Hard Night's Day

Hard Night's Day are a band that gives their watching audience an opportunity to enjoy Beatles music live the way few ever have. Since the band got together in 1994, A Hard Night's Day have steadily gained popularity in and around the Dallas area. The bands' dedication to The Beatles music, stretches from the authentic sound of those Hamburg and Decca days, to the later period of The Beatles, as they recreate the sound of history's most innovative rock group.

Though The Beatles were 4, the band are known as The Fab 5 in Dallas.
Mark Ehmann - Bass
Bob Cummings - Guitar
Chris Holt - Keyboards
Danny La Martyr - Lead Guitar
Doug Cox - Drums

The bands' love for the music itself shows, as they stand on stage with their vintage guitars and re-issue instruments along with their tight and precise harmonies, you really can "close your" eyes and swear it was The Beatles. Rather than try to imitate The Beatles visually, A Hard Nights Day decided on a different approach! They choose to perfect the voices and sound, rather than the whole look.

Just like The Beatles, the band has other musical interests and projects to express their individual creativity. The members of A Hard Nights Day remain active to other local cover and original bands within the Dallas area such as The Days and Alter Minty, to name two. There are many avenues a band like these guys can explore, and the next step is to write and record some "Original" material. Having seen the band myself, several times, I was intrigued to notice that they can achieve, the highest standard with any Beatles number, without any effort. Their laid back style and witty humour is just as it was all those years ago.

Back home, the guys are well known figures within the Deep Elum area of Texas. Their shows at The Club Da Da and theatre's throughout the country have left them in high demand. Teenagers in love with The Beatles and A Hard Nights Day, demand that the club, which was only for people aged over 21, should allow the band to perform afternoon shows for their younger audience. After much consideration, this was agreed with the group and they started to do afternoon shows, as well as their normal evenings sets.

Later on in the year, the band recreated the sound of Abbey Road LP to a crowd of regular Da Da fans. They played through each track off the album and gave an accurate account of those classics songs. I have heard them do this album and was left in awe, as the standard was so near to the record.

Whilst I was in Liverpool, I enjoyed the world premiere of Yellow Submarine, in August 99. The band too, took to the stage at their local theatre and after the film; they too, recreated the soundtrack live in front of an overwhelmed audience. The show was a huge success and at the same time, they had raised money for local charities. Early on in the year, the group were heavily featured on Americas top music channel CNN; they have been followed through out their musical career, on the show, which has always shown respect and much interest in Hard Days Night.

New Years Eve, December 31st 99, the band played to an enthusiastic crowd of Beatles fans, and made it a gig to remember. For as we fans know, the guys normally go for the laid back casual jeans and t-shirts, look. They made the effort and came on in White Tuxedo suits and from what I have heard they did well getting Danny in a suit full stop!

"Texas, may have Cowboys and Ranches joked a fellow fan and friend but really, we're all Mop Top Lovers and our hearts are with you in Liverpool".

Before the band came to play at last years Beatles Festival in Liverpool, they were booked to play in one of The Beatles old venues, in Hamburg Germany - The Kaiserkeller. For any Beatles band this was a really amazing experience, standing in the shadows of your heroes!

Then, they went back to Abbey Road Studios for the second time, where they recorded The Beatles number 'I want to hold your hand'. It was during the time at Abbey Road, that a soundman said, "You guys have the spirit of The Beatles!" Then finally, they came and played in the hometown of their heroes!

You can catch the band at this years Beatles convention. Starting with their gig on the Thursday night, at The Town Hall, where The Beatles received their heroes welcome. I hope that you give HND a warm welcome and all I can say to you is, when you listen to them, close your eyes, go back 30 years and Tell Me What You Hear?

Jo Rishton
TWIL Issue Five August 2001