The Musical Box - in Philly

[SteveCoscia]

I'm going to see a Genesis tribute band, The Musical Box in Philly on Friday night. Never seen them before.

 

Anyone ever seen them live? Impressions?

 

[video:youtube]

[Phil B]

I think you're in for a treat. I try to see then whenever they come to NY. I was born a couple of years before Gabriel left the band, so this is the closest I'll ever get!!! I also think they are pretty impressive musicians. They are like classical musicians playing with no sheet music in the sense that they play challenging music and, if they make even a slight mistake, everyone in the audience will know (who would go to this show without having first worn out their copy of Foxtrot or Selling England by the Pound first?!?!). Good stuff

[Michael Wright]

I think you're in for a treat. I try to see then whenever they come to NY. I was born a couple of years before Gabriel left the band, so this is the closest I'll ever get!!! I also think they are pretty impressive musicians. They are like classical musicians playing with no sheet music in the sense that they play challenging music and, if they make even a slight mistake, everyone in the audience will know (who would go to this show without having first worn out their copy of Foxtrot or Selling England by the Pound first?!?!). Good stuff

"WHAT THE MEMBERS OF GENESIS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MUSICAL BOX

- The Musical Box recreated, very accurately I must say, what Genesis was doing. I saw them in Bristol with my children so they could see what their father did back then.

(Peter Gabriel voir Montreal Nov 2002)

- When it came to the gig (Geneva, Feb 24th 2005), I watched and listened. They played that stuff better than we ever did. (Phil Collins official website March 2005)

- I cannot imagine that you could have a better tribute for any act. They not only manage to sound, but look virtually identical. It seems as though nothing is too difficult for them.

(Steve Hackett Story.New.Yahoo.com Jul 2002)

- It was better than the real thing actually. It was great, that was fantastic.

(Mike Rutherford BBC News Feb 2002)

- I have seen a video or them and the guy who does Peter Gabriel is brilliant.

(Tony Banks Nova TV FEB 1998)"

 

http://www.theempiretheatre.com/events/musical-box/

Taken from the Empire Theatre website

I am hoping to go if I am not playing, and may go regardless

[SteveCoscia]

Thanks. Now I'm REALLY looking forward to Friday night.

[Michael Wright]

Thanks. Now I'm REALLY looking forward to Friday night.

Yeah screw it! I just ordered the tickets and will take that night off! Have fun Steve and report back will ya!

[Bill W]

I saw them here on Sunday and once in 2012 doing the Lamb. They are simply the best at this sort of thing. If you never saw Genesis in the 70s, this is really a treat.

[Dglavko]

Saw them two weeks ago. But honestly did not like them much at all! Sounded much like the record IIRC but uh... Really awkward to watch/look at. Frankly I would have rather have stayed home and listened to the [vinyl] record. But then I've always been more of a Yes fan than Genesis. Mind you, my companion felt the same way.

[Dave Bryce]

I've seen them three times. Lamb twice, Selling England once. They're unbelievable - way above and beyond any tribute band I've seen.

 

They're coming to LA in Feb. Selling England and Fox Trot shows. I'm gonna go see Fox Trot.

 

Enjoy, guys!

 

dB

[Marzzz]

I saw them do Lamb last fall in AZ; simply incredible. If you are at all into Gabriel-era (and immediately post-Gabriel) Genesis, they are an absolute must-see.

[mate stubb]

I'm going to see a Genesis tribute band, The Musical Box in Philly on Friday night. Never seen them before.

 

Anyone ever seen them live? Impressions?

 

 

They are not "A" Genesis tribute band, they are "THE" Genesis tribute band. The most famous, most appreciated by the members of Genesis themselves. Genesis has given them the real slide shows and some of their stage props to use, so they are as close as you will ever get to the real thing.

[mate stubb]

Here's Phil sitting in with them.

 

[video:youtube]

[Dglavko]

Interesting can of worms I've inadvertently opened up..: classic rock vs indie/jam/ jazz, covers vs originals... I"d WAY rather play or listen to the latter than former... just my opinion of course

[Dr88s]

Ha! You're all lightweights. I've seen them 11 times and counting! Unfortunately I missed them here again last weekend. I've seen the Foxtrot 'tour' once, the Lamb three times, and the rest Selling England.

 

Then again, I'm from Montreal and they are a Quebec-based band, so they tend to play these parts often.

 

I don't know who is playing keys for them now but one of their earlier players, a guy by the name of David Myers, was just incredible. His performances were flawless.

 

Enjoy!

[Dave Bryce]

Interesting can of worms I've inadvertently opened up

Unless I'm missing something, you didn't open up anything resembling a "can of worms"...except with yourself.

 

You said you (and your companion) didn't care for them...and that you're not really a Genesis fan. The rest of us in this thread - who are Genesis fans - think they're fabulous.

 

I don't know who is playing keys for them now but one of their earlier players, a guy by the name of David Myers, was just incredible. His performances were flawless.

