A Night With John Lennon - The Fab Faux at Radio City Music Hall

In 2010, while on a business trip to New York, I witnessed a unique show in celebration of John Lennon's life and music. It was billed as ‘The Fab Faux present A Night In The Life’. If you have heard them at all, you will know the Fab Faux, led by bassist Will Lee, recreate the Beatles songs extremely faithfully.

I had seen the show advertised on the web, when I did my usual pre-trip check of what's on. This is the same trip where I saw the open-air show by Zappa Plays Zappa at the unveiling of an FZ statue In Baltimore. 

For the Lennon show, the added attraction was the venue, Radio City Music Hall, a marvellous art deco theatre in midtown Manhattan.

The show started boldly with the song that signalled a new psychedelic direction for The Beatles - the last track on Revolver, 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. The Fab Faux successfully recreated the tape effects and vocal distortions (using a megaphone) of the original. 

 

Their attention to detail is legendary. The resonating guitar intro to 'I Feel Fine' was perfectly executed. Flutes were present and correct at the end of 'You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away'.

Equally impressive was their ability to convey an intensity to match Lennon’s original performances. In particular, drummer Rich Pagano did a convincing job on the ‘Mama don’t go, Daddy come home’ section of 'Mother'.

Augmented by the Hogshead Horns and the Crème Tangerine strings, the Fabs got the measure of the psychedelic (trippy strings on 'I Am The Walrus') and the abstract (Happiness Is A Warm Gun). 

 

The Nutopia Choir added gorgeous backing to 'Across The Universe' and an immaculate 'Instant Karma'. The show reached a final crescendo with 'Revolution' followed by A 'Day In The Life'.

It was a remarkable tribute, capturing the spirit of each distinctive period of Lennon's musical life. Everyone knows this music intimately, so it's a brave group that will try to recreate it. The Fab Faux do a fantastic job. If you ever get the chance, go and see them perform. 

Had he lived it's quite possible John may not have attained such musical heights as he did in the 1960s and 70s. But I think he would have been a force for positive change in other ways. In any case, it was emotional, to see these classic songs brought to life and to be reminded that their creator was such an amazing and unique talent. 

Here is the complete set list:

Tomorrow Never Knows  /   Whatever gets you through the night  /  Nowhere Man

Across The Universe  /   I’m A Loser  /  Come Together  /  Norwegian Wood  / I Feel Fine

You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away  /  Watching The Wheels   /   Strawberry Fields Forever  /   

No Reply  /  Happiness Is A Warm Gun  /  Rain  /  Cold Turkey  / I Want You (She’s So Heavy)

Interlude: The (original) Quarrymen: Maggie Mae

Working Class Hero   /  Mother /  Power To The People   /   Instant Karma   /   Because

Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite  /  Help!  /   Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds   /  Jealous Guy   /    

Mind Games  /  I Am The Walrus  / Yer Blues /   In My Life  /  Imagine  / Revolution  /   A Day In The Life

Encore: All You Need Is Love  /  Give Peace A Chance

 

 In Central Park West, across the road from the Dakota Building, is a small area dedicated to John, Strawberry Fields.

Also on this blog:

LIFE magazine reports on 'The New Far-out Beatles', 1967
https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2021/01/life-reports-on-new-far-out-beatles.html

At Home With the Lennons, 1967
https://bangnzdrum.blogspot.com/2014/08/at-home-with-lennons-1967.html