. Also, it's at the Knitting Factory in LA. A venue frequently used by the SATHs.

Thanks! I knew someone was bound to know :)

[swiss]

SATH were great in Manchester- I was very drunk though and ended up on stage with them!

Saw the Smyths and they too were great though very few people there which was a shame

[Mel_Torment]

My humble opinion is that T.C.Men are more tight packed musically and better performers - where as the S.A.T.Hooligan front man makes himself look like a bit of a prat and the band sound out of shape some-what.
Dom

I haven't seen TCM perform. And I haven't seen SATH since they did a show after the film screening of "Is It Really So Strange" in L.A. (2005?). It was the first time I had seen Joe Escalante play in their band.

I used to see SATH play a lot when I had more free time. They're really good guys who won me over.

A friend of mine video-recorded SATH playing a huge gig in the late '90s. I said he should show Morrissey the tape to show Moz how much we need him to tour -- look at these kids going mad over an ersatz Moz. Every 30 seconds some hoochie was jumping onstage to hump Jose -- hilarious! Greasers moshed and even Jose had to stop and say how pathetic it was that they were moshing to "Girlfriend in a Coma".

Well, Moz saw the video that night, reportedly watching it twice in a row. I asked my friend what Moz thought of their sound, their technical playing ability. Though it sounds like faint praise, I'd take it as a grand honour: "They sounded like they should".

I've seen several tribute bands on both sides of the pond. I don't want to disparage any tribute band, so I'll just say that I think SATH are the best Smiths/Moz tribute band I've seen.

[cossy]

On the other hand, These Charming Men are absolute shit. Believe me. I should know. I was there. I supplied the sandwiches.[/QUOTE]

You bought the sanwiches eh? As skinny said its a matter of choice. I have been to about 12 These Charming Men gigs with the old singer Ritchie (Top Bloke) but moved to the US and then the lads recruited Lee
(another top bloke and a great singer) The Johnny Marr of the group is one of the most talented musicians I know.....and I know a few:). He has been involved in many bands and his guitar playing is just class. Dublin loves them and is proud of them.

Perhaps the answer to who is the best tribute band can be answered simply

During the Quarry Tour Morrissey pulled out at short notice as one of the headliners of the Fuji Festival due to illness. What band did the promoters fly over to replace Morrissey?????? In front of 35,000 Japenese fans and a live TV audience

THESE CHARMING MEN

nite all

cossy:guitar::guitar:

[Uncleskinny]

During the Quarry Tour Morrissey pulled out at short notice as one of the headliners of the Fuji Festival due to illness. What band did the promoters fly over to replace Morrissey?????? In front of 35,000 Japenese fans and a live TV audience

THESE CHARMING MEN

nite all

cossy:guitar::guitar:

Indeed. The Temple Bar Music Centre rocked bigly (my word) when I last saw them. Brilliant.

Peter

[lottie]

Hahaha i know exactly who that is. It's Jose Maldonado of the Sweet and Tender Hooligans. Positive ID was the hair, poorly cuffed jeans a la Morrissey, and the dancing. hahahah. It's him alright. Also, it's at the Knitting Factory in LA. A venue frequently used by the SATHs.

ha that is too funny, thought it was him...
he doesnt sound so great ther,e normally he is pretty good, he has moz's mannerisms and moves down to a T.

[cossy]

Indeed. The Temple Bar Music Centre rocked bigly (my word) when I last saw them. Brilliant.

Peter

well said peter

cossy

[Abrahan]

when i saw these charming men at the 2001 morrissey smiths convention i felt as if i had seen the smiths and morrissey live.

i hadn't yet at the time.

[underdog99]

I just saw an ad on the NYC craigslist, about ANOTHER tribute band looking to form. Am I the only one who thinks a morrissey tribute band is absolutely absurd?

[nugz]

Earlier discussion about tribute bands:

http://forums.morrissey-solo.com/showthread.php?t=71319&highlight=tribute+bands

as you can see, no one cares.

[bogdana]

my vote's for Girlfriend in a coma. especially since they're the only ones i know. but they do a really fantastic job!

