Beatles tribute band 'Apple Jam' rocked The Woodshed with power, passion and style (video)

Photo: Jerry & Lois Levin

By Greg Roth / SMI

It was a little chilly and overcast this past Friday evening in the Emerald City but it was cozy and warm inside Woodshed Studios. It was about to get a lot warmer as Seattle's premiere Beatles tribute band, Apple Jam was getting ready to hit the stage to deliver two plus blistering sets of Beatles music off of the fab four's first two albums. In addition the group featured songs from the LP "Off The Beatle Track." This show was a return to the same venue where the album was mixed.

Close your eyes and...

For the folks in attendance, all they would have to do is close their eyes and let their imaginations roam free and would have sworn that they were back in the Cavern Club in 1963. (Apple Jam actually had the opportunity to perform there last year).

Not only is Apple Jam successful at replicating the early Beatles sound on vinyl. The group is able to capture in a live setting, the early innocence, spirit and youth of the band before the sixties turned psychedelic.

The show...

The show opened with a short video of a hand putting the needle down on a vinyl LP that was placed on top of a very retro looking record player (obviously the music delivery system of that era).

After the video. the band launched into a raucous and rockin' version of " I Saw Her Standing There" After that, the band played every cut in order from "Please, Please Me."

Side One
1. "I Saw Her Standing There" McCartney 2:57
2. "Misery" Lennon and McCartney 1:50
3. "Anna (Go to Him)" (Arthur Alexander) Lennon 2:57
4. "Chains" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) George Harrison 2:26
5. "Boys" (Luther Dixon, Wes Farrell) Ringo Starr 2:27
6. "Ask Me Why" Lennon 2:27
7. "Please Please Me" Lennon 2:03

Side Two
8. "Love Me Do" McCartney with Lennon 2:22
9. "P.S. I Love You" McCartney 2:05
10. "Baby It's You" (Burt Bacharach, Mack David, Barney Williams) Lennon 2:38
11. "Do You Want to Know a Secret" Harrison 1:59
12. "A Taste of Honey" (Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow) McCartney 2:05
13. "There's a Place" Lennon and McCartney 1:52
14. "Twist and Shout" (Phil Medley, Bert Russell)

After the set, Apple Jam then played a mini set with some selected cuts from "Off the Beatle Path". After delighting the audience with a set and a half of classic Beatles songs, the group was just getting warmed up. They then served up "With the Beatles" in it's entirety and in perfect track order.

Side One
1. "It Won't Be Long" Lennon 2:13
2. "All I've Got to Do" Lennon 2:03
3. "All My Loving" McCartney 2:08
4. "Don't Bother Me" (George Harrison) Harrison 2:28
5. "Little Child" Lennon and McCartney 1:46
6. "Till There Was You" (Meredith Willson) McCartney 2:14
7. "Please Mister Postman" (Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman) Lennon 2:34

Side Two
1. "Roll Over Beethoven" (Chuck Berry) Harrison 2:45
2. "Hold Me Tight" McCartney 2:32
3. "You Really Got a Hold on Me" (Smokey Robinson) Lennon with Harrison 3:01
4. "I Wanna Be Your Man" Starr 2:00
5. "Devil in Her Heart" (Richard Drapkin) Harrison 2:26
6. "Not a Second Time" Lennon 2:07
7. "Money" (Janie Bradford, Berry Gordy)

For those that were not able to see the Beatles when they were rocking the mop tops, black suits and skinny ties, seeing Apple Jam perform these classic rock songs live was the next best thing. The audience came to see early classic Beatles music played they way the fab four played it back in the day and that is exactly what the audience got.

The band...

The group features Rick Lovrovich (bass / lead vocals), Jon Bolton (drums / lead vocals), Mike Mattingly (guitar / vocals), Johnny Jones (keyboards) and Kurtis Dengler (guitar). Together they truly captured the essence of what The Beatles performing live would have sounded like. Moreover, Apple Jam provided a rock n' roll baptism for the audience that attended the show. The band was tight, in the pocket and played with real passion. Bolton has to be one of the few drummers that actually can play the role of front man.

Bolton sang lead on several of the tracks. In between beats, he was constantly twirling his sticks, preening and smiling at the audience. Not only is Bolton, who started off playing pianist at an early age, an accomplished drummer, he has rock star charisma and natural charm. The drums seem to be just an extention of this talented musician.

Lovorich, sporting a very Paul McCartney looking Hofner bass, handled his portion of the vocal chores with great skill and reverence to the originals. He and Bolton provided the Lennon and McCartney vocal stylings throughout the show. Like on record, their voices blended well and sounded pretty close to the original and authentic article. Mattingly and Jones also provided additional harmonies on several numbers. In addition, Jones provided the trademark harmonica parts on "Love Me Do."

After the high energy show, The boys came back out to perform an encore which included the classic song that encapsulated the emotions of teen yearning back in the sixities, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."

Closing thoughts...

Seeing Apple Jam perform these great songs non stop for two plus hours drove home the point that McCartney and Lennon could not only write infectious songs but they could rock with reckless abandon. Long before The Clash and the Sex Pistols, came The Beatles, playing rock n' roll in it's stripped down and purest form. A couple of chords, energy and attitude is all it took and the Beatles had it in spades.

This past Friday (May 28th), Apple Jam's inspiring and life affirming performance was a great reminder that before the beards, mustaches, multi colored clothing and the Lonely Hearts Club Band, the Beatles were truly a solid rock n' roll outfit first and foremost.

Apple Jam will be performing at The Triple Door Saturday, July 24th. The group will play Paul McCartney and Wings' "Band on the Run" all the way through along with other McCartney numbers. Tickets for that show can be purchased here.

For extended Apple Jam coverage that includes additional videos and comments from the band from their show at the Woodshed, please visit seattlemusicinsider.com.

John Lennon Examiner Shelley Germeaux attended the show as well. You can read her review of the show and see photos here.

To see Apple Jam Photos taken last year at "The Triple Door" from Jerry and Lois Photography, Go Here.

SMI TV had the opportunity to cover Beatles tribute band Apple Jam live at the Woodshed in Seattle. The group performed the first two Beatles LP's in their entirety as well as cuts off of Apple Jam's LP "Off the Beatle Track" The video includes a interviews with members of the group and some live footage of " I Saw Her Standing There"

SMI Radio sat down and spoke to members of one of the best Beatles tribute bands in the land. The show includes interviews with drummer / lead vocalist, Jon Bolton, bassist / lead vocalist, Rick Lovrovich, guitarist / vocalist Kurtis Dengler and the groups manager, Steve Roseta. The group discussed the recording process for their record, "Off The Beatle Track" and their upcoming show at the studio where the album was recorded. In addition, the show features cuts off of the group's album and a special live cut.