By Kimmy June 4, 2012

Jun 4, 2012

LIVERPOOL LEGENDS BEATLES TRIBUTE BAND IN TRI-LAKES NEWS

Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute Band In Tri-Lakes News

Stephen Herzog | Branson Tri-Lakes News

Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute band perform at The Icon Theatre May 26. The group opened its season in Branson May 25.

A new venue is making a big difference in the “Liverpool Legends” show this season.

“We’re having the most fun we’ve probably had since we’ve been here,” said Marty Scott, who portrays George Harrison in the band. “For the first time in a long time, we’re not really working off a set list.”

The group moved to The Icon Theatre this year, playing in a room much more like a club than a theater.

“In the past, if we wanted to change a song, I would have to call the theater three days in advance because there would have to be changes to lighting and we’d have to be in different places at different times — it was like a Broadway show.”

While those productions, with multimedia and props were great shows, Scott said, the stripped-down shows at Icon offer something “100-percent different.”

“Now it’s just rock. It’s so much fun,” he said. “We’ve played the Cavern Club in Liverpool, and it’s a lot like that. It’s just raw rock.”

Scott said the band is changing up the set every night, playing songs they would never have played before. Some of the Beatles more “rock” songs include “Baby’s in Black” and “Helter Skelter.”

And while the feel of the show may have changed, the timeless hits are still appealing to a broad audience, Scott said.

“The Beatles are like some kind of phenomenon,” he said. “You’re not supposed to like your grandparents’ music.”

But that’s exactly the case in many circumstances, Scott said, with children playing “Beatles Rock Band,” and generations passing down the music.

“I wish we could take credit it for it, but we can’t,” he said. “We’re just lucky enough to play it well. It’s always remained cool. The music holds up.”

In addition to Scott’s portrayal of Harrison, the group includes Kevin Mantegna, as John Lennon; Bob Beahon as Paul McCartney; and Greg George as Ringo Starr.

Liverpool Legends Beatles Tribute band returned to Branson for the season with their first show May 25.

Prior to that, the band toured the country and worked to promote music education.

Louise Harrison, George Harrison’s sister and creator of the band, started a program called “Help Keep Music Alive.” The band plays at schools to raise money and awareness for high school and college music programs.

And now that they are back in Branson, they’re back to that “raw rock.”

Scott said the group has always encouraged audience members to be up and moving, but the new venue allows that even more.

“I wish there weren’t even chairs in there,” Scott said. “We’d like to take out the first 10 rows and make it like a pit. That would be a first in Branson. It’s what rock ‘n’ roll is all about, dancing around and having fun. There’s something charming about seeing an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old doing the same dance.”