About
The Substitutes is a cover band for hire in Melbourne, VIC.
1963 to 1970 is the whole brief. The Substitutes play British, US and Australian rock from those years note for note, the way the records sound, while keeping the experimentation and risk-taking that made the era matter in the first place. One night can hold Cream's White Room, Creedence's Proud Mary, Dave Clark Five, Buffalo Springfield and Black Sabbath's Paranoid. The Melbourne band features the vocals and guitar of Neil Scott, formerly of British 70s rock band Chalice, with bassist Peter Robinson, once of The Strangers, anchoring the rhythm section. They can MC a wedding if asked, and they'll keep quiet 60s background music running between sets so the mood never drops.
Watch
The show
Ten years of playing 60s rock properly, which is rarer than it sounds. Most cover bands smooth the era out into pop melodies; these four keep the rawness and the risk-taking that made it worth listening to, the Dave Davies solo, the Keith Moon drum roll. Neil Scott sings and plays guitar, previously with British 70s rock band Chalice. Behind him is musical director and bassist Peter Robinson, formerly of The Strangers and 80s on the Edge, drummer Peter Reed, who has played with Gary Young, Phil Manning and Johnny O'Keefe among many others, and Peter Summers on guitar and keys, bringing punk energy from Riverina Playboys and Strange Idols. Every member's career is documented in the fifth edition of Who's Who of Australian Rock. It sounds like the record, but with dry humour and real spirit in it.
On the day
A 9 metre by 5 metre stage is what they'd prefer. Build two hours into your run sheet before the gig, which covers setting up and a proper sound check, and another hour afterwards for pack up and load out.
Performance options
They'll take on MC duties at a wedding or a party if you want the one act handling both. Between sets, they can keep quiet 60s background music running for as long as you need, so the room never falls silent. If the gig is two hours or more from inner Melbourne, they'll need four separate motel rooms, plus an evening meal or plenty of finger food, and drinks.
Song list
Do it Again-Beach Boys
Poison Ivy-Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs
Paranoid -Black Sabbath
For What It's Worth -Buffalo Springfield
Going Up the Country -Canned Heat
Psychotic Reaction -Count Five
White Room -Cream
Proud Mary-Creedence Clearwater Revival
Chicago-CSNY
Helplessly Hoping-CSNY
Find the Cost of Freedom-CSNY
Ohio -CSNY
I Hear You Knocking-Dave Edmunds
Bits and Pieces -Dave Clark Five
Catch Us if You Can -Dave Clark Five
Glad All Over -Dave Clark Five
Hold Tight -Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, & Tich
Black Night -Deep Purple
Oh Well (Part 1)-Fleetwood Mac
Natural Born Woman-Humble Pie
Judy in Disguise-John Fred & his Playboys
Lies -The Knickerbockers
Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind-Lovin’ Spoonful
Summer in the City -Lovin' Spoonful
