HERRIMAN, Utah, Jan. 30, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — When Vince Deuel was a 15-year-old music lover and first discovered AC/DC, he never guessed that the highest praise of his performing career would link him to the Australian rock band.
Deuel has spent the past 10 years as the lead singer for Dirt Cheap, a Utah AC/DC tribute band, which will play on Friday, Feb. 7, at the Redemption Bar & Grill.
So what is highest compliment Deuel’s ever received? At least so far?
“People have asked me if I’m lip syncing,” he said. “I take that as a compliment. I tell them, no, we are live. We use no backing tracks, nothing fake. We are a live rock ‘n roll band. That’s probably the biggest compliment that I’ve ever personally received.”
It means, of course, that band members Deuel, guitarists Duane Robb, Baldy Mendez and Steven Hickok, and drummer Bruce Bennett, produce a sound suspiciously close to that of AC/DC.
“We’ve also had people tell us that they’ll probably never go experience AC/DC in person, but we made them feel like they did.”
Bass guitarist Duane Robb, AKA Harry Hen, said he’d heard that compliment multiple times.
“And people have told us we sound like the radio. And they tell us Vinnie can sing like (AC/DC members) Bon Scott or Brian Johnson, which is great. There aren’t a lot of tribute singers who can do both.”
Deuel says the goal is not to be a look-alike band, or really even an exact sound-alike band.
“I always wanted to kind of emulate what they do and capture the feel of it,” he said. “AC/DC took the blues and they put really unique, fun, comical lyrics at times, to the point where they just put a big grin on your face. And then the rhythm and the style of the music they play is just… it’s just hard to sit still when they pull it when they’re playing.”
Robb agrees.
“What’s special about AC/DC is they were able to take a blues kind of style and a rock ‘n roll style, and make it to where almost every song is danceable and every song is fun. Then — as far as lyrics and the points that they put across in their music — they are just phenomenal.”
For those who don’t know the AC/DC jazz/metal/rock sound, here are a few hits, with links that go to AC/DC’s actual recordings (these are not tribute band renditions): “Highway to Hell” (1979); “Thunderstruck” (1990); “Back in Black” (1980); and “Ride On” (1976); and “Riff Raff” (1978).
And although the local tribute band members may not pack stadiums with fans from around the globe, they do pack smaller venues with the music they and fans love and respect.
Dirt Cheap has mastered about 34 “and counting” AC/DC songs, Robb said. “We don’t play every song in their immense catalog, but, but we only play AC/DC. We are a true tribute band.”
The concerts draw longtime AC/DC fans and their adult children, who grew up listening to music their parents love, Deuel said. The songs always seem to spark a party and lots of dancing, he said.
And playing in a band together has sparked a musical family, Deuel and Robb said. Dirt Cheap band mates are friends, and collaborate on the set lists and other band choices. They have even been known to share barbecues or other meals before or after shows.
“Everyone contributes, and we respect each other,” Deuel said. “We are friends.”
And spending an evening with friends and fans is always a good time.
“We just look out in the crowd and just see lots of smiles on faces,” Deuel said. “That’s why I feel like we’re doing well. We see the grins and bobbing their heads, and there’s a lot of shaking hands at the end of it.”
Deuel is hoping for a crowd to pack Redemption.
“Come and dance the night away and forget about your troubles for a while and put a smile on your face,” Deuel said. “We guarantee that that’s what we’ll bring to you.”
Redemption Bar & Grill is at 3517 W. Maradona Drive, in Herriman. It’s a 21+ venue with a stage and dance floor in the basement, a sports bar on the main floor and a tiki bar on the second floor, with a full menu of appetizers, meals and drinks.
Dirt Cheap’s concert runs 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Tickets are $10, and purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. Find purchase information here.
Redemption Bar & Grill is a proud sponsor of Gephardt Daily and supporter of independent local journalism in Utah.
