May 22, 2003 – The Chronicle, Montreal’s West Island community newspaper

Blast from the past – Local band adopts different persona

BY BARBARA LAVOIE

Don’t worry if hearing a few bars of Jim Morrison singing Light My Fire instantly transports you back to the late ‘60s. It is supposed to.

Feast of Friends, the popular West Island tribute band led by André Smith, is busy rehearsing the material of two more of their music heros for the local Québec circuit. Basking in the applause received for their successful homages to late guitar legend, Jimi Hendrix and ‘60s band, The Doors, the local group hopes to be on stage this fall with a new tribute show highlighting the musical careers of Bluesmen, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

More than six years ago, Smith, guitar player and lead singer, and his musician friends, Charles Beauregard, drummer and Simon Esterez, bass player, decided the most authentic way they could cover original music was to become a tribute band. “Artistically speaking, you can’t go deeply into the personality and the music that goes along with it when you do a song or two,” said Smith, adding “This is the way to get to the heart and soul of the artist.”

Their first reincarnation, Shades of Hendrix, played the bars and clubs of Montreal and Quebec and travelled to the Woodstock En Beauce Festival and Vintage Motorcycle Show in Drummondville. Two years later, they added The Doors tribute called, Feast of Friends, named after the Doors’ 1968 documentary film, that reflects on the music and life of the late Jim Morrison.

Smith, who gave his age as being either “between the ages of 20 and 75 years” or “of no age”, credits the band’s success to dedication and authenticity. He explained, “Our commitment is to reflect on the purity of the artist’s approach. We try to capture their views on and feelings for the music. As dedicated musicians ourselves, we feel it is the best kind of respect we can give when we reproduce the proper feeling of the music. We don’t stray far from the original.”

The band dresses in vintage clothing and they imitate the voices and mannerisms of their idols. Ben, doorman at Chez Maurice in St. Lazare recalled a Friends show in March. He said, “They were crazy on stage. He threw himself on the floor a few times just like Jim Morrison used to do when he was on drugs, only he (André) was straight. If you liked The Doors, then you like that kind of stuff.”

A quick look at the calendar of The Medley, one of several downtown Montréal clubs that feature homage bands, and you understand how popular the tribute band phenomenon has become. During the next few months bands will be honouring the Beatles, Bob Marley, Queen, Metallica and Depeche Mode.

For their upcoming Clapton tribute, Cream, Sugar N’Blues, the band will add the vocals of singer, Lynne Diegle and the keyboarding skills of Renee Paquin. All the band members are Montrealers.

To find out the date and place of the band’s next gig, call Smith at 685-9122 ext.230.