I grew up listening to the Beatles and they quickly became my favorite band to listen to during my youthful years. Though most of their catalog of music had already been established by the time 1968 rolled around, I distinctly remember the time I first heard Hey Jude on the radio and I quickly adopted it as my favorite song.

 

Over the years I grew to appreciate just about everything the Beatles did and also appreciated their solo careers once the band dissolved. In 1992, Terri and I had “our song”, In My Life, played at our reception dance.

 

We, of course, never did get to see the Beatles in a live concert yet I was fortunate enough to see Paul McCartney in 1993 on his New World Tour at the Metrodome. Over the years, Terri and I have seen some of the Beatle Tribute bands including, 1964 As The Beatles and Britishmania and came away pretty satisfied with their sound, their mannerisms and their catalog of music.

 

Last week, we experienced The Britins, a Milwaukee-based quartet at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud on Valentine’s Day night. We were joined by two close friends and had front row seats!

 

The stage at the Paramount showed the drum kit front and center, just like the days of the Beatles and the word, Britins, was typeset across the front of the bass drum in the same font as the Beatles. To our left were two of McCartney’s Hofner Viola Basses and next to them were three George Harrison Gibson and Fender guitars. To the right of Ringo’s drums were four  John Lennon guitars including a Gibson and Fender and his famous Rickenbacker 325. There was also a keyboard near where Lennon would stand during the performance.

 

In my mind, I had numerous songs I hoped the Britins would play and for the most part, they didn’t disappoint. I mean, how could they possibly play every single song I had hoped since the Beatles have a catalog of over 250+ songs?

 

The Britins did play hits from Love Me Do, Eight Days a Week and Twist and Shout to Help, A Day in the Life and Magical Mystery Tour.

 

They even played In My Life, which caused Terri and I to smile and hold hands.

 

The Britins have been around since 1977 when Rick Bertoni (McCartney) and three others formed their own version of the Fab Four. Over the years, the stand-ins for Harrison, Starr and Lennon have come and gone but Bertoni has remained the constant. Mike Truttschel (Harrison) is the newest member while Jeff Gish (Starr) and Mike Shumway (Lennon) have been long stays.

 

I found it curious and sort of silly that Bertoni — who is craftful at bass and has the best mannerisms of the four — is right-handed while playing the bass (Paul was left-handed). That wouldn’t get much notice, I guess if it weren’t for the fact Truttschel is left-handed in the role of Harrison. I couldn’t help but think, “why don’t they just trade places?”

 

I don’t know if being in the front row made a difference or the fact the acoustics in the Paramount Theater are excellent, but the music this foursome from Wisconsin put out was outstanding. There were a couple times where the sound was manufactured, but overall the boys actually played the instruments to a “T” and sang with enough likeness to give one the feel they time-traveled to the mid-to-late 60’s.

 

Shumway (Lennon) was especially impressive as he sang exquisitely, played his Rickenbacker masterfully and even banged out a few tunes on the keyboard and the harmonica.

 

Even though The Britins didn’t play one of my all-time favorites, Hey Jude, they didn’t disappoint.  They exited the concert in traditional Beatle style, by bowing at the waist as the crowd stood with delight.

 

None of the screaming from the Ed Sullivan days, but a true appreciation for good ol’ Rock & Roll.