Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles! (Sorta)

I went to several concerts this past summer; you may remember reading about some of them. Felix Cavaliere, leader of the (Young) Rascals, led a crack band doing most of their big hits at the Tarrytown Music Hall in June. A week later the Happy Together Tour also stopped in Tarrytown: an oldies show with the Buckinghams, the Association and the Turtles (among others). The Family Stone, sans Sly but in great form, played in Hamden, CT, as did the Tokens (excellent) and the Drifters (not so good).

I chose not to stay in West Haven, CT, on July 25 for “A Temptations Review” (sic), part of the Savin Rock Festival. That show was advertised as featuring former lead singer of the Temptations Barrington “Bo” Henderson.

Bo Who? Turns out that Henderson fronted the Temptations from 1998-2003. That’s 33 years after their best-known hit, My Girl, and 25 years after their last Top 10 hit, Masterpiece. To call last summer’s gig in West Haven a Temptations show is a bit of a stretch.

Last night I returned to the Tarrytown Music Hall for a show that made no pretense whatsoever at being original. In fact music director and lead guitarist Rob Phillips (pictured) announced at the top of the show that no effort was made to look like or act like the original artists but only to play one of their classic albums note for note, track by track.

That album? Abbey Road by the Beatles.

It was an excellent concert. The group didn’t always sound like the Beatles – though they were usually damn close – but the music was, as promised, note for note spot on. I never thought I would hear Come Together, Something and Here Comes the Sun live, almost as if the Beatles were doing it. It was, uh, fab!

The second half featured a fascinating mix of megahits and lesser knowns. I wasn’t ready for – and could’ve lived without – Why Don’t We Do It In the Road, but I loved hearing I Am the Walrus and Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da and was absolutely blown away by the last four songs of the night: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, A Day in the Life, She Loves You and Twist and Shout.

To hear this music the day after what should have been John Lennon’s 75th birthday was poignant and emotional and an excellent way to celebrate his legacy. Thank you, Lu and Harriet, for joining me on such a fun night. (Have you defrosted yet from our al fresco dinner?)