'Really great, absolutely spot-on'
- Kenney Jones
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'For those of you that never saw the Small Faces live, this is as close as you're gonna get'
- Stan Lane, Ronnie's brother
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'Sounds top to me man'
- Toby Marriott (commenting on our Myspace recordings)
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I was told to check out your website and you guys look great!!
Kind Regards, Mollie Marriott
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Interview Question:
Are you aware of a Small Faces tribute band called the Small Fakers? You can find them on Myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/smallfakers
Matt the lead singer looks very much like your father, what do you think of tribute bands carrying on the memory of your father.
-It's funny you mention this. Only recently have I heard of them, and their performing (I'm going to have to check out their myspace!) Everyone has different thoughts on tribute bands, but for me, if they're good musicians, playing good music, I don't mind them at all.
-Tonya Marriott
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'Truly a reborn Marriott' - www.makingtime.co.uk/rfr/
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The Small Fakers were 'kin awesome...not an easy band to pull
off by any stretch of the imagination, but they made it look easy.
Great to meet the lads too.
Mark – The Jam Restart
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I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your performance last night.
I had heard you were good so I was really looking forward to seeing you but you were better than good I thought you were fan bleeding tastic and I cant wait to see you in Leicester again.
Thanks for a wonder full night .
Graham
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Keep on keeping on guys. You've got the support of all of the North Herts Scooter Collective.
Regards, Nadmod
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Matt......you're bloody gorgeous.....oooh aahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......x
Sally Simpson!
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Like Stan says "as good as it..s gonna get". you lot brought a tear to my eye in Carnaby st. I was taken back over 40 years. well done boys, you..re really good
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I thought the Small Faces had come back from the other side when I heard you!
Karin Grönberg/Umeå/Sweden
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Thanks for a great night, one of the best we have ever had at the Barn in over 5 years. You are welcome back anytime!
Kind Regards,
Nick
The Barn, Milton Arms, Portsmouth
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The biggest shock and the biggest WOW was for the Small Fakers.
What a fantastic band. I couldn't believe my ears or my eyes. When
John Hellier (and later Stan Lane) said they were the closest to the
real thing as you can get. Well, yes ..... 'you better believe it'.
Amazing and awesome band.
Matt looked, acted and sounded just like a Steve Marriott clone.
Michele said "even his hair moves like Steve's". Charlie Magri
thought that was really funny but I knew exactly what Michele
meant ... must be a girlie thing !
Jan/Dangermouse xxx
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Hi Guys!!!
Robert from the States here! Just a quick note to tell you what a stellar job
you did playing on Carnaby Street!!!
Here's a link in case you haven't seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEwKGRqHtas
As a fan of The Small Faces and The Small Fakers, you really represented them
wonderfully at such an historic event!!
CHEERS TO YOU!!!
Robert
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Your sound is so authentic. Matt your vocals are terrific. Like Marriott himself, you have this huge soulful voice. It was just like the first time I saw the band at Bluesville in my native Ipswich.
Colin
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Well i nearly fell of my own feet... i thought steve marriott had
turned up himself and decided to do a spot on stage, honest ive never
seen anything like it, THE SMALL FAKERS, the guy not only looks like
him, he has the same mannerisms, moves everything down to a fine art,
even his hair flowed perfectly, it was steve marriott colour me pop.
reborn......
Michelle Stanfield
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We thought that you were the spirit and the sound!!!! Phenominal Band!
Kel
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Although we didn't have the best of views it was still fantastic and
the bands were great. Once again.... and no disrespect to the other
acts.... but I have to say the Small Faker stole the show. They were
every bit as good as they'd been at Carnaby Street. What a very
special treat for us all. It was Dan the drummer's birthday ...
I bet he won't forget that weekend in a hurry.
It was the end of a long and magical day..... and I can't wait to do
it all again.
Anonymous
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Another memorable performance from Small Fakers. This was the fourth time that we have seen you in a short time and things continue to get better.
We were delighted for you all with the endorsements you received on the night and trust that these will contribute to your continued success and popularity with Small Faces fans everywhere.
For our part we thought that you were the highlight of the day along with a brief cameo from CF. People we spoke to on the way out felt that you were the headline band. We look forward to seeing you in Swindon.
Best wishes Colin and Sharon Lay
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I had the privelige of being at the Small Fakers debut gig last night in central London and witnessed the launch of possibly the first ever Small Faces tribute band.
Just the one word describes them...AWESOME!
As far as tribute bands go they're better than anything i've seen before and i've seen a lot of 'em. The sound is authentic and the visuals excellent with definately the best 'Steve Marriott' i've ever seen. Not only does he look like Steve circa 1967, he's got the mannerisms off to a tee.
If we ever get film rights to 'All Too Beautiful' we would need look no further than this guy (Matt Bond).
With bands like Who's Who and the Jamm doing so well on the circuit there was a conspicuous space out there for a Small Faces tribute which has now been filled.
