BANDS 1964: The Tribute Check out the music: Be a friend: 1964 The Tribute Thursday, 6.28.07 :: Gates at 5:30pm :: Page Wilson at 6:00pm :: "The Beatles" at 8:30pm All you need is live. It was the kind of stormy night when all you need is live Beatle music to make you feel better. Thursday, June 1st, 2006 at The Rams Head On Stage in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, the band described by Rolling Stone Magazine as the best Beatles tribute on earth took on the thunder and lightening, rolled over Beethoven and plied their fans with a much needed shot of R&B. "1964 The Tribute" (also known affectionately to us as "The Fab Faux") played to a packed house of diehard Beatle People who yelled, stomped and sang along, twisting and shouting to the music they love performed by the sheer genius of four extraordinary lads even Liverpudlian purists find altogether impressive. As a Liverpool girl who was fortunate enough to see the Beatles perform live at Liverpool's Cavern Club in 1963 and many other venues in their early career, I know it's no mean task to emulate the four lads who rocked the world all those years ago, but I have to admit, "1964 The Tribute" have not only been together longer, but they are frankly a much 'tighter' group of musicians than the Beatles were in their heyday. As a writer, I'm used to padding the flesh on bones of a feature and could spend lots of editorial copy extolling the virtues of this very unusual band but one sentence says it all! This is, without any doubt "The Number 1 Beatles Show In The World" and here are just a few reasons why. When lights go down these musicians don't simply sound like the Beatles, they become The Beatles. Each time I see them I am convinced that there is something really strange if not downright eerie about their performance. I knew John Lennon somewhat, our aunts were neighbors and our parents occasionally performed together in a jazz band in Liverpool. When Mark picks up his guitar, chews that wad of gum and sings his heart out in that wicked nasal "Scouse" accent, he is John Lennon. His presentation is that of a much younger John Lennon, perhaps before the doubt set in. John was someone who was never in love with the world or even himself, but as his songs imply he nonetheless was the soul of the group. Mark doesn't just perform the songs, he plays Lennon the Beatle equipped with abrasive sarcasm, unrelenting dry Liverpool wit, blended together with an almost childlike vulnerability, brilliant musicianship and an edge to his voice challenging everyone in the audience to take him on. It is pure magic. It is John, as he would say, in his own write. (for those who are unfamiliar with John's first book it was entitled, "John Lennon - In his own Write") Gary's pre- Knighthood Paul McCartney once more becomes the poster boy, charming, sincere, perfect pitch with so much more stage craft than Beatle Paul had in 1964, playing to the audience, giving them everything he has, making me wonder what Paul would do if he were in the crowd. Would the style, stance, voice, mannerisms, and sheer skill of Gary's performance make him feel lost in a time warp? The crowd gave a roaring welcome to the new Ringo and George, indeed, these faux Beatles were given a far greater performing role and acknowledgement than the original Starr and Harrison. Again each musician giving a performance so realistic that their fans, many old enough to have seen the real thing in 1964 were blatantly adoring them with a passion that only The Beatles could muster. "1964 The Tribute", like the original Fab Four removes all barriers of culture, age, gender and race. Tribute fans love the songs and the memories evoked by hearing them again. The new band is better balanced than before and more Beatle like than ever. Seated at our table was a fan who had driven to Annapolis from Arlington, Virginia. Though it was the tenth time he had seen "1964 The Tribute" perform, he was hearing them play some of the songs live for the first time. He said they never fail to surprise him. Nothing short of devoted, he owns all of their CDs, commenting that the compilations are superb and he gets all his favorite songs at one time. This band has a huge following of dedicated fans. They greet each other like family members at a reunion and perhaps that's what it is, a reunion of spirit and a time when things were so much younger than today. We heard the pre-Sgt. Pepper standards "I Saw Her Standing There", Do You Want To Know A Secret", "This Boy", "Nowhere Man" (jokingly dedicated to their manager, who was in the audience), "Can't Buy Me Love", "I Feel Fine", "Taxman", "Paperback Writer", "Help", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Michelle", "Twist and Shout", "Eight Days A Week", "All My Loving", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Yellow Submarine" (complete with audience waves and special effect contributions), my personal favorite Beatle song, "In My Life" and many others, each meeting with a rousing ovation from the crowd. They raised our spirits, warmed our hearts and all too soon it was over. But they'll be back at The Ram's Head in October, and for "1964 The Tribute" fanatics, it's just a few months before the Carnegie Hall show on January 27th. This will be their seventh appearance at the world-renowned New York concert hall, and with that in mind, despite the wait, I feel fine! - Marilyn "Mandy" Dease Johnson