|
ATLANTA BAND - THE RETURN - RECREATES "BEATLEMANIA" HISTORY
FOR A NEW GENERATION OF SOLD OUT AUDIENCES IN AMERICA
While many lesser known groups have attempted to emulate the Beatles, you won't have to squint your eyes at a Return concert to travel back in time. In
fact, you just might believe it's 1964 and you're sitting in the original CBS Ed Sullivan Theatre or even Shea Stadium.
Besides an uncanny resemblance, each member has to his original counterpart: the peculiar stance Lennon took in front of a microphone, the way Harrison
strapped on his Gretsch Country Gentleman guitar, the famous head bounce Ringo kept time with, and even a left handed McCartney on an original Hofner violin
bass. The Return brings exceptional musical and vocal skills to each performance.
The look and sound of the group is so impressive that shows are selling out everywhere they perform. Even the hysteria of screaming girls is as deafening as it was during the height of "Beatlemania."
Every detail from The Beatles' early live performance years has been studied and carefully recreated. From the mop-top haircuts and English tailored suits, to
the actual instruments and stage equipment, The Return's authenticity gives new audiences and many older fans a performance unlike any they have ever witnessed.
The Return, recognized as one of the premier Beatles tribute bands in America, currently contains the youngest lineup of superb musicians paying tribute to the
legendary group. They are considered by many critics to be the most realistic cast paying tribute to the "Fab Four." So realistic, in fact, that The Return, gaining national recognition, was invited to appear on the ABC network television show Good Morning America.
With the recent success of The Beatles' "1" CD creating a new wave of "Beatlemania," The Return gives audiences a chance to experience the phenomenon live.
For more information on The Return, photos, videos, and tour dates, please visit www.TheReturnOnline.com
or contact Fulton Entertainment, 1416 Rainbow Circle
Griffin, GA 30224
770-233-1110.
|
THE RETURN AT GETTYSBURG COLLEGE
This past weekend marked the annual Parent's Weekend at Gettysburg College. While parents checked out their child's tiny cubicle, empty pizza boxes, and heaps of dirty and desperately needing to be laundered clothes by day, they rock 'n' rolled all night. Campus Activities used Saturday night to showcase The Return, an evocative tribute band covering Liverpool's finest - The Beatles.
The Return set the stage for a fun-filled evening with their uncanny impersonation of the British rockers. In the Ballroom starting at 8:00, packs of people piled in to see The Return. After a brief introduction, they kicked the night off with the first Beatles' classic to reach America's airwaves on the Ed Sullivan Show - "All My Loving." They followed suit in mostly chronological order, offering up the Beatles' finest music.
The band played a lot of the Beatles' best stuff from their early albums, which was a lot of fun. "The songs were something that both kids and their parents could enjoy," said sophomore Cara Beahm. Although the crowd was mellow at first, The Return persisted to get the crowd moving and shaking between songs and performed uncanny facsimiles which received raucous ovations. The Return blew away the crowd as they went through a veritable Beatles' Greatest Hits. The band played from the early records "Please Please Me," "She Loves You," "From Me To You," "Roll Over Beethoven," "This Boy," "Baby's In Black," and "Can't Buy Me Love." Needless to say, the fans were out of their seats in no time.
Not only did The Return do an exquisite job recreating the Beatles' sound, but the audience buzzed (especially parents and grandparents) with excitement as they went as far as to effectively reproduce the voices of the Beatles, the way they held their instruments, and their stage mannerisms. Left handed Shane Landers played bass as Paul with his bass hanging loosely, swaying as Mr. McCartney. Jason Cobble imitated perfectly Ringo's slow and effortless drumming. Michael Fulop (the originator of The Return) never took the attention away from John or Paul and stayed between the two, always low-key but playing with great vigor. Richard Stelling strummed away on his guitar that lay plastered to his body, and sung with great dynamism as John Lennon. The Georgia quartet dressed in Beatle performance attire- matching dress shirts, slacks, suits, ties, with long hair and sideburns. And who can forget the signature wave following the songs.
The band also played "Eight Days A Week," "Ticket To Ride," "Rock And Roll Music," "Taxman," "Paperback Writer," and "Help." Shane/ Paul sang "Yesterday" deftly and with great emphasis and sensitivity. The crowd was bouncing by the time "Yellow Submarine" rolled around as Michael/George even recreated the classic "duck whistle." Even though many in the crowd waited to hear later Beatles' music, The Return stuck to music up to and including "Rubber Soul" and "Help."
"The Beatles quit playing live in 1966 and we try to stick to what they did live," said drummer Jason Cobble. "We try to stay as real and authentic as we can," said Shane Landers. The Return wrapped up the night with a gracious encore, which included rousing renditions of "Shout," "Hippy Hippy Shake," and "Twist and Shout." The crowd was visibly wild and jubilant as young and old let loose towards the finale of the concert. "Hippy Hippy Shake was great. I think that was the best song with the exception of not having Tom Cruise there. They were excellent! I'm surprised nobody lit their lighters," said parent Faye Silver. "They did a great job. It's nice that they bridged the generations. How many musicians or groups can get 18-year olds and 50-year olds up and rocking at the same time?" said parent Brian Martin.
"We really enjoy playing shows with great and responsive crowds. It's a lot of fun," said Shane Landers/ Paul. All in all, it was a wonderful night of fun and laughter for students and parents alike. Good music set the mood and Campus Activities should be applauded for bringing The Return in to liven up Parent's Weekend.
To learn more about The Return check out their website at www.TheReturnOnline.com Written by Mike Pollack
|
TOURDATES.COM
De Ja vu, I have been here before. I recall a time, back in 1964, standing on the roof over gate 3 at the Miami-International Airport, waiting with great anticipation. Several friends and I had "skipped" school that day, for our field trip of "great historical significance." There were probably 100 of
us, all with a common goal. We were there to greet the BEATLES. What a day! There was a film crew there making a "rock-umentary" called "MEET THE BEATLES," long before MTV was ever conceived! Later, we were delighted to discover, as the camera scanned the crowd, that we were caught on tape, and would be included in the movie. Wow, our fleeting 15 minutes of fame......
On Saturday night, we attended a free concert on Pensacola Beach, featuring an old 60's group called THE ASSOCIATION. The concert was presented
by local radio station 107.1, and THE RETURN was the opening act. I was always under the impression that you saved the best for last, but in this case, dessert came before dinner. And believe me, the main course was more like a blue plate special at K-Mart. Geriatrics in white pants were the order of the day with the
"disappointing" ASSOCIATION show. Some folks don't know how to bow out gracefully. I think the group would have been better suited to
play the Elks Lodge.
But, lets talk about the RETURN. They took the stage and immediately hammered out one BEATLE tune after another. They looked like the BEATLES.
They sounded like the BEATLES. And, as you can imagine, they had the exact same effect on the crowd as the BEATLES. The girls were screaming,
people were dancing everywhere, and as far as I was concerned, the night could have gone on forever! The vocals were as tight as a tick on a
hound, matching note for note with the intricate harmonies of the originals. Everything was painstakingly and authentically reproduced, right down to the Vox amps and the Rickenbacker guitars. THEY STOLE THE SHOW!
Do not miss the opportunity to see this group, if you can. Many of you were not around in the 60's, and it really was a magic time for music. This is one tribute band that really reflects the spirit, and even approaches the vocal quality of their heroes. THE RETURN is #1 on our list!
Written by Kevin Hanley for tourdates.com
|
|
|
