Photos by Alexis Maindrault
Flattery, it’s been said, will get you everywhere. And if — to conjure up another adage — imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery, Sons and Heirs are geared up to, well, go everywhere.
The group, which has set out to recreate the experience of seeing the The Smiths play in their ’80s heyday, bills themselves as a “tribute band” as opposed to a cover band. One would be forgiven for not initially knowing the difference, but after seeing Sons and Heirs take the stage, it’d immediately become clear. Within their tribute act, which stopped by the Bell House in Brooklyn on Saturday night, no detail is spared. How close to reality did they really come? Lead singer Ronnissey, who plays the role of goth’s fearless leader Morrissey, throws gladiolas into the crowd from his perch onstage, just like Moz himself used to. The garb worn onstage is down-to-minutiae period costumery. But if you’re still not yet convinced, try this on for size — former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, DJ’ing on the bill for the night, even came onstage to join the band for a song (much to the utter shock and delight of the crowd). Not many tribute acts of any ilk can claim the blessing (or involvement) of actual members.
If it’s not yet apparent, seeing Sons and Heirs play is watching pure theater — good theater. Certainly, there are many impressionists and/or impersonators in the rock world, but if you’re going to stand out to Smiths fans — some of the most rabid devotees on the planet — you had better be good. Thankfully, Sons and Heirs don’t have a problem in this department. If New York audiences get the occasional bad rap of being passionless, you’d never know it from the crowd response to the band. From the constant dancing and lyric-shouting going on, you would have been forgiven for confusing the Bell House with a particularly raucous karaoke bar.
In an era where commentary on art is itself art, the Sons and Heirs truly manage to epitomize the concept.
Sons and Heirs throw down like it’s 1985 (above) before original Smiths bassist Andy Rourke joins the tributeers onstage (below).
