On Saturday, May 10th, we celebrated an early Mother’s Day and my daughter Bella’s 11th birthday with a special outing to the Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia. Yesterday, a Las Vegas-based Beatles tribute band, delivered a phenomenal 93-minute performance—an unforgettable gift for the two biggest Beatles fans I know.
The show was a masterclass in tribute performance, featuring a 26-song set over two acts, with every song performed in its original key. It’s no wonder Sir Paul McCartney himself endorsed Yesterday as the ultimate Beatles tribute band. The four musicians—each portraying a member of the Fab Four—have been performing together for nearly 25 years, and their synergy, vocal range, and instrumental finesse were nothing short of astounding.
The show began with a nostalgic clip of The Beatles performing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at the Washington Coliseum in 1964—the closest the original band ever came to Southwest Virginia. With the mood perfectly set, Yesterday opened their performance with “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You,” dressed in outfits reminiscent of the Beatles’ legendary February 9, 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
We were then treated to the Beatles’ first UK No. 1 hit, “Please Please Me,” followed by a heartfelt rendition of “All My Loving,” set against a Hollywood Bowl backdrop. The first act continued with hits like “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Eight Days a Week,” and more. The tremendous vocal blend of the group was very remarkable.
When John Auker, performing as George Harrison, introduced “Yesterday,” my daughter Bella—who idolizes Harrison—was moved to tears. His speaking voice bore such a striking resemblance to Harrison’s that it caught her completely off guard. She became emotional again during his rendition of “Something,” which was beautifully faithful to the original. Rich Fazzi, portraying Paul McCartney, was equally remarkable. As a left-handed bassist like McCartney, his skill as a multi-instrumentalist shone, effortlessly trading between piano, and bass alongside Auker.
As the group transitioned into their Shea Stadium-era costumes, we were shown archival footage of The Beatles’ arrival at the stadium, followed by their iconic introduction by Ed Sullivan. This perfectly set the stage for “Help!” and “Ticket to Ride.” Don Bellezzo, channeling John Lennon, delivered a stunning version of “Nowhere Man,” an autobiographical classic, and nailed “I Feel Fine” with impressive ease. They closed the first act with a rousing “I Saw Her Standing There,” bringing the crowd to their feet before intermission.
“Sergeant Pepper just flew in,” quipped Bellezzo as the group exited the stage. “They’ll be here in 15 minutes.”
Act two opened with a video montage of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district at the height of the peace and love movement. The segment featured voices like Janis Joplin and Jerry Garcia defending their counterculture lifestyle, juxtaposed against figures like then-Governor Ronald Reagan.
With the band donning their iconic psychedelic Sgt. Pepper’s outfits, they launched into “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” title track of the album that helped define progressive rock. From there, we were treated to hits like “With a Little Help from My Friends,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “A Day in the Life,” “Penny Lane,” and a raucous “I Am the Walrus.” Bellezzo credited “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” as the track that helped launch the peace and love movement. I couldn’t take my eyes off George Harrison’s rainbow guitar, while Lennon’s sunburst one was equally striking.
Fazzi moved to the piano for a crowd-pleasing “Hey Jude,” and the energy only built from there. “Something” and “Come Together” delighted the audience tremendously with a very impressive vocal & high range of Bellezzo on the latter, followed by explosive Rock n Roll renditions of “Back in the U.S.S.R.” and “Revolution” from The White Album—the latter a powerful protest anthem of its time.
Tony Felicetta possessed an incredible talent on the drums as Ringo Starr. He also embodied his effervescent personality. He properly amped me and Bella up to see the real Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band on June 18th in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The night ended on an electrifying note with two encore performances: “Twist and Shout” and “Can’t Buy Me Love,” sending the crowd home with hearts full and spirits high.
I want to extend special thanks to Don Bellezzo for graciously agreeing to an interview for my podcast, and for giving my family the chance to meet and take photos with this incredibly talented group. I’m also deeply grateful to Bob Watkins, the Lincoln Theatre’s new executive director, for inviting us to this remarkable show. It was an evening my family will never forget.
To top it all off, the band gifted Bella a T-shirt featuring the silhouette of the Fab Four and the phrase “I Believe in Yesterday.” That’s no understatement—this group carries on the legacy of the greatest rock band in history with extraordinary talent, authenticity, and heart.
Bella will proudly wear her new shirt when we see Ringo Starr live in concert next month in Greensboro. All three of us—especially Bella—are eager to see them again. Any Beatles fan would be lucky to witness what this exceptional band brings to the stage.