He's amazing. He did a killer CD where he played all Genesis tunes on the acoustic piano. Highly recommended.

 

Searching Google, it appears he's actually done a second one as well.

 

dB

[Michael Wright]

http://themusicalbox.net

[Bosendorphen]

I saw them here on Sunday and once in 2012 doing the Lamb. They are simply the best at this sort of thing. If you never saw Genesis in the 70s, this is really a treat.

Seen them twice (The Lamb and Nursery Cryme/Foxtrot tours). Incredible.

[AlanV]

I saw them a couple of years ago in Montclair, NJ at the Wellmont doing the Lamb Lies Down show.

 

Unbelievably tight. Amazing recreation and I'm kicking myself for not going again last year, but for whatever reason they decided to play the night before Thanksgiving AGAIN.

 

[Tonysounds]

Ive seen them do Lamb, England, and Trick. They do an amazing frkn job, down to the drummer (who did the other tours) actually coming forward to front the band on Trick, and he even nailed the complete awkwardness of Phils first front tour.

 

Im waiting for them to do the Invisible Touch tour. (NOT)

 

[Doerfler]

I saw them a couple of years ago in Montclair, NJ at the Wellmont doing the Lamb Lies Down show.

 

Unbelievably tight. Amazing recreation and I'm kicking myself for not going again last year, but for whatever reason they decided to play the night before Thanksgiving AGAIN.

 

It's Thanksgiving in the USA. Canadian Thanksgiving is the 2nd Monday in October. So to them it's just another day at the office.

[Losendoskeys]

I've seen them twice - having seen the real thing starting back in 1973.

 

They are a bunch of highly accredited professionals.

(The only pro Genesis tribute in the world to my knowledge)

 

At first take they are uncannily like the original band, give or take the odd French accent

They dress up to look like Genesis and have all the props under licence.

 

First time I saw them I was very surprised at the length they would go to to reproduce the show, down to Gabriels jokes and stories and attention to detail on the stage.

They even dress the keyboards up to look like Banks Hammond and Mellotron (they aren't).

(They do also cheat as we noticed another musician off stage doing some add ins..........tut tut!)

 

First time I saw the Foxtrot tour.

I couldn't find many faults in the musical performance.

 

Second time I saw them they did The Lamb Lies Down tour.

I didn't like it as much as Foxtrot, and the "script" started to get to me.

The music also started to get to me, as it was lifeless, no energy.

They try to reproduce the original album music rather than the live versions.

 

Whilst most of the UK tribs don't do the dressing up and cover a much wider era than Musical Box, they do at least bring an energy and life to the music, that is my main criticism.

 

So twice was enough for me if I'm honest, otherwise I'd rather revisit Genesis in my own way (which I'm doing this weekend with Los Endos - nailing a few more numbers like Ripples and Down and Out)

 

But enjoy it, I know you will and you will be amazed as to how close they get to the original feel of an early era gig.

[SteveCoscia]

Great show last night in Philly. I arrived early and bugged one of the stage crew to take photos of the keyboard rig. Unfortunately, my mobile phone flash didn't work and the stage crew guy got impatient (see below photo). The other keyboard rig photos were much worse. Sorry.

 

The ProSoloist and L-122 got a workout and they sounded great.

 

Set list:

Watcher Of the Skies

Selling England by the Pound

Cinema Show

I Know What I Like

Firth of Fifth

Horizons

Battle of Epping Forest

Supper's Ready

 

Encore

The Knife

 

Overall, the band is fun and the lead singer's costumes and masks add the special touch. Lots of folks my age were there - a few young ones too. Glad I went.

 

 

http://www.coscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ARP-Hammond2.jpg

[Marzzz]

I tried to get a closer look at the keyboards when I saw them last year- besides the Pro Soloist and the L-122, I did notice they used a Memotron in a Mellotron case (can't say I blame them!)

[yannis D]

I never understood what's the use of a band which recreates totally the music of another (famous) band. I did not want to sound unrespectfull or anything like this, i just wonder. I can understand to dive in one artist's/group's music and try to recreate something new out of it. But why play it just like it was played thirty years ago by the original act? Isn't it better to sit on your couch and just listen ti the original cd? Again, no pun. I just want to understand this trend

[SteveCoscia]

I never understood what's the use of a band which recreates totally the music of another (famous) band. I did not want to sound unrespectfull or anything like this, i just wonder. I can understand to dive in one artist's/group's music and try to recreate something new out of it. But why play it just like it was played thirty years ago by the original act? Isn't it better to sit on your couch and just listen ti the original cd? Again, no pun. I just want to understand this trend

 

Quality live performances create a wonderful and collective human experience regardless of the material. Orchestras perform Bach and Beethoven for audiences who could have stayed home and played the CD. It's a visceral thing.

