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Pasadena Entertainment and Civic Center Join Forces for an Incredible Beatles Tribute
Arcadia Weekly Aug 08, 2011
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I must admit, I had the chance to see the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965. We had just come across the pond to have a new life in America earlier that year. My Dad was assigned to cover the story for the Daily Telegraph of London. His two sons, true Beatle fans, were supposed to “tag along” courtesy of his Telegraph connections and multiple press credentials for this historic show. For some reason, we never got to see that show…my Dad apparently ( so the story goes) gave the tickets away in a place called Charlie O’s in New York saying he didn’t think we were big Beatle fans. I’ll never darken to doors of Charlie O’s when in NYC. Sorry Dad, this is one thing we cannot forgive.
That famous black and white footage of the Beatles running to the stage at Shea Stadium with thousands of screaming teenage girls will always haunt me…we COULD have been there, we WOULD have met the lads from Liverpool. A chance of a lifetime, lost in a New York City speakeasy.
So on Friday night last, it was Deja Vu all over again. Screaming girls, four lads who looked like they came back in time from Liverpool circa 1965, and a perfect night for reminiscing about what should have been.
Yes, the Beatles (aka the Fab Four) were on stage and in top gear for an incredible couple of hours of the greatest songs ever recorded. It wasn’t Shea Stadium but the next best thing, Pasadena Civic outdoor venue on a balmy summer evening.
The people in the “cheap seats” who clapped their hands outside the paid perimeter seemed to enjoy the music as much as those who rattled their jewelry as they applauded John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Starting off with the mop-top early days, the lads sand some of the very best of the very best Beatles songs with such emotion and style that if you closed your eyes, you really could have been at Shea Stadium. The screams, luckily, weren’t as loud as to drown out the lads but they were nonetheless enthusiastic about seeing history relived in such a talentend quartet.
As the time pressed on, the lads would don different outfits depicting the era of the songs they were about top play. The most dramatic was when Sgt. Peppers was played. The colorful costumes of that famous album were spot on and a powerful rendition of the Album’s namesake song blasted Pasadena’s rock and roll roof sky high.
The audience was a good mix of all ages proving that the Beatles were still the number one band in the world even though they have not played live since 1971 and considering John and George are no longer with us.
Some of the younger audience members were asked what they thought after the show: “Wonderfully entertaining. The best Beatles cover band you’ll ever see.” – said local musician and guitar afficianado Devin Stannard.
“Highly nostalgic fun combined with dedicated live musicians and hit after hit everyone can sing along to.” said Stephanie Lopez, who travelled over and hour in Friday night traffic to see the lads.
I, for one, couldn’t have asked for a better show. These guys are terrific and talented in their own right but when they become the Beatles, they are off on a Magical Mystery Tour that’ll take you down to Strawberry Fields. Thanks to Andre Vener, the Pasadena Civic Theatre and especially to Lauren Lewis of Pasadena Entertainment for promoting this truly amazing concert.
Dad, may you rest in peace, we do forgive you, really. I know I was at Shea Shadium in spirit.
The Concert series continues Thursday night with a tribute to Louis Armstrong with Big Sam’s Funky Nation.
