Tribute Band Sessions

How do you build a tribute around one of the most powerful—and difficult to reproduce—voices in rock history? You find five musicians crazy enough to try. On this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, Mike sits down with members of Superunknown: A Chris Cornell Tribute, a Philadelphia-area band taking on the music of not one, but THREE legendary catalogs: Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. And they aren't taking the easy songs. Frontman Jason Reed talks about the challenge of performing Chris Cornell's incredible vocal parts night after night—including the songs that once genuinely scared him to attempt live. The band also reveals how Superunknown came together almost by accident. Jason originally launched the project in 2018 as a solo acoustic tribute following Cornell's passing. After crossing paths with members of the Foo Fighters tribute White Limo, drummer Ron DiSilvestro essentially made the decision for everybody: “We're his band now.” From there, things moved FAST. By only their THIRD SHOW, Superunknown was on a plane to Honduras performing for U.S. troops. That led to performances in Guantanamo Bay, Singapore and the Middle East—including some of the most intense audiences they've ever experienced. We also get into what makes Soundgarden's music so deceptively difficult: bizarre guitar tunings, unconventional drum parts, technically demanding arrangements and, of course, Cornell's seemingly impossible vocal range. The guys explain why they don't dress up and pretend to BE Soundgarden. Their mission is different: reproduce the MUSIC as faithfully and powerfully as possible. They also reveal how they build their setlists across three enormous catalogs, why Soundgarden remains the most requested material, the deep cuts hardcore fans constantly request, and the brutal reality of learning entire albums for their specialty anniversary shows. Then we go behind the curtain into the BUSINESS of running a successful tribute band: management, professional EPKs, social media, live video, touring logistics, repeat markets, band chemistry and why cutting corners gets you exactly the gigs you paid for. Their philosophy? Don't half-ass the presentation—because secondhand promotion gets you secondhand gigs. Superunknown is also helping push something much bigger: the arrival of 1990s alternative rock on a theater circuit traditionally dominated by classic-rock tributes. And they believe they're only getting started. From Philadelphia to Honduras, Gitmo, Singapore and the Middle East—and with bigger theaters and bucket-list venues in their sights—Superunknown is proving that the music of Chris Cornell still belongs exactly where it was meant to be heard: LOUD and LIVE. The band's military touring is one of the strongest stories in the episode. Jason is a Marine veteran, and they discuss performing in Honduras, Guantanamo Bay, Singapore and the Middle East. Find The Band Superunknown Here ; https://www.thesoundgardentribute.com/ Find Tribute Band Sessions Here ; https://www.youtube.com/@TributeBandSessions Websitetributebandsessions.com Spotifyopen.spotify.com/show/6uWts5wBIgoZmB3wmL3tsq Apple Musicpodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tribute-band-sessions/id1843760366 Facebookfacebook.com/tributebandsessionsInstagraminstagram.com/tributebandsessions TikToktiktok.com/@tributebandsessions Xx.com/TributeBandsPod 00:00 Introduction 03:26 Jason Reed’s Musical Background 10:40 How Superunknown Began 16:45 Taking on the Music of Chris Cornell 21:20 Recreating Cornell’s Powerful Vocals 27:27 Expanding from a Solo Act to a Full Band 32:15 Building the Right Band Chemistry 37:18 Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog 40:38 Choosing Songs and Creating the Setlist 46:05 Connecting with Chris Cornell’s Fans 51:08 The Emotion and Responsibility Behind the Tribute 57:25 Memorable Shows and Audience Reactions 1:03:10 The Business Side of Running Superunknown 1:08:35 What’s Next for the Band 1:13:18 Final Thoughts and Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you look and sound so much like Rod Stewart that even musicians who actually toured with Rod say playing with you feels like they're playing with him again? In this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, Mike sits down with Rob Caudill, the man behind Rod the Show, for an incredible conversation about a career that went from playing bass in clubs to becoming one of the most established Rod Stewart tribute performers in the business. And here's where the story gets crazy. Rob's show features musicians with real connections to Rod Stewart, including legendary drummer Carmine Appice and longtime Rod Stewart saxophonist Katja Rieckermann. Rob says both have told him that watching him perform can feel like they're back onstage with Rod. And does Rod Stewart himself know about Rob? Yes. Rob says he's never personally met Rod, but Rod knows about him through Carmine and Katja. Rob takes us all the way back to hearing Rod Stewart's unmistakable voice for the first time as a kid—and reveals that people were telling him he looked like Rod Stewart before he even knew what Rod looked like. His career eventually took him through Legends in Concert, international touring and his own Rod Stewart production. He studied old performance footage to master Rod's mannerisms, accent and famous microphone-stand