Everyone knows someone who swears they saw the Beatles play live during their brief touring window of 1964-66. Some of them actually may have.
The mind plays tricks. It was the ’60s, after all. But even if you did see the Beatles, says Ken Weiss, you didn’t see much. And you heard even less. You heard screaming fans and terrible sound quality. Weiss “saw” the Beatles at Shea Stadium in 1965 — “and I couldn’t see a thing,” he said. “There was so much chaos surrounding it.”
When the Beatles performed live, the music was second to the hysteria. Imagine 300,000 people showing up to greet the band in Australia — without the big-screen TVs ubiquitous at concerts today.
When it came to performing in stadiums, “the Fab Four were up there like performing seals,” said Weiss. “Their job was just to stand there. They did sing the songs, but it was mostly to an audience that wasn’t paying attention to the music.”
Weiss runs Gold Hill Music, which he founded with Stephen Stills in 1971 in Rollinsville, just south of Nederland. He managed singers like Rick Roberts of Firefall, then expanded into film and theater.
Now he’s bringing “When We Were Fab,” a Beatles tribute concert, to the New Denver Civic Theatre through May 24.
He says it’s the modern concert experience Beatles fans never got to enjoy, especially after the band gave up live appearances altogether in 1966. From then on, the band concentrated on studio recordings.
“The Beatles had the luxury of making records and never having to be concerned with how it was going to sound live,” Weiss said. “For every other band, that is a major consideration at all times, because if you make yourself a hit, you’ve got to be able to go out and play it live — or you’ve got a major problem.”
Weiss thought it would be cool to try to figure out how to pull off aural opuses like “Lucy in the Sky” or “Magical Mystery Tour” live. So he created “When We Were Fab,” which covers Beatles hits from 1960 to 68, using video to show cultural context, costume changes to reflect the band’s evolution, and superior sound technology.”The chaos of just being in the building with them is long over,” Weiss said. “Now it’s about experiencing the Beatles up close in a way that nobody ever has.”
While this is treading on Holy Grail territory, the “Fab” cast members are largely better-trained musicians than the originals. At times David Leon, who performs as John Lennon, plays keyboards, guitar and sings — at the same time. “We’re not out to duplicate, but rather to invent what the Beatles might have done onstage, had they had the opportunity,” Weiss said.
Having spent much of 1971-76 near Boulder, Weiss can’t leave without a story. And everyone seems to have one about the Rocky Mountain Way man, Joe Walsh.
“I remember he had spent a very long night before David Crosby’s wedding,” Weiss said. “He couldn’t drive there, and didn’t think of calling a cab, so he took a bus down Sunset Boulevard instead.
“I never knew anyone who took a bus anywhere in L.A., let alone Joe Walsh, but there he was. And he went home the same way.”
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
“When We Were Fab”
Beatles tribute concert. New Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive. Starring David Leon, Alan LeBoeuf, John Brosnan and Carmine Grippo. Through May 24. 90 minutes. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. $36.50-$39.50, 303-309-3773,
This week’s video podcast:
Running Lines at … “52 Pick Up”
This week, Denver Post theater critic John Moore talks with actors Genna Wilcox and Sam Elmore on the set of “52 Pick Up,” now playing through May 16 at The Bindery Space. The actors also perform a randomly selected scene from the play. Run time: 10 minutes.
This week’s other theater openings
“52 Pick-Up”
One couple’s relationship is told in 52 short scenes. But at the start, a deck of cards is tossed into the air — one for each scene. The actors pick up the cards one at a time, which determines the order of how the story will play out each night. Through May 16. Presented by Gemma Wilcox Productions at the Bindery Space, 770 22nd St., 800-838-3006 or
“Thoroughly Modern Millie”
High-spirited musical romp set in 1922 New York City, where Young Millie Dillmount has just moved to the city in search of a new life. Through May 17. StageDoor Theatre, 25797 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-886-2819, 800-838-3006 or
“Seascape”
Edward Albee’s Pulitzer-winning play about an couple discussing their upcoming retirements on a beach, when another couple appears: two human- sized lizards named Leslie and Sarah, who speak and act like people. Through May 23. At the West Colfax Event Center, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings or
And introducing … The Running Lines blog
You can now find John Moore’s roundup of daily theater news and dialogue, including new season announcements from Germinal Stage-Denver and Performance Now; plus information on how local actors can audition for Curious Theatre’s 2009-10 season. blogs.denverpost.com/runninglines
