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Five years ago, in the spring of 2020, the world as I knew it shut down. The vibrant underground I have been a part of since the early 1990s shuddered to a halt. No shows, no events, no… nothing.
As creative folks warrened up and hunkered down, many thought, “Finally! Time to get things done.” I myself had those plans, but, like many, watched as my creative energy slowly staggered, stumbled, and then fell down.
Some did persevere. I did have a solid outlet on quaran.tv, where I would video and talk, once a week, into my phone and do something similar to what I do here, all in one take. This “pirate station” was a highjack of Twitch. Yes, the authorities were at the door, starting in on a crackdown. But we got in some good work.
It was somewhere in those years, as folks began to peek out from their foxholes, that a video began circulating inviting me to a “Wook Party.”
Meet The Beatles! No, not those Beatles…
It was clear local folks I knew were involved based on some sonic signatures. The audacity of the name choice for the band, in my mind, coming from the tenor of the times. Everything was ending or ended. Do exactly what you want, all the time. Rip and run. Mods are asleep.
Did you see The Beatles perform? I almost did, playing a weekday game of roulette with my 5AM wake-up time. As The Mercury Theater show’s stated start time got further and further away, nothing was happening. At one point, I was the sole person in the venue. I hung in as long as I could and then headed home, hoping to scrape some sleep together before another long day. I figured, hey… I could see The Beatles another time! But it was not to be.
Did The Beatles break up? It seems like it, but there is now an album to document the project available courtesy of Coin Dolphin Arrangements. Although many memories of those years are not pleasant ones, this cassette serves as a reminder that, no matter what, people find a way.
Will The Beatles reunite? Only time will tell. An air of mystery lingers around the group. My cassette getting lost in the mail only adds to the legend, being finally hand delivered to my mailbox by… someone. John? Paul? George? Ringo? Megan? Jordan? Suzie? Eric? Lu?
Sometimes, it is better not to know.
