Another Hard Day’s Night
It’s Friday, January 13th, in New York City on a day more like spring than winter and I’m walking down Seventh Avenue to Carnegie Hall. Reaching the door of the time honored concert hall I see a poster giving the reason my daughter Adrienne and I have traveled here from Maryland. “1964… The Tribute” the poster advertises “The No. 1 Beatles show in the world.” “No mean task” comments my daughter who had Beatle songs ingrained into her psyche throughout childhood and who is now a Mother herself. She notes the resemblance to the fab four “But No.1??” she says skeptically. Yet this is not false or misleading advertising, I explain. As a Liverpudlian ex-pat, Beatle maniac who considers herself something of an authority on the real lads due to the many missed school lunches spent in Liverpool’s Cavern Club. I have to admit, albeit sadly, as 1964..The Tribute are a group of Americans, that it’s true! They are not just a bunch of sixties freaks lost in a time warp. They are truly extraordinary musicians, masters of their craft, who live not just play, authentic Beatle music.
My daughter and I stroll back to the hotel where we are staying, eat an exceptionally good lunch and prepare ourselves for the evening ahead. After several days plaguing Gary Grimes who flawlessly plays pre-knighthood Paul McCartney with emails on dress code we are resplendent in “casual’ evening garb and ready for a vintage Beatles performance. Our tickets are at will call and we are led almost ceremoniously by the ushers to the box from where we will see the show. Seated with us are other guests of the band including longstanding supporter and ex-Cavern bouncer Liverpudlian Terry O’Neill, now of Richmond, Virginia where he owns “Penny Lane Pub and Restaurant”. Now the authenticity of the band’s accents makes sense, what a tutor he must have been! Also there is close friend and early Beatles roadie Tony Bramwell, now one of the UK’s top record promoters and author of the bestselling “Magical Mystery Tour: My Life With The Beatles”. Bramwell was also the promoter of the late, wonderful Marylander Eva Cassidy who although well known on the Washington Maryland folk circuit sadly only found international success posthumously.
Much to my great joy Bill Harry and his lovely wife Virginia join us. Harry, writer and publisher of “Mersey Beat” discovered The Beatles and the “Mersey Sound” years ahead of their late manager Brian Epstein, never failed to publicize The Fab Four and was one of their most ardent supporters. Through his publication their fan base was kept constantly informed of new recordings and tours. I had not seen Bill for over forty years and was thrilled that he could revisit his own unique past through “1964…The Tribute”
Looking down on the audience I’m awed by the sheer volume of people attending this concert. They are already screaming, and being prepped for the main attraction by the amazing Mike Rayburn who is known, quite accurately, as the “World’s funniest Guitar Virtuoso”. Rayburn also has a show at Carnegie Hall in March 2006.
Finally following introductions and acknowledgements the stage darkens and screaming, shouting and applause builds to a furor. 1964..The Tribute” four Americans resplendent in the suits, boots, believable nasal ‘Scouse’ accents and inimitable Astrid Kirschherr inspired Beatle haircuts once again do the impossible by recreating, four decades later, the unique Beatles Mersey Sound live! Their onstage mannerisms and accents are so true to life that I again forget where I am and for an all too brief period of time I’m taken back to the early sixties. They become The Beatles and it is truly incredible! For me this goes deeper than the Liverpudlian conquest of the Americas. Tonight, I’m not a Wife, Mom or Grandmother I’m fourteen again looking at the lads who have put my city back on the map. I’m witness to “1964..The Tribute perform almost exactly the way the Beatles did at their Fan Club Convention “It’s the Beatles” held at The Empire in Liverpool, December 7th 1963. Strangely enough I remind my daughter, I was an extra in the film “A Hard Day’s Night” and there is a scene where just before Paul begins to sing “If I fell” I am quite visible in a theater box screaming and waving at Paul. All these years later I’m doing the same thing again. It has come full circle as it always does. But for many, so far removed from Liverpool in the sixties, it’s reminiscent of that night on February 12th 1964 when The Beatles played the first of two performances in this very place. Carnegie Hall, where much to their own surprise Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr joined the ranks of esteemed classical composers and musicians including Peter Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel, and George Gershwin. This evening’s show marks the sixth time these performers have played before a packed house of excited fans. An accomplishment rivaling that of The Beatles themselves.
The crowd is going wild! I’m peering down and watching couples dancing in the aisles. I hear the muted conversation in the next box of two heard core Beatle fans. This is their first time and they’re overwhelmed at the resemblance of the performers on stage to the real thing. Everyone in the audience is singing along and I could positively swear I was watching The Beatles again. It’s not simply the sound either. Paul is just as sincere, John’s biting Liverpool wit ever present and his stance is perfect, Shy George still has silly dance steps and Ringo although a tad younger than the last time I saw him but still very, very happy. These lads are in excellent form. Surprisingly my daughter knows every song and joins in from behind me. I’m very proud. Looking around I see the Liverpool connection are all smiles and clearly reminiscing to ‘Help”, “I Feel Fine, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, “And Your Bird Can Sing”, “Do You Want To Know A Secret”, “Eight Days A Week” “A Hard Days Night, “Can’t Buy Me Love” all the big hits from happier times when we were younger so much younger than today.
At the intermission we go outside to the lobby where drinks are being served. I enjoy some champagne and listen to the comments of some rock ‘n roll dignitaries. All are clearly having fun and enjoying the show. I notice May Pang, Lennon’s former companion discussing a documentary on John’s FBI files which aired a few days before. Harvey Goldberg of Letterman Late Show and his wife are there, interspersed with a few film producers on the prowl. Bill Harry kindly introduces me to those I’ve not met before. His wife and I talk about John’s plans to relocate to Liverpool prior to his murder.
We all need this night. New York in post 911 depression needs this night. People are happy and it shows.
We return after the intermission to an authentic big, brassy band arrangement of “Got To Get You Into My Life” as well as a lovely rendition of “In My Life” with ‘Paul’ thanking the many people who came not only from out of state but from other countries to attend this performance. But the showstopper is the breathtaking version of “Eleanor Rigby” complete with string ensemble and an arrangement rivaling the original by Sir George Martin. “Eleanor Rigby” was never performed live by The Beatles making this performance the ultimate experience.
“Twist and Shout” blasts everyone in the audience onto their feet. Fans dance in the boxes, they dance in the aisles and everyone screams for more but all too soon the show is over. I lean over to Bill Harry and comment “Who’d have thought all those years ago that we’d be here in Carnegie Hall doing it again”. Who indeed, one wonders.
“So now you’ve heard The Mersey Sound” I say to my daughter as we take in some more New York night life “What was your favorite song?”
“Yesterday” she answers “And they did it beautifully. I didn’t see The Beatles perform and I didn’t know them, but you did and this is just how I thought it would be. It was magical”
~ Marilyn Dease Johnson