ANDY Lutze had been told for years before he formed a Cold Chisel cover band that he sounded like Jimmy Barnes.

At the time, the Werribee musician who grew up in Sunshine and St Albans, didn’t even know who Jimmy Barnes was and was adamant he wouldn’t start a cover band.

“People used to say to me ‘oh man, you sound like Jimmy Barnes’ when I was doing my original songs in bands,” Andy said.

“When I was doing the original stuff I was kind of staying away from that (covers). The last thing I ever wanted to do was establish a Cold Chisel tribute band because I was trying to establish myself as an original artist.”

Ten years after conceding defeat and forming Gold Chisel with four of his closest mates, Andy says he has never looked back.

This week, the group returns to the West for a show at the Taylors Lakes Hotel on Friday night, after years of performing across the country.

Andy said the band was excited about playing “at home” again.

“It’s fantastic to come back here. It’s like when you go on a holiday ... it’s always great to be away but it’s always great to be back home again,” he said.

Andy said living up to such a highly regarded band was a lot of pressure, but the rave reviews the band had received in the past provided a good confidence boost.

“I think the thing is when you play you only get one shot at it. People don’t just want you to sing the songs, they actually want you to sound like Cold Chisel,” he said.

“It’s very hard to live up to the expectations, particularly as a singer.

“Barnesy isn’t easy to sing ... I think the thing that makes Gold Chisel sound so authentic as opposed to any other Cold Chisel bands that have been around is that we keep the same key as Cold Chisel.

“We do all the songs in the same key so you get that authenticity.”

Andy said people attending the show at Taylors Lakes could expect to hear songs like Choir Girl, You Got Nothing I Want, Cheap Wine, When The War Is Over, Flame Trees and Khe Sanh as well as other classics.

Dinner and show tickets can be purchased for $40. For information call the Taylors Lakes Hotel on 9390 8122.