Band on the Run - Concert Review

 

Before I begin this concert review, I wanted to remind everyone that I am not a big fan of tribute bands.  I enjoy hearing music performed live, but I don't like people dressing up as members of the Beatles and pretending to be them. 

Saturday night, I attended a Paul McCartney tribute band concert called "Band on the Run."  I assumed they would be performing Paul solo/Wings songs during the performance.  I was very wrong with this assumption.   They played more Beatles songs (written by Paul) than anything else, although they also performed a few Wings songs.  Nothing from Paul's past 1976 (Silly Love Songs) was performed. 

The band was very good. They took requests from the audience for a few songs, and they were able to perform whatever was requested (such as Why Don't We Do It In The Road).   And while I was disappointed that a man was singing "Linda's" parts on the Wings songs, he did a great job with the harmonies.   The lead singer (who wore a wig and had a fake British accent) was a very good vocalist.  He was able to sing all Paul's parts in the songs easily, and I especially enjoyed his vocals on "Let Me Roll It."

The audience was obviously more into the Beatles' numbers than the Wings' ones, and I think the lead singer chose to play more Beatles' Paul numbers because of that.  

Would I see "Band on the Run" again?  Maybe.  I had a good time, and it was a fun night out where I got to hear songs that I really like.  I could have done without the singer wearing a wig and maybe adding a female voice to the group, but yeah -- if they were playing and the price was right, I would hear them again. 

What other Paul tribute bands are out there?  Do you remcommend any?  

The Mersey Beatles - A Concert review

On October 11, 2018, my mom took me to The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, Illinois for my birthday to see a concert by the Mersey Beatles. 

As I have said before, I am not crazy about Beatles tribute bands.   I can appreciate the music if it is done correctly, but I just can't get into the whole looking and acting like the Beatles thing.    But I was willing to give the Mersey Beatles a chance because they are from Liverpool.   That way I knew that the at least the accents wouldn't be fake.

The Mersey Beatles really were very good.   While they did dress in Beatles costumes, they did not try to pretend that they were the Beatles.  They did a great job honoring the music and memory of the Beatles.

The first half of their set was all 1968 stuff.   They came out dressed in the clothing the Beatles wore on the Mad Day Out photo shoot -- and the customs for this were really cool.   I especially liked "George's" outfit.    They sang many songs from the White Album.  I especially thought "Dear Prudence" was outstanding.    I actually found that I was enjoying the songs by John and George more than the ones by Paul.   I think that might be because I have heard the real Paul perform many of the songs in concert, but I will never hear John sing any of his songs.     They also did a great version of "Hey Bulldog." 

The second half of the show was the "early Beatles" years.   There was a lot of upbeat dance songs from the Beatles early days.    They also did some songs from Rubber Soul and Revolver.   From this set, I think "If I needed someone" was my favorite (although the singer messed up by coming in at the wrong time.   He really should have pulled a George move and wave to the crowd -- I mean if you are going to play the part -- then go all out).      However, their version of "This Boy" was off and did not have that tight Beatle harmony that we all love.    The guy that does the "Paul" role is right-handed.  This didn't bother me during the 1968 set, but it did in the early years.   Something about the look of Paul and George coming together with mirrored guitars is such a part of the Beatles look from that time.  When it looks different, it just feels really wrong to the eye.   

I really liked the use of the background projections.   They would often project things that looked like familiar backgrounds from say the Ed Sullivan Show or Big Night Out.    They also showed some clips and photographs that really made the song even more fun.

Overall I enjoyed the Mersey Beatles.   It was a fun way to celebrate my birthday.    And while I am still not sold on tribute bands, I would go see this one again if I had the opportunity. 

Japan's Beatles tribute in 1966