Beatles Let It Be
Beatles tribute act Let It Be performed at GM Centre in Oshawa on Tuesday night. It was an early 7:30pm start to squeeze in the 2 hours of Beatles classics (and a 20+ minutes intermission).
The set of 40 hit songs ran roughly in a chronological order. Video screens on either side of the stage were designed to look like old black and white televisions of the 60’s. Beginning with a back drop of The Cavern Club in Liverpool and moving through various stages of their career including references to Shea Stadium show in ’65 and other periods. Narration in the form of faux news reels of the day periodically filled the brief gaps in the songs while the band changed costumes to those authentic for the period of the music. The performances were generally good, with the McCartney vocals being particularly good. The banter between songs was scripted in a Liverpudlian accent and lame “People in the cheaper seats clap your hands, the rest of you just rattle your jewelry”. We knew the rest of what he was going to say there by the third word. Some historical context in a normal voice would have been more interesting. “Ringo” encouraged the crowd to clap along to Norwegian Wood but they just couldn’t get the 3/4 time. They had no trouble clapping to the following song though, Harrison’s Here Comes The Sun. For a show on the scale of arenas, some extra musicians for the horns and strings would have added immensely to the authenticity of the performance for the many songs that use them.
We’ve seen many shows at GM Centre and it’s certainly one our favourite venues. In this case, the half arena set up created a smaller bowl but frankly it was still a little too large and though well attended, it lacked energy. A smaller venue like Oshawa’s Regent Theatre might have kept the energy at a higher level.
It was a theatrical performance rather than a rock concert. This isn’t actually a band. Like Classic Albums Live, the performers will change from night to night, but it was still a great night of music of the most influential band of all time.
Set List
I Saw Her Standing There
Please Please Me
It Won’t Be Long
She Loves You
I Want To Hold Your Hand
All My Loving
A Hard Day’s Night
Can’t Buy Me Love
Do You Want To Know A Secret?
I Wanna Be Your Man
Yesterday
Help!
I Feel Fine
Drive My Car
Twist And Shout
Day Tripper
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
Eleanor Rigby
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
When I’m Sixty Four
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Clubs Band (Reprise)
A Day In The Life
Intermission
Magical Mystery Tour
All You Need Is Love
Penny Lane
Strawberry Fields Forever
Blackbird
Michelle
Norwegian Wood
Here Comes The Sun
In My Life
The Long And Winding Road
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Come Together
Get Back
Revolution
The End
Encore
Back In The USSR
Let It Be
Let It Be music of The Beatles at GM Centre Review and Intro Photo By Steve Mallinson
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