Studio Two ~ 2025 August 22 ~ Rockland High School, Rockland , MA
Stephen Murray (John Lennon), Joselito Ybanez (Paul McCartney), Rob Murray (George Harrison), Rich Rapino (Ringo Starr).
Scroll to below videos for a review of the show.
Videos
Ticket To Ride / I've Just Seen a Face
I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
Honey Don't
She Loves You / I Saw Her Standing There
Review
Unlike other Beatles tribute bands, these four musicians focus exclusively on the songs of the early Beatles, and although this narrower focus means they will be omitting some of your favorite Beatles songs, it also means the songs they do are full of the perfect harmonies and youthful joy of those early years when the Beatles were taking America by storm, before they gave up live performing because they couldn't hear themselves on stage for all the screaming. Paul tonight referenced that screaming, inviting us all to give it a try, just once. There was also clapping along ("Eight Days a Week"), singing along (just about every song), and a whole lot of fun.
With the 6 pm start, it was starting to get dark on stage before the end of the two hours, but that just added to the look in an eerie sort of way. This is a bring your own lawnchair venue, with snacks and a food truck and plenty of parking, a drive of just a few miles off of Rte. 3, and easy to find. Second year in a row we've been to this gig, and this is a perfect location to see this band.
Another thing that was perfect about this show is this is just about the most fab of all the foursomes we've seen comprising Studio Two. John and George, twin brothers in real life, are always the same, and they have sharpened their craft to a fine edge, but we've seen a number of Pauls and Ringos. These two blokes tonight have played in this band many times. Rich Rapino (Ringo) goes back to the founding of Studio Two, and Joselito Ybanez as Paul is more than alright with the cheeky personality, English accent, and musical chops. It's obvious the four guys are having a blast, too. As part of the encore "John" and "Paul" switch instruments while jamming to Chuck Berry, and it is really fun watching Stephen doing his best on the left handed bass, and Joselito on the right handed Rickenbacker!
You don't need to have lived Beatlemania in real time to appreciate how great the Beatles really were, and I'd like to issue a great big thank you to Stephen, Joselito, Rob, and Rich, and the other musicians who have played with this band, for giving a lifelong fan the chance to experience the excitement of this music live. This madcap two hours of early Beatles songs, reminding everyone that "She Loves You," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," and all those other songs that are engrained into our musical subconscious really did change the world. Long live the music of the real John, Paul, George, and Ringo, and may these four musicians, who weren't even close to being born when the real Beatles were tearing up the charts, long be successful in their endeavor of bringing this wonderful music to life.
More Studio Two
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