Sarah Veissalov
Staff Writer
Audience members gave all their loving to the “Paperback Writer: the Beatles Experience” concert, hosted by the La Verne debate team, as they relived the music of The Beatles in Morgan Auditorium on Sunday.
Students, faculty and local residents were among the audience.
“This was a great Homecoming event and a way to give back,” Rob Ruiz, director of forensics, said.
Jonathan Reed, dean of College of Arts and Sciences, suggested the fundraiser to the debate team as a way for them to raise money to cover the expenses of the U.S. National Championship, which they will host in spring 2013.
Reed came across this event from Nick Baker, a parent of an alum, who has been close to La Verne for 20 years. He wanted to support the school and donate the band to perform at the school.
“Paperback Writer: The Beatles Experience” is an award-winning show that tributes the Beatles.
The band is from Orange County and consists of four members who use their vocals while playing the guitar, bass, drums and piano.
The band members came across looking quite similar to the original Beatles.
Ruiz said the concert is a popular event locally. He first noticed the band after watching a video of them on YouTube performing at Chaffey College.
The band members sang songs from the Beatles’ early years in the first half and songs from their later years in the second half.
“It’s interesting to see their music progress chronologically,” Reed said. “It’s fascinating.”
Reed, who loves the Beatles, had heard of “Paperback Writer,” but this was the first time he had seen the show.
Some of the popular songs that were sung included “Yesterday,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Help!”
Smiles and cheering were constant throughout the concert.
The lead singer of the band got the audience hyped up pointing at them to finish the lyrics of the chorus.
Many of the audience members bobbed their heads and swayed their bodies to the music while mouthing the words of the songs.
The band joked with the audience in between the songs giving the audience a laugh.
The concert originally ended with the song “Twist and Shout” and there was a standing applause, but an audience member shouted for an encore.
The band decided to sing “Hey Jude” as their encore and the crowd was ecstatic, singing loudly.
“I thought it was a lot of fun,” board of trustees member and Beatles fan Ann Quay Davis said. “Not quite like the Beatles, but still fun.”
Her favorite part of the concert was singing along with group and audience.
“Everyone that is a Beatles fan would love it,” Quay Davis said.
Over 200 tickets were sold in a time frame of a couple of months.
Senior political science major Kaveh Farzad said selling tickets was not difficult as their debate team is quite popular.
Many purchased VIP tickets, which cost $100 while regular admission cost $25.
Fundraising this event is the most active the debate team has been and may be the beginning of a new tradition.
For more infomation visit paperbackwritersite.com.
Sarah Veissalov can be reached at sarah.veissalov@laverne.edu.
