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When Marcus Linial couldn’t get tickets to Taylor Swift for his daughters, a college friend — who also couldn’t score tickets for his kids — asked if he’d consider putting together a Swift tribute show.
Linial, founder of ML Presents, had already been in the tribute band world for 17 years. He began producing tribute shows when he owned live music venues in New York City and couldn’t book legendary bands because they were too busy playing larger arenas.
But he had always specialized in decade-driven tribute bands, focusing on eras like disco or the ’80s — not on one specific band. Still, he took a chance on Taylor’s incredible popularity. Last July, he produced two shows in New York — one at Daryl’s House and another at The Paramount, the latter of which holds 1,500 people. Tickets went on sale five weeks prior, and each sold out. That’s when he knew he was onto something.
He chose Emily Victoria, the lead singer of his ’90s tribute band, to sing Swift’s songs. Now, he can hardly keep up with Swifties’ demand, including bracelets, of which he orders 200 every other week.
“The reaction has been crazy. We’re a small operation that got busy very quickly,” he said. “It’s basically a room full of people who love the same music. I compare it to the Deadheads. It’s a totally different crowd and music, but the addiction for the music and for the band is the same.”
Swift dance parties for 18- or 21-year-olds and older have popped up throughout cities, but Linial’s production attracts younger girls and their moms. While the main age group ranges from 7 to 14, even 15 to 17-year-olds, particularly from suburbs (as opposed to big cities) are drawn to the scene.
“We’re playing some really cool venues. It has been a different show for smaller venues that don’t usually draw younger crowds, and they’re happy that it brings in a new crowd — a new generation of music fans,” he said. “For a lot of these kids, it’s the first concert they’ve been to. A lot of these kids have not seen Taylor live.”
Though Victoria doesn’t look exactly like Swift, she wears a long blonde wig and changes outfits four to five times while the band engages the audience with a song from the likes of the Jonas Brothers, Olivia Rodrigo or Harry Styles.
“Vocally, from show one to, now, 60 shows in, Victoria has gotten the Taylor thing down. She has studied Taylor and sounds like her, and she’s gotten the dance moves down — the facial expressions and hand movements. She really captures it,” Linial said. “And, she’s one of the nicest people I know, and that really comes out. Within one or two songs, you feel like you know her.”
Sometimes, the tour includes dancers, though they won’t be coming to Colorado. Still, it’s a high-energy production.
“We put on a great show. It really has become like a big sing-a-long. Sometimes, it’s hard to hear Emily because the crowd is so loud,” he said. “That’s the thing about tribute bands: You’re either in it or not. You know you’re not seeing the real thing … but the kids and parents are having a great time.”
And, unlike Swift, Victoria is able to meet every single fan that wants to talk after the show, even if it takes an hour and 15 minutes, he said.
“Even my 16- and 18-year-old daughters want to come to the show,” he said. “It’s just been a very positive experience. Everyone’s leaving there happy.”
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