The Beatles changed my life. No question, they changed my life.
In 1964, I along with millions of others around the world, fell in love with the Beatles. And I'm in love with them today. I can't say that about any other musical group and really mean it. There are some notable musicians that I have admired and to a certain extent "loved". Jimi Hendrix for one, and a band that was born out of the 80's that still play today, KING'S X . Who ironically, remind me of the Beatles from time to time. But there was never really anything quite like the Beatles.
I never
got to see them live. They played Boston Garden in 1964, and they played Suffolk Downs race track in 1966 (on their final tour). And I'm embarrassed to say, that I was afraid of seeing them live, because I didn't want them to be mere mortals, like the rest of us. Of course I'm kicking myself today for that ridiculous thinking. I did see McCartney in 1976 at the Boston Garden with WINGS. Paul actually played a few Beatles songs including YESTERDAY.
I had snuck in my Super 8mm movie camera under my jacket, and got into the concert without being detected. I was sitting in the balcony. So I had a great view of the stage. I was able to shoot an entire 50' roll of them. I have Paul playing YESTERDAY. He was given a bouquet of red roses after playing it. I have it all on super 8mm.
I've seen McCartney since. And he's still amazing.
But that's it. I never saw any of the other Beatles. *I have, or rather "had" every single record they ever put out. *When I got back from Vietnam in 1970. I found out that my sisters had used my Beatles records for sun tanning reflectors. They put aluminum foil on the record covers. But they left the albums inside. They melted and warped them all. To this day I get upset thinking about it. And no, I never forgave them for doing that.
But before Vietnam, I went right along with them during every single phase. Each record got progressively better than the last. It was an incredible journey. My brother and I were obsessed with the Beatles. I got my first guitar by being a paperboy. I gave my old guitar to my brother. We played in bands together since 1971 all because of the Beatles. We still play today.
In the last year or so I have been listening to the Beatles channel on Sirius radio. It's been great. 24-7 Beatles. I love it.
I had never heard of RAIN before this year. I had heard of other tribute bands like FAB FOUR and 1964. I wanted to see them but never got around to actually buying tickets. My feeling on Tribute bands have never been favorable. I mean if you are going to be a tribute band, you better have your shit together.
Back in the 80's
I went and saw Randy Hansen do a tribute show about Jimi Hendrix. It was at the Paradise in Boston. Randy had make up and a wig on his head. He was dressed like Jimi and sounded like him. His playing was spot on. It was a fun night. But nothing more really. After all Randy was white and Jimi was black. And, Randy was a right handed player where Jimi was a left handed player, who played his strat upside down. Big difference.
So my experience with Tribute acts have always been, eh just OK.
Then... I saw the ad for RAIN at the Wang. I clicked on the graphic and listened to the trailer and watched the video. Now hold on a second here. These guys sound good. Really good. And it was all live? And this is what they look like? They (dare I say) look like the Beatles. The guy playing Paul was even left handed. Ok what the hell, lets buy a couple of tickets.
My wife and I drove in from Hampton, NH to Boston. We had great seats.
My old friend from WBCN Cha Chi Loprette was the MC.
Cha Chi is a HUGE Beatles fan. I mean HUGE as in BIGLY HUGE. If Cha chi was here these guys must be good. Cha Chi has a Sunday morning radio show called Breakfast with The Beatles. Cha Chi has met both of the surviving Beatles a number of times. So, if Cha Chi likes them...this could be really good. I was starting to get excited.
The theater went dark. The fans cheered. The curtains opened and... there they were. From 1964 The BEATLES playing "SHE LOVES YOU!"
I have to admit, I was stunned. They sounded so incredibly good. And this was all live. No pre-recorded anything. These guys were playing it exactly like the record. I watched closely as they went through their moves. How they stood. How they acted. How they interacted with each other. And to a man, they all had it down.
I had to have been driving my poor wife crazy. I kept leaning over and saying into her ear "He looks exactly like Paul." Or I'd say over and over again, "That guy is GEORGE!" And when John Lennon would make that silly face he'd do in the early years I'd lean over and say "Can you believe this baby? That's Lennon!" Ringo had a certain style of drumming. "That's Ringo up there on the drum rise!"
I was sold. Hook, line, and sinker. These were as close as I would ever get to see the Beatles live. They went from 1964 to 1969. Choosing songs along the way that everyone in that theater knew.
There were lots of senior fans out there. I'm 67 years old and I look OK for my age, but there were some folks out there who looked a lot older than me. But they were all kids again this night. I was that 13 yr old again sitting in our den watching the Ed Sullivan show on our old Black and White TV.
