Okay, I usually try to stray from reviewing tribute bands.  Even if the band does a decent job of covering the songs, it’s almost impossible to shake off the originals.  No one wants to see someone else butcher their favorite songs.  Fans pay cheap admission because the real bands they want to hear are way overpriced or are no longer together.  So unless it’s Me First and Gimme Gimmes or Richard Cheese, cover bands always leave a bad taste in my mouth.   I’m glad Geezer changed my mind.

Using Moog Cookbook’s version (electronic polka muzak; think space age elevator music for the mentally challenged) of “Buddy Holly” and the theme to Mr. Rodgers as intros should have been an indication that these guys had a sense of humor.  Just as that particular thought goes through my mind, Geezer steps on stage badly dressed as old men with canes.  “Oh, please don’t be cheesy,” was my thought.  They started playing “My Name is Jonas” as a polka.  For me, if a band does a cover and they play it in their own style, I can appreciate that a lot more than if they just played it like the original.  A smile crossed my face thinking they were going to play like that all night.  Suddenly, they broke out playing regular.  You’d think I’d be disappointed, think again.  I was pretty impressed with their sound as if they were channeling Weezer.  Their energy was good and it remained throughout the entire set.  They threw shout-outs to other tribute bands (Pantera’d and Guerilla Radio) playing the show that night using Pantera and Rage Against the Machine lyrics in a couple songs.  Nice touch.  Way to size up the competition.  They stayed in character throughout the entire night.  The “old geezers” had to even take a nap in the middle of their set and, yet, the energy was still there.  But probably the funniest part of their set was their version of the Beverly Hillbillies theme played to “Beverly Hills” in perfect time.  That’s when they converted me.  A sense of humor on stage can always save a crappy show. . .but this was no crappy band.  In all honesty, if I didn’t know what Weezer sounded like I would think that this was their own music.  They’ve been dubbed the greatest cover band ever, and rightly so!  The Geezers were on Viagra because they rock it like a sexually repressed kid on prom night.  They sounded clean, they were funny, and in a weird way. . .original.

It also helps when band members pass out cookies at the end of their set.  Ah yes, just the way grandma makes it!