The Fab Four Show

Nothing could ever equal the experience of a live Beatles show.  For years, diehard Beatles fans hungered for a tribute show that would encapsulate every facet of The Beatles' greatness and do their legacy complete justice.  Then came southern California’s The Fab Four, who provide the most painstakingly detailed and accurate replication of the timeless music and character of The Beatles.  For all those who were too young to enjoy the original wave of Beatlemania, The Fab Four are the closest one could ever hope to get to seeing the true Beatles in concert.  And for those who were there, the band brings back pleasant memories of a much simpler time when music was about love, joy and happiness, and had a soul and conscience.  In the Fab Four's three distinct sets, you will witness the complete evolution of The Beatles, from cheeky, lovable mop-tops, to adventurous purveyors of psychedelia, to mature, socially conscious individuals.  In addition to using the exact equipment The Beatles did, The Fab Four also faithfully recreate the humor and on stage repartee of the original Beatles, with the members even emulating The Beatles’ distinctive accents.  Moreover, The Fab Four isn’t just a "greatest hits" band…every Fab Four show is a completely new experience, as the band retools its set lists on a show-by-show basis to offer up new b-sides and album tracks, which never fail to surprise even the most fervent of the band’s fans.

Set One: 1963-1965

It’s as if The Beatles themselves have just stepped off that infamous PanAm flight of February 1964.  All that's missing is Ed Sullivan (who just might show up, if you’re lucky!), as these boys take the stage in their "mod" black suits and thin ties.  This set lovingly encapsulates the fever of Beatlemania, and captures their youthful, raw energy.  There are performances from The Beatles’ early years such as "Please Please Me," "She Loves You," "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "All My Loving."  Later classics follow, such as "A Hard Day’s Night," "Eight Days A Week," "I Feel Fine" and "Help!"  Also, on occasion, The Fab Four prove themselves quite adept at playing b-sides and obscure album tracks, from the exquisite "This Boy" and "Till There Was You," to the cheeky "Thank You Girl," to the raucous "Boys" and "Roll Over Beethoven."  More often than not, the set concludes was a fantastically thrilling rendition of "Twist And Shout," which never fails to inspire the audience to sing along, dance and cheer.  Albums covered in this set include "Please Please Me," "With The Beatles," "A Hard Day's Night," "Beatles For Sale," "Help" and occasionally "Rubber Soul."

Set Two: 1965-1967

Get ready for an all-out psychedelic love-in when The Fab Four take the stage for their second set.  Donning Sgt. Pepper suits, which are "stitch-accurate"--right down to George's three-cornered hat--the very complex tunes of this era of the Beatles are performed skillfully and note-for-note without the use of any sequencers, back-up tapes or CD's.  Accurate mood lighting and fog machines help faithfully recreate the feel of the "Summer of Love" throughout.  The Beatles’ middle period hits, such as "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Yellow Submarine" (replete with bubble machine) are played, along with some more rocking nods to the past, such as "Day Tripper" and "Drive My Car."  If you’re lucky, you just might catch some obscurities, such as "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Hey Bulldog."  And The Fab Four always bring the set to a close with a stunningly accurate and harrowing rendition of the magnum opus "A Day In The Life," which closes the "Sgt. Pepper" LP, replete with swirling, tumultuous orchestra sounds.  Albums covered in this set include "Rubber Soul," "Revolver," "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Yellow Submarine."

Set Three: 1968-1970

The final set of the evening sees The Fab Four portraying the later, more mature Beatles.  The band look as if they just stepped off the cover of "Abbey Road," right down to John’s white suit and sneakers.  This set has it all, from the raucous "Back In The USSR" and "Revolution," to the dancy "Get Back" and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (the latter of which usually inspires a conga line in the audience), to the exquisite balladry of "Let It Be" and "Something."  On occasion, the band will throw in some more esoteric fare, such as "The Ballad Of John & Yoko" or "Don't Let Me Down," or even play solo songs of John Lennon or Paul McCartney, such as John’s "Imagine" or Paul’s "My Love" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."  A highlight of the third set is always The Fab Four’s raucous rendition of "Birthday," in which audience members celebrating birthdays are given special recognition and are occasionally invited on stage to play tambourine with the band.  The set often concludes with the classic sing-along "Hey Jude"--in which the entire audience is asked to participate--but occasionally will end with a thrillingly accurate rendering of the second medley from "Abbey Road" ("Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End"). Albums covered in this set include "The Beatles" (The White Album), "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be."

The Fab Four is a sonic and visual experience unlike any other before...the ultimate tribute to The Beatles!  Catch all three sets at a location near you today!


© 2001 Crapple Records, Inc.  All rights reserved.  No part of this article may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Crapple Records, Inc.

This article originally appeared on The Fab Four 2000.

An Introduction  •  The Members  •  The Show  •  Concert Reviews

The Fab Four Official Website

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