Four Weeks to Change My Mind. Cohoes Rock the Block Rocks!

By Charla Earney.

There is an odd amount of judgment surrounding cover bands. I’ve heard it for years. “They’re not original.” “They’re just playing someone else’s music.” “Go support original artists instead.” I understand the argument. Original music matters. It pushes culture forward. Every legendary song we cherish today was once somebody’s brand-new idea. But after attending the first four weeks of Cohoes’ Rock the Block concert series this summer, I’ve come to a different conclusion. Cover bands aren’t competing with original artists. They’re preserving something. For many of us, they preserve experiences we’ll never have. Music has always been the soundtrack to my life. For years, headphones acted as my shield from the world. Whenever life became too loud, one tap of an earbud let me disappear into familiar songs. After my traumatic brain injury, everything changed. The word “overwhelmed” stopped being a description and became something I calculated every day. Live music, the thing I loved most, became impossible to tolerate. Crowds, volume, lights … they all demanded energy I often didn’t have. Slowly, though, I’ve worked my way back. Now, every show feels like another victory. Because of that journey, I don’t take live music for granted anymore.

There are artists I’ll never get to see.

Phil Collins announced his farewell performances. I watched the dates come and go. His health wouldn’t allow more shows, and I couldn’t afford to travel. I’ll never experience the anticipation before “In the Air Tonight” builds into that famous drum fill. I’ll never witness the smoke, lighting, and theatrical production friends will still talk about decades later. Janis Joplin. Tom Petty. Countless others. Their music lives on, but the performances became history. And that’s exactly why cover bands matter. We preserve old buildings. We preserve photographs. We preserve history. Why wouldn’t we preserve music?

When talented musicians recreate songs that shaped generations, they give audiences something increasingly rare: the chance to experience great music together instead of alone through earbuds. Done poorly, cover bands can be painful. Done well? They’re unforgettable, and they are FIRE!!

Rock the Block was originally scheduled to begin four weeks earlier, but New York weather had other plans. Growing up in the Catskills, “rain or shine” meant exactly that. You showed up. Mother Nature could do whatever she wanted. Apparently, New York has decided to reinterpret the phrase. Thunder and lightning forced organizers to cancel opening night. Ironically, the skies cleared shortly afterward, leaving an empty stage and disappointed concertgoers wondering what could have been. Thankfully, the wait was only a week.

The series officially opened June 25 with Skeeter Creek. For years I had seen their name on Facebook event pages and festival posters. Friends constantly told me, “You have to see them.” They were right. Calling Skeeter Creek “good” doesn’t come close. They were outstanding. The weather threatened with occasional rain, but the band never lost momentum. Their husband-and-wife harmonies between Dave Ahl and Renee Lussier-Ahl were effortless. 

Every note landed exactly where it should have and gave me shivers. Although they’re often labeled a country band, that’s far too limiting. Their set moved comfortably between modern country, classic country, Southern rock, country rock, and crowd favorites that had everyone, from lifelong country fans to casual listeners, singing together. That’s what impressed me most. They weren’t simply reproducing songs. They were making those songs their own.

One guitarist played a beautiful cream-and-black Telecaster that sounded as stunning as it looked. You could tell he knew every inch of that instrument and, when he played, proved it. The band looked relaxed, engaged, and excited all at the same time. I felt it too. The audience didn’t just look happy; they moved happy. The entire evening reminded me why live music can never be replaced by streaming playlists.

The following week belonged to U2. Or at least, it felt that way. Unforgettable Fire took the stage on July 2. I’ll admit my first impression wasn’t great. The opening vocals weren’t connecting, and I quietly settled into the idea that this would simply be background music while catching up with friends. Then I noticed the microphone was changed. Immediately, everything transformed. Suddenly Bono was standing in front of me. Not literally, of course, but close enough that my memories filled in the rest. I’ve listened to U2 since I was six years old, hearing my sister’s records through the bedroom walls. Those songs are woven into my childhood, and I have turned to their counsel a thousand times. Unforgettable Fire didn’t simply perform them. They recreated the feeling. The Edge’s signature guitar sounds. The vocal delivery. The stage presence. Their clothes! The energy. For a couple of hours, I forgot I was watching a tribute band. I was simply enjoying the music that helped shape my life, my whole life, and still does. That’s the highest compliment I can give.

Then came July 9.

Magical Mystery Doors. Calling them a Beatles-and-Doors tribute band barely scratches the surface. Visually, they may have been the most creative performance of the series. Behind the musicians, digital artwork evolved with every song. Giant wings framed performers before transforming into crows, mythology, and surreal psychedelic imagery. At one point, Thor himself appeared on screen, hammering in perfect rhythm alongside the drummer. It sounds ridiculous. It was incredible. The visuals did NOT distract from the music. Instead, they became another instrument in the performance. You simply must experience it in person.

After three weeks, one thought kept returning. Why do cover bands receive so little respect? These musicians spend countless hours studying iconic performances. Learning guitar tones. Perfecting harmonies, recreating arrangements, mastering stage production, sound, and choreography. All so audiences can relive music that otherwise exists only in memory. That isn’t imitation. That’s preservation. They’re keeping the music I love alive.

The Rock the Block series isn’t finished yet. There are still plenty of opportunities to experience it yourself.

July 16- features Plush, with Alex Riddle opening the evening.

July 23- welcomes Electric Rodeo for a night of country and Southern rock.

July 30- brings Harmony Rocks to the Block.

The series concludes August 6 with Total Mass Retain, one of the country’s premier Yes tribute bands. 

Whether you’re a lifelong concertgoer or simply looking for an excuse to spend a summer evening outside, bring a lawn chair, bring a friend, and show up. Support the musicians who spend countless hours keeping the music we love alive. Because the best memories aren’t made by scrolling through a playlist. They’re made standing in front of a stage with a few strangers singing the same song together. I will see you next Rock the Block!