01 Apr 2023
Find out if Deborah Heath was a big fan of the faux fab four after seeing them at the Alban Arena.
One of the highlights of the Alban Arena year is the marvellous Bootleg Beatles show.
Of course, this is testament to the enduring talent and relevance of the real Beatles and although we can sadly no longer see them all perform together, this is the next best thing!
Now in their 41st year (although not with the original line-up), the Bootlegs always promise a fabulous show taking us through six or seven different periods of the Beatles’ journey, complete with vintage film interludes. As time goes on, their hairstyles, facial hair and clothes change – in fact it’s a historical celebration.
Although the programme evolves every year, you can always be sure of a fantastic show.
It is an annual family event for us and this year we attended with three generations and it’s hard to say which was the most excited.
The Bootleg Beatles are Steve White (Paul), Tyson Kelly (John), Steve Hill (George) and Gordon Elsmore (Ringo.) All massive Beatles fans themselves, they feel honoured to perform as the fab four.
I asked them how much they enjoy the Alban Arena vibe: “We absolutely love playing St Albans. it’s a regular gig every spring. The crowd is always up for a good night out and sing along with every song. This time was no exception. They definitely ‘passed the audition’!”
The audience had no choice but to join in, their enthusiasm was infectious and they really knew how to work the crowd. The whole Arena singing ‘All you Need is Love’ was particularly powerful.
With the exception of a small sound glitch in the opening film, the technical values were outstanding. The costumes, wigs and beards were a joy to behold. These details are so important for the authenticity of a show like this. Though I wasn’t been alive in the 1960s, I certainly felt that I was back there for one magical evening!
‘Please Please Me’ – the Beatles first album – was released 60 years ago this year and is celebrated as the opening to the show, pudding bowl haircuts and all. This section certainly pleased the septuagenarians in my family party. Part Two was plenty of fun too, with ‘Twist and Shout’
and ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’. The first half finished with hits from Revolver which certainly pleased me!
The second half always hits the ground running with something colourful. This year it was a Magical Mystery Tour section. ‘Your Mother Should Know’ was a very welcome and more unusual choice and it was delightful to hear my personal favourite ‘Penny Lane’. In the latter, the rest of the orchestra got involved including their fabulous cellist, Bob Woollard, portraying the fireman to great applause. It was a real shame that their Yellow Submarine section didn’t include ‘Hey Bulldog’ but I will keep my fingers crossed that we get it next year.
Let’s get to the nitty gritty – how authentic is the sound of the Bootlegs? Do they deserve the accolade of being the best Beatles tribute act in the world?
Let’s take the opening of ‘Taxman’ from Revolver: not only did the Bootlegs accurately recreate John Lennon’s opening “1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3-” but the extremely faint, background “4” from McCartney – a Beatles nerd’s delight! In the past I remember them updating the song with references to current politicians which if not authentic was a great hit with the audience. This year, however, they stuck with “Wilson” and “Heath”.
If I had to sum up what makes the Bootleg Beatles such a marvellous act, the answer is both simple and complicated. It is their musicality – that may sound banal but what I mean is not just that they can imitate the Beatles with studious attention to detail. It is group of four outstanding lead musicians, supported by an accomplished pianist, brass and string players.
There is real showmanship here. What sets them apart is how well they listen and react to each other and how they let each other shine with generosity.
A case in point was “George” singing ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ which for me was the most powerfully affecting song of the evening.
George Elsmore (Ringo) says of ‘Please Please Me’: “It’s a launch pad. It had that Beatles magic dust on it… it feels like the beginning of something.”
I couldn’t agree more. It’s hard to imagine where popular music would be now without the Beatles’ influence. They have left their legacy to popular music, but the Bootleg Beatles show us that they can scatter magic dust of their own. Thank you Bootlegs – I will be back next year hoping for ‘Hey Bulldog’!
