Little Steven Van Zandt has released Macca to Mecca, a live album honoring the music of The Beatles recorded in front of The Cavern Club, the Liverpool dive where the Fab Four famously got their start.
In the fall of 2017, when Little Steven landed in Liverpool on his sold-out European tour with his newly reformed band the Disciples of Soul in support of Soulfire, his first new album in nearly two decades, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician, songwriter, and lifelong Beatles fan played a surprise, afternoon set outside of the legendary Cavern Club. Like so many others, witnessing The Beatles’ iconic appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 had inspired him to pick up a guitar and start a band of his own.
The intimate lunchtime gig saw Little Steven, a.k.a Stevie Van Zandt lead his 15-strong band through rocking renditions of “Magical Mystery Tour”, “Good Morning, Good Morning”, “Got To Get You Into My Life”, and “All You Need Is Love” alongside iconic songs famously performed by the nascent Fab Four including “Boys” (originally by The Shirelles), “Slow Down” (by Larry Williams) and “Soldier Of Love” (first recorded by Arthur Alexander).
“Playing in the same venue where The Beatles started their careers was a childhood dream of mine come true,” says Van Zandt in a statement. “This was a band that set me on course for a life of music. For my rock ‘n’ roll religion, The Cavern is the first sacred site (after the 4 clubs in Hamburg they played!). It was an honor – no, make that an epiphany – to perform there.”
The performance at the Cavern Club was professionally recorded and filmed, with the audio and video initially included exclusively as part of the SOULFIRE LIVE! box set. In addition to a live collaboration with Paul McCartney from the same tour’s stop at London’s The Roundhouse, the recordings of the once-in-a-lifetime performance comprise Macca To Mecca, available now via Wicked Cool Records/UMe.
Macca To Mecca includes the complete Cavern Club concert in both video and audio, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and a special documentary that sees Van Zandt honored with a brick in the club’s hallowed Wall of Fame before leading his band through swift rehearsals of Beatles songs mere minutes ahead of their performance. The audio from Macca To Mecca has also been added to the Soulfire Live! (Expanded Edition), available via major streaming platforms.
To order your copy of Little Steven’s Beatles tribute, Macca To Mecca, click here. Below, stream the audio (the Macca To Mecca portion starts with “I Saw Her Standing There”) and watch the video of the Paul McCartney sit-in at The Roundhouse included on the album.
Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul – Soulfire Live! (Expanded Edition)
Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul ft. Paul McCartney – “I Saw Her Standing There” (The Beatles) – 11/4/19
[Video: Little Steven]