[Trubble]

The Smyths are fantastic, would recommend them! Have seen them a few times. The Smiths Indeed are quite good.

[Ben Budd]

I don't particularly care for Smiths tribute bands these days now that Ambitious Outsiders has quenched my lust for a solo covers band, doing Smiths songs that Morrissey has done live. Frankly it was getting a bit annoying hearing guitarists badly attempt to do the riff from This Charming Man.

[Jukebox Jury]

Just remembered - there is ANOTHER tribute band in the UK -

The Great Holm Ruffians

www.myspace.com/thesmithsnight

Playing in Newport Pagnell 2nd February

Jukebox Jury

[vivabob]

Just remembered - there is ANOTHER tribute band in the UK -

The Great Holm Ruffians

www.myspace.com/thesmithsnight

Playing in Newport Pagnell 2nd February

Jukebox Jury

http://www.myspace.com/thegreatholmruffians

[mistermarr]

This is an awesome idea: a tribute band face-off. I've heard two of them here in the US; I should look for vids to post here, and we can vote on them. :D

For your listening pleasure:

Baltimore/Washington, DC's Girlfriend in a Coma (http://www.morrisseytribute.com) (audio only)
This Charming Man (http://www.seylermusic.com/giac/audio/charming.mp3)
Bigmouth Strikes Again (http://www.seylermusic.com/giac/audio/bigmouth.mp3)

New York City's Sons and Heirs (http://thesonsandheirs.com)
(can't figure out how to embed the vids individually, so here are all of them (http://thesonsandheirs.com/wp/videos))

mistermarr and Quinn, please post more if you have 'em!

More here:
youtube.com/user/thesonsandheirs (http://youtube.com/user/thesonsandheirs)

4RgVXlWnB3c

[CrashingBore]

This is not as off-topic as you'd think. Can anyone tell me who the guy is at 2:25?

f7ni3aXwgPU

worst case scenario:
morrissey doing an oasis cover. i'd rather die than even imagine that :tears:
i like the passionate stage invader though ;)


just saw the son and heirs after the saturday hammerstein gig
though i didn't care for cover bands before i really enjoyed their show

[Jukebox Jury]

i am against tribute bands in all forms.

so what? i'm a purist. go to hell. :D

I bet you're the kind of person who would rather stay in and watch the Jeremy Kyle show - or worse, be in the studio when it is being filmed:p:D

Jukebox Jury

[Brel]

i am against tribute bands in all forms.

so what? i'm a purist. go to hell. :D


I'm not against them. I just wouldn't want to go and watch a Morrissey/Smiths tribute act. I wouldn't enjoy it, personally.

I nearly did once, but decided better of it. It just didn't seem right!

[Not Right in the Head]

I'm not against them. I just wouldn't want to go and watch a Morrissey/Smiths tribute act. I wouldn't enjoy it, personally.

I nearly did once, but decided better of it. It just didn't seem right!


it's never right. you made the wise, the only decision brel.

No wai. Tribute bands are a lot of fun, if you'll permit yourself a little willing suspension of disbelief.

[Not Right in the Head]

you're too easily pleased...

I've changed my plea to guilty.

[JoyDiv007]

I see nothing wrong with tribute bands, sometimes it's the only way to hear the songs live that you really want to hear.

[9 x Fined]

Hahaha i know exactly who that is. It's Jose Maldonado of the Sweet and Tender Hooligans. Positive ID was the hair, poorly cuffed jeans a la Morrissey, and the dancing. hahahah. It's him alright.

you're a genius!

[bogdana]

I'm not against them. I just wouldn't want to go and watch a Morrissey/Smiths tribute act. I wouldn't enjoy it, personally.

I nearly did once, but decided better of it. It just didn't seem right!

you are missing out on a good time for no reason! I had a blast! its like seeing a play and then the movie adaptation. its not the same and never as good as the play but you'll still enjoy it.

[bogdana]

you're too easily pleased...

there's no such thing as being too easily pleased. Life can be enjoyable or miserable you decide. i'd rather have a few beers and watch Quinn be a faux moz and make great music than sit at home and brood, or worse, watch wheel of fortune.