Tommy Youngsteen

Tribute band covers the Rolling Stones at Crystal Palace

For many people, their summertime music playlist definitely includes a wide selection from the Rolling Stones. That seems a perfect accompaniment to long summer evenings, barbecues and maybe a brew or two. Those factors will combine on July 30 at the Crystal Palace when tribute band Tommy Youngsteen will cover some of the best Stones tunes. Alan Snoddy is one of the lead musicians of Tommy Youngsteen, which was formed in 2021. The band members of Tommy Youngsteen come from a variety of Juno award-winning bands, including The Trews, Great Lake Swimmers, the Arkells and Stars—of which Snoddy was a member for seven years. The band has played over 5,000 shows in the last dozen years, travelling internationally to the US and Japan. It’s a rotating cast of members in Tommy Youngsteen, with musicians taking part whenever their usual bands are not touring. The name comes from the initial focus on the music of Tom Petty, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. The portmanteau name was initially a temporary choice, but it has stuck over the years, even as the band’s repertoire expanded beyond the original three musicians. “We’re a group of musicians who come together to play tribute shows of the classic records and classic albums from groups like Springsteen and the Stones. I just like that kind of music. It’s what I grew up with. My dad always liked that music, and had those records in the house, and went to those shows,” said Snoddy. “That was a time when you’d listen to a record front to back. You’d put it on and you were listening to it in the way the artist wanted you to listen to it. Now, you put on Spotify and listen to a playlist, a curated arrangement of music.”

Tommy Youngsteen aims to bring back that classic way of listening in a live setting. The Crystal Palace show will feature 10 musicians and promises to be a night of fabulous music. “The Stones have so many songs that people can really connect to some memorable times in their lives,” said Snoddy. Tommy Youngsteen has performed several times in the County over the years, and they are looking forward to this appearance. “We’re all just happy to be playing again, and we hope to see everyone out over the long weekend. We always have a great time in the County, so we’re looking forward to seeing people out singing and dancing again,” added Snoddy. Local singer/songwriter Brian MacMillan will be opening the show, and guitar virtuoso Nichol Robertson will be performing as well. For more information and tickets to the show, please visit tommyyoungsteen.com.