Check 'em out, you won't be disappointed!
John Hellier - Editor of Small Faces fanzine 'Darlings of Wapping Wharf', Author of Steve Marriott biography 'All Too Beautiful' and organiser of the annual Small Faces convention.
www.wappingwharf.com
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Well, I know some people were nervous about the debut performance of the newest tribute to the Small Faces (BIG shoes to fill) but people weren't disappointed!
At last they were on stage...what we'd all been waiting for.
WOW! You can;t fail to woo me when you start with my all time favourite.. that rocking number 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It'.
It was like being transported back in time, like being there the first time. I had to control my instinct to scream! people had been raving Matt Bond's voice and wow they were right. It was one roller coaster after another (do you really want me to list 'em all?) Thank you Small Fakers
for a brilliant night. You did good. Can't wait to hear you again.
Val Weedon -
Decca records 1966-67
Small Faces Fan Club assistant
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I think your version of "whatcha gonna do about it" is brilliant so thats me favourite
Mick Taylor
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At last - what the Mod world has been waiting for: A credible Small Faces tribute!
Are you sitting too-squared comftibole on your botty? Then I'll begin...
It's not often we do a feature on a band on the homepage of vespa.org.uk, (especially when no one's died), but this is a special occasion.
The Small Fakers have exploded onto the scene so suddenly that you'd be forgiven for asking "Where the hell did they spring from?" Well dear readers, they evolved from a Reading-based collective of musicians known in Mod circles as Dan's People, the cornerstone of which being drummer Dan Taylor. Regular scooter rally-goers, in particular to the Isle of Wight and Mersea, may already be familiar with Dan's People and some of their incarnations, Who's Faces, Caine or Ye Gods. But it was Mod covers band Caine that added the missing link in the chain that would one day inevitably produce The Small Fakers.
Providing the catalyst, in addition to Taylor's boundless enthusiasm, undoubtedly has to be lead singer/guitarist Matt Bond. It was while moonlighting with Caine that his uncanny resemblance, both physically and in playing style, to Steve Marriott was getting noticed. In fact, after a Caine gig at the Ryde Theatre I told Dan myself that their rendition of All Or Nothing was the best live version I had ever seen or heard. Now I'm not claiming that this had anything to do with the eventual outcome, but make of it what you will people.
After the band's launch gig in London earlier this year, Small Faces uber aficionado John Hellier described them as "AWESOME", saying "as far as tribute bands go they're better than anything I've seen before and I've seen a lot of 'em". High praise indeed.
Alongside Matt and Dan, The Small Fakers consist of Dan's People/Caine stalwart, and all-round musical Swiss army knife, John Gray on Hammond and piano, and Plonk-a-like Neil Runalis on bass. Their aim is to be as authentic as possible in their recreation of the Small Faces sound and look, which they achieve without resorting to cabaret-style gimmickry, just with sheer talent and a genuine passion for what they're doing.
Matt Bond is set to do for Steve Marriott what Paul Kemp of Who's Who has for Keith Moon; and that's something no one else has managed, not with a defib machine, not with a séance, not even with magic pixie-dust. I implore you to track down a Small Fakers gig, and make every effort to attend. Do it. Do it now. Oh, and stay cool won't you?
www.vespa.org.uk - May 2007
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Bingo from the opening slash of kb and gtr on Watcha i got a chill down my spine the organ platform is essential to my ears and it was right on the money. Matt is as close to steve at 19 in all mannerisms and sound than anyone before him. Shame on those that knew and didtn show up. The rest of you get and see what we are talking about and support the grand effort of Dan and co.
I took a couple of 1 min vids that playing back today gave me the exact same excitment thats always the proof , the morning after?!?!
Cheers from an Internet Cafe somewhere shepherds bush !!
A Fan!
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Hello all,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this Small Faces tribute band. I saw them at The Isle
of Wight Lambretta day! I came away well impressed, it was a great night of music, especially for a 50's something original!
Anyway imagine my delight, a week later when I was having a drink in the "Hipshaker" bar at the Isle of Wight festival, (waiting to see the Stones), when the "SF" began setting their gear up..... as soon as they started the floor filled up and it was the perfect thing to get in the mood for the Stones.
I am not usually a fan of tribute acts, but these guys certainly did the job. The lead vocal and front man was just so "right", but the whole band managed to get the right feel, complete with Hammond organ, well done!
Cheers, Lor
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I just wanted to put on record how much my wife and I enjoyed last night's gig - absolutely brilliant. As I said to you, I'm not generally a fan of tribute bands but with Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane both sadly departed, there's no possibility of seeing the original line-up ever again so I went last night expecting to come away disappointed. How wrong I was. Great performance, great music and a fitting homage to the band that set the Mod style in the sixties. Even the clothes you wore were spot on.
I'll be getting my parka and scooter out on Saturday ....
Terrific stuff, keep up the good work.
Neil
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