One of the advantages of being a Rolling Stones tribute band is a deep catalog of songs to play from.
“They’ve been together 50 years. We’re certainly not lacking material,” said Mountlake Terrace’s Ciggy Cater, who performs as Keith Richards in Midnight Rambler, a Stones tribute band of musicians from Snohomish and King counties. The band performs Saturday at the Historic Everett Theatre.
With a band as well-known and well-loved as the Stones, a tribute act can’t get by on karaoke performances.
“Classic rock acts are a dime a dozen. A lot of talented musicians can play the pop songs,” Cater said.
To make it as a tribute act, the fans expect a recreation of the band’s members, their dress, stage presence and mannerisms.
“Those kind of tribute acts that go the full mile, they’re the ones that are going to stand the test of time,” he said. “The guys that walk on with torn jeans and T-shirts doing CCR and Journey are not going to cut it.”
While the Rolling Stones continue to tour, a tribute band like Midnight Rambler can be the easiest and a much more affordable way to enjoy the music. The fans, Cater said, like to play along with the band.
“Watching a tribute act you can have a couple of drinks and kid yourself that your watching the real thing,” Cater said. “It’s a lot of bloody fun. I’ve walked into some venues, dressed for the part and grown men, 55 to 65, yell ‘Keith, Keith, my wife loves you!’ They know, but they want some of that dust to rub off,” Cater said.
Midnight Rambler has performed together for seven years, although Cater, an English transplant, joined a few years ago when another Stones band he was in lost its Mick Jagger to a move to Reno, Nevada. Cater checked Craigslist, hoping to find a Jagger, but instead found a band looking for a Richards.
Rounding out the band are Michael Zimmerman of Kirkland as Mick Jagger, Albert Ceccacci of Renton as Ronnie Wood, Mike Howe of Puyallup as Bill Wyman, Bruce Erickson of West Seattle as Charlie Watts and Michael Horan of Seattle as Chuck Leavell.
Expect to hear many of the Stones classic hits on Saturday, but Cater admits that with catalog as deep as the Stones its hard to pack everything into a set list.
“Somebody’s baby is going to get cut. People expect to hear the big hits, ‘Let’s Spend the Night,’ ‘Satisfaction,’” Cater said.
The band also likes to throw in some lesser-known tunes.
“I love all the Stones material. It’s a blast to play,” he said.
Stones tribute
Midnight Rambler performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. Tickets, $12 to $25, are available at etix.com, at the box office or by calling 425-258-6766.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
