Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009
beatles, a bite and a brew
Fab 2
Bruce McElroy and Brian McElroy, the identical twin local Beatles cover duo known as the FAB 2, have performed at Grand Strand area clubs for some 22 years and are close to living out a decades-long dream of having a Cavern Club of their own. The two have taken their love of and obsession with all things Beatles to the next level, which started with the purchase and renovations of the former Schlotzsky's Deli (812 S. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach) which they, along with a partner, Cindy Phillips, and a few investors, plan to open Hard Days Nite Café Bar sometime in July.
I've known the brothers since I moved to the beach in 1998. I first met them and watched them perform a set at Bimini's Oyster Bar. Since then I've seen them a handful of times performing magic as they faithfully and lovingly recreate a wide variety of Beatles tunes, sounding much bigger than a duo. With harmonies reminiscent of the Lennon-McCartney team, passable British accents and solid musicianship, the McElroys capture the spirit of The Beatles with just keyboards and drums. Brian McElroy pulls double duty playing pedal bass, the kind organists such as Ray Manzarek of The Doors uses, while covering guitar, piano and orchestrations all on his Hammond XK-2 keyboard. Bruce McElroy, the drummer, captures Ringo Starr's sound rolling around his Ludwig drum kit with reverence to the original riffs. Unlike some twins who only slightly resemble one another, these two look like clones, and for casual acquaintances, they're almost impossible to tell apart - although folks who know them well would probably disagree. They are engaging, friendly, and energetic, and always have big smiles, all which should help make them excellent tavern keepers.
I caught up with the brothers by phone one recent morning to discuss their new venture, their long musical history in Myrtle Beach, including hundreds of relatively recent shows - first at Hard Rock Park and now at Freestyle Music Park, plus opening slots for three Beach Boys performances at The Palace Theatre, and countless club gigs from Georgetown to Little River, making them the only fulltime Beatles tribute act in the area.
U.S. Airways brought the two from their native Vermont to Myrtle Beach in the late 1980s when the airline offered them customer service positions at Myrtle Beach International Airport. The brothers left flying behind in 1998, and have put full effort into gigging and, in the last year, into opening the new club. While talking with them I couldn't help but reflect that the two are typical twins in so many ways. They're nearly inseparable, they correct each other incessantly, finish each other's sentences and the conversation is often like freeform word association, sometimes making it difficult to distinguish, on the phone anyway, who is saying what - but I tried. "We'll open at 11 a.m. playing two lunch sets," said Bruce McElroy. "Just like The Beatles did at the Cavern Club," added Brian. The Beatles played nearly 300 gigs at London's Cavern Club from 1961-1963 helping to launch Beatlemania and in turn making the club world-famous.
"And for the rest of the summer we'll be out at Freestyle [Park] after lunch," he said. "And then in the fall we'll add happy hour sets."
The brothers are planning trivia nights, live classic rock cover bands on the weekends, staying open until 2 a.m. The café/bar will feature a Beatles-themed menu with items including mini-burgers called "Paperback Sliders," "Sexy Sadie's Shepherd's Pie" and a New England-styled lobster roll sandwich called "Lobster in the Sky." No diamonds?
"I guess the paprika is the diamonds," said Bruce McElroy.
"We're making Beatlejuice, too," said Brian McElroy. "It's a rum punch we'll sell in big 16 oz. glasses for like two bucks. All the liquor and the food will be Beatles-related. We've got Beatles wallpaper, memorabilia - all Beatles." Did I mention the brothers are Beatles' fans?
Opening the restaurant is especially challenging with the schedule the McElroys keep. "We have 110 days straight at the [Freestyle] Park," said Brian McElroy. "Last year we had 155 days straight at Hard Rock [Park]," added Bruce McElroy. "Rain is our only hope for a day off," he laughed. The duo is the live musical centerpiece at the park's Across the Pond area, which features British-themed rides and restaurants.
Though no firm opening date has been set, the McElroys feel confident in a mid-to-late July opening for their club. "It's been a long time coming," said Bruce McElroy. "It will be like Christmas in July for us. We want to grow old at this club and are tired of chasing around," said Brian McElroy.
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