reCAP :: The Fab Faux :: 2016.06.11
Back in the Capitol Theatre again, The Fab Faux kicked their show off with the opening combo from the White Album, “Back in the USSR” and “Dear Prudence.” This was billed as a Fan’s Favorite show, and most of the songs were from the second half of the Beatles career, songs that the lads from Liverpool never performed live. This is the beauty of The Fab Faux experience. Fans get to hear these tunes explored as if the Beatles were playing a small hall in 1972.
The Fab Faux are so good, that after a few songs, you become oblivious to the reality that they are a cover band as you transcend with the music of the Beatles. The group faithfully captures the essence of the records, and at the same time, they tastefully take things to the next level. There was an extended guitar solo from Jimmy Vivino during “Paperback Writer,” and “Come Together” had an appealing psychedelic interlude. The Hogshead Horns and Cream Tangerine Strings came on stage and bolstered numbers like “I Am the Walrus” and “Elenaor Rigby.” All the nuances of the Beatles greatest masterpieces were recreated with passionate expertise. A piercing trumpet solo during “Penny Lane” was one of a series of never-ending highlights that fired-up the audience.
The versatility of the musicians was astounding. For the most part, Will Lee skillfully handled the role of Paul McCartney, but anybody on the stage could seemingly pick up the lead singing or instrumental role of any of the Beatles at any time. The Fab Faux took a short break and reemerged with a snappy version of “All My Loving.” Songs that changed the face of popular music where piled on top of each other. “Nowhere Man” was chased by “Strawberry Fields Forever.” The latter featured a wonderful dueling drum solo. They captured the tenderness of sentimental favorites like “In My Life.” “Something,” and “Oh Darling,” and made less heralded gems like “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and “Old Brown Shoe” come alive. I observed this show from the next to last row in the balcony. The acoustics were superb, the music was amply loud, and the light show on the ceiling of this legendary theatre was sublime.
Everybody got their money’s worth even if The Fab Faux hadn’t ended the show with the greatest medley in music history, side two of Abbey Road. I had never heard a live band perform this before, so it was an extraordinary happening, absurdly thrilling, and I could sense everybody in The Cap was feeling the same way. It was a blissful ending that somehow trumped everything that had preceded it. The delirious crowd demanded an encore, and The Fab Faux brought it back to the beginning—Shake it up baby now, twist and shout!