I watched the Grammy’s last month. Yes, I confess. Amazing Race was not on and I was at a loss for something to do. Of course, my wife had a list for me but as I told her, it was the Sabbath and I could do no more than eat popcorn, put my feet up on the ottoman and sort through the latest Victoria’s Secret catalogue. (You wanna know the secret? No one you know looks like that). So I sat in front of the flat screen, turned on CBS where I slowly and painfully arrived at the conclusion that I had indeed become my dad. I just didn’t get it.
Still reeling from the Justin Bieber arrest and Miley Cyrus twerking, I sat in amazement as I watched the following unfold:
* More bleeping than a Jim Norton comedy show;
* Beyonce and Jay Z dancing to what I can only assume was foreplay;
* Every major award category won by two robots that looked like C3PO stand-ins:
* Country music merging with rap (I guess we could cynically dub it CRAP);
* Herb Alpert winning a Grammy (what year is this again?)
But then something magical happened. Ringo and Paul. Mssrs. Starr and McCartney hugging onstage and accepting an award in honor of the Beatles (you know, that underrated group that hardly ever got any notice…). My faith was restored and all was right again in the world of popular music. Fifty years after that first US visit their music and aura was alive and well, and as they say…the joint went wild.
Here in New Jersey the music and aura, if not the actual Beatles, will be on hand in two very separate and equally awesome concert events. Why not see both?
Classical Mystery Tour
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will present a tribute to the Liverpool Lads at the State Theatre in New Brunswick in honor of their 50th Anniversary appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” jam packed with your favorite tunes – sung, played and performed exactly as they were recorded. From the early hits through the solo years, relive the best of The Beatles with “Good Day Sunshine,” “Ticket to Ride,” “I Am the Walrus,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “With a Little Help From My Friends” and so much more, all backed by the rich sounds of the NJSO. Hear “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section, experience the beauty of “Yesterday” with an acoustic guitar and string quartet, and enjoy the rock/classical blend of the hard-edged “Revolution.”
Saturday, February 8. 8:00PM – Come early for live music and pre-show dancing.
Sunday, February 9. 3:00PM – eNJoy a fun Beatles sing-a-long in the upstairs lobby, Beatles trivia, plus, check out the State Theatre Gift Shop for Beatles t-shirts in a variety of sizes (while supplies last)!
www.statetheatrenj.com
Let It Rain
RAIN – Back by popular demand, the number one Beatles Tribute Band in America comes to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with incredibly accurate portrayals of John, Paul, George and Ringo. This multi-media show covers the full range of the Beatle’s discography including the most complex and challenging songs that they recorded in the studio but never performed live. Relive what Beatlemania was all about. The event begins with the Beatles’ arrival in the U.S. for their historic debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, then recreates the Fab Four’s magical musical journey through the Sgt. Pepper era and the days of Abbey Road. RAIN includes all of the Beatles’ greatest hits, performed note-for-note! Take a thrilling trip through the 1960s, complete with archival footage, live video technology, and awesome sound and lighting effects. Together longer than The Beatles themselves, the performers of RAIN have mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the Fab Four for this time-traveling tribute when all you needed was love–and a little help from your friends!
Thursday, February 13. 7:30PM
www.njpac.org
