A tribute band can be defined as being “a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act”. However, it takes more than simply playing songs to be a great tribute band. The very best tributes will go out of their way to create an immersive experience, studying their idols and emulating them to the last detail. After their performance last night in 53 degrees, I can say with certainty that the U.K Foo Fighters are one of the best tribute acts out there.

From the moment I entered the venue, it felt like I was attending a Foo Fighters gig. The stage featured a large ‘FF’ logo, and even boasted a Gibson DG 335, the exact guitar model that the Foo Fighter’s front-man, Dave Grohl, uses. When the band walked out to the stage their attention to detail became even more impressive, as the band looked the part, wearing typical Foo Fighters attire and even sporting the same facial hair choices as the real band members. The group’s front-man, Jay, had Grohl’s mannerisms down to a tee, swaying on stage, staring deep into the crowd and drinking the band’s own aptly named brand of beer, ‘Monkey Wrench’.

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The set-list was a love letter to the Foo Fighter’s most recent tour, starting with a wild performance of ‘White Limo’, before sending the crowd into a frenzy with fan favorites, ‘All my life’, ‘Pretender’ and ‘My hero’. With many gigs, it can be difficult to gain audience participation early on, but Jay had the crowd singing along from the first song to the last, with a few mosh pits opening up, despite the relatively small upstairs venue. Unlike some tribute bands, however, this was no ‘greatest hits’ compilation. While all the ‘crowd pleasers’ were in the set, Jay allowed for audience requests including ‘Skin and Bones’ and ‘Talked about it’, and included lesser hits such as ‘Enough Space’ and ‘Hey Johnny Park’. The calls of ‘we want more’ from the crowd encouraged the now traditional faux encore, where the band wrapped up with a superb performance of ‘Monkey Wrench’ and ‘Best of you’.

The vocals were not of a level with Dave Grohl, but that’s hardly surprising when he is one of the best vocal talents in rock music today. Despite this, Jay gave everything he had to a brilliant performance that was not of Grohl’s level, but came admirably close, and combined with the band’s excellent, and accurate re-creation of the Foo Fighter’s signature sound.

Ultimately, the U.K Foo Fighters are one of the best tribute bands around. The passion for their idols is evident in the level of detail and quality that they produce, with Jay even stating that each gig “feels like Wembley for me”. So if you’re looking for a great time, or to fill a Foo Fighter’s void until they start touring again, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

For more Preston based, rock related reviews, check back later for my review of The Darkness, and Hacktivist, at 53 degrees.