Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Here's your chance to nominate your favorite group for Best Byrds Cover Band. Tell us a little about them, and if there's a Youtube video, please feel free to embed it.

Here's my nomination: The Byrdbrains. They pretty well nailed the harmony to "I'll Probably Feel a Whole Lot Better When You're Gone."

JimK

Hey BYRD fans. My name is Ed Embrey, and I play Roger Mcguinn in a BYRDS Tribute show called, 2nd Flyte. Please visit our site at www.secondflyte.com
I just joined the forum today, and I look forward to chatting with the greatest Byrd fans in the world. I travel frequently, so it is sometimes days between responses. My vote for the best BYRDS tribute, is anyone who has the passion, and love to recreate the sounds of America's first true SUPER GROUP! That is a general vote for all that keep it alive. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and check out the media downloads page of our site, there is video of three #. Also, you can visit our myspace right from this web site. We are currently booking our 2009 schedule, so keep checking back. We will be in LA later this year for several shows, and will be in Roanoke , VA April 23rd.

Peace to all!
Ed

Welcome to the assyl....forum I mean, Ed. We look forward to hearing more from you.

JimK

I would like nothing more than to play in a Byrds tribute band, but in all honesty, there's no place around here for a band like that to work, unless I'm missing something.

Maybe our new member from Second Flight could fill me in. Thanks.

S#%$@&. That guy copped my Vox shirt. Now I'll have to get something else from POTR. Great version. XLNT harmonies. Fabulous Ric tone. Did you use a compressor? What kind?

But if you're playing the 12 string but singing lead, doesn't that make you Gene Clark?

Janglyman

Ed,

Does Second Flyte get anywhere near Chicago in 2009?

Janglyman

I have not been exposed to many Byrds cover bands, but from what has been posted thus far, I prefer 2nd Flyte's rendition of "Feel a Whole Lot Better" (a portion of which is included with other sound clips on their website) to that of the Byrdbrains. 2nd Flyte's rendition moves along at a brisker pace, the harmonies are clearer and better articulated and the 12-string guitar is pronounced and crisp like McGuinn's in the original. I thought the Byrdbrains' rendition was too slow and "sing-along-y." Plus, other than the McGuinn stand-in, their visual presentation leaves something to be desired (read: Please don't bring back tie-died T-shirts).

Just had a listen to some of the samples on Second Flyte's site. Yeah, I'd agree; they're quite good.

Just a personal comment here, and no slight is intended to these various groups, or their fans. But I don't think I'd want to play in such a band as Second Flyte or Byrdbrains, either one. And the reason is it's because I'd rather not let go of my tendency to alter slightly the chord structure, vocal harmony arrangements, or in the case of Dylan covers, add verses (which Dylan wrote) that the Byrds never recorded. For instance, I can't resist putting in the iim7 chord (which the Byrds do not play) in Mr. Tambourine Man. And while I understand completely the utter practicality of singing only one of the verses and two choruses back in 1965, still it's such a wonderful song, that I sing all four verses. I'm just different that way.

JimK

jimk wrote:And while I understand completely the utter practicality of singing only one of the verses and two choruses [of "Mr. Tambourine Man] back in 1965, still it's such a wonderful song, that I sing all four verses. I'm just different that way.
JimK

Jim, I quite agree. I learned all the verses to MTM during my "folk-singer/coffee shop" days and would not feel constrained by the "under 3-minute single" mentality to limit myself to one verse. The Byrds' rendition is a great tune but it's even better with the complete original lyrics.

Libratune,

You are 1 tough critic! Yow. So, if you ever hear my band live, please stay in the back, cuz I'm not even as good as these guys. And,,, while I understand and appreciate Jim K's comments, I think you guys are missing the point that it's just too much fun to play these songs live. Every head in the place turns when you hit those intro chords on the Ricky. Yes, it is constraining to be in a Byrd's tribute band, just like it's constraining to be in a Doors, or Zep tribute band. But that doesn't mean it's not fun.

I think we'd all agree, the songs are good, the Byrds versions are good, the musicianship is great (yeah, yeah, regardless of who played on it), so let's just enjoy it. It's a tip of the hat to the original guys.

If you guys wanna keep on posting tunes, I'm always happy to watch and listen.

Janglyman

Janglyman wrote:Libratune,

.... I think you guys are missing the point that it's just too much fun to play these songs live. Every head in the place turns when you hit those intro chords on the Ricky. Yes, it is constraining to be in a Byrd's tribute band, just like it's constraining to be in a Doors, or Zep tribute band. But that doesn't mean it's not fun.
Janglyman

I'm really glad it's fun for you. My hat's off to you and your band.

What I mean is I don't have that self discipline to really get down and learn MTM, or 8 Mi. High just like the Byrds, note for note. I tried to do stuff like that once, when I was younger. It's a wonder I still have hair on my head! If I get close, that's good enough. After that it's all making it up as I go. (Just ask my band mates in the string band I play in. I don't play those old timey fiddle tunes exactly the way ol' Tommy Jarrell did, either.)

I guess I see the difference here as being a cover band, vs. a tribute band. In a cover band, I'd be playing our arrangement of a Byrds hit. In a tribute band, I'd be playing a Byrds hit just exactly the way it is on the record, or else with variations that can be documented through alternate takes, or video recordings, etc. (Maybe I'm being too strict here with my definitions....I dunno....)

In the end, I'd love to get the chance to play a Rick 12 at some watering hole and launch into MTM, TTT, or 8MH. What a hoot that would be!

JimK

JimK

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I guess you could consider it the difference between a guitar player (cover band) and a musician (tribute band, not exactly the same). Some of my friends give me grief for trying to play solos note for note. Some times the bass player gives me grief for not being exact enough. Maybe I need to learn the song before I can be comfortable changing the arrangement.

Anyway, somewhere out there, Ry Cooder has a fantastic acoustic version of 8MH. You can tell he really gets the concept. And maybe that's the whole point, to get the artist's concept. After all, music is communication on a higher level, right?

janglyman

Well to me its' all splittin hairs when it comes to The Byrds. Tribute/Cover, Musician/Player. If someone shows up on stage in this day and age and has the enthusiasm to bust into a Byrds Tune with a Rick 12... slow and sappy or with great articulation, it don't matter. It's really hard to try and wreck one. Yes, and I even Liked Husker Du's version of 8MH!
Guess I'm a Byrdslut taking a Byrdbath in Byrdpoo. Sorry 'bout that
Viva "The world turns all around her"!

In the end Adam, yeah; I'm a Byrdslut, too. If it weren't for McGuinn, I would never have discovered the Rickenbacker 12 string.

JimK

Ed:

Saw your video on you tube. Do you have a 360 or 370-12? What amps do you use? Your sound was really good. Nice finger picking by the way. There have been some posts recently about RM using a JC 120. I've seen him use one but I didn't like the sound of it.

Janglyman