The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones. "Tax Man" vs. "Monkey Man." For decades, music fans all over the world have debated which group is better. Friday, the conflict will be settled once and for all in a community center here in New Jersey. And kids get in for $2.
Rock The House, a collective of musicians from around Maplewood and South Orange, is celebrating its one-year anniversary Friday with a show that features covers of Beatles and Rolling Stones songs. The show is at The Baird Center in South Orange, doors are at 8 and tickets are $5, kids for $2.
Two local bands, Felt and 3rd Gear, will be the main bands playing, but over 30 other musicians will take part, giving the whole thing a kind of "We Are The World" feel. "We invited all the musicians who have played in Rock The House shows," said Felt's Tarquin Learned. "Each picked a Beatles or a Stones song and an instrument to play. We have a spreadsheet of all the songs we have planned, who is in each one, a couple of rehearsals. It should be a great night."
After all the music, Tarquin confirms that some sort of crowd Applause-o-Meter will decide Beatles vs. Rolling Stones once and for all. He's more coy on where he stands personally on the band battle. Clearly the man does not want to take sides.
"The Beatles appeal to the good-boy side, the Stones to the edgy bad-boy side. Everybody needs both."
Hmmm, OK. You don't have to be so Switzerland. Cast your vote for Beatles or Rolling Stones below. And if you are at Rock The House Friday, post your photos here and videos here.