The Opera, Holland Park: 1st July 2023.

What could be nicer on a lovely summer afternoon than spending some quality time with friends listening to “friends” of the Beatles community talking about our favourite subject … The Beatles. I use the term “friends” deliberately because the voices of host and guests are so familiar to those of us who enjoy listening to “I am the EggPod” the engaging podcast hosted by Chris Shaw with invited guests discussing a Beatles / Solo LP that is significant to them. Shaw has such an amiable nature that he draws the best from his guests and this is no more evident than the first live iteration of the EggPod with guests Samira Ahmed, Stuart Maconie, David Quantick and Mark Lewisohn.

The Opera, Holland Park proved to be a fabulous venue for the occasion. The show was divided into two halves. Part 1 consisted of Samira Ahmed, Stuart Malone and David Quantick discussing significant events to themselves personally in a Beatles context and also their favourite Beatles single. The blend of guests provided diverse responses with Samira Ahmed particularly bringing her journalistic viewpoint to her Stowe School recording involvement. Stuart Maconie focussed on his musical introduction via the Beatles as a very small boy at a Wigan show and David Quantick brought heaps of humour to proceedings. Each clearly have huge affection for the Beatles which was equally shared by the audience. The guests selection of favourite singles was interesting in that each selected a single from the earlier Beatles period, and discussing with my friends at the interval we had to acknowledge that as fans it is maybe too easy to overlook the significance of the early mega releases of “She Loves You” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” in favour of later more “trendy” releases. Being the 60th anniversary of the recording of “She Loves You” this song received a special round of applause on mention.

Part 2 took on a lightly different format from the usual EggPod line of inquisition. Mark Lewisohn took us by the hand and led us through a step by step journey of recollections of July 1st, breaking down, in his accustomed forensic manner what the Beatles were doing on each anniversary day from1960 to 1969. It never ceases to amaze how rapid their rise and how significant their change was musically and personally from year to year. The show ended with a short Q&A session, which was temporarily interrupted by a comedic Policeman in EggPod stylee, and included some interesting questions which I’m sure would have been welcomed had it lasted longer. Leaving the audience wanting more, however; is a good outcome from this inaugural event and I, for one, will look forward to next year’s “pot pourri of delicious guests”.

By Gwyn Jenkins.