The Pete Best Band, the Casbah Club, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (July 7, 2004)
Pete
Best. What a sad story. He had played 1000 gigs as the drummer of the Beatles
(or so the story goes) and on the cusp of success, they sacked him and brought
in Ringo Starr. Was it his hair? Was it because the girls liked him better than
they liked Paul McCartney? Could it have been Ringo had a better backbeat? We'll
never know the truth. Pete Best claims not to know the answer. After a brief
shot at sustaining a career in music, Pete joined the workforce. He worked in
a bakery, and then became a civil servant for 25 years. Then he was encouraged
to put a band together for some event and before you know it he was back in
show biz! He's been playing Beatles' Conventions and just about anywhere that'll
have him for a few years now, and Wednesday night the band made a stop at Hamilton's
Casbah Club.
The venue had a special meaning to Pete. After
all, The Casbah Club in Liverpool was run by his mother Mona, and played host
to the Savage Young Beatles way back in 1961. Film footage exists of the Beatles
playing in the Liverpool Casbah, singing "Some Other Guy." The low
ceiling and long flat shape of the room must have made Pete feel at home, because
from my vantage point close to the back, on a riser, behind the sound guy it
looked like I'd entered a time tunnel! It was fab!
Sure, the audience shows more gray hair than they
did in the 60s, but the enthusiasm was still there. Not quite as much outright
screaming, but they were every bit as responsive in their own way. They sang
harmonies where needed, they knew the words to every song, and many of them
played the guitar solos on their air guitars!
Like any club show these days there was a good
half-hour delay before the doors opened, but we could hear the sound check out
on the street. It boded well for what would follow. Then we filed into the lounge
area where the air conditioning was not working. This promised to synthesize
the UK Casbah milieu perfectly. Would the walls be dripping with condensation?
I wondered. Finally, we were admitted to the Casbah proper, a rectangular room,
raised platforms at each end (one a stage, the other holding a few tables and
chairs), a bar to the left and the sound board to the right. We went for comfort
rather than closeness. We watched as the place filled up and the 200 or so ticket
holders squeezed as tightly to the stage as possible. Another delay to allow
for the sale of some liquid refreshments and some time after 9:30 local musician
Doug Feaver took the
stage. He is an amiable performer, with facility on guitar, and on the harmonica
he wears on a rack around his neck. He has a band that plays 4-5 times a year
doing letter-perfect Beatles' tunes. "Not a tribute band," he declares,
"The Eggmen are just a lot of fun." He runs through a well-chosen
selection of Beatles' classics, like "Thank You, Girl," "Misery,"
You Can't Do That," and "Across the Universe." The audience provides
the harmonies. His rendition of George Harrison's "If I Needed Someone"
is an early highlight! Of course my backing vocals made it just about perfect.
After Feaver, and another brew, a handful of blokes
in black t-shirts carrying instruments enter the room and make their way to
the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Casbah is proud to present...the
man who put the BEAT in BEATLES! Pete Best and the Pete Best Band!" The
audience roars its approval. The guitarists kick into the well-known opening
riff, the drums locked on a solid beat. Two drum sets! The volume rises with
the anticipation. The lead singer (Chris) grabs the mic! "Come on pretty
baby wontcha walk with me! Come on pretty baby wontcha talk with me! Come on
pretty baby gimme one more chance, try t' save our romance! Slow Down!"
Whew! Good choice! They are tight enough, with a ragged edge that instantly
brings images of those early film clips. The view from the back simulates the
early camera shots, except this time it's in colour! And LOUD!
First lead guitarist (Phil) is having trouble with
his guitar lead. The soundman fixes it in time for the bluesy solo in Ray Charles's
"What'd I Say." The other lead guitarist (Mark), playing the Rickenbacker
(just like John Lennon's) is a little more melodic, maybe a bit jazzier. They
both shine. Paul, the bass player, (it had to be Paul, right?) stands like a
statue in front of the machine. Solid, like a bass player should be. But that's
not a machine he's standing in front of...that's Roag Best, Pete's younger brother.
And to his left, the star of the show...yep...the man who put the BEAT in the
BEATLES...Mister Pete Best. (They repeat this several times during the 90-minute
show, be thankful I won't say it again!)
The show's low spot happens the first time Pete
comes out to the front. He is clapping his hands over his head, and as he tries
to work the crowd into an early frenzy...he loses the beat! (Could this be why...never
mind!) He stops himself, and goes back to the drums. They do "One After
909," "P.S. I Love You," a note perfect "My Bonnie"
(all songs Best had played in Hamburg, and on record with the Fabs.) They do
a surprise rendition of the only song McCartney and Harrison wrote together,
the instrumental "Cry For a Shadow." The excitement is building; we're
all into it. It's like being present at the Star Club, or the Cavern, or...dare
I say it...the Casbah Coffee Club. But the walls aren't sweating, the air conditioning
is working overtime, and directly over our heads, and my toes are turning blue.
They play all the songs you would have heard in
'61, "Some Other Guy," Beatles giveaways like "Hello Little Girl"
and Like Dreamers Do." They do old chestnuts, rocked up versions of "Sweet
Georgia Brown," "September in the Rain," and lead singer Chris'
favourite Beatles' tune "Til There Was You." If you bought the semi-bootleg
Beatles Live In Hamburg or The Decca Sessions you'll be familiar
with the raw sound of pure rock'n'roll. Even on the ballads!
The night comes to a close with a draw for the
lucky winner of 2 tickets to anywhere Icelandair flies! They're sponsoring the
tour, and awarding this prize at every show. Young Senor Gonzalez, visiting
from Mexico wins, and is speechless. He accepts the gift and has his picture
taken with the man who...sorry...Pete Best! Then a raging "I Saw Her Standing
There" with us singing the "ahhh...ahhh...ahhh...ahhh...ahhhhhhhhwahhhh!"
parts! Almost as much fun as singing the "na, na, nas" on McCartney's
"Hey Jude" in Toronto! Finally "Kansas City/Hey! Hey! Hey!"
and the encore "Johnny B. Goode."
What a show! I buy a photo of the Savage Young Beatles,
with handsome Pete in the middle behind his kit, and handsome older Pete signs
it for me. The photos are a bit pricey but...the autograph is priceless. I never
managed to see the Beatles the first time around, but now over years of trying
I've seen McCartney live three times; Ringo Starr's first All-Starr Band; John
Lennon (in his white suit) behind glass doing a radio interview...and now Pete
Best. The Best of the Beatles. Is it real or just an incredible simulation?
Well, a little of both. The tour moves to the US now. For a solid ninety minutes
of rock'n'roll fantasy, a bit of history, and a vocal workout...The Pete Best
Band.
