Dave Macaulay

The Titans of Tribute Come Together
By GEORGE AUSTIN

Think about it. Tool, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains, all in one concert. For fans of '90s rock, that would be a dream show. While such a lineup coming to the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Mass., this summer may be a pipe dream, music diehards can find the next best thing at Good Time Emporium in Somerville on April 19 when the three bands that pay tribute to Tool, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains will perform in a concert called "The Titans of Tribute."

TOOLfist, Nutshell and Big Bang Baby will play together for the first time at the concert. Jose Andrade, lead singer for TOOLfist, said that Tool, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains all burst onto the scene during a revolutionary era in music.

Nutshell, the Alice in Chains tribute band, was started in 2006. It was an acoustic band at first with lead guitarist and backup vocalist Craig Naso, lead singer Doug Merrill and bass player Joe Abbott. But then Dave Macaulay was added on drums and Jason Mahoney on guitar. All of the members of the band loved the sound and message of Alice in Chains.

Macaulay said it is a challenge to recreate the music of Alice in Chains. The band has to make sure the music is tight.

Macaulay said he and drummer started a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band because he was not able to put together a band that played original music. They found a guitarist on Craig's List. He said it is easier to play out as a tribute band than it is with a band of original music. With original music, he said band members have to make compromises when it comes to writing the lyrics and music to it.

"Everbody loves these bands because they were some of the biggest rock bands of the '90s," Macauley said.

Singer Bill McGrath and drumer Steve Jensen, of Big Bang Baby, were in a high school band together, playing original music. Macauley was talking to Jensen over a couple of beers when they came up with the idea of either starting a tribute band to Stone Temple Pilots or Rage Against the Machine. Jensen had been in a band with McGrath and bassist Mike Boyle. Macauley had heard them play on a recording.

"He does sound like Scott Weiland, so it does make sense," Macaulay said of McGrath and starting a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band.

"You knew at the first practice that everything was going to work out," McGrath said. "Everything was tight. Everyone worked well together." Boyle said when guitarist Brendan Flaherty was brought in, he nailed everything.
"It was like hitting the lottery with Brendan because he is kind of an STP afficionado," Boyle said.

Flaherty said it is a challenge to play the music of Stone Temple Pilots because their sound changed considerably from album to album. He said the music goes from hard rock to Burt Bachrach type songs. He said the guitar playing on the Stone Temple Pilots songs was unorthodox, so he has had to change styles.

"You've got to have kind of a wide range just because they evolved so much in the short time that they were popular," Flaherty said.

Boyle said there is a lot going on with STP music. But he said learning how to play the music, has made him a better bass player.

Flaherty said many of those who come to see Big Bang Baby Baby are not big Stone Temple Pilots fans. "A lot of people don't necessarily know the songs," Flaherty said. "It's like an STP party. Even if they don't know much about STP, it's a good time."

Jensen said he listened to Alice in Chains when he was a kid, but then stopped. When he heard Nutshell, he said he started listening to the band again. He hopes Big Bang Baby has a similar impact on people.

"There's no other Stone Temple Pilots tribute band around here anywhere," Boyle said.

All of the members of Big Bang Baby have been in bands that played original music. McGrath said the job of the musicians is easier if they already know the music.

"The stakes are not as high," Flaherty said of playing in a tribute band. "You're not putting yourself out there. It's just pure fun."

Taken from the Spring issue of Limelight Magazine. - Limelight Magazine

The Titans of Tribute Come Together
By GEORGE AUSTIN

Think about it. Tool, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains, all in one concert. For fans of '90s rock, that would be a dream show. While such a lineup coming to the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Mass., this summer may be a pipe dream, music diehards can find the next best thing at Good Time Emporium in Somerville on April 19 when the three bands that pay tribute to Tool, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains will perform in a concert called "The Titans of Tribute."

TOOLfist, Nutshell and Big Bang Baby will play together for the first time at the concert. Jose Andrade, lead singer for TOOLfist, said that Tool, Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains all burst onto the scene during a revolutionary era in music.

Nutshell, the Alice in Chains tribute band, was started in 2006. It was an acoustic band at first with lead guitarist and backup vocalist Craig Naso, lead singer Doug Merrill and bass player Joe Abbott. But then Dave Macaulay was added on drums and Jason Mahoney on guitar. All of the members of the band loved the sound and message of Alice in Chains.

Macaulay said it is a challenge to recreate the music of Alice in Chains. The band has to make sure the music is tight.

Macaulay said he and drummer started a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band because he was not able to put together a band that played original music. They found a guitarist on Craig's List. He said it is easier to play out as a tribute band than it is with a band of original music. With original music, he said band members have to make compromises when it comes to writing the lyrics and music to it.

"Everbody loves these bands because they were some of the biggest rock bands of the '90s," Macauley said.

Singer Bill McGrath and drumer Steve Jensen, of Big Bang Baby, were in a high school band together, playing original music. Macauley was talking to Jensen over a couple of beers when they came up with the idea of either starting a tribute band to Stone Temple Pilots or Rage Against the Machine. Jensen had been in a band with McGrath and bassist Mike Boyle. Macauley had heard them play on a recording.

"He does sound like Scott Weiland, so it does make sense," Macaulay said of McGrath and starting a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band.

"You knew at the first practice that everything was going to work out," McGrath said. "Everything was tight. Everyone worked well together." Boyle said when guitarist Brendan Flaherty was brought in, he nailed everything.
"It was like hitting the lottery with Brendan because he is kind of an STP afficionado," Boyle said.

Flaherty said it is a challenge to play the music of Stone Temple Pilots because their sound changed considerably from album to album. He said the music goes from hard rock to Burt Bachrach type songs. He said the guitar playing on the Stone Temple Pilots songs was unorthodox, so he has had to change styles.

"You've got to have kind of a wide range just because they evolved so much in the short time that they were popular," Flaherty said.

Boyle said there is a lot going on with STP music. But he said learning how to play the music, has made him a better bass player.

Flaherty said many of those who come to see Big Bang Baby Baby are not big Stone Temple Pilots fans. "A lot of people don't necessarily know the songs," Flaherty said. "It's like an STP party. Even if they don't know much about STP, it's a good time."

Jensen said he listened to Alice in Chains when he was a kid, but then stopped. When he heard Nutshell, he said he started listening to the band again. He hopes Big Bang Baby has a similar impact on people.

"There's no other Stone Temple Pilots tribute band around here anywhere," Boyle said.

All of the members of Big Bang Baby have been in bands that played original music. McGrath said the job of the musicians is easier if they already know the music.

"The stakes are not as high," Flaherty said of playing in a tribute band. "You're not putting yourself out there. It's just pure fun."

Taken from the Spring issue of Limelight Magazine. - Limelight Magazine