In terms of music we know today, there is no band more important in history than The Beatles. When these four young Englishmen came to New York in February of 1964, they changed the world as we know it. Since the beginning of the month of February, there have been numerous celebrations, shows, exhibits, talks, and performances dedicated to the boys from Liverpool, England. On Saturday, February 15, Albany ended their own week of celebration dedicated to the Beatles with a beautiful performance by The Fab Faux at The Egg.
The Fab Faux is comprised of skilled musicians who have worked with a who’s who of the music industry. The main five men are Will Lee, Jimmy Vivino, Rich Pagano, Frank Anello, and Jack Petruzzelli. On some nights, like Saturday, they bring out the four-piece Hogshead Horns, and the two-piece Crème Tangerine Strings. The first set this evening focused on the more acoustic side of The Beatles catalog. A rambunctious “Two of Us” kicked things off with a bang. “Norwegian Wood” saw Vivino bust out his sitar skills, while he let loose on his guitar during “Paperback Writer”. The Hogshead Horns added beautiful textures to “Penny Lane” and “Got to Get You into My Life.” A perfect rendition of “I Am the Walrus” including the Creme Tangerine Strings closed out the set.
In the second set, the band took it to another level. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was outstanding, and had the contribution of the late George Harrison, via soundboard, help out with the ending of the song. At the end of Vivino’s blistering guitar solo, he thanked George and Eric Clapton for the inspiration to a standing ovation. Will bounced around on stage all night like a little kid on Christmas Day, stating how he couldn’t be happier playing this music right now. For “Get Back” he climbed through the audience, never stopping his playing, and getting the crowd up and moving. Rich and Frank’s vocals were amazing all night. Jack took over the stage for “Oh! Darling” and wowed the crowd with a tremendous take on the classic Abbey Road song. The show ended with the ending medley from that album before a one-two punch of an encore of “Twist and Shout” and “Hey Jude.”
The band was in great spirits all night, joking between songs and showing nothing but smiles. The same thing can be said for the audience. There is something about the music of The Beatles, when played right, that there is nothing else to do but surrender yourself to the music and dance to it. Here’s to another 50 years of their music!
Set 1: Two of Us, I’ve Just Seen a Face, ‘Till There Was You, Nowegian Wood, Blackbird, And I Love Her, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away^, Mother Nature’s Son^, Things We Said, Nowhere Man, Tell Me Why, Run For Your Life, Paperback Writer, Penny Lane^, Got to Get You into My Life^, I Am the Walrus^*
Set 2: And Your Bird Can Sing, She’s a Woman, I Feel Fine, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, You Won’t See Me, Lady Madonna^, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da^, Baby It’s You, Ticket to Ride, Eleanor Rigby*, Get Back, Strawberry Fields^*, Oh! Darling, Revolution, Golden Slumbers^*>Carry That Weight*^>The End*^>Her Majesty
Encore: Twish and Shout, Hey Jude
^- with The Hogshead Horns
*- with The Creme Tangerine Strings
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