Sons of Apollo (feat. Portnoy & Sherinian)

[Adami]

Personally, if it's a solo show, I don't count them as covers. Just if they're doing it as part of another band.

[Madman Shepherd]

Eh, it's blurry, but I have to call these covers.

If MP was touring as himself, I wouldn't call them covers. But he's touring as Sons of Apollo. That makes them doing other bands' songs covers. Even if two of them contributed to those songs to some degree.

If they covered Guns n Roses songs, it'd be covers, even though Bumblebee was in GnR and helped write one of the albums (I think).

He helped write precisely zero songs with GNR and had minimal performance contributions on the one album he appears on. Added some guitar here and there and strangely replaced Buckethead's solos on 2 of the 3 tracks Buckethead cowrote, but Buckethead's solos on the songs he didn't cowrite are largely in tact.

So, if SoA plays songs off of Chinese Democracy are those covers? What about the one or two that Bumblefoot actually got to solo on?





Spoiler: Yes, totally covers.

[MirrorMask]

I do remember being a bit peeved when I saw Three Days Grace earlier this year with their most recent singer and when they were about to play a song that Adam Gontier sang, their new singer was like "we created this song 10-15 years ago when blah blah blah."  No, the other three guys took part in creating those hit songs.  You didn't.

I understand the little annoyance, but in cases like these I can forgive the singer, they're a band, while playing live he's a spokeperson for the rest of the band, and the "band" as an "entity" wrote those song. No singer is gonna remark in an awkard way that they weren't part of the band.

Should James have pointed out in the Images and Words and Beyond tour that Mangini and Rudess weren't there for the album? we all know it anyway. I remember seeing Nightwish on their "Decades" tour, an excuse to celebrate 20 years and counting as a band, should have Floor Jensen said "Wow, these guys have been around since 1997.... nevermind me, I just came along for the last album"?

Again, I understand not liking when it happens..... but I totally understand why a current incarnation of the band is, well, the band and "we" is being used instead of "three out of five of us".

[ytserush]

Same here.

As someone who wasn't much of fan of the first album, I couldn't talk myself into traveling 20 miles to see them when they came here.

That's where I'm at except it was 50 miles for me. Seeing it live would be better than the album (As would a live recording.)

I expected my enjoyment level for that show would be better than A-Mob, but not as good as Winery Dogs.

[Stadler]

Funny thing, by coincidence, I was listening to Deep Purple live in Long Beach in 1976 (the Coverdale/Bolin/Hughes incarnation) and David introduced "Smoke..." by describing it as a song from an album we did in Montreaux...  and for some reason it sort of bugged me.

But as to the bigger picture, at least as far as Setlist.fm goes, I think I'm right here.  It's less about the deep fan and their intimate knowledge, as it is a more strictly formal database for those that don't have band art tattooed on their pectorals.  I know for me, when I went in and put in all my concerts, there were bands in the '80's that I had not remembered I saw, or didn't even know who they were, and it was helpful to have factually specific references to the songs.   A good example was the Dead; the band did a fair number of songs from both Garcia's and Weir's early to mid-70's solo records.   In both cases, the material was written largely by the same writers (Garcia/Hunter and Weir/Barlow) and several of the Dead members played on the records.  They were like Tom Petty solo records in that it was the Dead but Jerry/Bob got to call all the shots with no band democracy in play. 

If you buy the box sets of Dead albums, or any of the compilations, those Garcia/Weir songs are most often NOT included (side bar, they were done with other record companies as a way of generating cash for other Dead endeavors).   By ANY of the standards set out here, they should NOT be covers, but I value the clarity in order to become more familiar with the source material.

[JayOctavarium]

But... but...

what if Porcupine Tree get back together, and they play a song off of Raven That Refused to Sing

[SwedishGoose]

The Neal Morse Band playing Neal Morse songs....

[gzarruk]

The Neal Morse Band playing Neal Morse songs....

But changing the name from Neal Morse to Neal Morse Band was just a gimmick...

