Abbey Road still rocks

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Eleanor Ramsay

From the Boston Herald

Abbey Road still rocks
Music Review/by Sarah Rodman
Friday, May 4, 2001

Abbey Road, performed by Boston Rock Opera, at Lilli’s, Somerville, last night.

The evening began, appropriately enough, with Come Together.

That is certainly the theme of this week’s concert series For the Benefit of Mr. Dee (Reprise).

Last night’s performance at Lillis of the Beatles’ classic album Abbey Road by the Boston Rock Opera was just one of 35 shows held this week to honor and benefit Boston rock scenester Mikey Dee, who was stricken by an immobilizing brainstem stroke last February. It’s the second annual installment of the event and last night’s performance by a band and cast of more than two dozen people, was a galvanizing event, made even more so by an appearance by Dee himself in his first club outing since the stroke, looking good and enjoying himself.

Sung from stem to stern with loving vigor, the show not only benefited a good cause but reminded us that before the Beatles became icons they were an amazing band.

Last night’s players included superb guitarists Mick Loce and Cathy Capozzi, who captured every stinging solo and rock vamp with aplomb. Pills frontman Corin Ashley did his best McCartney as Little Richard whooo! on a down and dirty “Oh, Darling.” “Because” was a harmonic marvel sung by a dozen-person chorus. Gene Dante led a jaunty “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” and Christine Zuffery sang lead on a hopeful “Here Comes the Sun.”

The entire company imbued the music with an obvious love but also a contagious exuberance that had the packed club singing along by album’s end.

And, in the end, the set took a poignant turn. As former Extreme/Van Halen frontman Gary Cherone sweetly intoned the lullaby “Golden Slumbers” and the entire company kicked in the majestic chorus of “Carry that Weight” the night’s purpose came back into focus.

While Dee has a heavy burden to bear, memories of this night should help him carry that weight for a long time.

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Photos by Eleanor Ramsay for Boston Rock Opera — Above Peter Moore and Linda Viens sing Come Together. (Right) Gary Cherone sings Golden Slumbers.

Abbey Road, Images, May 2001

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Eleanor Ramsay

Abbey Road Presentation to benefit The Mikey Dee Musician’s Benefit Trust.
Lots of shots from the May 3, 2001 performance.

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Most photos by Neal Hannan, a few by Eleanor Ramsay

Abbey Road

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Eleanor Ramsay

Boston Rock Opera performed the this amazing Beatles recording, live in concert, as a Special Event to benefit the Mikey Dee Musician’s Trust (mikeydee.org)

Featuring (vocalists): Chris Mascara, Peter Moore, Mick Maldonado, John Surette, Gary Cherone, Valerie Forgione, Linda Viens, Gene Dante, Brian Gottesman, Bleu, T Max, Corin Ashley, Christine Zuffery, Bree Greig, Paula Morris, Sally Tezlaff, Elaine O’Rourke, Judy Dombrowski, Megan Berry (the musicians): Cathy Capozzi, Mike Loce, Mick Maldonado, T Max: guitars; Joel Simches, Carol Namkoong: keyboards; Corin Ashley: Bass; Larry Dersch: Drums.

Abbey Road' sings at Lilli's

Posted on August 22, 2010 by Eleanor Ramsay

MUSIC REVIEW | THE BOSTON GLOBE
Abbey Road’ sings at Lilli’s
By Jim Sullivan, Globe Staff, 5/5/2001

SOMERVILLE – The MC, T Max, wearing top coat and tails and waving a cane, took the stage at the onset of Boston Rock Opera’s rendition of the Beatles’ ”Abbey Road” Thursday at Lilli’s and proclaimed: ”Mikey Dee is in the house!” Indeed, he was. And he was in his element. The Boston rock scenester, paralyzed by a brain-stem stroke last year, was in his wheelchair at the left side of the stage. It was his first club outing since the stroke, and Dee beamed as friends made their way over to say howdy.

Shortly, Boston Rock Opera – the ambitious company of which Dee has played a part – began ”Abbey Road.” ”Come Together,” sung by Peter Moore and Linda Viens, took on a double meaning, considering the situation – both in the chorus (”Come together, over me”) and in a line like ”Hold you in his armchair/You can feel his disease.”

BRO, more than two dozen strong Thursday, has tackled ”Sgt. Pepper” in a theatrical fashion. ”Abbey Road,” which the troupe rehearsed seven times, was done without theatrical fanfare. They played the 17 songs in order, with a variety of singers swapping lead roles and some gorgeous choral singing, especially in ”Sun King,” ”Carry That Weight, ” and ”The End.” Part of the pleasure simply came in hearing this audacious work played live, especially the song-suite from side two where the band was cranking. Gary Cherone, formerly of Van Halen and Extreme, took BRO down that home stretch superbly. Kudos, too, to guitarist Mike Loce, who channeled George Harrison during the closing guitar blitz, and drummer Larry Dersch, who expertly executed Ringo Starr’s short and simple, but delectable, drum break.

”Abbey Road” was the Beatles’ final studio album and it presented the group in all its diversity. Thursday, we heard the primal, screaming blues John Lennon loved in ”Oh! Darling,” sung by Corin Ashley, and `I Want You,” sung by Brian Gottesman. On the record, the first side ends abruptly – as if the tape runs out – and the BRO band, led by guitarist Mick Maldonado, jerked the squalling blues-rock to a halt perfectly. Of course, it did wrap up with the classic line ”And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” (That, plus T Max’s singing the ditty, ”Her Majesty.”)

This was all rendered in a jolly manner, with BRO being faithful to the arrangements and attitude. May all the Mikey Dee benefit shows – they run through Sunday – have such a warm vibe.