Live Review
Me & My Monkey at J&J Blues Bar

Some 40 years ago four young men produced a new sound that shaped the world and is still changing the face of rock n roll today.  If you haven't heard of the Beatles, you have led one seriously sheltered life.One of the best Dallas/Fort Worth cover bands, Me & My Monkey played at J&J Blues Bar on Friday night late in April after the Main Street Arts Festival.  Unlike a lot of tribute bands who depend on costumes and set pieces, tricks and gimmicks to make their show what it is, Me & My Monkey do two things, and they do those two things very well.  One, they can play their instruments, and two, they can sing, and sing they do.  The harmonies were perfect, no....better than perfect, dead on!   Standing in on bass Mike Richardson could sing with every bit of the energy exuted by Paul.   George and Roger, some of the original members of the group were playing keyboard, brass, and string parts on their guitars every bit as good as we have become accustomed to hearing.  To play like this the muscian must be better than the one they are copying.  Another Mike, playing Ringo, had the simplistic style that Ringo was known for down to a science.  Even the horse play and rim shots in between plays added to the show's up close and personal nature.  They even had a crowd of screaming young girls.  They played songs from every era from the Cavern to the grave and every album and film in between.  One takes pause as we stop and think that we will never see the Beatles play again, but one takes joy in the fact that groups like Me & My Monkey continue to keep alive the fun and excitement that was the Beatles.

Darin