‘Project’ performs Feb. 14

Tony Burlingame always wanted to be a Beatle.

For more than a decade, he has lived out that dream as the frontman for The McCartney Project.

But why Paul? Why not John, George or Ringo?

“I'm a fan of the Beatles, and Paul was my favorite Beatle all those years,” Burlingame said. “But the true reason is because I'm left-handed naturally, and I can look like him and sound just like him.”

Burlingame will show off those abilities when The McCartney Project visits Arts Place for a Valentine’s Day concert of the Eric R. Rogers Performing Arts Series at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.

The band isn’t a direct Beatles tribute, instead focusing more on McCartney. It does perform Beatles hits, with a focus on tunes that McCartney wrote, but also covers his solo work and hits from his other band, Wings.

Everything the band plays is well known, Burlingame said.

“We don't really dwell on B-sides and rare stuff,” he added. “Everything we play was a hit. We stick to the hits. …

“It’s almost a 50-50 mix of Paul McCartney Beatles numbers and then his solo material. … Just a couple of ’80s Paul tunes and the rest of it is all ’70s Wings. And I'd say about 45 to 50% is his best stuff from the Beatles, like ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Lady Madonna’ … ‘Let it Be,’ ‘Hey, Jude.’ Everybody needs to hear ‘Hey Jude’ for an encore.”

Portraying McCartney really was a little bit more than just being left-handed. Burlingame got his love of music from his father Nick, a singing drummer, and older brother John, a guitar player. He had been involved in various musical projects portraying the British Invasion and knew John Scherer, who managed various groups in Ohio. 

Scherer was interested in putting together a McCartney tribute, and Burlingame, who had done some Beatles stuff but never a solo McCartney, threw his hat in the ring.

The experience with just a backing band made him realize he wanted his own group, so he and Scherer pulled together a roster.

It started with Burlingame shifting to bass guitar to truly match Paul and filling in the band around him with Robb Anagnostis on vocals, guitar and keyboard, Lar Wolkan on guitar, Phil Stearns as the drummer and Sara Reat serving as the “Linda” of the group.

“We've been going strong for quite a few years,” Burlingame said.

The McCartney Project has traveled all over the country, including venues in Dallas and Los Angeles. Now it focuses mainly on Ohio and adjacent states.

Tickets are $20 and are available at myartsplace.org, by visiting the Jay County Campus of Arts Place at 131 E. Walnut St., Portland, or by calling (260) 726-4809. Shows typically run two hours with a short intermission.

Next weekend’s concert will be the group’s second visit to Jay County. It played at Jay County High School as part of Jay County Music Foundation’s lineup in 2017.

Beyond the music itself, Burlingame enjoys performing for the opportunities it provides.

“It gives me a reason to talk to people,” he said. “We talk to fans at the show.”

The band learns what audience members have been going through, and its members enjoy the adrenaline rush of sharing memories and appreciation for the songs and the impact they can have.

“We see a lot of Beatles fans and they always tell me their Beatles memory,” said Burlingame. “Like, ‘Oh, I went to the theater to see ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ or ‘I saw Paul in his very first tour in ’71.’ They'll tell me their story and I can relate to all that stuff. It's healing, very healing, for the audience and the band alike.”

The Valentine’s Day concert is the first in the series that will also feature magician Brenden Trojan on March 7, Lee Alverson’s Tribute to Elton John on April 11 and cover artist Kaitlyn Schmit & Friends on April 25.