Beatlads
The Beatlads are a Beatles tribute band founded by Lawton Higgs and Jamie Glass, co-directors of the Methodist Camp Sumatanga in Etowah County. The group primarily covers the 1962-66 Beatles sound.
The original line-up, called The Spreetles, included Gardner Mosley and Charles Ardovino, and performed parodic reworkings of classic Beatles tunes for a summer. The following summer the band reassembled, with Dave Wandrisco replacing Mosley. Enthusiastic audience members asked the group to play for various charity functions and the band continued from there, soon replacing Ardovino with Higgs' brother Kevin and Wandrisco with Daryl Hardy. Sound engineer Brian Westbrook accompanies the group on tour. The current line-up began playing together in 2004.
The Beatlads play on 1960s-era instruments and equipment of the same types used by the Beatles. Their gear list includes Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Hofner and Gibson guitars; Vox amplifiers and cabinets; and Ludwig Black Oyster Pearl drums.
On January 30, 2009 the Beatlads played a benefit show on the roof of the Church of the Reconciler in downtown Birmingham (where Kevin Higgs is pastor). The performance recreated the Beatles' famed "Let it Be" rooftop concert of 1969, and continued with several other favorites. The public was asked to bring coats and blankets that the church could distribute to the homeless people it serves.
References
- Garrison, Greg (January 30, 2009) "Tribute band plays Birmingham rooftop concert to honor Beatles, support church's aid to homeless." Birmingham News
External links
- The Beatlads website
- The Beatlads Yahoo! group