Hollywood Bowl Beatles Celebration Review

Saw the last night of the Beatles Celebration. Beautiful night, beautiful venue, but I basically agree with the LA Times review, that it didn’t really take off until Todd came onstage to basically close out the show. (Although soul singer Bettye LaVette did a heartrending, heartfelt cover of “Blackbird” that had me weeping!) Todd came out in tuxedo, gloves and a fake mustache and actually did a soft shoe routine to “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite”! Afterwards, he acknowledged Bettye’s great performance with his usual dry wit: “This is what you have to do when you’re following Bettye LaVette…” With the house rock band, Todd performed the incredible cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” that so rocked the TR/Joe Jackson tour way back when, but the truly mindblowing moment was when he did “A Day in the Life” with an entire live orchestra behind him. And Todd of course totally nailed both the John and Paul parts. He closed his set with “Let It Be” and had everyone waving their cellphones (the new lighters) and singing along. He really was the “True Star” of the show and by doing so, gave the Beatles the true homage they deserve.