[Marzzz]

I never understood what's the use of a band which recreates totally the music of another (famous) band. I did not want to sound unrespectfull or anything like this, i just wonder. I can understand to dive in one artist's/group's music and try to recreate something new out of it. But why play it just like it was played thirty years ago by the original act? Isn't it better to sit on your couch and just listen ti the original cd? Again, no pun. I just want to understand this trend

I was a young teen when Genesis was doing this stuff; I didn't actually discover it until after Gabriel had left the band. Not to denigrate their later work (OK, maybe I will denigrate Collins' mid 80's schmaltz-rock) I think this is their best stuff. Musical Box allows me to experience something that I had missed and could never happen again, and they do it extremely well. Way beyond simply a cover band.

[timwat]

I never understood what's the use of a band which recreates totally the music of another (famous) band. I did not want to sound unrespectfull or anything like this, i just wonder. I can understand to dive in one artist's/group's music and try to recreate something new out of it. But why play it just like it was played thirty years ago by the original act? Isn't it better to sit on your couch and just listen ti the original cd? Again, no pun. I just want to understand this trend

 

yannis - at least from a market perspective, tribute bands here in NorCal draw good audiences and are sometimes very lucrative gigs. The draw is obvious; a good Steely Dan (or Floyd, or Journey, or Beatles, or Stones, or...) tribute band tries to answer a "market need" as concert appearances of the genuine article are infrequent at best.

 

An acquaintance of mine plays in a Dan tribute band - they have good representation, they play lots of dates every year with some national mini tours, and they make decent money. He is also musically very frustrated for all the reasons you might imagine. What started as a musical challenge and a labor of love has become a job.

[opdigits]

I never understood what's the use of a band which recreates totally the music of another (famous) band. I did not want to sound unrespectfull or anything like this, i just wonder. I can understand to dive in one artist's/group's music and try to recreate something new out of it. But why play it just like it was played thirty years ago by the original act? Isn't it better to sit on your couch and just listen ti the original cd? Again, no pun. I just want to understand this trend

There are many reasons (not limited to these below).

 

From an audience perspective:

 

Original artists may no longer be touring, or even alive. Concert prices to see original artists are thru the roof. Tribute acts may play era specific (or album specific) songs that the original artists no longer play. As previously mentioned, artists may not tour in some locales.

 

As to the sitting on the couch listening to the CD aspect, you must admit that that is not quite the same as seeing live music, even if it is a replica of the original artist. Being in a live concert atmosphere with fans that love what you love hearing the original CD reproduced (or a live version of the same) has its merits.

 

If you haven't, I suggest you go see one of the better tribute bands .... you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

From the tribute band's perspective:

 

It can be very lucrative. Top tier tribute bands can command 10's of thousands of dollars per show, plus transportation, hotels, food, etc. On a tour, you can rake it in.

 

The fans you gain can be very loyal. It can be satisfying to be endorsed (officially or unofficially) by the original artist, and can be great for your resume.

 

I think most do it out of a love for and respect for the music (or some other element, such as the message within the songs) of the original artist. That can be a very powerful incentive as well as a satisfying and rewarding experience. Keeping music from the past alive (live) is, IMO, a worthy and historically valuable undertaking, and can serve to open the eyes (and ears, hearts, minds) of later generations, as well as serving to freshen the musical spirit of those who are growing older.

 

[Edit]

 

I'd like to add that when I was younger I was playing out so much that I rarely had time to see many of the artists I'd have liked to. Some of them can no longer be seen, or, I simply refuse to pay the outrageous prices modern times command, so, I'll go see them in tribute form when I hear that the tribute band is accurate.

 

[/Edit]

[yannis D]

Thanx for the replies guys. One of the reasons i asked is that actually cover bands are quite rare in the Continental Europe (but many in England).

[Dave Bryce]

One of the reasons i asked is that actually cover bands are quite rare in the Continental Europe (but many in England).

Cover bands and tribute bands are kinda different. A cover band is freer to interpret another artist's work, and play the work of all sorts of artists. A tribute band typically sticks to the work of one artist, and tries to play it faithfully.

 

My band MLS is a cover band. We cover all sorts of music, from the Beatles to Steely Dan, Rolling Stones to Deep Purple, Tom Petty to Pink Floyd, with all kinds of 60's/70's stuff in between. Some tunes we try to get close to the originals, some we totally mess with.

 

My band The Police Cars is a tribute band (we do two bands because it's our gimmick, and makes us unique). We exclusively play the music of the Polce and The Cars. We play the songs as close to the oroginal versions as we can.

 

Also, as a rule, tribute bands are in much greater demand and pay better than the cover bands.

 

dB

[Bill W]

I play keyboards in a Washington DC area Genesis tribute band called Selling Fairfax by the Pound. We do it because we love the music and there are still a lot of people who appreciate hearing it played live.

 

We have some upcoming shows where we're splitting the bill with Rush, Who and Led Zeppelin tribute bands. It's a very part-time thing for us, but at the moment, we have more gigs booked than my other band (which focuses mostly on 80s stuff and has a pretty decent following).