Love and punk were in the air at this year’s Beatles Fair

When The Beatles were first finding their sound, they played eight-hour long sets at a Hamburg, Germany club called The Indra. Because of the sets’ length, John Lennon said they had to put their hearts and souls into the performances to get themselves over. The ordeal served them well. The British pop group secured their confidence, honed their sound, and became global icons who have influenced countless musicians and artists since.

That said, it took eight Beatles cover bands and one Oasis tribute to soundtrack 12 hours of Beatles Fair at North Park’s Queen Bee’s during heatwave weekend. This was the 20th annual San Diego Beatles Fair, and the 16th of those fab affairs to take place at the Ohio Street venue. Queen Bee’s is a cultural arts center whose stated mission involves providing a platform for up-and-comers on all sides of the music business. However, it’s much more than that. The hive also opens its doors for weddings, dance classes, and the occasion funeral.

The Queen Bee herself, Alma Rodriguez, says “I credit the name [Queen Bee’s] to the San Diego Reader. When I moved to this location, the headline in the paper said: ‘Queen Bee of art and entertainment is moving to North Park.’ That’s how it happened.” (Before Queen Bee’s, Rodriguez says she ran a punk-rock venue in the College area called the Hot Monkey Love Café.) The Reader wasn’t the only factor, however. A believer in premonitions and destinies, Rodriguez says she Googled what big events happened in the world on the week of her birthday in 1968. “One of the articles I came across was ‘National Bee Day’ on the day of my birthday. The article was related to the Napoleonic Bee, and my nickname as a young girl and punk-rocker was Little Napoleon. I freaked out that day. There were too many coincidences. I’d known Napoleon was a great leader, and I took an interest in why people called me Napoleon. Then I found out Napoleon’s emblem was a queen bee. I realized that day that my destiny was to be a queen bee.”

At this year’s Beatles Fair, the space was steaming. Beatles tribute Acoustic Revolution opened things with “Here Comes the Sun,” an apropos choice during the hottest weekend of the year. I found a seat in the back. Huge circular paintings of the faces of John, Paul, George, and Ringo welcomed people as they walked in. King-sized industrial fans were placed in all corners, circulating the hot, thick air. It might have been a revival of the Hot Monkey Love Café, given the heat and the famous love songs being sung.

But what about the punk rock? Oh, the spirit of punk was absolutely woven into the fibers of the night. You could see it in the Queen Bee herself as she buzzed around with a microphone set on her head, encouraging show-goers to get up and dance. “I’ve been up since five this morning,” said Rodriguez. “I’m on nothing but your energy!” And as it turned out, the Queen Bee needed — needs — our energy. The space she created for young bands, poets, dancers, and artists is under the threat of being forced to relocate. Developers are looking to turn the area into condos and more apartments. To save the building, the city must recognize its historical significance and grant an official historical landmark designation. With a raised fist, Rodriguez told me that fundraisers to make this happen are in the works.

To close out the evening, Tijuana-based The Revolution Band showed up as the headline act. It wasn’t the first time the young tribute band had climbed onto Queen Bee’s stage. “They used to play here in other Beatles cover bands when they were 14 and 16 years old,” Rodriguez said. “Then they created their own band and became professional musicians, because they stuck with their idea of becoming a Beatles tribute band.”

The Revolution Band played a damn near perfect set as the faces of the Beatles on the wall looked on what their music had wrought. It’s venues like Hamburg’s Indra and our own Queen Bee’s that give these aspiring artists a stage to showcase their creativity. And if those artists failed, they could get up and try again. The story of developers coming in to tear down sacred spaces for financial gain has become all too cliché. It’s like an unfolding movie script, with the ending yet to be written. Somebody ring the bell, the fight is on. Float like a yellow submarine, sting like a Napoleonic bee.