Live Wire - A Whole Lotta AC/DC

The subject of “Tribute Bands” can be quite a contentious one these days. They seem to get the best small venues on the best nights and, some would say, are stifling opportunities for new, young bands to play in front of a live audience as promoters take the ’safe’ option. On the other hand however they potentially provide a good nights entertainment for an appreciative crowd at a fraction of the price and more regularly than the real thing.

I have to admit that I had a great night on Saturday when the AC/DC tribute band “Live Wire” played at the Pontardawe Arts Centre. A crowd of I’d guess 200 or so turned out and enjoyed a fine set by the unique tribute act. Unique because not only do they pack a couple of cannons for the finale of “For Those About To Rock” but also because they have two lead singers. One guy starts proceedings doing his “Bon Scott” set with classics like “Down Payment Blues“, “Whole Lotta Rosie“, “Let There Be Rock” and “Long Way To The Top” then the “Brian Johnson” figure comes on to lead the band through a fair bit of “Back In Black” plus a couple of later hits by way of “Thunderstruck” and “Heatseeker“.

Live Wire, if I recall correctly, were one of the bands featured in a recent BBC documentary on tribute acts and clearly enjoy what they do and do it well. Entry was just a tenner in advance (£12 on the night) and they played for just over two hours. The audience was appreciative throughout, and particularly noticeable was the younger turn out. One woman even brought her son and his mates - all of them around the age of ten - to see the band! Now if that’s not helping to create the next generation of rock fans I don’t know what is, and let’s face it the opportunities to take a lad and his mate to see the real thing are few and far between and would cost a hell of a lot more.

Tribute bands clearly aren’t going to go away, not the good ones anyway, so perhaps the compromise would be for new and upcoming bands to initially try to secure the support slot at these gigs. It was noticeable that Live Wire played without support… surely a young Welsh rock band could have knocked out a 40 minute set prior to the band people had come to see?

I can see both sides of the argument but I have to admit I had a great night of live music at a reasonable price and would highly recommend seeing Live Wire if they visit your town… and if AC/DC come and play Pontadawe (or anywhere in South Wales for that matter) themselves I’ll be there too!

I wonder what other readers opinions on tribute bands are? Who are the good ones and who are the bad ones? Won’t good enough new music get attention anyway? Aren’t good tribute bands just fulfilling demand?

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BL

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