A Family Musical Magical Mystery Tour

The Beatles have always been my all-time favorite band. It was all about the music for me, since the Fab Four went their separate ways before I was even born.  Like many other kids, my taste in music was formed pretty much by what my older sisters listened to, and the Beatles were a permanent fixture in the musical ambiance of the Ben Hillel household. I can still remember singing Beatles songs out loud, without having any idea what the words meant.

When you care about something so much, you definitely want to pass it on to the next generation. The Beatles' music always plays in the background on weekends, and the kids love watching "Yellow Submarine". You can't imagine how proud I feel when I hear my son walking around and humming "All together now, all together now...." Our visit to the marvelous Beatles exhibition in the Children's Museum in Holon was a huge and highly recommended treat.

So, when a friend told me about the tribute band "Magical Mystery Tour" performing in a mid-day concert, we didn’t think twice. The show took place at the "Grey" club located in Yehud. The city is conveniently situated in the center of Israel and the club is easy to reach from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. As is the case in similar clubs, you usually arrive early to secure a good table and you have plenty of time to have a bite to eat before the show begins.

And when the show begins, you feel happy inside (that's a Beatles reference, eh?). The band members, 5 of them, go on stage dressed in the silky colorful suits the Beatles used to wear during Sgt. Pepper's times. Years of practice makes perfect. The band sounds great, both vocally and instrumentally. It's precisely what I would expect from a Beatles tribute band. Their love of the band and its music shines through each and every song. The fun thing is that they communicate with the audience, acknowledge the excited kids, invite them to sing along and even distribute musical instruments so everyone can join in. Funny video art accompanies the music and adds another dimension to this enjoyable experience.

As the band plays an encore, big balloons are released into the air and the audience flies them up and around. What a delightful way to bring such a fun show to an end!

Kudos to the "Magical Mystery Tour" – a great show for all ages!