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Revolution 5, a Beatles tribute band, performed their first ever theater show at the Pioneer Place Wednesday evening.

 

The performance was called “The Long and Winding Road: From Sullivan to Apple,” and showcased early Beatles songs that were featured on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in the first half and then music from their later studio albums in the second half.

The group, made up of five local musicians, has performed at many venues in central Minnesota since their formation in 2010.

Aaron Barthel, who plays guitar, keyboard, harmonica and sings, along with Louis Winskowski, who plays guitar keyboard and also sings, formed the band when they found that they shared a love for The Beatles’ music.

Grant Haake joined the group as lead vocalist shortly after Barthel and Winskowski decided to get a tribute band together. Later, drummer Charlie Pheonix and bassist John Tetrault joined the band, creating Revolution 5.

“It takes five of us to cover the four of them,” Pheonix said, explaining why the Revolution 5 decided to have five members even though The Beatles only had four.

Some of the songs they performed included “All My Loving,” “This Boy,” “Yellow Submarine,” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”

The love of Beatles’ music and their diverse fan base are the main reasons why the group decided to become a tribute band.

“They’re the greatest rock group in the history of the music form,” Pheonix said. “We’re all rabid music fans and at some time in our lives we thought about being in a tribute band that pays tribute to the greats.”

When asked what their favorite Beatles’ song or album was, all of the band members had different answers because The Beatles had such a wide variety of sound from album to album.

“The Beatles really weren’t together that long and they covered such a span of sound and they basically created their own genre which became rock and roll,” Haake said. “Everyone after just copied them.”

Pheonix and the other members of Revolution 5 said they have different taste in music, but that The Beatles is one group that provides something for everyone.

“We all have a lot of different musical influences, but there’s that one common thread of The Beatles,” Pheonix said.

Haake particularly liked the idea of being in a Beatles tribute band because they were a very influential group in the rock and roll genre.

 

“The Beatles took the things that people like Elivis and Roy Orbison started, rock and roll, and not only played with it but advanced it in the short time that they were together,” Haake said.

Even though Revolution 5 has been together only for a few years, hey have been able to learn many of the Beatles’ songs and perform for several different audiences.

“The thing that impresses me as we go across to different venues is people say, ‘Jeez I didn’t know the Beatles played that song, I really enjoyed it,’” Barthel said.

The Beatles tribute band is booked for another performance at the Pioneer Place on Aug. 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m.

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