[Max Kuehnau]

Back to the actual topic now: The second live preview piece has been released (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi-sjqU86Ho&list=OLAK5uy_lhv_fXmOtZbWUWg7w-Vwv8akIQCMQeZ1A) and it's Labyrinth (with the string section)

[Lynxo]

That's only the audio. This is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcG-6cNwRF8&feature=youtu.be

[Max Kuehnau]

That's only the audio. This is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcG-6cNwRF8&feature=youtu.be

I know, I just wanted to post it already for those select few among us (myself not included, I'm neutral) who might not have wanted to wait . Anyway, may all these enjoy.

[cramx3]

That's only the audio. This is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcG-6cNwRF8&feature=youtu.be

This is awesome 

[Adami]

Yea that didn’t do much for me.

1. Orchestra was as close to pointless as you can get. If I didn’t physically see them (more often than not just sitting there) I wouldn’t know they were present.

2. Weird camera choices. Band is doing some cool? Show JSS dancing!

3 band sounds good.

[goo-goo]

@Adami

Some of the editing reminded me of the Steve Harris effect in the Iron Maiden DVDs: changing shots every 3-5 seconds. If MP directed the film, I would be very surprised on why he would use this short shot thing. Also agree on your orchestra comment: feels unnecessary.

[JayOctavarium]

Yea that didn’t do much for me.

1. Orchestra was as close to pointless as you can get. If I didn’t physically see them (more often than not just sitting there) I wouldn’t know they were present.

2. Weird camera choices. Band is doing some cool? Show JSS dancing!

3 band sounds good.

I agree with all 3

[Anguyen92]

Yeah, the band sounds great, that stated I'm having the same issues like in Breaking the Fourth Wall where if they brought out strings musicians and the likes, it's hard for me to find any distinction between them and the keyboardist.  Also, I don't think the crowd was mic'ed up when JSS wanted the crowd to go "whoa, oh oh!"  Either that, or they were a dead crowd.

[cramx3]

1. Orchestra was as close to pointless as you can get. If I didn’t physically see them (more often than not just sitting there) I wouldn’t know they were present.

Yea, this is true.  And definitely reminds me of DT's issues with using the orchestra.  I don't understand how this happens unless the whole thing is just a gimmick.

[Anguyen92]

I think it comes down to finding a way that they can utilize an orchestra for things that a keyboardist couldn't pull off when it comes to strings sounds in the background.

When I saw Lindsey Stirling, last year, co-headline with Evanescence, they had an orchestra backing them the entire tour, it was really hard for me to piece the orchestra in the background since Lindsey plays the violin and she has a keyboardist as part of the back-up band.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, I can hear the orchestra during Evanescence's set, but I couldn't hear the guitars at all and whilst it was a solid performance, it was pretty darn dull where everyone, including the guitarists, was sitting and not really playing off or interacting with the crowd.

[ReaperKK]

The band was pretty good, JSS doesn't sound as bad he did in the trailer.

What's up with DSS, does he always look that disinterested?

[cramx3]

What's up with DSS, does he always look that disinterested?

yes

[SystematicThought]

What's up with DSS, does he always look that disinterested?

It's a rockstar thing, us normal folk wouldn't and shouldn't try to understand it. I'm gonna go back to flipping burgers now...

[devieira73]

On SoA Facebook:
SONS OF APOLLO - MMXX North American Tour Dates
w Special Guest Tony MacAlpine:

• Fri Jan 24th - Pomona, CA - The Glass House
https://bit.ly/2H8kNxY

• Sat Jan 25th - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
https://bit.ly/2H8aLNb

• Sun Jan 26th - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
https://bit.ly/31FYAPj

• Tues Jan 28th - Salt Lake City, UT - The State Room
https://bit.ly/31D8P7e

• Wed Jan 29th - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
https://bit.ly/2Z5QC4s

• Fri Jan 31st - St Charles, IL - Arcada Theater
https://bit.ly/2TCz0bj

• Sat Feb 1st - Battle Creek, MI - The Music Factory
https://bit.ly/31IwXVQ

• Sun Feb 2nd - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
https://bit.ly/2Z8OuJ8

• Mon Feb 3rd - Montreal, QC - Corona Theater
https://bit.ly/2KF9eyU

• Wed Feb 5th - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
https://bit.ly/2N2rMMx

• Thurs Feb 6th - New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
https://livemu.sc/2YUUoi2

• Fri Feb 7th - Jim Thorpe, PA - Penn’s Peak
https://bit.ly/30bEjRo

• Sat Feb 8th - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
https://bit.ly/31MKyM7

Tix On Sale: Wednesday August 21st @ 12PM LOCAL TIME
(Except NJ Show which is NOW AVAILABLE)

[JayOctavarium]

They'll be in LA the week after NAMM... Interesting. 

