By Chuck Dauphin
According to EMI Music and the Guinness Book of World Records, the Beatles have sold more than one billion records throughout the world.
The Return, a Beatles tribute band
The Beatles “Return” to Baxley
Still, sheer numbers do not define the group’s legacy. Beginning with their legendary 1964 appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, the rage known as “Beatlemania” swept the world over, making instant legends of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
The legend of the “Fab Four” is celebrated in a concert featuring The Return, which will be coming to Baxley on March 25 at Appling County High School at 7:30 p.m. The concert pays tribute to not only the music of the legendary band, but also their look. In addition to performing the classics, the performers will also don the same instruments, gear, suits, boots, and yes, those famous mop-top hairstyles that made music fans fall in love with the Beatles over the past five decades.
The Return seems to be a hit wherever it performs, with fans and critics alike, even those too young to truly experience the British invasion.
Tony Perkins, of ABC’s Good Morning America, said that “I saw The Return not long ago at one of the Beatle-fest conventions, and they were great! They really got the crowd going. Their energy and enthusiasm jumps off the stage. It was quite fun to watch them and imagine what it must have been like at an actual Beatles concert all those years ago.”
The concert sets ranges from some of the songs the band played as covers in Liverpool to the early days of their hit making career, all the way to their last American tour in 1966. The show has played virtually everywhere, from Georgia to California, and in true Beatles style, across the pond. Abbey Road Studio and the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, two places very historic in the eyes of Beatles fans—have seen performances from the troupe there.
Dates have been filling up quickly for The Return over the next few months, as performances have typically been a fast sell-out. Pete Beaudrault, President/CEO of the Hard Rock Café chain had nothing but praise for the show. “Outstanding,” he said. It’s absolutely the best thing next to the originals.” He should know. In 2001, to mark the
30th anniversary of the company, the Hard Rock invited The Return to be the official tour band of the celebration, with performances in Orlando, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, among other locations.
Their show in Atlanta garnered much critical acclaim. Kelly McCoy, of B98.5, said “All Beatles fans should see these guys, the look, the sounds and their engaging actions on stage make them one of the most entertaining groups, even the young audiences who weren’t around for the Beatles, truly get a glimpse of what the British invasion must have been like,” while Jim Weiss of Turner Broadcasting, said that “Seeing The Return is like traveling in a time tunnel back to Liverpool in the early 1960s, it’s the next best thing to having been there, which many of us were not.”
The Return has shared the stage with many of the top stars of the era, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Monkees, B.J. Thomas, and The Grass Roots among them, serving as additional proof of the production’s drawing power.
Tickets for The Return are $20 advance, $25 at door and can be purchased from the Appling County Chamber of Commerce, Foster Rowland Auto Mart, Alma/Bacon County Chamber of Commerce, The News Courier, Cohen’s of Alma, Hazlehurst/Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce, and WBYZ Radio in Baxley.For more information about the show, as well as to see video, visit their website, www.TheReturnOnline.com!
The legend of the “Fab Four” is celebrated in a concert featuring The Return, which will be coming to Baxley on March 25 at Appling County High School at 7:30 p.m. The concert pays tribute to not only the music of the legendary band, but also their look. In addition to performing the classics, the performers will also don the same instruments, gear, suits, boots, and yes, those famous mop-top hairstyles that made music fans fall in love with the Beatles over the past five decades.
The Return seems to be a hit wherever it performs, with fans and critics alike, even those too young to truly experience the British invasion.
Tony Perkins, of ABC’s Good Morning America, said that “I saw The Return not long ago at one of the Beatle-fest conventions, and they were great! They really got the crowd going. Their energy and enthusiasm jumps off the stage. It was quite fun to watch them and imagine what it must have been like at an actual Beatles concert all those years ago.”
The concert sets ranges from some of the songs the band played as covers in Liverpool to the early days of their hit making career, all the way to their last American tour in 1966. The show has played virtually everywhere, from Georgia to California, and in true Beatles style, across the pond. Abbey Road Studio and the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, two places very historic in the eyes of Beatles fans—have seen performances from the troupe there.
Dates have been filling up quickly for The Return over the next few months, as performances have typically been a fast sell-out. Pete Beaudrault, President/CEO of the Hard Rock Café chain had nothing but praise for the show. “Outstanding,” he said. It’s absolutely the best thing next to the originals.” He should know. In 2001, to mark the
30th anniversary of the company, the Hard Rock invited The Return to be the official tour band of the celebration, with performances in Orlando, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta, among other locations.
Their show in Atlanta garnered much critical acclaim. Kelly McCoy, of B98.5, said “All Beatles fans should see these guys, the look, the sounds and their engaging actions on stage make them one of the most entertaining groups, even the young audiences who weren’t around for the Beatles, truly get a glimpse of what the British invasion must have been like,” while Jim Weiss of Turner Broadcasting, said that “Seeing The Return is like traveling in a time tunnel back to Liverpool in the early 1960s, it’s the next best thing to having been there, which many of us were not.”
The Return has shared the stage with many of the top stars of the era, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Monkees, B.J. Thomas, and The Grass Roots among them, serving as additional proof of the production’s drawing power.
Tickets for The Return are $20 advance, $25 at door and can be purchased from the Appling County Chamber of Commerce, Foster Rowland Auto Mart, Alma/Bacon County Chamber of Commerce, The News Courier, Cohen’s of Alma, Hazlehurst/Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce, and WBYZ Radio in Baxley.For more information about the show, as well as to see video, visit their website, www.TheReturnOnline.com!
Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry
No Trackbacks