Tom Branigan’s tribute band, “Substitute: Tales from The Who,” is all “The Who” all the time, as he likes to say.
Branigan, president and chief executive officer of Milwaukee-based Branigan Communications, has been a Who-mongous fan of the English rock band since seventh grade and turned his admiration into replication in 2006 after posting an ad looking for tribute band mates.
Branigan credits his wife, Sally, for pushing him to pursue his passion and post the ad.
Substitute, composed of Branigan on the bass and vocals, lead singer Dave Stevens, drummer Andy Pagel, and guitarist and vocalist Andy Potocic, has evolved into a friendship that transcends the stage and practices, Branigan said.
He describes his band and others like it as a “fraternity.”
“When the four of us got together, it was magic,” Branigan said. “It’s just so fun.”
The tribute band typically performs 10 to 12 times a year with a repertoire of about 40 songs spanning every era of The Who. Along with private parties and at local venues like Milwaukee’s Shank Hall, the group has played at Summerfest, the Wisconsin State Fair, and the Washington County Fair.
With The Who’s distinct, powerful music style, Branigan said the band is humbled to play for crowds who come to hear their favorite songs, often with an attached emotional resonance.
“All you can hope to do is honor the band in a way that sounds enough like them that we get the stamp of approval from The Who faithful, he said.