moves. We also get into the real business of tribute entertainment: international touring, management, production, setlists, ticket prices, the changing perception of tribute artists and the increasingly blurry line between tribute bands and legacy bands touring without their original members. And wait until you hear how big Rod the Show is becoming. Rob reveals they're adding video, flames and additional stage production while incorporating actual footage of Carmine and Katja performing with Rod Stewart. This isn't someone simply singing Rod Stewart songs. It's a tribute connected directly to the musicians who helped create the music in the first place. Find  Rob Caudill Here ; https://www.rodstewartshow.com/ 🎸 Listen & Follow Tribute Band Sessions: 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🍎 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎵 ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠Watch Tribute Band Sessions on YouTube 00:00 – Welcome to Rod the Show01:21 – Rob's Musical Childhood03:55 – Hearing Rod Stewart for the First Time04:50 – “People Told Me I Looked Like Rod Stewart”05:58 – Rob's Early Career as a Musician07:38 – Getting Signed & The Breaks10:25 – The Heartbreaking Story of Rob's Brother14:11 – The Road Toward Becoming Rod Stewart15:42 – Discovering Legends in Concert16:12 – Studying Rod's Mannerisms & Stage Presence16:43 – Playing With Rod Stewart's Actual Musicians17:24 – How Katja Rieckermann Joined the Show18:23 – How Carmine Appice Entered the Picture20:04 – Carmine Becomes Rob's Partner21:13 – Getting Into Legends in Concert24:06 – How Rob Protects That Raspy Rod Stewart Voice25:35 – Carmine's Incredible Rod Stewart Stories31:40 – The Reality of Touring a Tribute Show32:52 – Creating the Rod Stewart Look35:53 – Taking the Show Around the World41:18 – Management & the Business Behind the Show44:53 – Does Rod Stewart Know About Rob?47:44 – Stories From Rod Stewart's Actual Band50:39 – Are Tribute & Original Bands Becoming the Same Thing?56:22 – Why Carmine Calls It a “Rod Stewart Legacy”1:05:30 – How Do You Pick From 100 Rod Stewart Songs?1:06:25 – Why International Setlists Are Completely Different1:11:41 – Bigger Production, Video, Flames & What's Next #TributeBandSessions #RodStewart #RobCaudill #CarmineAppice #TributeBands Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would it feel like to walk into a small club in 1969 and witness Led Zeppelin before the stadiums, mythology and excess took over? In this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, Mike sits down with Legend Zeppelin to explore one of the most ambitious concepts in the tribute world: a chronological, period-correct recreation of Led Zeppelin’s live career that begins with the band’s raw, blues-driven 1969 performances and moves forward year by year. Rather than simply copying studio recordings or combining every era into one greatest-hits show, Legend Zeppelin uses vintage-style instruments, amplification, microphones, stage methods and technological limitations to recreate the conditions under which Led Zeppelin’s music originally evolved. The band discusses the musicianship, research and business strategy behind what it calls the world’s first “bootleg band,” the challenge of balancing historical accuracy with the spontaneity that made Zeppelin dangerous, and why no two performances should feel exactly the same. We also get into recreating Robert Plant’s vocals, Jimmy Page’s tones, John Paul Jones’s versatility and John Bonham’s enormous drum sound, along with the importance of chemistry, improvisation, visual authenticity and allowing the audience to become part of the show. This is not merely a collection of Led Zeppelin songs—it is an attempt to build a living rock-and-roll time machine and let modern audiences experience how the music may have sounded, felt and changed in the room more than five decades ago. Legend Zeppelin’s stated mission is to begin with the 1969 club era and progress chronologically through later milestones, rather than compressing Zeppelin’s entire career into one static production.  Follow Legend Zeppelin Here ; https://legendzeppelin.com/ 🎸 Listen & Follow Tribute Band Sessions: 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🍎 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎵 ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠Watch Tribute Band Sessions on YouTube 00:00 – Meet Legend Zeppelin01:18 – Why This Isn’t a Typical Led Zeppelin Tribute03:42 – The Origins of the Band06:15 – Discovering Led Zeppelin09:08 – Why They Begin the Story in 196912:06 – Creating the World’s First “Bootleg Band”15:14 – Recreating Zeppelin’s Earliest Live Shows18:31 – Using Period-Correct Instruments and Equipment21:47 – Why Technological Limitations Actually Matter24:35 – Recreating Jimmy Page’s Guitar Sound27:12 – The Challenge of Robert Plant’s Voice30:08 – Capturing John Bonham’s Massive Drum Sound32:44 – John Paul Jones: The Secret Weapon35:26 – Accuracy Versus Improvisation38:18 – Why the Songs Should Change Every Night41:05 – Recreating the Look Without Becoming a Costume Act43:52 – The Audience Becomes Part of the Performance46:27 – Turning Historical Research Into a Live Show49:14 – The Business Behind Such an Unusual Concept51:31 – Moving Chronologically Beyond 196954:08 – The Future of Legend Zeppelin56:42 – Advice for Building a Serious Tribute Production57:39 – Where to Find Legend Zeppelin #LedZeppelin #LegendZeppelin #TributeBandSessions #ClassicRock #LedZeppelinTribute Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Truth About Getting Your Tribute Band Booked You can have incredible musicians. You can look like the original artist. You can sound almost identical. But does that mean anyone is going to book your band? In this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, we flip the script and look at the tribute industry from the business side with Rich Rubin of Maximum Bands. Instead of asking what it takes to perform like a rock star, we're asking what it takes to turn a tribute act into a bookable, marketable, money-making business. What are agents and buyers actually looking for? Why do some incredible bands struggle to get beyond local gigs while others land theaters, casinos, festivals, corporate events, and major stages? How important are your promotional materials, reputation, ticket sales, professionalism, and ability to actually put people in seats? Rich gives us an insider's perspective on an industry that has exploded from neighborhood bars and clubs into serious live entertainment. We get into booking, representation, promoters, venues, pricing, competition, marketing, and some of the mistakes that can keep talented tribute acts from reaching the next level. If you're in a tribute band, managing one, thinking about starting one, or just curious about how this rapidly growing industry actually works behind the scenes, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Because being a great band is only half the battle. The other half? Getting someone to book you. Find Rich Rubin here ; https://www.maximumbands.com/ 🎸 Listen & Follow Tribute Band Sessions: 🌐 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🍎 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎵 ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ 👉 ⁠⁠⁠Watch Tribute Band Sessions on YouTube Clickable Chapters 00:00 – Introduction02:10 – Meet Rich Rubin & Maximum Bands07:15 – How the Tribute Band Business Has Changed13:30 – What Makes a Tribute Band Bookable?20:10 – Why Great Bands Still Don't Get Gigs27:00 – What Agents & Talent Buyers Really Look For34:20 – Marketing Your Tribute Band41:15 – How Much Does Image & Production Matter?48:05 – The Biggest Mistakes Tribute Bands Make55:10 – Breaking Into Theaters, Casinos & Bigger Venues1:02:15 – Is the Tribute Industry Getting Too Crowded?1:08:20 – Where the Tribute Business Goes Next1:13:30 – Rich's Advice for Tribute Bands #TributeBandSessions#TributeBands#MaximumBands#MusicBusiness#LiveEntertainment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine spending years playing the music of one of your favorite legendary bands... Then the actual singer calls and wants to perform with you. In this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, we sit down with Andrew Graziano of The Band Geeks for an incredible conversation about the music of YES, the world of progressive rock, and the remarkable journey that eventually connected The Band Geeks with legendary YES vocalist Jon Anderson. YES isn't easy music to play. Complex arrangements, unusual time signatures, intricate instrumental parts, soaring vocals—this is music where there is nowhere to hide. Andrew takes us inside the musicianship and preparation required to tackle this legendary catalog and explains how The Band Geeks' passion for the music ultimately opened a door most tribute musicians could only dream about: performing alongside Jon Anderson himself. We also get into what happens when musicians who grew up admiring this music suddenly find themselves sharing the stage with one of the artists who created it. For musicians, YES fans, progressive-rock obsessives, and anyone involved in the tribute-band world, this episode asks a fascinating question: Can paying tribute to your heroes eventually lead to playing WITH your heroes? For The Band Geeks, the answer was yes. Find Andrew Here 1. Andy’s YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@andygrazianonyc](https://www.youtube.com/@andygrazianonyc)2. Andy’s Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/andy.graziano.12](https://www.facebook.com/andy.graziano.12)3. Jon Anderson’s website: [https://www.jonanderson.com/](https://www.jonanderson.com/)4. The Band Geeks: [https://richiecastellano.com/bandgeeks/](https://richiecastellano.com/bandgeeks/) Find Tribute Band Sessions Here ; https://www.youtube.com/@TributeBandSessions Website⁠tributebandsessions.com⁠ Spotify⁠open.spotify.com/show/6uWts5wBIgoZmB3wmL3tsq⁠ Apple Music⁠podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tribute-band-sessions/id1843760366⁠ Facebook⁠facebook.com/tributebandsessions⁠Instagram⁠instagram.com/tributebandsessions⁠ TikTok⁠tiktok.com/@tributebandsessions⁠ X⁠x.com/TributeBandsPod #TributeBandSessions#JonAnderson#YES#TheBandGeeks#ProgressiveRock Clickable Chapters 00:00 – Introduction02:15 – Meet Andrew Graziano & The Band Geeks07:10 – Where The Band Geeks Story Began13:25 – Taking On the Music of YES19:40 – Why YES Is So Difficult to Play26:05 – How Jon Anderson Entered the Picture32:30 – Getting the Opportunity of a Lifetime39:15 – Performing With the Legendary Voice of YES45:40 – From Fans of the Music to Sharing the Stage52:10 – The Band Geeks, Progressive Rock & What's Next58:20 – Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices