  Geek Street Band. (Brian Donogh, SUN) |
It's unlikely the real Bruce Springsteen will be rocking River City anytime soon.
But if you don't mind a little punk rock bluster with your Boss, why not get your Springsteen fix from the guys in the Geek Street Band?
The Geek Streeters (most of them players in other local indie acts) are part of a rising tide of tribute bands that have begun to dot the live music scene with increasing frequency in recent years.
But unlike career cover bands -- the ones playing the same Steelers Wheel anthems every Friday at your neighbourhood meat-market -- these guys are doing it for love, not money.
"Who doesn't like the Boss?" says Matt Magura, Geek Street frontman, and the only member not involved with another band. "OK, so maybe lots of people don't, but not the people who've been coming to our shows."
At the ripe old age of 26, Magura might seem like an unlikely Springsteen disciple, especially when you figure the Boss had already released four classic albums before most of the Geek Street guys were even born.
But don't write the band off as just another bunch of ironic scenesters using classic rock covers as an excuse to get some high-minded laughs.
"We all had parents who listened to Bruce Springsteen," Magura says. "This is out of full respect, which makes for a good night of rock 'n' roll."
And the Geek Street Band is far from the only act out there looking to lionize the rockers its members were raised on.
When they play The Albert this Saturday to raise funds for the cash-strapped Mondragon Cafe, they'll be joined by Definitely Maybe (an Oasis tribute project), and the self-explanatory Josie & the Pussycats.
They've already shared bills with Nirvana 2004 (better known as the Hot Live Guys) and Hole 2004 (The Quiffs), and on the same night as their Albert gig, KISS tribute band The Paul Stanleys will be rocking a wedding social at the Live Wire Cabaret.
And it's not just the hardcore crowd that's getting in on the act.
Over at Times Change(d) High & Lonesome Club, recent months have seen local stars delivering cover-version birthday tributes to Neil Young and Tom Waits.
Last November, Scott Nolan covered Young's Everybody Knows This is Nowhere album in its entirety, and two nights later the D. Rangers tore through Zuma with Romi Mayes and Andrew Neville. The following month, Nolan joined Righteous Ike, Twilight Hotel, Matt Allen and others in shining a similar birthday spotlight on Waits.
"We're not trying to fill a niche here," says Magura, explaining most tribute shows are organized by friends hoping to raise money for one cause or another. "For us it's just icing on the cake being able to play this stuff."
The Geek Street Band plays The Royal Albert Arms this Saturday, tickets $4.99 at the door, with proceeds going to the Mondragon Bookstore and Coffeehouse.
The Paul Stanleys play the Live Wire Cabaret the same night, with tickets $10 at the door or 669-0255.
