Artist Trippin Billies

There’s not a lot of indie cred to be had for musicians in a tribute band, let alone a Dave Matthews Band tribute act, but Trippin Billies are probably okay with that. The Chicago-based act has been touring the country for almost 15 years as “the nation’s most successful” DMB tribute act, playing to hundreds or even thousands of people each night and sounding remarkably like the road-hardened jam act it apes. Sure, there can’t be much tune-wise intrigue playing the same tired tracks every night, especially when they’re not even ones that burst from your own band’s musical womb, but it’s a paycheck. A violin and swooping saxophone solo laden paycheck, complete with a gruff lyrical signature, but, hey, times are tough.

Updated 12/21/2011