Julie Engler
Pulse Reporter
The Liverpool Legends have made quite a legend for themselves in the last year by bringing the spirit of The Beatles back to life in an almost nostalgic way.
Tribute bands come and tribute bands go, but no band attempting to re-create The Beatles' performances has had as much success as the Liverpool Legends. Then again, none have received the authentication and honor of endorsement from Louise Harrison, either.
Louise Harrison, the sister of the late George Harrison of The Beatles, manages and personally supports the Liverpool Legends. Upon Harrison's first discovery of Marty Scott, who portrays George Harrison in the band, she said the performance reminded her so much of her brother that she considers him to be the world's best impersonator of him.
"When I saw Marty singing, he was on stage alone, and it just looked so much like him," Harrison said. "The tears just fell."
After that performance, Louise Harrison teamed with Marty Scott and his band mate Kevin Mantegna, who impersonates John Lennon, to form "the most perfect Beatle Band." A performance in Schaumburg on Feb. 17 marked the one-year anniversary of the addition of the other two "Beatles." Davey Justice performs as Paul McCartney, and Joe Bologna as Ringo Starr.
"Nobody has all four that look and sound as much like them [The Beatles] as they do," Harrison said.
While some people might make the assumption that having Harrison as a manager is just a way to get noticed, Scott said he and Louise have been great friends since they met.
"She's been loads of fun, and she's a big part of everything we do," Scott said. "She's not in it for the business. We're just really close friends."
The band also has a keyboardist and sound effects musician, Bob Dobro, who brings to the live performances those songs The Beatles recorded that could not be played in concert. These sounds allow those songs to be re-created on stage to a degree they have never been witnessed before.
Since the addition of the other members, the Liverpool Legends are winding down from their national tour, which sold out in several locations, Harrison said.
Scott and Mantegna have played at the famous Cavern Club, where The Beatles played one of their first shows in Liverpool, England, and have also recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. It was at the Abbey Road Studios that The Beatles recorded most of their songs.
"That was the coolest thing I ever got to do," Scott said. "Everywhere we went, I felt like I was walking on sacred ground. Those are the things that make it all worthwhile."
The Liverpool Legends play songs from the different Beatles "eras," from the early years of the band to the later Abbey Road years. The band members don different outfits to match each of the times, from the black-suited, "Beatle-booted" young stars, through Sergeant Pepper's colored outfits, and finishing through the more casual Abbey Road finale. Each of the three sets last about 45 minutes and play songs correlating to the time.
Scott said the ages of the crowd vary from 9 months to 90 years old at the shows. Harrison personally attends several of the shows as well, each producing hoards of smiling faces and memories.
"To me, it's all about putting a smile on people's faces," Scott said. "Then I know I've done a good job."
Harrison said she plans on attending Friday's performance and asks that smokers please refrain from smoking as much as possible during the show. While she said she understands she cannot force the action, she would like the audience to help keep the band's voices sounding their best to ensure the performance is as good as it can get.
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Copper Dragon, located at 700 E. Grand St. in Carbondale
Ticket prices: $10 in advance, $12 at the door
Tickets can be bought at Pinch Penny Liquors at the same address, or by calling 529-3348.
For more information on the Liverpool Legends, visit
www.liverpoollegends.com, where you can listen to audio, watch video
and look at pictures.
