2008 Woodie Awards
Four guys link two generations, all in one incredible show
Alexandria Brim
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Forty years after the British invasion, Beatlemania continues to influence the music scene. Beatles cover bands and impersonators travel world wide to bring back the music that so greatly influenced modern rock. On Oct. 1, Marist's Family Weekend began with "1964 ... The Tribute" rocking the McCann Center.
Wearing suits and sporting bowl haircuts, the performers were Gary Grimes (Paul McCartney), Jimmy Pou (George Harrison), Greg George (Ringo Starr) and Mark Benson (John Lennon). The four performers took the stage and launched immediately into "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."
For the first set, popular Beatles songs "Since I Saw Her Standing There," "This Boy" and "From Me to You," among others, filled the gym. The audience reacted enthusiastically, clapping hands and singing along. The group even did a cover of the Beatles' cover of "Till There Was You" from the Broadway musical "The Music Man."
To add to the authenticity of the concert, a group of screaming girls rushed the stage, dancing and singing along. The "Beatles," enjoying the audience participation, invited everyone up to the front of the stage. "Students ... parents ... let them show you how it's done!" they called out.
A small group hesitantly made their way to the front of the room and began dancing as if the Beatles were on "American Bandstand" again. Their enthusiasm provided for a relaxed environment and eventually the small group multiplied, filling the gym with smiling, dancing bodies. As the first set ended, the band plugged their merchandise man, Kenny, and invited everyone over to the table during intermission.
When the group began the second half of the concert, those dancing expanded again in number, many wearing just-bought merchandise, as the band explained that the performance was being taped for a CD. "Sing loud enough and you might make it on the recording!" the audience was told.
The "Beatles" launched into "Yellow Submarine," with the audience singing the title theme to the cartoon movie the quartet made in the 1960s. After the songs, "George" and "John" threw their picks into the audience, those in front of the stage quickly claiming them as their own. The band continued with such hits as "Help!" until the night came to a close.
With the audience singing along, "1964 ... The Tribute" ended with "She Loves You." The crowd participated and thunderous applause shook the gym at the conclusion, bringing the band out once more for an encore.
As the families left the McCann Center, they exhanged comments about how real the band looked and sounded, some even expressing amazement over how long the impersonation group has been together.
This is the band's twenty-first year together, surpassing the actual Beatles tenure as a group. The quartet has performed all over, from the Liverpool bar the Beatles began in to Carnegie Hall in New York. In January, "1964 ... The Tribute" will return to the famed music hall for another performance, while Marist families will treasure their memories of the act.
We loved them, yeah, yeah, yeah. And with a love like that, you know they should be glad!
Wearing suits and sporting bowl haircuts, the performers were Gary Grimes (Paul McCartney), Jimmy Pou (George Harrison), Greg George (Ringo Starr) and Mark Benson (John Lennon). The four performers took the stage and launched immediately into "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."
For the first set, popular Beatles songs "Since I Saw Her Standing There," "This Boy" and "From Me to You," among others, filled the gym. The audience reacted enthusiastically, clapping hands and singing along. The group even did a cover of the Beatles' cover of "Till There Was You" from the Broadway musical "The Music Man."
To add to the authenticity of the concert, a group of screaming girls rushed the stage, dancing and singing along. The "Beatles," enjoying the audience participation, invited everyone up to the front of the stage. "Students ... parents ... let them show you how it's done!" they called out.
A small group hesitantly made their way to the front of the room and began dancing as if the Beatles were on "American Bandstand" again. Their enthusiasm provided for a relaxed environment and eventually the small group multiplied, filling the gym with smiling, dancing bodies. As the first set ended, the band plugged their merchandise man, Kenny, and invited everyone over to the table during intermission.
When the group began the second half of the concert, those dancing expanded again in number, many wearing just-bought merchandise, as the band explained that the performance was being taped for a CD. "Sing loud enough and you might make it on the recording!" the audience was told.
The "Beatles" launched into "Yellow Submarine," with the audience singing the title theme to the cartoon movie the quartet made in the 1960s. After the songs, "George" and "John" threw their picks into the audience, those in front of the stage quickly claiming them as their own. The band continued with such hits as "Help!" until the night came to a close.
With the audience singing along, "1964 ... The Tribute" ended with "She Loves You." The crowd participated and thunderous applause shook the gym at the conclusion, bringing the band out once more for an encore.
As the families left the McCann Center, they exhanged comments about how real the band looked and sounded, some even expressing amazement over how long the impersonation group has been together.
This is the band's twenty-first year together, surpassing the actual Beatles tenure as a group. The quartet has performed all over, from the Liverpool bar the Beatles began in to Carnegie Hall in New York. In January, "1964 ... The Tribute" will return to the famed music hall for another performance, while Marist families will treasure their memories of the act.
We loved them, yeah, yeah, yeah. And with a love like that, you know they should be glad!