Review: Rain recreates totally fab Beatles’ favorites at the Vilar
Immersive show makes you completely forget all your cares and simply 'Let it Be'
John-Ryan Lockman/Courtesy photo
Rain’s multimedia concert Tuesday night at the Vilar Performing Arts Center was just like stepping into the 1960s and reliving The Beatles.
Owen Hutchinson, executive director of VPAC, was spot on when he told audiences that if there’s one band you’ve never heard of that’s a must-see, it’s Rain. While some might be familiar with Rain from its Broadway show in 2010 and 2011, some of us more mountain-bound music lovers didn’t realize just how sensational Rain is until they saw them live. After all, videos can distort shows, cherry-picking the best cuts, but Tuesday’s show consistently delivered the best of the best. A handful of years ago, I saw a Beatles tribute band at Red Rocks, and it didn’t hold a candle to Rain.
Two hours flew by as Rain transported a sold-out house back to the power of four lads who transformed the world through music. I’ve seen a lot of truly stellar shows, and this one ranks right up there in terms of quality, immersiveness and the ability to let you completely forget all your cares and simply “Let it Be” — and seep in musical greatness.
Since the mid-70s, Rain (originally Reign) has been recreating Beatles’ favorites. Their finely-tuned shows are so convincing, about the only cue you have that John, Paul, George and Ringo aren’t actually the ones on stage is that young women in the audience aren’t screaming, crying and fainting. Rain doesn’t just rely on costumery and note-for-note song reproduction; the artists have mastered the mannerisms of the original musicians. For instance, watching Paul Curatolo play left-handed and mimic the charming smile, eye, head, body and tonal mannerisms of Paul McCartney in his mop-headed, realistic-looking wig make you feel like you’re in the presence of Sir McCartney himself.
Emerging on stage in black suits, Rain delivered early Beatles’ tunes, beginning with “All My Loving,” bringing back memories with “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” and moving through songs like “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Yesterday” and “Day Tripper.”
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They donned darker gold jackets for part of the first half before changing into more casual Beatles clothing for the last part of the first set. During that more extensive costume change, their immersive video screens along the back and sides of the stage treated audiences to just over 5 minutes of vintage footage and commercials, including Country Corn Flakes and perhaps the most shocking: Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble smoking Winston cigarettes.
While the audience sat throughout most of the show, Rain got hands clapping in rhythm during many of the songs, and had the audience dancing during “Twist and Shout” in the first half.
Rich footage, from original audience reactions to The Beatles boycott and beyond, provided not just historical context, but also compelling visuals, while the sound of the band was simply spot on (with only very minor occasional split seconds when Steve Landes’ as John’s voice could have been just a tad stronger — but, really, I’m nitpicking here; this is literally the best, and highest quality, tribute band I’ve ever seen). Aaron Chiazza was excellent as Ringo, and Alastar McNeil was extremely engaging as George (yes, I am a George girl).
After intermission, the lads rocked the stage in their colorful Sgt. Pepper costumes. Just as the sound became more psychedelic, so, too, did the video graphics and lighting. At one point, VPAC turned into a spiraling-white-disco-esque ball of wonder with “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
The fifth Beatle (Mark Beyer) on keyboards — and his introduction — was an additional treat. The second half also paid fitting tribute to “Abbey Road” and the final Rooftop Concert, for which Rain switched costumes twice, making it all the more real.
The band got everyone on their feet again at the end of the concert. Then, a standing ovation led to a communal “Hey Jude,” as people swayed, hands in the air. Live footage of the VPAC audience projected onstage created even more enthusiastic interaction throughout the show.
What I found as compelling as the show itself involved the historical perspective it gave me. I grew up as a teen post-classic rock, so even as I’ve watched Beatles’ footage, interviews and movies throughout the decades, the shocking impact The Beatles had on a young generation — and music in general — never hit me as viscerally as it did Tuesday night. It really was like being transported in time to experience a phenomenon beyond words. I could see how it was akin to a spiritual experience; I suddenly understood the tears and mass hysteria of the 1960s — something I formerly kinda shook “me” head at.
By presenting such an extraordinary show, Rain allowed me to thoroughly feel just how significant The Beatles’ music was. I imagined listening to The Beatles — or better yet, seeing them live — for the first time, without the context of classic rock to come. I imagined how, in a way, being treated like a god worldwide did kind of ruin “the magic” after a while, leading to the final Rooftop Concert. Overall, I found a new appreciation for the fab four, and would recommend seeing Rain to anyone — both young and old.
