"OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!..."
That is an abbreviated, dare I say, orgasmic expression of what I was feeling during the show I went to last night at the Blumenthal: 4 guys, dressed like The Beatles, acting like The Beatles, sounding like The Beatles (just perfect) and playing The Beatles canon - live. Granted, I'm all of 24 years of age. I never saw The Beatles perform live, obviously. I grew up listening to my parent's Beatles records, because my parents were always fans and I naturally assimilated into the fanship. However, when you know the Fab Four's music forwards and backwards (err...maybe not, unless you know that Paul is dead and he was the Walrus), hearing it played with such expertise, live, on seemingly period instruments, it really makes you wish you had been born much, much earlier.
The concert covers The Beatles' various "transformations" from their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show to the Abbey Road years. The curtain rises on a pretty good replica of the Sullivan set, with the four guys singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and most of the more popular early tunes with such precision that for a very brief moment as the first song began, I was nearly let down, thinking they were using a backup recording. Hidden cameras on stage capture the same camera angles used on the TV broadcast, which is then shown on big screens on either side of the stage. Couple that with vintage footage interspersed along with the live shots, the very real clang and clamber of authentic Beatles music right in front of you, as opposed to the CD player, and you have yourself a time machine, kiddos.
Even their 1965 concert at Shea Stadium in New York is brought to life with some special lighting, sound and effects. This is followed (after a quick costume and set change whilst the audience is entertained with music and images of the later 60's on the screens) by what I had been waiting for the most. The curtain rises again and with a whoosh of neon colors, smoke and lighting, you've got yourself St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The same campy 18th century hot pink, green, blue and orange suits that are now iconic, and George in his tri-cornered feathered hat. It seemed the over-50 crowd was particularly fond of this set, what with the flashing psychedelic lights, and the spot-on renditions of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "A Little Help From My Friends", "Strawberry Fields Forever", and "A Day In the Life".
Oddly enough, this weirder (read: drug music) side of the Beatles isn't included in the India/Abbey Road phase that's introduced after the intermission: with that, all the usual later songs are played with the same perfection and ends with George playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and reached such a crescendo that it had everyone in the Belk giving him a standing ovation, cheering, much hand waving and "peace" signs. Oh brother. But this only magnified when the next "scene" brought the four guys back on stage wearing their Abbey Road album cover outfits (man, was I digging John's white suit) singing "Come Together" and "Get Back" and other favorites. It wasn't so much the visuals as it was the way the original songs were being treated so reverently, along with recreated footage of late 60's Beatles concerts. It was topped off by John signing an uncanny "Imagine", wearing his Vietnam army jacket and touting the peace thing again, and Paul singing a heartfelt "Hey Jude", with audience participation to the hilt.
My only complaint was that it wasn't long enough for the simple reason I couldn't get enough of what I was hearing. Otherwise, I think it was the most wise investment I've made in the Charlotte arts scene this fall. Searching for "Rain Beatles Experience" on You Tube will give you a bunch of clips so you can see for yourself what I'm talking about.
If you're a Beatles fan or just want to know what exactly your parents are talking about when it comes to their own memories, I heartily recommend going to this the next time Rain is in town. Go to www.rainthebeatlesexperience.com to learn more. C'mon, be hip. Remember: if it wasn't for your parents, you wouldn't be here.
OMG OMG OMG OMG.....
