I have mentioned my love of The Beatles a lot, and how I don’t remember a time without their music. As a Beatles fan, I have consumed many books, documentaries and music about them. I have watched the six part documentary “The Beatles Anthology” (1995), the three part “The Beatles: Get Back” (2021) and the infamous “Let It Be” (the 2024 re-release of the 1970 doc).
Of course, like every Beatles fan, I can name some of my favorite things about them. My top three favorite songs are “Eleanor Rigby,” “A Day in the Life” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” If I had to pick my favorite album, it’s “Revolver” (1966) and George Harrison had the best solo career. My favorite Beatles movie would have to be “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964).
On Nov. 9, my parents (who are also huge Beatles fans) and I saw the Liverpool Legends, a tribute band of the fab four, at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. As the resident Beatles expert it seems fitting that I write my thoughts on the performance in relation to my favorite band.
This was my first time seeing a tribute band, but not my first time seeing a Beatles themed show. I have seen “The Beatles: Love” by Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas twice and I still consider it one of the best live performances I have witnessed.
I have vaguely heard of the Liverpool Legends before because this is not their first time performing in the Hub City and I remember seeing advertisements for their past shows at the Heymann. When we walked into the performance space I was surprised to see a wide array of ages there were old and young couples on dates, families with small children all excited to hear music from a band that does have cross generational listening.
The show begins with a video montage of screaming fans from the height of Beatlemania and various news reports on it. Then a recorded introduction by George Harrison’s sister Louise Harrison (sadly passed away in 2023) talking about the Beatles legacy and wishing the audience a good show.
Now it is time that we have all been waiting for the music. The concert ran about two and half hours and was broken up into three parts highlighting different eras of the band. Each of these sections had a video narrated by Louise Harrison talking about where the band was at musically at these pivotal times. They also had costumes to mark each era.
First, there is the early Beatles marked by their mop top hair and matching suits. This was the era that they came with fans screaming so loud at concerts you couldn’t even hear the music. The most significant event that happened during this time was their debut appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964 that began Beatlemania and the wider British invasion in the states.
Then, there is the psychedelic period and the Liverpool Legends displayed this era by wearing the colorful recognizable suits that the four lads wear on the cover of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1967). This was a pivotal moment for the Beatles because they decided to stop touring a year earlier and their music started to become more experimental. This was the time of the counterculture and the “Summer of Love.”
The last section is close to the breakup of the band and their unannounced last public performance in 1969 on top of the headquarters of their record label Apple Corps. Albums that can be heard from this period are “The Beatles” (1968, also known as “The White Album”), “Abbey Road” (1969) and “Let It Be” (1970).
Seeing the Liverpool Legends reminded me of why I have always liked the music of The Beatles. Everyone can find a song that they like. Some people like the early love songs (such as “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Something”) or you may enjoy their more cerebral output (such as “Tomorrow Never Knows” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”).
The group the entire time stayed in character as The Beatles all the way down to those distinctive Liverpool accents. They banter with each other and encourage the audience to get up and dance. Everyone sang along to their favorite song and my favorite part was when “Octopus’s Garden” came on accompanied by bubbles.
Vocal wise, the band had an uncanny sound to John, Paul, George and Ringo. The three of us were sitting far enough from the stage that it did look like we were seeing the actual Beatles. Setlist wise I really thought it was a good choice of songs to display their wide discography.
During The Beatles decade long career, all four of them sang and wrote songs that are now deemed classics. The Ringo Starr songs were the mentioned “Octopus’s Garden” and “Yellow Submarine.” George Harrison’s songs chosen were “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun;” these accounted for more of the quieter moments of the show. The rest of the setlist were songs that were penned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
One of more interesting song choices was the inclusion of the Lennon solo “Imagine” (1971). I understand the inclusion of “Imagine.” It is Lennon’s signature song and is one of the first songs a person might think of when asked about anything related to The Beatles or successful solo careers.
Song highlights for me were “A Day in the Life,” “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude” and “A Hard Day’s Night” (this song holds a special place in my heart because it is the song that made me a Beatles fanatic). Overall, the performance made for a nice night of listening to some good music and hanging out with my parents. I will definitely try to see them again next time they come to Lafayette.