“We all know what John Lennon would tell us if he were with us today. He would tell us to piss off,” said Enoch “Doyle” Jeeter, who established Enoch’s Irish Pub in Monroe.
With a packed pub, it was obvious everyone did just the opposite. The 39th annual John Lennon birthday celebration brought together the young and the old to listen to local bands cover songs by Lennon and The Beatles in celebration and in remembrance of a legend.
Local artists: Josh Madden, Josh Love, Bill Boles and Mike Martinez along with special guests, shared their talent as a tribute to the life of Lennon.
Guitarist Josh Love expressed after performing, “The Beatles and John Lennon, specifically, are giants in the music world, and I felt, as a musician and budding artist, that this would only deepen my artistry. I’m in awe of his/their breadth of work, and it makes me want to create this very instant.”
“This celebration is always a hit within the community, and I just wanted to be a part of it and soak up as much culture as possible,” Love added.
The crowd sang along as “Hey Jude,” “Imagine,” and other classic Beatle hits played throughout the pub.
“It’s amazing what music can do for the community. It gives people with shared interest a platform to come together in communion,” said Baxter Flor, a biology junior.
“We love to see people come together, have a good time and enjoy music,” said John Jeeter, Doyle’s son and owner of Enoch’s.
It’s obvious that the annual event serves a strong purpose every year by bringing the Monroe community together to honor the life and impression Lennon made on many.
“I started this on Oct. 9, 1980 before John Lennon passed away, and with your help, we will continue to do this for a long time,” said Doyle as he closed out the event for the 39th year in a row.
Cheers filled the outdoor seats of the pub as attendees drank their beers and happily sang along to the songs of celebration.