Entrepreneur Steve Marshall is a testament to the transformative power of music and the colour it adds to the palette of life. For proof, consider the feedback he and his bandmates in Relive the Music have recently received:
“This evening reminded me of how great of a life I have lived.”
“You guys brought my life back.”
“I’m crying tears of joy.”
Relive the Music, featuring eight singers and five band members—some of whom are family—delivers a full retrospective show spanning the 1950s and ’60s. Catch them live at North Vancouver’s Centennial Theatre on April 2.
“We are at 140 standing ovations in a row in Canada and the USA for a reason -- the reason is we bring back the memories of the past to this demographic,” Marshall says. “People have come up to us at the meet and greet with tears in their eyes about how much the night meant to them.”
The band’s live show includes smatterings of a variety show, trivia contest, nostalgia and of course, the best hits spanning the two decades rock and roll was born. Picture it as the perfect blend of an energetic live band, versatile front singers and dancers reliving two decades of music, costumes, trends and dancing with videos playing in the background.
Relive the Music’s show is also unique in that it includes a full band with four male and four female singers cast against a backdrop of continuous costume changes, medleys and a voiceover effect that challenges the audience to guess which song or artist is coming next.
“What separates us from other acts is it’s like watching 30 tribute shows in one evening,” Marshall says.
As for the artists covered, it’s like Throwback Thursday everyday with Relive the Music: Dean Martin, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Frank Sinatra, Little Richard, The Platters, Bill Haley and the Comets, the Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, the Beach Boys and dozens more.
“We’re on our eighth version of the band, so we’ve sorted through 20 years of more than 1,000 songs into our current show,” Marshall says. “We pick the songs that feel like they never get old.”
Family is very much the tie that binds in Relive the Music. Marshall is the band’s drummer and producer; his wife Luisa sings; his daughters Zenia and Kim Mendez sing and play guitar, respectively; and Marshall’s sister-in-law Tota Mendez also sings. The remaining cast and crew are rounded out by professional musicians from across North America.
Having recently completed a 40-date, cross-Canada tour, it would be easy to imagine the rigours and scheduling of such a gruelling trek as an impediment — many bands have simply disintegrated after similar long tours. Not so with Relive the Music — in this case, the family that plays together, stays together.
“We've learned to work together on everything and we're all ears with each other, so it’s really worked out,” Marshall says. “When you look out at the crowd and see three generations of a family enjoying the show, that says it all right there.”
Don’t miss your chance to experience Relive the Music live! With seven upcoming tour dates from North Vancouver to the Fraser Valley, the band is bringing their high-energy, nostalgic performance to even more fans.
Whether you’re a long-time rock and roll enthusiast or new to their music, these shows promise to be a memorable celebration of the hits that defined generations. Visit www.relivethemusic.ca to learn more.
