By Rachel Schiffman
If you were to ask people to name the most popular bands of the ‘60s, I don’t doubt that most would include the Beatles almost every time. Though they were only around for eight years, their influence on the music world leaves a deeper impression, arguably, than any other band in history.
The members of Plastic Sole, a Beatles cover band that practices every week in Howard Beach, are examples of just how influential the band was. The members decided that after years of listening to Beatles music they wanted to play it too.
All of the guys in the band have been playing or singing for many years, but have only been playing together in the current lineup for the last three. The members of Plastic Sole are Steve Misuraca on rhythm guitar, Danny Cohen on vocals, Chris Costa on lead guitar, Kevin Dylan on drums and vocals, and Robert Ness on keyboards and guitar.
The band has performed at bars, clubs and colleges all over Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jersey, but their crowning moment was playing at a “Battle of the Bands” during a yearly festival called “Beatlefest” in New Jersey. The gig was actually one of their first as a band. Misuraca, the founder of the band, said on that day he achieved one of his lifelong goals — playing at the event and celebrating his favorite band by singing their songs in front of others.
Misuraca has been playing guitar since he was a kid, and said he has always been a big Beatles fan. He also learned to play the drums at a young age and still has his original red sparkle drum kit.
When he decided to form a band, he knew from the start he wanted it to be a Beatles cover band. He put ads in the local music papers and placed flyers at music stores seeking others who shared his passion for Beatles music.
Keyboardist Ness actually started playing the violin in school, then moved to the piano. As a teenager, he switched to the guitar. Throughout the years, he has kept up all three and even teaches piano part time.
Singer Danny Cohen has been singing all his life. When he saw an ad in a newspaper for a singer for a Beatles cover band, a band he loved as much as the other members of Plastic Sole, he answered it. “I want to sing in front of people as often as I can. Once you have a good gig, you want to come back for more.”
Guitarist Chris Costa has been playing guitar for 12 years and considers it his emotional outlet. He also said of the Beatles that they are his favorite band of all time.
The band knows over 70 of the more than 200 songs the Beatles recorded. This also includes songs the members of the Beatles recorded separately. Some of those include, “I Saw Her Standing There,” “She Loves You,” “Lady Madonna,” and “I Feel Fine.” They try to include both the popular and the obscure songs into their sets. They even recorded a promotional disk with three songs on it to show what they can do for bar and club owners.
So if you are a Beatles fan, you can catch their next appearance on Saturday, April 5, at 10:30 p.m. at Doyle’s Corner, 42-02 Broadway in Astoria. Call 718-278-9402 for directions. For more info on the band, you can visit their Web site at www.angelfire.com/hi5/plasticsole/plasticsole.html.
