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Irving Native Chris Paul Overall Finds New Musical Career as Paul McCartney


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Jesse Wilder, Chris Paul Overall, Nate Bott and Axel Clarke

It was 20 years ago today — well, give or take a couple of years — when Chris Paul Overall first performed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Living in Irving, he was a 20 year old with his band, CPO & Co, playing original tunes. When he returns to the Arlington Music Hall on August 2, he’ll be a different person in more ways than one.

He’ll be Paul McCartney. 
 
Overall plays the knighted Beatle as part of the tribute band Abbey Road, which is featured in the show, Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Shootout. During the show, Abbey Road engages in a musical “shootout” of the hits against premier Stones tribute band Jumping Jack Flash, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion.
 
The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments. It has toured for years, with a critic for the Orange County Register at one point declaring: "If you see only one tribute show, see this one...smart and loads of fun."
 
Overall said that his love of the Beatles came at an early age.
 
“I remember riding in my father’s car beginning when I was about three or four years old and listening to Beatles music,” said Overall. “Even as a kid, those songs get into your imagination on a pretty magical level.”
 
After making the rounds at local music venues such as Deep Ellum and the now closed Moon Bar, Overall moved to Los Angeles and began fronting an award-winning  band called “Wonderlove.” Today, in addition to performing 80 – 90 Beatles shows per year, Overall’s band is still going strong and a new album titled “Hillbilly Soul” will be released on August 20.
 
“The Beatles have always been a reference point for my song writing,” said Overall. “Their songcraft was pretty ingenious.”
 
In addition to the Beatles vs. Stones show, Overall was cast in 2011 as McCartney in a nationally touring theatrical musical biography about the Fab Four called “In My Life – A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles.” The play is packed with live performances of songs from across the Beatles’ incredible career, telling the Fab Four’s story from the perspective of their manager, Brian Epstein. During this show, Overall and his band mates both play the songs and deliver dialogue in character.
 
He studied online footage for months to learn how to move, sing and talk like Paul McCartney. Overall's vocal range tops four octaves, which is necessary to be able to perform the role.
 
“The most challenging part of the process was learning how to play the bass guitar left-handed,” said Overall.
 
"I'm looking forward to playing at the Arlington Music Hall in front of my family and friends," he said.
 
CALENDAR: The two greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time face off as the Arlington Music Hall Center hosts tributes to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Renowned tribute bands Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash engage in a musical “shootout” of the hits. “Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Shootout” performs on August 2 at 7:30 pm at the Arlington Music Hall. Tickets are $20 - $90 and may be purchased online at www.arlingtonmusichall.net, by phone at (817) 226-4400 or at the Theatre Box Office. The Arlington Music Hall is located at 224 N Center St. Arlington, Texas 76011. The show is appropriate for all ages.

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