When a Lismore local muso took his great grandparents to see the Bee Gees and ABBA Tribute show at Lismore’s Star Court Theatre last week, he was in for a surprise – and a disappointment.

As he watched the keyboard and guitarists, he realised they were not actually playing their instruments.

So, he contacted the Lismore App with his story.

“The Bee Gees band came on and I noticed the band were ‘playing’ their instruments but the guitarist wasn't strumming and the pianist wasn't hitting the keyboard at the right times - and the drums were playing the wrong thing,” he said. “The women were really singing though and they did a great job.”

As a performer himself, he felt disappointed and wanted to know why.

So he mentioned it to the bartenders and staff, but they didn't answer and avoided the question.

“Then I quickly popped into the control room where I found a laptop with the Bee Gees top 25 hits playing,” he said.

Unknown to him at the time, it wasn’t a fully ‘live’ show.

While he was disappointed, his ageing Pop really enjoyed the show.

“Pop didn’t know they were not playing because he is blind and it all seemed real to him – he wouldn’t have noticed it was a backing track playing.

“Before the show, Pop was sad because he had lost his dog. He was his only friend and Pop got really sad all the time and this concert was the one thing he was looking forward to - and this happens.

Disappointed

“I was disappointed as I work as a session muso at a Byron studio and I thought they were ripping people off - the tickets were $40 each.

“Later I got more information from an audio engineer I know. Apparently 90% of the Gold Coast bands play backing tracks to their music.

“Cover bands can’t have an orchestra, so they recreate the bigger sound with a backing track and play along.. “But I saw that some of those band members didn’t play anything all night.

“The guitarist didn’t play guitar, but did a good job playing keyboard on the ABBA set.”

Theatre response

The Lismore App spoke to the Star Court Theatre Manager SJ Loxton about the performance.

SJ said the sound engineer on the night confirmed with her that the set was a combination of live instruments and some backing tracks, all of which were recorded by the band.

“To re-create the sound and performance of both ABBA and The Bee Gees you need do this, because the original bands would use a 20 piece band on stage,” she said.

The lesson in this story is that if you go to see a cover band, be prepared for some miming – and maybe close your eyes and enjoy the music.