The band, “The Complete Unknowns,” is presenting a “live” show at Bay Street Theater, October 16, 2021 at 8pm titled, “A Tribute to Bob Dylan.” It will be at least a 90 minutes show, perhaps longer. Band leader and lead vocalist, Brooklyn born Michael Weiskopf has musically lived throughout the powerful Bob Dylan arc that influenced all popular music since the 1960’s. He has actually played at many of the same venues in Greenwich Village that Bob Dylan, John Sebastian, and Eric Anderson also performed in. In an interview exclusively for hamptons.com he explained why attending this “Complete Unknowns” show at Bay Street show will be rewarding.
About when he first became familiar with Dylan, Michael Weiskopf said, “Probably when I first heard his first record back in 1960-1961. It was my introduction, my gateway into the world of folk blues and jazz and of Jack Elliot, Dave Van Ronk, and if you go back even further to the great black blues of Robert Johnson and those great blues artists of the Delta and Chicago blues. Bob Dylan’s influence came to me at a very early age.”
Mr. Weiskopf, a singer and musician for decades created the band, “Complete Unknowns,” thirteen years ago for a host of reasons. In his twenties he had taken a break from his music career to raise a family but restarted his passion for playing and performing live music again after his children all finished their schooling. He actually started musically on an accordion when he was nine years old, five or six years later he said, “I purchased my first guitar and started to emulate the people who were dominating popular music at the time.”
He pointed out that the band is more than a tribute band to Bob Dylan when he said, “There are things that are eternal. When you are a live performer, you have to be interesting, you have to be able to put a song over in a way that is authentic, and in a way the audience is going to get an emotional payoff from it. That’s the difference, that’s what I think I am good at, what I know I do fairly well, I am not a guitar hero, I don’t pretend to be, but I know what makes our band (The Complete Unknowns) work and that is the authentic way we deliver the song, and the way we choreograph the song.”
He went on to explain, “We put a lot of thought into what we are going to play because with Dylan there are 600 songs to choose from and over the years we have played more than half of them. The most interesting and challenging part of putting together our shows is; are we going to have a theme? Then what songs do we choose and what songs do we have to leave out?”
Mr. Weiskopf also said his band, “The Complete Unknowns,” have become a very tight group of musicians. He explained that like Bob Dylan they never really play the songs precisely the same way every night, but play to a feel or groove “we are in each night.” He explained they are not Bob Dylan impersonators, “but like Bob Dylan himself we interpret his music legacy.”
The Complete Unknowns consist of Michael Weiskopf on lead Vocals, Guitar, and Harmonica. Then there is the smooth magic of the sounds of Randolph Hudson III with his Electric Guitars, Synthesizer, Vocals. Mr. Weiskopf repeatedly complimented what, “Randolph brings to the songs,” that he sings lead on. As many Bob Dylan fans know over the years Bob Dylan has had some amazing organ players on his touring bands such as Garth Hudson and Al Kooper. The Complete Unknowns have the very versatile Stuart Sherman on Keyboards, Organ- Vocals. Taka Shimizu play an important Bass Guitar along with his Vocals. Alex Sarkis is on the Drums, Percussion and Vocals.
For those who have seen the Complete Unknowns perform, you understand the power and importance of attending the show on October 16, 2021. If you have not witnessed their power and authentic look at the works of Bob Dylan, perhaps you should click the link below and purchase some tickets. It will be well worth it.
For tickets, visit www.baystreet.org
