I went to a Beatles tribute band (called Abbey Road Live) concert last night with some of my friends. It was a lot of fun. They did the entire Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album, which takes a lot of instruments because the songs are very different from each other (With a little help from my friends, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Within you and without you. For the benefit of Mr. Kite, She's leaving home, Lovely Rita meter maid,  A day in the life, When I'm 64, Getting better, Fixing a Hole, and a couple more).

Their individual voices didn't really sound like the Beatles but they were excellent on their instruments, which included electric guitar, electric and acoustic bass, keyboard, sitar, clarinet, and drums.  Their voices blended well. They also had back-up players who did horn, sax, violins, and cello on some of the songs. After they finished the album they took a short break and came back with another long set of other Beatles songs, plus an encore with Bohemian Rhapsody (the only non-Beatles song they played all night). It was all wonderful... a real blast from the past for me.

I took pictures from our seats in one of the side "balconies". I'm grateful for my zoom lens. It's better than opera glasses. It was hard to get good shots because the lights were constantly changing colors, intensities, and directions, but I always have fun when I have a camera in my hands. I made myself put it down to just enjoy the music for a good part of the concert, but I kept seeing new things I had to get as they changed costumes and instruments.

I'll write more of an entry soon, but since I'm going on a trip to Michigan this week to see my daughter Jennifer graduate from college next weekend, it may be after I get back. In general, I've been pretty depressed lately and doing everything I can do to hold on between social engagements, which help pull my spirits up but can't seem to hold them there for long. At least my trip will give me a purpose for the next week and a half and maybe life will pick up again after I get back. A little help from my friends is always greatly appreciated.

Lead guitar (this guy was great fun to watch)

Keyboard/sitar/clarinet player with horn guy in back

More of the whole stage with keyboard player sitting down playing sitar behind the microphone and someone's arms

Bass player

Drummer (it was actually his birthday!.. so they played They say it's your birthday and brought him a cake, which I missed getting a picture of). He was hidden behind the lead guitar player most of the concert but finally did a really nice drum solo toward the end of the concert.

All you need is love (guitar has a heart on it and a funky stuffed ostrich? hanging from the neck)

Bohemian Rhapsody required another change (loss) of clothes

The audience