Epcot ... England ... "new band"

[VitoA]

Any reviews on the new band in England?

 

[4myprincesses]

Will see them in a couple of weeks. I did catch a YouTube video of BI last set. It was 45 minutes long. Disney.blog had a video of English Channel/British Airwaves on their first day. Let's just say I hope it's better in person.

 

[adamandkate]

i hope too, they werent too wonderful on the video.

 

[CarolynU]

Here's a link to their performance yesterday.
http://www.frequency.com/video/english-channel-uk-pavilion-epcot/5979841
I'm not impressed, but then I was a big British Invasion fan. I think others will like them though, although the reviews are very mixed.

 

[kupperman]

Thanks for posting the link to the performance. Not bad. But I'll still miss British Invasion in December.

 

[WDSearcher]

I think it's hard for any group to come in on the heels of a group that was popular and had a very specific style. As I recall, BI wasn't all that great out of the gate either. Took them a while to find their groove.

When Off Kilter first came in, all we ever heard from Guests was about how loud they were and "what do bagpipes and rock & roll have to do with Canada?" And look at 'em now ....

 

[Colleen27]

Not being a big Beatles fan, I expected to like these guys more than I do but I find that right now they seem like just another band. The music isn't bad at all, but they lack the special something that BI had with their costumes, look, accents, etc. I'd like these guys just fine if they were playing the local pub on a Saturday night but at Disney I think the way BI presented their act fit in better with Disney's attention to detail and atmosphere of believable fantasy.

 

[disneyquestions]

OMG - They totally BUTCHERED the Who song. They only did half of it too - whats that about?!? If they are going to do The Who, they better practice more!!!!

 

[Batch]

Sigh.

I wasn't too impressed with the new guys. I'll be more than happy to give them a shot on my next few trips to Epcot but I know I'll miss BI.

 

[finedice]

Wow... I don't want to be overly critical... but they sound like a garage band - it's like soundbytes with absolutely NO soul or jamming.

I'm a huge fan of ALL the bands they are trying to cover - but this just didn't have either A) freedom to just PLAY (i.e. Disney consent) or B) Talent...

It seemed forced, scripted (okay to a degree), and a little rushed and shouted - sort of like an infomercial for a British greatest hits collection.

This show's debut is umm...

 

[WDSearcher]

Wow... I don't want to be overly critical... but they sound like a garage band - it's like soundbytes with absolutely NO soul or jamming.

I'm a huge fan of ALL the bands they are trying to cover - but this just didn't have either A) freedom (Disney consent) to just PLAY or B) Talent...

This show's debut is umm...

Did you see them live, or on YouTube?

 

[finedice]

I watched the YouTube version - I'll see them in June

My judgement is not based on sound or video quality though....

Just a big live music fan's perspective

 

[CarolynU]

I totally agree with posters on another similar thread here somewhere. The BI represented a whole concept, and fitted in with the family ambience of a gazebo in what is a representation of a Uk garden.
I used to people watch as much as I did listen to them and it was such a great sight to see all generations singing along, old couples holding hands, or trying to do the twist, and little children dancing away in front of the stage. The BI seemed to unite everyone.
I just can't see this band doing the same at all. To me they will be very successful in the evening when people have drunk their way around the world or have had several beers in the UK cart.
This of course is just a perception, and I could be proved totally wrong. I still can't help but feel that they are a cheap alternative.

 

[castmember19]

I don't see anything wrong with the music, but then again I don't know much about it. My only real complaint is that they look so out of place. There is no Disney look to them, blending in to the gazebo or the garden like the BI did seemingly effortlessly.

I can give them a chance, though. Disney must see something in them or else they wouldn't be there.

 

[Patty3]

Oh boy, this is not good. We will be at Disney in two weeks and my grown son is a big beatles fan. Does any know why the British Invasion was replaced with this group? Are the BI definitely a thing of the past?

 

[CarolynU]

Yes I'm afraid that the BI have gone and have been replaced by The British Channel rock group. There are video clips of them on their first day. The reviews are very very mixed with some people welcoming the change and many others mourning the loss of The British Invasion and its entire family friendly concept.

 

[PAcpl]

Did I miss a Beatles song or are they not going to cover ANY Beatles? Not covering ANY Beatles at the UK pavillion seems....insane!

These guys looks like a bar band. They look VERY out of place in that pavilion!

BRING BACK BRITISH INVASION!!!!!!!!!

 

[CarolynU]

Did I miss a Beatles song or are they not going to cover ANY Beatles? Not covering ANY Beatles at the UK pavillion seems....insane!

These guys looks like a bar band. They look VERY out of place in that pavilion!

BRING BACK BRITISH INVASION!!!!!!!!!

That's my feeling too, but as I said previously my perception is that they will go down really well with a more adult type audience who have had some beers from the UK cart or folks who have drunk their way around the world later in the evenings. However, I could be completely wrong.

 

[Brocktoon]

Did I miss a Beatles song or are they not going to cover ANY Beatles? Not covering ANY Beatles at the UK pavillion seems....insane!

They closed the set (atleast the video I saw) with the end of 'Hey Jude'.

I think people are going to be very divided on the English Channel. Based on just what limited EC stuff I've seen, BI and EC are two very diffrent bands. BI was more of a produced stage show homage to the Beatles and similar period British music ... complete with costumes , backing tracks etc. EC is more towards a raw (I kinda hate using the word raw) 4 piece that's not trying to act as anybody, but just play some cover tunes.

I'm not saying one is better that the other, but it may be comparing apples to oranges. Personally I think BI may have been a better fit for Epcot, but I found them to be a little too sugary. I enjoy the idea of EC focusing on just playing decent music and having a much more varied setlist focusing on classic rock. I don't know how it will go over in Epcot in the long run, but I know I'll probably enjoy EC over BI after drinking around the WS. Ultimately Disney decided not to swap one Bealtes tribute with another, which may work to bring in more fans, or possibly alienate more. I've been in the position of doing the cover band thing for a varied audience, and it's never an easy thing trying to meet evryone's expectations.

If I had to do a 25 minute set of British tunes, it would mostly be a long medley to keep the songs moving. Begin with Pink Floyd - In the Flesh / End with Beatles - The End ... continue to vary the setlist between.

 

[CarolynU]

Yes I agree it's pointless bringing in another Beatles tribute band. It's a shame for the BI fans that Disney changed the terms of BI's contract so that they were unable to accept it and felt the necessity to leave.
However, others may prefer the change especially those who will enjoy a few beers or drinks around the world before they see the rock band as you said yourself.