NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (September 2014) – The WannaBeatles have walked the Grammy Red Carpet, appeared on a national TV talk show,
and performed for thousands of Beatles fans from coast to coast -- but they
"still" haven't met their idol, Sir Paul McCartney.
So with tongues firmly planted in their
cheeks, the popular Beatles tribute act is offering Paul another chance to say
“Hello, Goodbye” to them. This time band members will host a “Welcome Back,
Paul” party and concert from 4-7 p.m.
Oct. 16 (Thursday) at Rippy's Bar & Grill at 429 Broadway, just hours before
McCartney’s own Nashville concert across the street at Bridgestone Arena. Fans
of Paul (and “with a little luck” Paul himself) can enjoy the celebration under
the tented top floor of the venue or at the corner of Broadway and Fourth
Avenue below. Donations from the event will benefit the W.O. Smith Community
Music School in Nashville.
 |
| The WannaBeatles |
"Paul’s
people have been trying to set up a meeting with us for months," quipped
band member and two-time Grammy winner Dennis Scott. “All kidding aside, it
would be a dream-come-true to finally meet him."
The
band will serenade Paul with many of the songs the former Beatle made famous.
Special guests on the show will include singer/songwriter/educator Suzahn
Fiering. Fiering recently was
presented the "Honored Friend Award" from Paul McCartney himself for
her contributions to the Liverpool School for the Performing Arts. The band
will make its grand entrance from the "Big Love Bus", which will circle around the street and pull
up to the venue's entrance at 3:45 p.m. Radio stations Mix 92.9 and 96.3 Jack-FM will provide live coverage. Show attendees (and hopefully Sir Paul)
will also be treated to a "big surprise" on the Arena steps.
It
will be the second time The WannaBeatles have honored The Beatles by performing
on Rippy's Roof. On Jan. 30, 2009, the band delighted fans and onlookers (even
the mayor) by commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Fab Four's legendary rooftop
performance in London. The "Welcome Back, Paul" party and concert
will get fans in the mood as they enter Bridgetone Arena to hear the McCartney
himself.
"Even
a wave from Paul would be exciting,” noted band keyboardist Nathan Burbank.
"The closest we’ve come yet to meeting him was at the Grammys and our own
'We Wanna Meet Paul' video."
The
WannaBeatles walked the Red Carpet in Hollywood in 2012 after receiving a
Grammy nomination for their CD, "Fab Fan Memories – The Beatles
Bond". Knowing Paul would be
in attendance, they mounted a month-long "We Wanna Meet
Paul" campaign with an original tribute song that drew much media
attention. Scott, Burbank, Cumming, and David Toledo’s seats inside The STAPLES
Center were a stone’s throw away from Paul, but their brush with greatness was
still just slightly beyond their reach.
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| Suzahn Fiering receives the "Honored Friend Award from Sir Paul McCartney. |
The
band has reached new career heights since then, releasing a song and video
honoring Betty White (who beat them out for a Grammy); recording their first
album of original Beatlesque songs titled "We're Still Rockin'";
joining 19 fellow Beatles tribute bands from around the world for a 50th
anniversary tribute video for the Fab Four's first hit, "From Me To
You"; and appearing on the Fox News "Huckabee" show with host
Mike Huckabee, who deemed them to be “the ultimate Beatles tribute band”. But
no matter where they go, fans still ask the same question: “So, have you met
Paul yet?”
"Paul’s
not getting any younger, and neither are we,” said group guitarist Bryan
Cumming with a smile. “I’d hate to
see him miss his BIG chance to meet The WannaBeatles”.
To
which drummer David Toledo added, “We just want what every Beatles fan wants –
to thank Paul for the music that changed our lives”.
The
WannaBeatles' "We Wanna Meet Paul" video has been viewed
approximately 20,000 times. It features the band performing its Paul tribute
song at various Nashville landmarks, including the Union Station Hotel. Scenes include an "Abbey
Road"-inspired stroll across a painted crosswalk and a fan-crazed chase
after a London town car containing a cardboard cutout of Paul McCartney.
 |
| The "Big Love Bus" |
The
lyrics to their upbeat tune humbly states “... to shake his hand is all we want
to do. And say thanks to Sir Paul."
"That
may sound like a lot to ask," Scott added. "But when you’re a Beatles
fan, anything is possible."
To
learn more about The WannaBeatles or the "Welcome Back, Paul" party
and concert, visit www.TheWannaBeatles.com or send an
e-mail message to Dennis@TheWannaBeatles.com. To view the
video of the song, "We Wanna Meet Paul", visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddiHnVcdoLQ . To see The WannaBeatles appearance on "Huckabee",
go to http://youtu.be/aZ99aDY-jDY . Follow the
event at Twitter with the hashtag #welcomebackpaulparty.
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