Tributes hit the Springs

Leaving Nashville , I expected the regular run of concerts to end. I had taken advantage of the steady stream of new shows for years, and it did not mind a break. 

Colorado Springs draws different crowds due proximity to Denver. Sometimes we get the same shows, sometimes not. In Nashville or Columbus, I never paid much attention to the tribute band circuit. Most of the bands I wanted to see were still active, after all. Plus, local tributes in Nashville such as the Long Players and 80's cover band The Guilty Pleasures had pretty rabid followings and shows that tended to sell out.

In eight years of Columbus, I never attended a show at the Alrosa Villag, the metal club around the corner from work and home. I wrote about the worst night at the Alrosa Villa extensively, but never made it inside - those Guided by Voices shows sold out too quickly.

But a cold January evening called me to the Black Sheep, a Platte Avenue club that caters toward metal bands. I threw on my Sleep hat, bought a ticket and warmed up inside.

 

Up first was Cull the Herd, the only group playing original music this night. The local band dropped a slab of progressive metal, with the singer mostly sticking to clean vocals with the occasional Phil Anselmo-esque growl. They had a likable groove.

Then the tributes poured in. Our Own Summer (A Tribute to the Deftones) came first, sticking to the big songs of metal's more innovative bands. Having made a point to see the Deftones at the 2018 ACL Festival, I wanted to see how well Our Own Summer compared to the real deal.

They came uncannily close at times. A passerby familiar with Digital Bath might have turned their head at Our Own Summer's take. These guys weren't singing karaoke so much as recreating an experience for bands that didn't come this way often.

The headliner was Testify (A Tribute to Rage Against the Machine). Although  Rage is touring this year, they have a tendency to tour then disappear, leaving the world to shrug at Tom Morello solo projects.  Although Audioslave added the late Chris Cornell and a much less political and histrionic approach, 2020 marks two decades since Rage's last new music, a covers record. 

Zack de la Rocha has a tough voice to match. There are quirks  that cannot be hit exactly. but Testify's vocalist came pretty close. Growling takes on RATM classics like Bombtrack and Bulls on Parade ripped through the crowd. Killing in the Name was as potent as ever. 

At their best, Testify and Our Own Summer conjured the heat of their original bands. Maybe that's the key to tribute bands - close yours eyes, and it's not hard to imagine experiencing the genuine article.