Thought of the day
While I was busy playing Mission Impossible in a McDonald's bathroom (see my previous post for that disaster), Debby was out celebrating Tim’s birthday with a Journey tribute band called E5c4p3.
She posed a question that has been haunting my prefrontal cortex ever since: At what point does a band actually become its own tribute act?
Think about it. The "official" Journey touring right now has exactly one original member left. Meanwhile, the tribute band Debby saw has been together for decades, playing the songs note-for-note exactly how we remember them from 1981.
And then I wondered - at my advanced age - am I officially a Ship of Theseus?
I look in the mirror, and I see the "Original Mr. Shife," but the parts list tells a different story. My "Lead Singer" (hair) retired years ago, replaced by a thinner, grayer understudy. My "Rhythm Section" (knees) has been swapped for a series of pops and cracks. My "Frontman" (brain) feels like a tribute act to the guy I was at 25. I still know all the words to the songs, but I can’t remember why I walked into the kitchen or where I left my keys.
It’s like Margaret mentioned in a recent post — sometimes the best thing you can find is a world-class plate of mac and cheese. In 2026, we’re all just looking for those "out of this world" moments to keep us going.
We’re all just touring under our original names while slowly replacing the parts. Maybe the secret to a happy life is making sure the "tribute act" is as polished as possible, the mac and cheese is hot, and you never stop believin'—even if you have to sit down for the guitar solo.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Meme dump
I will keep moving forward.
I will be the stream.
Funny you mention Mac and cheese. I do like deli mac and cheese even if full of chemicals.
ReplyDeleteIt is delicious.
DeleteI proudly asked for the senior discount at the grocery store on my qualifying birthday. The cashier sheepishly told me she'd already given it to me. This was a deep post.
ReplyDeleteOuch. And I went off the deep end today for sure.
DeleteI was just talking with someone about how so many of the classic rock bands only have one original member.....sometimes not even the frontman.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy!
DeleteIt's as you say, Matt. We're a sum of old and sometimes fake parts--our own tribute band. We have to find our small pleasures where we can these days. There won't be any marathons or mountain climbing.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteWe saw 'Jeff Lynne's ELO' and it was totally worth it. I have no idea if Jeff (lead singer) was the only remaining original member. A few weeks ago, we saw 'The Orchestra' which was former members of ELO without Jeff Lynne. Nowhere near as good as the Jeff Lynne concert. All this to say, I think that without the original singer, it's a tribute band! Take that, Journey and Van Halen!
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me, Bijoux!
DeleteMy original band retired years back and the tribute band never formed.
ReplyDeleteWell that is sad, Bob.
DeleteYou're gettin' deep in your old age, man.
ReplyDeleteIt might be time to reevaluate my meds.
DeleteI don't look at myself as a tribute band trying to sing like the original. I think now I'm more like Marty Ray where I take the original, retool it a bit and create another masterpiece.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3IxxYsIN8
Great observation, Ed, and thanks for sharing the link.
DeleteOkay. This was hysterical. I have noticed that my 'band' keeps increasing. I hit the gym hard, but as soon as I step on a scale, I discover that they've come sneaking back in.
ReplyDeleteMine too, Debby.
Delete