By Luke Voogt
The authentic Beatles sound takes more than good vocals and musicians, according to tribute artist Scott McCarthy.
His band, The Beatlez Tribute Show, uses all the same instruments and sound equipment that the originals did, the 53-year-old said.
“You need that old equipment to create the sound. You can’t do it any other way.”
The lifelong Beatles fan already had a collection of vintage gear before he put the tribute act together four years ago.
He and his bandmates jumped on the internet to find the rest.
“It took a long time to dig all that stuff up because most of it you can’t buy today,” the band’s ‘John Lennon’ said.
Occasionally people who saw the Beatles live commented on his band’s similar sound, McCarthy said.
“They also take pictures of all the instruments. I think it’s the authenticity that sets our band apart.”
The Beatlez go through at least 20 guitars and several costume changes each show as they retrace the originals’ musical history from the ’60s to Abbey Road.
McCarthy grew up to the Beatles at his parents’ Melbourne home in the ’60s.
“It was sort of embedded into the brain box – I didn’t have much choice,” he said.
McCarthy said getting the vocals right was challenging, but loved earning a living performing as the Beatles.
“You need to practice a lot even though the Beatles haven’t written a song since the 1970s.”
The Beatlez Tribute Show plays at Club Italia on 14 April.
