Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Review: RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles OR How to Travel to England Without Needing a Passport
Last June 2015, I was sitting in The Woodlands with a
crowd of thousands as Paul McCartney brought the house down at Firefly MusicFestival. I was twitter pated to be in
the presence of Sir Paul. Fast forward to
March 9, 2016. I was hearing Beatle
tunes at Warner Theatre. “Rain - A
Tribute to the Beatles” was on the marquee.
These artists were skilled at performing. “Performing” isn’t accurate enough. They were channeling
the Beatles.
The
“Fab Four” (okay five counting keyboardist, Chris Smallwood) included:
Steve
Landes - John Lennon
Paul
Curatolo - Paul McCartney
Alastar
McNeil - George Harrison
Aaron
Chiazza - Ringo Starr
The
performance is a musical conversation with the audience. Everyone is encouraged to cheer, clap or
dance. Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles
is much more than a show. It is a love
song to The Fab Four, musical time travel, a magical light show and a gift to
the audience. If you haven’t already
seen “Rain”, go buy your tickets now!
You can check tour dates by visiting raintribute.com.
This
was a show within a show within a show.
The lighting was spectacular. The
acoustics were incredible. The images
drove us through Liverpool. I walked on
Abbey Road. I sat in the audience while
Ed Sullivan introduced the Beatles. I
danced with Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club band. I got by with a little help from my friends. When I lived in London, I honored the Beatles
by visiting Liverpool. I felt as if I
had returned. I traveled to England
without needing a passport.
My
husband and I ushered at Warner Theatre for 10 years just to experience the
arts. During “Rain,” I swam in notes and
did the back stroke through guitar chords.
These performers are so authentic that Paul Curatolo taught himself how
to play the guitar with his left hand, just like McCartney. During the performance, we met the Beatles as
they were starting their career and we cheered them goodbye as they morphed
into their older selves.
It
was not lost on the crowd that uber producer, George Martin had just passed
away at age 90. The band dedicated,
“Yesterday” and “In My Life” to the often credited “Fifth Beatle.”
It
is hard to pick just one favorite moment during the show. Some of my special tunes included, “While My
Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Hey Jude.”
During “Across the Universe,” I closed my eyes and had my own little
church service for a minute. My dad was
a preacher so I know what I am talking about!
All
you need is love, and a ticket to @raintribute.
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