Retro band 2nd Flyte takes the audience back to the 60's 2nd Flyte takes their first flight The Springhouse Restaurant July 7, 2006 a review by Wally Roach Merriam-Webster Dictionary says "retro" means "relating to, reviving, or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past, fashionably nostalgic". Merriam-Webster also says "groovy" means "marvelous, wonderful, excellent, hip, trendy". Having come of age in the fab(fabulous according to M-W) 60's I must say it certainly was groovy to see the retro band 2nd Flyte take it's first flight at The Springhouse Restaurant the other night (July 7,06). Let me start by saying that 2nd Flyte is a local to central Va Byrds tribute band. It was several months ago that Ed had told me about his new project, a Byrds tribute band. Having seen his previous effort "A Hard Days Night The Band" an awesome Beatles tribute band I knew it was going to be good. So after a few months waiting for the debut I get THE call. "Wally, It's Ed, The Springhouse, Friday night next week." My plans had already been made, all I needed was the date. The Springhouse is a wonderful venue to enjoy and be close to the band after a great meal. A long room with the band on one end so every seat is a good one and the sound is not bad either. Russel Mayberry was in charge of the sound department that night and as I have heard him do so many times before, the band sounded great. Russel has been doing this for 20 years that I know of and he is very good at it. 
Back to the band which is what I came to talk about in the first place. Not many Byrds tribute bands out there today. I hear that 2nd Flyte may be the only Byrds tribute band. Some of you youngsters "under 40" may not really know who The Byrds are although you have probably heard them many times. The Byrds were labeled as America's answer to The Beatles. Not to shabby to be compared to The Beatles. Harmony vocals, Rickenbacker 12 string guitar and solid songwriting made The Byrds an act worthy of comparison to The Fab Four. Roger McGuinn once said of the Byrds, "It was Dylan meets the Beatles". Classicbands.com says "One of the most influential American rock groups of all time, the Byrds began in 1964 as a Los Angeles folk trio called the Jet Set, composed of Jim McGuinn (who later changed his name to Roger) along with David Crosby on guitar and Gene Clark accompanying on tambourine; all three shared vocal duties. McGuinn had been an accompanist for the Limeliters, the Chad Mitchell Trio, Bobby Darin and musical director for Judy Collins. Gene Clark had been a member of the New Christy Minstrels (along with Barry McGuire and Kenny Rogers)." 
Since "A Hard Days Night The Band" was such an incredible experience I was really anxious to hear Ed's newest return to the 60's music that I love. Along for this musical journey was Will whom I had met when he played the role of John Lennon in "A Hard Days Night The Band" (Ed played George Harrison). 
The show is peppered with recollections and reflections of the groovy 60's music scene and The Byrds' relevance to it. Interaction between band members seems more natural than staged and only adds to the relaxed feeling on your musical trip back in time. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
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Peace out Wally