[The Walrus]

Is Mike incapable of booking a different venue in Illinois? WTF? Every time he comes through regardless of band it's always the Arcada in St. Charles. And it's on my birthday too lol

[ProfessorPeart]

Is Mike incapable of booking a different venue in Illinois? WTF? Every time he comes through regardless of band it's always the Arcada in St. Charles. And it's on my birthday too lol

It's to accommodate me. It's nice only having to drive 30 minutes for a show. 

That, and it's probably the nicest venue he can get for his current bands. He seems to have really struck up a relationship with Ron. The downside is the prices that Ron loves to charge.

[Lonk]

Gramercy Theater sucks but I guess is worth going.

[cramx3]

Never heard of that NJ venue, but a saturday night and it's actually close to where I work.  I think I'd rather go to Gramercy but that's a Thursday so maybe I'll just do that Saturday show.  Either way, I don't expect it to sell out so I'll decide closer to February which show I'll go to.

[Anguyen92]

I don't know which is closer to me.  LA or Pomona.  Ok, I just did a quick check.  Pomona is closer.  On a Friday as well.  I'll think it over.  I did like Portnoy and Sheehan when Winery Dogs came to Anaheim, which is the city next door to where I live, last May.  Don't know if I want to go much further for SOA.  I will think about it.

[Stadler]

Unless Cram can convince me to meet him in the City, that's looking like a hard pass from me unless/until more dates are added.

[The Walrus]

I'm gonna go just to get Forest Whitaker-eye hammered and give Derek the stinkeye all night

[Podaar]

 

I'm gonna go just to get Forest Whitaker-eye hammered and give Derek the stinkeye all night

[cramx3]

 

Unless Cram can convince me to meet him in the City, that's looking like a hard pass from me unless/until more dates are added.

Let me know if it's still an option come January, I would like to see them and hope to catch one of the two local shows, but it's not a concert I am throwing down money on yet and planning out.  Also, I hope the new album is already out by then, that might play a role as well.  Hell if it were released and I loved it, I could see myself doing both shows.  But it's all wait and see for me.

[Lonk]

Never heard of that NJ venue, but a saturday night and it's actually close to where I work.  I think I'd rather go to Gramercy but that's a Thursday so maybe I'll just do that Saturday show.  Either way, I don't expect it to sell out so I'll decide closer to February which show I'll go to.

I just looked it up and it looks better than Gramercy and it's a shorter commute (25 minutes driving instead of 40 minutes on the train). I think I might go to that one but will deff wait out to buy the ticket.

[cramx3]

Never heard of that NJ venue, but a saturday night and it's actually close to where I work.  I think I'd rather go to Gramercy but that's a Thursday so maybe I'll just do that Saturday show.  Either way, I don't expect it to sell out so I'll decide closer to February which show I'll go to.

I just looked it up and it looks better than Gramercy and it's a shorter commute (25 minutes driving instead of 40 minutes on the train). I think I might go to that one but will deff wait out to buy the ticket.

I don't think I like either venue (Bergen PAC from the pictures, Gramercy from experience) but I feel like I'd enjoy the smaller GA vibe from the Gramercy than a seated small theater. That's just me though. 

[Stadler]

Unless Cram can convince me to meet him in the City, that's looking like a hard pass from me unless/until more dates are added.

Let me know if it's still an option come January, I would like to see them and hope to catch one of the two local shows, but it's not a concert I am throwing down money on yet and planning out.  Also, I hope the new album is already out by then, that might play a role as well.  Hell if it were released and I loved it, I could see myself doing both shows.  But it's all wait and see for me.

That's a perfect plan; by the way, rather see that show in a GA club than a seated theater too.