The Bootleg Beatles Gig Review

Gabs & Jude

Hi everyone and welcome to Bitesize Blogs's first ever joint blog! We like to be trend setters so here goes.

We have recently had the privilege of seeing The Bootleg Beatles at Ipswich Regent Theatre on 22nd April; the ultimate Beatles tribute experience. And we would like to review it for you all...

This is the second year that I, Gabs, have watched them and returned due to an incredible show the time before. And this one did not disappoint either, for both of us. Each year/tour The Bootleg's do a theme for their shows, because as you can imagine, The Beatles catalogue is far too many songs for one show and they like to have returning audience members with a new, fresh concert each year. Last years was all about the movie soundtracks. And this year was hits from The Beatles's 5 top selling albums - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, The Beatles ("The White Album"), Rubber Soul and Revolver.

They performed the albums in order of release which allowed swift costume changes between each one to add to the performance and really captivate you into how much The Beatles evolved as a group. There were videos projected at the back of the stage in-between the album changes. These videos included other famous bands at the time of the specific album release and real footage of The Beatles's concerts which allowed us, the audience, to feel really involved and take a step back in time.

They ensured that they took their roles as Paul, George, John & Ringo seriously, and The Bootleg's are what I call a proper tribute so they even have on-stage rapport and talks with each other just as how the real life Beatles's would have had, with their accents, personalities and mannerisms in suit. All done to a tee throughout all songs.

Regarding the actual performances, well, they are always to perfection. They sound very much like them, which is what you want of course! There was a new Paul McCartney for this tour, Miles Frizzell, as the old one retired last year. And he was amazing as well as George and John (a very hard voice to impersonate and get right). The harmonies together just seem to work. Bootleg Ringo was good, probably not exceptional as let's be honest he isn't involved as much as the others, but when he did Octopus's Garden and Yellow Submarine they weren't on the same impersonation level as Paul, George and John's songs.

They really do get the audience involved and have a good time. While encouraging joining in from the audience, they also ensure they sing the song aswell (for us, there is nothing worse than at a concert the singer letting the audience sing too much and not hearing them, who we actually came for). Our personal favourite included Yellow Submarine and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da for audience involvement.

One complaint from me, Gabs, is they didn't sing "Girl" in Rubber Soul, a personal favourite or one of the greats "Penny Lane". I am joking, I know they cannot fit every song in and the ones they did pick were spectacular, so you cannot complain.

They had a proper band with them too for brass and keyboard (although sometimes Paul or John would play) and the sensational 4 really did play their instruments incredibly well. Live music is amazing, especially when it's one of the greatest bands of all time.

The sensational evening was ended with an encore of Hey Jude (which went down a treat with me, Jude) and the amazing vocals of John Lennon (impersonated greatly by Bootleg John) in Twist and Shout.

It was an amazing concert and is one I would pay time and time again to see because unfortunately for Gabs (this being her favourite band of all time) she will never see the real thing.

Jude's favourite song they played: Hey Jude

Gabs's favourite song they played: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Jude's favourite Beatles song of all their albums: Don't Let Me Down

Gabs's favourite Beatles song of all their albums: Too hard! There are so many I love but either The Ballad of John and Yoko or Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (it's just fun)

Jude's favourite Beatles member: Ringo Starr

Gabs's favourite Beatles member: George Harrison (it has to be, he made the best songs and his is my favourite solo career too)