They've Got You Covered

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 15, 2005 1:18PM

Chicagoist has often been accused of rampant snobbery but we’ve got a soft spot for cover bands. As the granddaddy of cover band inspiration gets yet another posthumous tribute, we’re checking out other bands that are walking a mile in another’s shoes.

Since it’s August, many are celebrating Elvis Death Week and Chicago is no different. Mark Hussman’s labor of love ,The Elvis Spectacular, descends of the House of Blues tonight at 8 PM. Hussman was voted Number One Elvis by America Online and NBC. He’ll be joined by local blues fan Buzz Kilman and Patty Elvis, who has her own Elvis tribute show at Davenport’s. And what would a tribute to Elvis be without the U2 cover band Elevation? Thematically consistent, that’s what. Tickets are $15. Perhaps there’ll be a moment of silence for the guy who died during the Elvis Is Alive fun run this weekend.

If that’s not quite bombastic enough for you, perhaps you would prefer to rock and roll all night followed by some partying during the daylight hours. If so, KINGS of the Nighttime World will be covering KISS at the Hard Rock Café tomorrow night. The band boasts of using full makeup and costumes but shouldn’t that be the least a KISS cover band provides? Covering KISS without makeup and costumes would be like covering Motley Crue without drinking or fighting onstage. Tickets are $10 and benefit the Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Sadly, the Rock and Roll is All Over as this show was cancelled.

On the less testosterone-fueled tip, Tori Amos is an artist whose singular performance technique wouldn’t seem to lend itself to a cover band. But we’re optimistic that the Ladies of the Canyon show at Martyrs’ tomorrow will give good piano straddle. The band features some Martyrs’ regulars that you’re likely to see during a Tributosaurus show (Anne Harris, Shana Spiegel, Chris Siebold) and tickets are only $10 for their 9:30 PM show.