Beatles tribute band plays Chrysler Centre

by Jolene Bulmer

The Beatles are back in Windsor, or at least Canada’s number one tribute band is.

The Caverners performed Jan. 26 at the Chrysler Centre. There were almost 500 people in attendance to see the Canadian band.

The Caverners are Sandy Vine, who takes on the role of Paul, Mike Wainwright as Lennon, Rick Labrie as George and Doug Boudreau as Ringo. They have been known as the Caverners for the past 11 years and used to frequently come to Caesars Windsor and Windsor Raceway to perform.

Before intermission McCartney, or Vine, said Windsor is like a second home to their band and they can be found at Papa Cheney’s Whiskey Well after the show.

Richard Walsh claims to be a “groupie” to The Cavenders. He said he and his friends have seen them over a dozen times. Walsh and his friends go to Orillia, Ont. every year for the annual Beatles fest in September.

“We saw the Fab Four, they were actually very good. But, they only covered the early stuff. The thing we like about The Caverners is they cover the whole span,” said Walsh. “Most of the bands up there can’t measure up at all.”

He also said this is the only time he’s seen The Cavenders with a dinner and a show package that was provided by St. Clair Centre for the Arts. The dinner menu included seafood chowder garnished with Lucy’s puff pastry diamonds, field greens fresh strawberries with goat cheese, Sgt. Pepper corn chicken with a Helter Skelter of vegetables and English trifle with berries for dessert.

“I grew up on the Beatles. I never did get to see them,” said Walsh. “The closest they came was Detroit and mom and dad wouldn’t let me go.”

The Caverners kept the audience dancing the whole night starting with The Beatles’ early hits, like I Saw Her Standing There and Twist and Shout, but moved on to their later albums starting with Sgt. Pepper’s and ending with Abbey Road.

The band performed for over two hours and played two encore songs, and Allan McAleer thought it was great that they ended with Hey Jude.

“The crowd was just so full of energy, it was fantastic,” said McAleer. “When they played Hey Jude not one person was sitting down. Everyone was screaming the lyrics, It was like we were back in the 60’s.”

The Caverners started out the show in look-a-like black suits and pointy ankle boots, then changed into their Sgt. Pepper costumes and before starting to play songs from Abbey Road, changed into the costume look-a-like from the famous picture. They played and talked to the crowd during the whole show with authentic Liverpudlian accents.

“It really was like seeing The Beatles live,” said McAleer. “Couldn’t have asked for a better night.”