A meeting with Paul McCartney changed Jody Tennant’s life.
In 2005 he went to see McCartney in Seattle and met him backstage. On the way back to his home in Vancouver he couldn’t get the songs out of his head. He wondered how he could harness the inspirational power of that moment and keep it in his life.
“That was absolutely a life changing event for me and my family,” said Tennant. “There was a feeling of euphoria.”
It led him to pick up the bass and teach himself how to play. With repetition, determination and time he learned the Beatles’ songs.
“If you really want to do something you just do it,” he said.
After his studies he joined Fab Fourever in 2006, a Beatles tribute band, and began touring pubs and clubs.
The Beatles Fab Fourever tribute act comes to the Port Theatre Tuesday (March 12) at 7:30 p.m. to battle against Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones tribute band.
The tribute contest features a theatrical performance that aims to immerse the audience in a real Stones and Beatles concert experience.
Both tribute bands work tirelessly to ensure they are creating an auditory and sensory journey for fans. Tennant said sometimes people don’t realize the difference between a cover band and a tribute act.
Tribute acts spend hours studying not only the music but the mannerisms of the band members they portray. It is meant to give audience members the sense of watching the Stones and Beatles perform onstage.
“I’ve always been engrossed in the artistic group that would take me on the sensory journey,” said Tennant.
Members of tribute acts are required to become actors as well.
“It’s like preparing yourself to act in a role in a theatrical production,” said Chris LeGrand, who performs as Mick Jagger for Satisfaction: the International Rolling Stones Show.
He said it’s challenging to become Jagger onstage because he’s been performing for more than 60 years and his mannerisms, speaking style and movements change over the years.
“Getting to portray the greatest front man of all time in rock ’n’ roll is an honour and a challenge,” said LeGrand.
Satisfaction has performed in Nanaimo before and has toured with other Beatles tribute acts over the band’s 13-year career. LeGrand said the night is a chance to see the two biggest groups of all time onstage and that there is something for everyone.
Tennant is looking forward to performing in Nanaimo. He has family who lives in Port Alberni that will be travelling to Nanaimo to watch the performance.
Each show is different, but when Tennant has a chance to perform Strawberry Fields Forever it’s always a treat.
Tickets are $39.75 and are available by calling 250-754-8550, at the Port Theatre box office, located at 125 Front St., or online at www.porttheatre.com. After the performance the two bands will be signing autographs in the lobby.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com