Tribute

Running time: N/A

The lights dim and a shaggy haired man clad in tight jeans, striped shirt, white tuxedo jacket, and vintage Nike sneakers steps up to the microphone...and croons. His name may be Paul or Jim, and he could be an accountant or mechanic by day, but tonight, and for his audience, he is Steve Perry. And the band IS Journey. Welcome to the land of Tribute Bands, an almost surreal sub-culture where musicians become actors in an attempt to capture the look, sound, and very essence of the bands they pay tribute to -- rock supergroups like KISS, Journey, Judas Priest and Queen. Like This Is Spinal Tap before it, Tribute reveals the funny, and sometimes disturbing flip side of the quest for rock and roll stardom. These tribute musicians struggle with expired dreams, soul-sucking day jobs, and even bandmates who take their impersonation dangerously too far. From the unbelievable, tongue wagging audition for an open Gene Simmons slot to a bitter feud between rival Monkees tributes, Rich Fox and Kris Curry's captivating journey into this absurd world yields humor, affection, and unexpected pathos. Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and edited by Academy Award winning editor Stephen Mirrione (Traffic, Swingers), Tribute portrays a hilarious version of the American dream. Reviewed by Meredith H. Sherter. Preceded by: Crank Calls (Terry Rietta, 10 min., USA) A hilarious dark comedy about a man's decision to take revenge on strangers who have taken advantage of his good nature.