Wichita Symphony brings back sounds, sights of Beatles with ‘Revolution’

Paul Loren is a bit relieved he doesn’t have to don a moptop wig or Sgt. Pepper uniform to perform “Revolution: Music of the Beatles – A Symphonic Experience.”

“I can’t get away from the fact that I am Paul Loren,” the singer said, “but I’m not going to be Paul McCartney.”

In concert next weekend with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Loren, drummer-singer Zach Jones and guitarist-singers Greg Mayo and Colin Smith, will create the sound of The Beatles, sans the look.

“What we’re all doing is bringing ourselves to the songs,” he said from his home in Queens, N.Y. “In a way, we can all get on stage and do an impression and it would be fun and funny. But it’s not a tribute band. We’re not trying to re-create an experience for folks. What we’re ultimately doing is contemporizing the music via our own performance experience.”

The result?

“I think that makes for a show that feels less schticky,” Loren said. “There’s less of a Vegas element to it and there’s more of a show where the audience is more invested.”

Those who have to see the images of John, Paul, George and Ringo will still get their fix. Projected above the orchestra is rare video and more than 6,000 images of the Fab Four, many of them rare and unseen images from the London-based archives of the group’s official fan magazine, The Beatles Book Monthly.

“It’s all very specific to our show, so when folks are watching us sing ‘Yesterday,’ they’re watching all of these photos of 22-year-old McCartney that have never been seen before,” he said. “It’s been a thrill to see all those. The rhythm section is all huge Beatle geeks, so for us it’s outstanding.”

“Revolution” came to life in late 2018, at the prompting of the Beatles’ publishing and licensing companies. Loren, who has his own retro-pop band when not on the road, knew Mayo and Jones, who were accompanying the auditionees until getting hired themselves.

The group, which brings its own guest conductor to its performances, played with about 20 symphonies last year and is well-booked into 2021, Loren said.

“The fans who really know the catalog and have a deep appreciation of it are really appreciating the intricacies and the care we took with the songs. All of the band, specifically the vocalists, are Beatles nerds – and still are – and we know all the lore and history,” Loren said.

“The audience member who’s really invested in the songs will get a lot out of it, and the casual fan who knows the Beatlemania stuff through ‘Hey Jude’ and the big numbers will get a lot out of it,” he added. “The orchestra adds a lot of energy and excitement to what we’re doing.”

Some songs will be true to the recordings, Loren said, but others will have a more grandiose sound for the audience.

“I think they’re in for some surprises,” he said. “There are a couple of rearranged songs. There are a couple of tunes where the orchestra takes the lead where, on the original record, it would have been different. And there are a couple of songs where we kick out the orchestra and get back to the early Beatlemania band interpretation.”

Audience response during the concerts has been overwhelming, Loren said.

“There are moments in the show where I’m really taken aback,” he said. “The end of ‘Hey Jude’ is really powerful with that singalong crescendo.”

A highlight for Loren is the suite from “Abbey Road,” including “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” and “The End.”

“That is just an amazing piece of music the way they did it originally, but hearing it live with the strings and horns around you on stage feels like a religious experience,” he said.

As a performer and a Beatles fan, Loren said, “Revolution” has been a satisfying experience.

“This has been a joy, to be honest with you,” he said, “not only to hear these songs and these arrangements, but to inject new life and keep the rock ‘n’ roll spirit alive.”

REVOLUTION: MUSIC OF THE BEATLES – A SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE’ WITH WICHITA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8

Where: Century II concert hall, 225 W. Douglas

Tickets: $45-$80, through the symphony box office, 316-267-7658 or online at wichitasymphony.org

This story was originally published February 2, 2020 at 8:00 AM.