Doctor Robert

"On a frigid, damp Solstice Sunday evening in Gunnison, Father's Day, The Beatles came back to life. At least they did for a strong majority of the adult crowd gathered in Legion Park for another installment of the Gunnison Arts Centers' Sundays@6 concert series.
It was like a Fab Four reunion, courtesy of the talented Crested Butte based "tribute" band Doctor Robert. And the crowd was eating it up, singing and swaying like it was 1964. The only thing missing was Ed Sullivan, screaming teens and Go-go boots.
For some of us, though, it wasn't so much of a re-birth as it was an awakening. The Beatles made some remarkable music."
"It became clear to me Sunday just how much The Beatles' music meant---means--to people. And it reminded me how music still has that magical ability to bring people together, to let things be. Just like the songs did."
"Getting away from "it all" to come together. Thats what events like the San Juan Solstice and the Tour Divide are about. That's part of what great music, like that of The Beatles, is about. And thanks Doctor Robert to opening my eyes and ears to some greatness that I almost missed." - Chris Dickey, Gunnison Country Times

"On a frigid, damp Solstice Sunday evening in Gunnison, Father's Day, The Beatles came back to life. At least they did for a strong majority of the adult crowd gathered in Legion Park for another installment of the Gunnison Arts Centers' Sundays@6 concert series.
It was like a Fab Four reunion, courtesy of the talented Crested Butte based "tribute" band Doctor Robert. And the crowd was eating it up, singing and swaying like it was 1964. The only thing missing was Ed Sullivan, screaming teens and Go-go boots.
For some of us, though, it wasn't so much of a re-birth as it was an awakening. The Beatles made some remarkable music."
"It became clear to me Sunday just how much The Beatles' music meant---means--to people. And it reminded me how music still has that magical ability to bring people together, to let things be. Just like the songs did."
"Getting away from "it all" to come together. Thats what events like the San Juan Solstice and the Tour Divide are about. That's part of what great music, like that of The Beatles, is about. And thanks Doctor Robert to opening my eyes and ears to some greatness that I almost missed." - Chris Dickey, Gunnison Country Times

Dear Dr. Robert,

Thank you again for donating your time and talent and doing the benefit concert for the Blue Sage. Your concert raised over $500 for our little organization!

Our community absolutely loved your show, and tell how much they enjoyed dancing and singing along. It really thrilled everyone when you gave them a double encore! We didn't want to the night to end.

Casey, Amanda, Ben, Karen, and Kevin, you are a professional, friendly and incredibly talented act. We were honored to have you perform in our venue and cannot wait to invite you back to Paonia.

Very truly yours,
Robin Waters & Annette Pretorius - Robin Waters & Annette Pretorius, Blue Sage Center for the Arts

"You were FUN! Those that were here had a blast. I have never seen a greater percentage of the house get up and dance! smiles were everywhere! It was a genuine pleasure having you. I can't wait to book you again... when are your next available dats? I'd like to get you back here during one of our bigger weekends if possible.' - John Grover, owner, state highway theater, Buena Vista, CO

The curtain is set to rise in Legion Park this Fathers Day for Doctor Robert, a Beatles cover band out of Crested Butte. While the term "Doctor Robert Mania" may not quiet roll off the tongue, one thing is certain: The music they play is just as relevant, high energy and inter-generationally appealling today, 41 years after the fact, as it was ever in the hands of The Beatles themselves. "The Beatles were the beginning of rock 'n' roll music as we know it," said Kevin Reinert, bass player and vocalist who was the driving force Doctor Roberts' formation las August. "They touched on so many different musical styles and took risks to push the envelope of what was normal.
It's no wander, then, that countless Bealtes tribute bands have taken up their instruments, donned their mop top wigs and hit the stage of the Bealtes' sub culture with reletive success. However Doctor Robert is something just a little different. Ben Wright, drummer, explained this way: "We try to find a good balance between playing what's written in the score and exploring our own creative ideas. It is important for us to express ourselves musically and not to just memorize and regergitate."
With two women (Karen Janssen, and Amanda Thomspon) in the ranks of their five-piece band, Doctor Robert is already recklessly different from their Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr impersonating counterparts. They still play most songsthe way they were origionally arranged, but do not seem interested in cliched imitations. The best part, according to Janssen, who is a music teacher, is simply keeing the music alive and sharing it with the younger generation.
"At our family shows, it's amazing to see the grandmas and the grandpas singing along with their four year old grandchild in the front row," she said. The Beatles music is so varied, so clever and catchy, and so relevant to everyday situations and feelings, that it seems timeless. Every song they learn, the members of Doctor Robert joke, is their new favorite song. "They were genius at writing songs," said Wright. "We love digging through the complete scores and learning so many unbelievable things."
"Learning The Beatles has helped us all to become better musicians." The band already has quiet an impressive musical ability. Janssen, Thomspon, and guitar player Casey Falter claim degrees related to music and each member has an impressive resume of past band expreience and ability to "dabble" in many different instruments; including guitar, bass, various percussion, piano, and mandolin.
The hard work and experience has paid off. With more than 80 songs in their repetoire, Doctor Robert has playd venues across Colorado, and plans to continue "mini tours" and insert themselves into the Denver and front range scene to get more consistent gigs. Last winter, they performed weekly at the Firehouse bar and grill in Mt. Crested Butte and still try play locally as much as possible.
"Because of mu older brother,I grew up with this music," said Janssen. "Its deep inside of me." To some degree, it's deep inside all of us, and Doctor Robert hopes you'll come out to hear them play Sundays at 6 in Legion Park. - Gunnison Country Times, by Cedar Micaelah Floyd

"I was extremely delighted to encounter one of the finest Beatles tribute bands at the Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen Colorado, during the first week of June 2011. These musicians not only have the "technical licks" down, but they also put a nice modern spin on the timeless music of the Beatles. These folks are not trying to be copy cats, I think they have captured the evolution of the music, as if the original Beatles were still alive and touring.

They were so much fun that I went to see them again on their second night!!"
- Pat Travis, Long Time Colorado Musician

"I was extremely delighted to encounter one of the finest Beatles tribute bands at the Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen Colorado, during the first week of June 2011. These musicians not only have the "technical licks" down, but they also put a nice modern spin on the timeless music of the Beatles. These folks are not trying to be copy cats, I think they have captured the evolution of the music, as if the original Beatles were still alive and touring.

They were so much fun that I went to see them again on their second night!!"
- Pat Travis, Long Time Colorado Musician