POP MUSIC REVIEW : Affectionate Tribute to the Rolling Stones

When it comes to cherishing a great rock band, affection is much healthier than idolatry.

With the popularity of “Beatlemania,” rampant Elvis impersonation and clone bands that specialize in note-for-note replications of rock heroes, too many musicians and rock fans are eager to worship in high-decibel wax museums.

Tuesday night at Bogart’s in Long Beach, on the 26th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ first gig, a loose confederation of Orange County rock musicians got together to pay the Stones an affectionate, non-idolatrous tribute.

The informal band, billed as Some Boys, hadn’t rehearsed enough to think of rendering precise replications of uptempo Stones songs. But it captured the essence of the Rolling Stones, which is to bash out some of those good, raunchy, hopped-up Chuck Berry licks and have a good time doing it. A smattering of slower songs, however, would have brought a welcome change of pace.

Jeff Drake, frontman of the Joneses, followed Mick Jagger’s vocal phrasings but didn’t make the mistake of trying to ape his stage presence. Drummer Shawn Edwards supplied impressive swing and surge, while guitarist Matt Rosney and D. A. Valdez, moonlighting on bass from his usual job as drummer for the Pontiac Brothers, rounded out a solid rhythm section. Mark Walsdorf, a member of the Joneses, was the star of the show, tossing out taut, raunchy-but-tasty lead guitar licks at every turn.

“Maybe we’ll do this every year on July 12th,” Drake mused after it became clear that the tribute was going over well. Not a bad idea. The right spirit was there, and the material wasn’t too shabby, either.