Buffalo Rising Online

Dec 13th 2008, 11:53am By Rimas Musteikis

Japan's Silver Beats' original debut was at Tokyo's world renowned Cavern Club in 2002. Since then, endorsements have included rock superstars Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen, Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake and Palmer, Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof and even U2's Bono.

Even those folks that have seen the actual Beatles talk about The Silver Beats' incredible ability to create a true "Beatles experience". Though their English is limited they know every lyric and perform over 160 Beatles songs. Their style is early "Beatlemania" with "mop top" haircuts, matching Black (Ed Sullivan), Tan (Shea Stadium) and Green (Buddokan) suits, "winkle picker" boots, Rickenbacker Epiphone, Gretsch and Hofner guitars, Vox amps and Ludwig drums.

In America The Silver Beats have been interviewed or noted in the San Jose Mercury Sun, Spin Magazine Online, Rolling Stone and just this past January an interview for NPR's All Things Considered.

In last year's US tour they opened six sold out shows for the Killers: Atlanta, Nashville, Virginia, Camden, Madison Square Garden in New York City as well as Boston Massachusetts. Later they performed a "block party" in Boca Raton, Florida, where they were presented a key to the city. Last August they performed at the Virgin Music Festival alongside Wilco and the Foo Fighters.

On this trip to the States two of the Silver Beats, Hajime Kubo and Tadaaki Naganuma, are arriving in New York this weekend, and Buffalo this Sunday. Hajime "George" was specially selected to transcribe The Beatles Complete Scores for Hal Leonard Publishing. And Tadaaki "Paul" has performed the song Yesterday more times than Sir Paul McCartney. In fact Tadaaki once met Sir Paul backstage in Tokyo.

What brings them to Buffalo for the first time? Tadaaki and Hajime say they want to know everything Silver Beats US tour manager Geno McManus experiences in his hometown of Buffalo. Geno, lead guitar and lead vocals for the Buffalo British Invasion tribute band The Ifs, backs up the Silver Beats when in Tokyo. Actually Geno has developed quite a following in Asia of his very own as a solo artist.

Rumored appearances in Buffalo include open mike night at the Sportsmen's Tavern this coming Monday, Wednesday night Karaoke at Roxy's, and visits to the Old Pink most any night next week.

Their "really big show" is at the Pearl St Grill at 10pm Thursday, where Tadaaki and Hajime will be joined by Geno McManus as John, and Howard Wilson of Terry Sullivan's band as Ringo. It's only a $4 cover. So please give them a big Buffalo welcome when you see them out!

All photos courtesy of www.gmcmusic.com