In a special segment, Niki Dakota interviews the masterminds and several of the musicians behind “This is Planet Earth,” the upcoming Dayton tribute to Duran Duran, which takes place at Canal Street Tavern on March 16th.Louie Wood, Jr. and Jay Madewell, two concert promoters who have organized local tributes to artists such as Nirvana and the Doors in the past, staged this wide-ranging tribute to Duran Duran, in part to bring local musicians together over their love for the ‘80’s hitmakers.
“It’s a good way for [bands] to showcase their original music, and then tip their hat to the bands they want to pay homage to,” said Wood in this Excursions interview.
Here, Wood and Madewell describe the process that goes into conceiving their tribute shows, as well as upcoming concerts, which include a “Beatles vs. Stones” showcase, as well as tributes to the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Two of the tribute’s acts also stopped by Excursions. In the first segment, Dayton’s own Emily & the Lost Cat Ramblers deliver a spirited performance, including a folky version of Duran Duran’s 1982 hit “Save a Prayer.” In the second segment, Andreas Stavropoulos of the Columbus band Cydona Rise performs several acoustic originals, backed with Duran Duran’s 1993 single “Come Undone.”