It’s a group of punk rockers who also think it’s hip to be square.
The Power of Love — a Boston-based Huey Lewis and the News cover band that’s coming to Union Hall June 30 — is a unique thing among kitchy tribute bands. It’s comprised of rockers from well-established groups on the pop-punk spectrum akin to mix tape staples like ska group Big D and the Kids Table and wordy punkers The Mr. T Experience.
“I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a one-time thing or if it would continue,” said Randy Tartow, the band’s drummer and founder. But, he said, the question was answered when the cobbled-together group starting selling our all their shows. Now, the group is approaching their one year anniversary in August.
The band isn’t a slavish tribute act — the songs are given a punk edge, and the bass player and guitarist in the group take turns doing Lewis’s vocals.
“We feel that there is no one that can do Huey himself,” Tartow said.
The group’s love of Huey Lewis is real — two of the members have flux capacitor tattoos on their body (a reference to “Back to the Future,” a movie Huey Lewis wrote several songs for). All of them have seen Lewis play live.
But the band also recognizes that he’s earned an uncool rep (hence that famous scene in American Psycho). Which is why they’re having fun with that image.
“I’m doing a booze cruise in July,” Tartow said. “I couldn’t find anything more ideal than this — doing something like that.”
On the cruise, The Power of Love will be playing with a Billy Joel cover band.
The Power of Love at Union Hall [702 Union St. at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638–4400, www.unionhallny.com]. June 30, 8 pm, $10.
Reach reporter Jaime Lutz at jlutz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-8310. Follow her on Twitter @jaime_lutz.
