Review by Terry Bloxham
The Dung Beatles – Charity Tribute Band performing the Beatles’ Greatest Hits
Limelight Theatre, Queen’s Park Arts Centre
Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire
1st
March 2013
I have seen a few
tribute bands in my day but I admit that the Dung Beatles really did impress
me!
First of all, let me say that the Dung Beatles
are not your average Beatles tribute band – no costumes, no wigs (well, the
bass player was sporting one) and
they didn’t play just the most well-known Beatles songs. Musically, that was so nice and refreshing.
This is a band that plays Beatles songs because they like, no, LOVE, Beatles
songs – no gimmicks, no tricks – just pure, unadulterated fun.
The first set was acoustic, the second a
Dylanesque ‘gone electric’. I honestly have to admit that ‘If I Needed Someone’
brought a few tears to my eyes and then ecstatic foot-tapping with their 'It’s
Getting Better’. The crowd loved
‘Something’ and then cheered with the opening chords of ‘Magical Mystery Tour’.
I was particularly
impressed by their choice of songs. They played some of the ‘less common’ hits
with great vigour and enthusiasm. ‘I’m Only Sleeping’ and a boisterous ‘I’ll
Cry Instead’ stand out strongly. ‘Blackbird’ was a lovely melodic treat.
By the time they
played ‘This Boy’, the harmonies were working really well.
I caught them at my
local arts centre which is not the greatest venue for ‘get up and move it’
music but towards the end of their second act, the Dung Beatles got a few of us
unashamed boogy people down at the front.
One of the many
highlights of the night for me was when the band was joined on stage by three
guys on piccolo trumpet, trombone and saxophone. They broke into ‘Obla di Obla da’, ‘Lady
Madonna’ and ‘Got to Get You into My Life’. Absolutely fantastic! And, just as an aside,
it was our friend Joel on sax. Well done Joel and all the best for the new baby
in May! Aylesbury is quite a small town after all.
The gig was a
charity event in aid of the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals where the
rhythm guitarist’s daughter has been a patient and I am so very glad to have
been part of that worthwhile fund-raising event.
The Dung Beatles are:
Steve Hillier on
rhythm guitar
Phil Toller on bass
Danny Prendergast on
lead guitar
Mike Ashton on
drums
To find out more about this great band, visit their website: dungbeatles.wordpress.com
The Dung Beatles will be playing soon at:
15 March Rivets
Sports & Social Club, Aylesbury
30 March The
Weavers Pub, Aylesbury
I was fortunate to be granted an interview with
the band:
BBFC: How does it
feel to be playing to a sold-out audience?
Steve: Yeah, it was
sold out, wasn’t it? Great for the charity and exciting for us especially as it
is only Danny’s third gig and Mike has the flu.
BBFC: Shows how
great musicians you are as are your heroes. Do you feel you need to play
Beatles songs note-perfect?
Phil: No,
interpretation is important.
Steve and Danny:
Yes, but it is important to be faithful to the originals which is what we tried
to achieve with our acoustic set. We don’t want to be impersonators but we do
want to capture the essence.
Mike: We vary the
set according to the venue.
BBFC: Your
harmonies started working well into the first set.
Steve: Phil is an
experienced chorister so he pulls us together on the harmonies.
BBFC: Normally
Ringo got to sing at least one song in a set. Why didn’t we get a chance to
hear you?
Mike: I’m working
on my solos. I have yet to work out drumming and singing at the same time! I would
like to do ‘Act Naturally’.
BBFC: Why the
Beatles?
Danny: The Beatles
got me started playing the guitar.
Steve: I was playing
with Mike and Phil about a year ago and we realised we all loved the Beatles.
We realised that
Danny was a serious fan because he knew how to play ‘Mother Nature’s Son’!
BBFC: I was
thrilled that you played some of the less familiar Beatles songs.
Mike: Yeah, we try
to. My favourite is ‘If I Needed Someone’.
BBFC: Do you ever
feel that you could improve on a Beatles song?
Steve, Phil, Danny:
No!
Mike: I used the
toms half way through ’If I Needed Someone’.
BBFC: Danny, of
course I have to ask this – what’s it like playing the George Harrison part?
Danny: He is an
understated guitarist. Playing guitar doesn’t have to be tricky. Just enjoy the
music!
BBFC: And, finally,
just to complete the whole Beatles Tribute Band thing – what did you all have
for breakfast this morning?
Phil: toast
Steve: prunes
Mike: toast and
marmalade
Dan: porridge and
toast
Thank you guys for
a really fab show!
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