You Wouldn’t Be Silly If You Thought They Were The Real Deal : The Bootleg Beatles Live At Bridgewater Hall Review

Words: Keira Knox

The Bootleg Beatles may as well be the real thing. Audience members as young as the age of 8 to 80, some even donning 60’s attire, for a few short hours the ‘Fab Four’ welcome us in to their land of make believe. Taking the audience on a Magical Mystery Tour through The Beatles soundtracks from their 5 beloved films.

We are prepared for a long and winding journey down Beatle memory lane as the lights go down to the iconic ‘Listen With Mother’ statement, “Are you sitting comfortably?” A diverse panoply of early 1960s culture, events, and notable individuals are displayed in a flashing video montage that is projected against the stage’s back screen. It’s difficult to believe that it’s not the real thing, as the band crash into a rendition of ‘A Hard Days Night.’ You wouldn’t be mistaken if you thought they were the real deal.

This year marks 60 years since the release of the motion picture, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, there is no better way to celebrate than attending one of these shows. Performing hits from across the soundtrack such as ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘If I Fell’ and ‘I Should’ve Known Better’. Their attention to detail is immaculate from Ringo’s unique drum style to Paul’s left-handed bass playing.

The band promptly departs to alter their costumes while the screen flashes back to 1965, taking viewers to the premiere of their second movie, ‘Help!’. The audience members’ expressions of pure emotion were what truly got my attention. For a few hours, The Bootleg Beatles provide an environment where people can relive their youth. The crowd burst into a mass sing-along to songs including ‘Ticket To Ride,’ ‘You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away,’ and the George Harrison track ‘I Need You.’

Roll up for the Magical Mystery Tour. As the Fab Four take us on a journey through their third film, ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ the stage is decked out in a variety of psychedelic patterns and hues. The movie’s title track welcomes us into this era, with multicoloured strobes flashing across the stage, illuminating each member in turn. The band’s performances of songs you wouldn’t often expect to hear, including ‘Baby, You’re A Rich Man’ and ‘The Fool On The Hill,’ were what made this era so exciting. The band encouraged the audience to get up and dance as they played well-known songs including ‘I Am The Walrus,’ and ‘Your Mother Should Know.’

After hinting at the song ‘Act Naturally’ throughout the eras, Ringo was eventually given the opportunity to take the lead vocals in the band’s fourth film, ‘Yellow Submarine.’ With the whimsical track ‘When I’m Sixty-Four,’ McCartney returned to the lead vocals. I think it’s a really unappreciated song by the legendary band that makes the crowd sing along. ‘All Together Now’ and ‘Hey Bulldog’ were masterfully performed, though I’ve seen this band numerous times their accuracy and attention to detail never ceases to amaze me.

For the fifth and final era of this transformative gig, the band paid homage to The Beatles iconic rooftop concert, on top of their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row, marking their final public performance as a band. The Bootleg’s did it justice, forgetting where you are for just a mere second you’d be convinced you’d be in central London in January 1969. With tracks such as ‘Get Back’, ‘I’ve Got A Feeling’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ that are so distinctive to this performance, it was a truly magical experience.

‘The Long And Winding Road’, ‘Across The Universe’ and ‘Let It Be’ signified the end of this era. I can’t even begin to imagine what a unique experience this is, giving any Beatles fan lifelong memories. For folks there the first time around it allows them to relive a significant period in their lives, for those who weren’t were permitted to experience a piece of what our parents and grandparents got to.