Quantcast

1964: The Tribute Deliver Spot-On Beatles at NYCB Theatre at Westbury [Concert Review]

1964: The Tribute

As if history was repeating itself, screaming fans could not be contained to their seats with a quartet uncannily mimicking the Fab Four on the floor of NYCB Theatre at Westbury Friday, Aug. 29, 2014.

The mop tops, heeled boots and spiffy suits were just the icing on the cake for 1964: The Tribute, widely regarded as the best Beatles cover band on Earth. The group maintained the illusion with their self-depricative British humor between songs and bowing after each ditty. And then there was the competitive back-and-forth banter between lead singer John Lennon, played by Mark Benson, and George Harrison, played by Tom Work.

“This here is a 12-string guitar, which has twice as many strings as John’s,” Work joked to the packed crowd, some of whom danced in the aisles during the high-energy performance. “It gets twice the applause.”

The group, which includes Mac Ruffing as Paul McCartney on bass and Bobby Potter as Ringo Starr on drums, has played nearly 3,000 shows worldwide in their 30 years on tour. They’ve drawn even more crowds this year amid the 50th anniversary of the British Invasion.

Across their two 45-minute sets, the act played hits off The Beatles’ earliest albums, including “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Michelle” and “Twist and Shout.” They even came out for an encoure to play “Rock and Roll Music,” “Rollover Beethoven” and “Love Me Do.”

Although the band they cover never had to deal with fans wielding their cell phones during concerts, the tribute act did what The Beatles would have done before playing “In My Life”: Encourage fans to call loved ones to let them hear the song.

After all, as they sang: “Some have gone and some remain/All these places have their moments/With lovers and friends I still can recall.”

For more show-stopping gigs at NYCB Theatre at Westbury, check out their page in The Island Ear

Watch The Beatles’ First Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show: