The Liverpool Legends - Unbelievably Talented and Believable as The Beatles!

While in Branson for the Elvis Explosion at the Lodge of the Ozarks, I had the opportunity to journey across the street to the Caravelle Theatre where a new show has just begun to take Branson by storm. The group performing there call themselves “The Liverpool Legends” and they perform a very special tribute to the British rock group “The Beatles!” I was so blown away by the first performance, that I was drawn there again for a second performance!

The Caravelle is one of the smaller venues on the west end of the “strip.” It has a smaller lobby than most and some people were sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather before the doors opened.

The theatre looks to be well maintained and the seats were comfortable. Being an older building, however, the rows are not as roomy as the newer show theaters. We sat in the front row, however, so we had plenty of legroom and the sound system was great – not too loud like some are known to be.

It was exciting to enter the theater and hear all the “buzz” from Beatle fans on how long they’ve been fans and who saw them perform where and when; who had all their albums and who may even have had a chance meeting with one or more of them! People were excited and I came to find out later that the crowds have only been growing. In fact, the first night I was there, Louise Harrison commented on how it was the biggest crowd so far this season!

The band is managed by Louise Harrison, sister of the late Beatle, George Harrison, and considered by Louise to be the very best Beatles Tribute show in the world! Louise introduces her “boys” and also answers any questions from the audience during intermission. She recalled how often when she asks for questions about the real “Beatles,” people want to know more about her “boys” – that can only be explained by how unbelievably talented and believable these “boys” really are!!

Louise will tell you during her introduction that everything you see on stage is real – each member of the band is playing their own instrument and singing – no canned tracks at this show!!! What makes this show so great is the attention each of the band members give to their performance - from every musical detail including their uncanny ability to play the vintage guitars and drums and sound just like John, Paul, George and Ringo, right down to their costume changes, special effects, their British accents, and even their joking around on stage.

It is just amazing! You’d swear you are actually back in the 1960’s/1970’s attending a Beatles concert! A man and his wife sitting next to me were from Pennsylvania and it was their very first trip to Branson – they were huge Beatle fans and they were just flabbergasted how great this group is.

Another couple from Mississippi said they had seen two other Beatle Tribute Bands and this one was by far the greatest! Even some teenagers sitting behind us seemed to really get into the show!

The Beatles became popular in 1960’s with hits like “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” and “Yesterday.” The Liverpool Legends play and sing these songs plus many others spanning the entire career of The Beatles and also some songs from their solo albums. From the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, you will hear “With A Little Help From My Friends.” From the Revolver album, songs like “Got to Get You Into My Life” and “Tax Man.”

They really cover the gamut of songs from early albums like Please, Please Me to Rubber Soul to Abbey Road to the White album. They will even take you on a “Magical Mystery Tour” with psychedelic lights and on into what the band calls the “breakup years.”

Each “character” on stage so closely resembles each Beatle, it is hard to believe you are not watching the real ones!

Kevin Mantegna as “John” is a real showman and “cuts up” a lot like the real “John!” According to Louise, even Paul McCartney was quoted when shown a picture of Kevin, “Yes I could spot John out anywhere. You make a great John!”

Davey Justice (who is actually right-handed but learned to play left-handed) as bass player “Paul” has the mannerisms of “Sir Paul” and the voice also! (I remember he was always known as the “cute one” girls - and wow - he still is!)

Marty Scott (who is actually left-handed and learned to play right-handed) as “George” is good looking also and can really play that guitar! You are in for a super treat with his solo performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps!”

John Bologna as “Ringo” has both his rhythm and fun-loving spirit and sings his signature song “Yellow Submarine.”

And Bob Dobro as the “fifth” Beatle (the recently deceased “Billy Preston”) is able to create all those amazing orchestral sounds in their later songs like “Eleanor Rigby” and others.

You will not be able to sit still during some songs like “Twist and Shout” – in fact, the whole show is pretty interactive. “George” will insist everyone stand during certain songs or clap during others. During intermission, we had the opportunity to talk with a young girl of seventeen whose dad runs the lights for the theater. She told us how she gets to see the show a lot and she wished she grew up during the Beatles era! She was dancing down front for most of the show and you could tell how much she loved the music!

I grew up in the late 50’s and was really too young to be a big Beatle fan. I do, however, remember watching them on the Ed Sullivan show and I remember how wild and crazy the fans (mostly the girls) were!! The fans screamed a lot and sometimes you had a hard time hearing the music! My Mom and Dad of course thought the Beatles screamed too much too!

I did eventually come to like some of their early releases, and of course now days, even some of their later music seems awfully tame. I do, however, have several Beatle CDs in my current collection. And after seeing the Liverpool Legends and buying their CD, I had to hurry home and play some of the real Beatles music and was amazed at just how much Louise’ “boys” sound like the real thing!!!

While listening and watching this show, you will definitely feel like you are being transported back in time to what some have called the “British Revolution.” And when you leave, you will have some sense as to just why “The Beatles” were/are so important to the whole realm of rock n’ roll.

It was Beatle John Lennon who said, “Before Elvis there was nothing.” It was Elvis who inspired Lennon at an early age when he sang “Heartbreak Hotel.” And just like Elvis, the Beatles music will live on forever – especially since they wrote so many songs throughout their careers. Writing was their biggest talent. No one can say otherwise, and great songs and great music will always endure from generation to generation.

The Liverpool Legends along with Louise Harrison will sign autographs and greet everyone after the show. Thanks Louise for bringing your “boys” to Branson! Hurry everyone and get “A Ticket to Ride!”

-Sandi McKim
 

Editors Note: What a great review Sandi

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