The Bootleg Beatles’ 44th Anniversary Show in Manila is a Blast from the Past

The Bootleg Beatles wouldn’t be called the best Beatles tribute band in the world for no reason. Since the group’s establishment in 1980, the group has staged over 4,500 shows, transporting the audience to the past with their stellar renditions of the most memorable Beatles songs.

As part of its 44th-anniversary tour, the band — currently composed of Paul Canning (John Lennon), Steve White (Paul McCartney), Stephen Hill (George Harrison), and Gordon Elsmore (Ringo Starr) — performed at The Theatre at Solaire on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Drenched in nostalgia

Despite the inclement weather in the days leading up to the event, fans of all ages flocked to the venue to witness the band bring the music of The Beatles to life. “Thanks for coming. Finally, the rain stopped,” White quipped in one of the earlier parts of the show.

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The crowd was in for a night drenched in nostalgia as The Bootleg Beatles delivered a two-and-a-half-hour concert filled with hits and notable covers, starting with the upbeat tracks “I Saw Her Standing There” and “All My Loving.”

Hill and Elsmore, who took on the roles of George Harrison and Ringo Starr, respectively, also had their moments. The former led the band in performing “Roll Over Beethoven” (originally by Chuck Berry) while the latter sang “I Wanna Be Your Man” (a Lennon-McCartney-penned song first recorded by the Rolling Stones). 

The revelry continued with “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.”

A faithful homage

Montages of clips from the ‘60s and ‘70s not only served as markers that separated the different segments of the concert. They also added depth to the aural experience, capturing The Beatles’ rise as a socially aware band and a creative force in the music scene.

Of course, a tribute show for any legendary band also wouldn’t be complete without outfit and hairstyle changes. Staying true to the distinct eras in The Beatles’ brief but revolutionary seven-year tenure, the members of The Bootleg Beatles transformed and captured the Fab Four’s iconic looks through the years.

In the next portion of the night, the four-piece dished out more hits: “Twist and Shout” (originally recorded by The Top Notes), “She’s A Woman,” “I Feel Fine,” and “Act Naturally” (with Elsmore as Starr taking over vocal duties).

“Help!” was a standout track that brought the crowd to their feet, while “Yesterday” — a solo performance by White as McCartney — sparked an enthusiastic sing-along. 

The first half of the night ended with “Nowhere Man,” “Day Tripper,” and “I’m Down.”

A night too brief

“Helter Skelter,” off the White Album, welcomed the crowd to the second half of the show. 

Showcasing The Beatles’ creative explosion in the latter part of their career, this portion of the evening saw the tribute band pour their heart out into their renditions of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Revolution 9,” “Hello, Goodbye,” and the ever-so-dancey “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.”

The energy inside the venue remained high with the band’s performances of “Come Together,” “Something,” “Get Back,” and “Here Comes The Sun.” Canning as Lennon also had his moment when the band performed “The Ballad of John and Yoko.”

The reassuring “Let It Be” ended the show on a poignant note and with the affirmation of a glaring truth: One night isn’t enough to capture The Beatles’ music in its entirety. But not to disappoint the audience — who definitely wanted more — the four-piece returned on stage to endear the crowd one last time, performing “Hey Jude” and the fitting concert-closer “The End.”

“It’s always an honor and privilege to perform in the country and to perform for you,” White remarked, bidding their Manila audience goodbye.

The concert was presented by Concert Republic.

Written by Emmy Borromeo

Photos by Concert Republic and Kenneth Valladolid