‘A big buzz’: Beloved Myrtle Beach musical performers to compete on E! reality TV show
Several familiar faces — for multiple reasons — to Myrtle Beach area residents and visitors are making their TV debut this fall.
“Clash of the Cover Bands” debuted on E! network at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and the 10-episode season will include several tribute artists who have performed in Myrtle Beach.
The show features 20 acts and half of them have performed along the Grand Strand in recent years. Most notably, seven performers who have starred at Legends In Concert, now at Broadway at the Beach, will compete in the show.
“It’s been a big buzz obviously in our company and in our industry,” said Myrtle Beach resident Brian Brigner, the chief operating officer for On Stage Enterprises Inc. of Las Vegas, which owns and operates the Legends in Concert business. “We’re super proud that a lot of the performers that have worked with us here are getting the opportunity to showcase their talents at that level and on television.”
Hosted by Stephen ‘tWitch” Boss, widely known as Ellen DeGeneres’ sidekick on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the feature includes musical artists Meghan Trainor, Adam Lambert and Ester Dean as judges.
In each episode, bands from similar genres are going head-to-head in a two-round format to compete for $10,000. Ultimately, the show’s winner(s) will take home $25,000 and get the opportunity to perform on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”
“To finally be recognized as top-flight professional entertainers, for them I think it feels really good. I think everybody when they see an impersonator or tribute artist or a show like ours they come in with an expectation with what it is and what it isn’t,” Brigner said. “Every night people leave and they say ‘Wow, it totally exceeded my expectations. I didn’t know they would really sing live. I didn’t know they would really look like them. I didn’t know they would know all the mannerisms and the mic positions and they would have on the same jewelry.’”
Brigner hopes the show will help eliminate misconceptions some people have about tribute entertainers.
“I think it’s a great platform for people to see that, wow, these people aren’t freaks,” Brigner said. “A lot of people think they are like nutty fans of these people. Most of them are classically trained in voice or dance or fronted rock bands or have musical theater backgrounds.
“We have so many tribute artists in the company that majored in theater in college and have degrees in theater.”
Some of the artists did their act submissions for the show at the Myrtle Beach venue, Brigner said.
“We’re super proud of the ones that have worked with us, not only here but at other Legends around the country, and we’re thrilled for the opportunity they’re going to get,” Brigner said.
Contestants who have performed in Myrtle Beach in recent years
- Erika Moul – Lady Gaga: Has performed in Myrtle Beach previously, as well as Legends locations in Foley, Alabama and Las Vegas.
- Katie Murdock – Britney Spears: Has performed in Surfside Beach (Legends’ former location) and Myrtle Beach previously, as well as Foley, Las Vegas and multiple other Legends locations.
- Annika Weaver – Cher: Performed this summer in Foley, and performed in Surfside Beach/Myrtle Beach as Faith Hill years ago.
- Lori Mitchell-Gay – Tina Turner): Is working in the Foley show, and has worked in Myrtle Beach many times over the years, as well as many other locations.
- Rus Anderson – Elton John: Has worked in Myrtle Beach previously, and played Foley earlier this year.
- Elisa Furr – Celine Dion: Has worked in Myrtle Beach multiple times, as well as other locations. Currently working in Foley.
- Karen Hester – Dolly Parton: Worked in Myrtle Beach recently (2021 Spring), and did her interview with the producers to be a candidate for the show at the Myrtle Beach theater. Has worked the Myrtle Beach venue regularly over the years, and is in the Las Vegas show for the holidays. She is a hometown favorite.
Other competitors who have performed on the Grand Strand
Two cover bands in the show have performed in the area previously.
Slippery When Wet, a Bon Jovi tribute band, and Strangelove - The Depeche Mode Experience, a Depeche Mode tribute band, have performed at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach.
Also, Blank 281, a Blink 182 cover band, has previously done private parties in Myrtle Beach, according to its website.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 5:58 PM.
