Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - Liverpool

Liverpool - you might have guessed that is a reference to a town in England, and you might have guessed this is a Beatles cover band, and if so, you are correct.

Liverpool primarily entertains the crowds at the various Fest For Beatles Fans throughout the year.  Some years there are only 2 Fests, and I recall a year of 5 Fests.  Liverpool also does other shows on occasion, as well.

They are not a Tribute Band - they don't look like them, they don't act like them, and they don't try to look or act like them.  What they DO though is recreate the music as faithfully and accurately as possible.

At various Fests, I have seen them do amazing renditions of Side 2 Abbey Road, all of Sgt. Pepper, the White Album, and other albums from start to finish.  In addition to recreating album/album sides, they also play the hits - and the deep cuts, even the very very deep cuts.  At the Chicago Fest they even host the Friday night 60s Costume Contest and Dance Party, which requires a non-stop collection of rocking Beatles songs, usually from the "early years".

The band is able to switch styles seamlessly and is able to perform ballads, heavy rockers, pop, and dance styles - if we were to describe the Beatles in such a manner.  They do it with a combination of guitars, drums, and keyboards.  And they do it all effortlessly (well, I'm sure they work very hard at their craft, but they make it appear effortless) - and they do it while having fun.  You can tell they love the music!!

Over the past few years, it has become more and more common for Beatles guests to get up on stage and sing with Liverpool, and not always Beatles songs, but Herman's Hermit songs, Monkees songs, and even Hudson Brothers songs.  And this is where Liverpool further showcases their musicianship, as they are not just a band that memorized all the Beatles songs (and probably all of the solo songs too) - but a band that can play anybody's songs - and styles.  But that's not even the half of it - as this is LIVE music.  And, we all know live anything can be unpredictable, at best.   With the guest performers, in almost always becomes an exercise in improv.  And Liverpool rises to the occasion by keeping up with whatever the current frontman (or frontmen) are doing - and it appears as though they have all played together for years - not minutes.  I'm sure they rehearse some with the guests beforehand - but there is no way to rehearse for some of the surprises brought on by the guests once they are up there.  It takes true musicians to adapt to such change - and such abrupt and probably unexpected changes!

Always a great time watching them play at The Fest.  And, I always enjoy the somewhat bittersweet finale of Hey Jude, with Give Peace A Chance incorporated into the refrain.

The entire band is very approachable and spends time during The Fest weekend mingling with the guests, and even sitting up until 7am the next morning jamming in an all night jam-session with the fans.

Catch them at the Chicago Fest For Beatles Fans on August 14, 15, and 16.