This is from the Shea Stadium show. Talk about detail, the guy playing John even had his jacket unbuttoned like John did that night. When they broke into "TICKET TO RIDE" it was amazing. They not only sang like the Beatles. They played like the Beatles. They acted like the Beatles. And they spoke like the Beatles. I was seeing the Beatles. It was as if I had died and gone to heaven, or I was sent back into some kind of Time Machine.
The show kept getting better. The lights and the slide show was incredible.
"John" had us all get up out of our seats and dance to TWIST AND SHOUT.
And all 3,500 of us did. I was having so much fun, as was everyone else.
As soon as the Shea Stadium show was over they were into the RUBBER SOUL and REVOLVER songs. I'm telling you, there was not a single moment when I thought, this is not what the Beatles would sound like. It was the complete opposite. It was without question a mind blowing experience.
By the time intermission came, we were all feeling the love.
Up next was the Entire SGT PEPPERS album. Start to finish.
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How on earth could they play "note for note" the entire Sgt Peppers LP? I don't know. I still don't know how they pulled that off. From the opening of SGT PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND to GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS. This was in a word "SPECTACULAR" .
Look at my cheap cell phone pics. They were all dressed in the Sgt Pepper's uniforms. Paul was now playing that Rickenbacker bass that he played during that time period. Keep in mind, Sgt Peppers came out in 1967. I remember the first time I heard it. It was yet again, another incredible record by a band that kept changing the way songs were being written and sung. This record was the FIRST EVER "CONCEPT RECORD."
And RAIN played it all. LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS. SHE'S LEAVING HOME. LOVELY RITA METER MAID...it was all coming back to each and every one of us. We were seeing it live.
RAIN was pulling off the impossible. Nobody can do this. Hell even the Beatles would have a hard time playing this record live. But yet, there we were, witnessing it all go down before our very eyes and ears.
And when the FINAL CHORD of DAY IN A LIFE hit...we were all just in shock with this incredible ending to that song.
Next up was the WHITE album.
When the George character played WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS, those of us in the audience who knew that Eric Clapton had played that solo on the record, were blown away when the GEORGE played the solo. Note for note. He earned himself a standing ovation from the audience. I remember listening to that LP in 1968 and hearing that solo, I was blown away that George could play that good. Of course later, we all heard that it was Clapton. So to hear this George play that solo and all it's fills while singing? Man it was unbelievable. George you Rocked it!
And I couldn't help but notice the slide show during REVOLUTION. It was all Vietnam images. And I thought to myself, there has to be a number of us Vietnam vets in the house. In one of the slides there was a little sign that said "REMEMBER THE VIETNAM
VETERANS". I pointed it out to my wife and she nodded.
It was a sort of of a bittersweet memory for me. Being in the Marines in that war. I was only 18 years old. But I never stopped listening to the Beatles. In fact, one night I got into a heated argument with some of the guys in my platoon. We were arguing about who was better The Beatles or the Jackson Five? I mean come on...any way, that's a story for another time.
Hearing songs from ABBEY ROAD performed live was just one of the most emotional times I have ever had at live show.
Most real Beatles fans know that ABBEY ROAD was the last ever recorded LP by the BEATLES. Even though LET IT BE came out after ABBEY ROAD. And I have always thought that the ABBEY ROAD LP was the perfect ending to an incredible short time that the Beatles were together.
In fact their last line on side two of ABBEY ROAD said it all for me.
"And it the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."
They came out and did two encores. The last one was HEY JUDE. We all sang that song and felt this incredible spirit of The Beatles in our souls. I can't thank RAIN enough for this incredible show. It's funny, I left there hoping that this band would never break up.
I don't think I could handle a second Beatles break up.
LENNON AND McCARTNEY
of RAIN
(I wasn't sure of the two guys who played George and Ringo. So I only have these two.)
 
JIMMY IRIZARRY (John Lennon)
(Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano, Harmonica)
is from Chicago, IL and began singing and playing the music of his favorite band, The Beatles, at the age of 12. He performed in local Chicago Beatle bands and learned the harmonica to master some of his early Beatle favorites. Years later Jim visited Liverpool for Beatle Week and made several appearances at the Cavern Club. He naturally captures the look and sound of Lennon and transforms himself through all eras of The Beatles as well as recreating John’s famous humor and onstage antics.
PAUL CURATOLO (Paul McCartney)
(Vocals, Bass, Piano, Guitar)
The Beatles became Paul's biggest influence as a child growing up with RAIN. At ten years old, his musical journey began when he taught himself the drums. He quickly adapted to guitar & piano which drove him to write and record his own music. When he was 14, as a member of the pop band "Wayward", he went on to record five albums. Until recently the band has toured the U.S. and was voted home town heroes in A.P. magazine.(Alternative Press).
Paul's love for the Beatles has driven him to master the character of Paul McCartney down to every detail. From vocal inflections to turning the bass over to perform left-handed. Paul considers it an honor to pay tribute to his idol.
MARK BEYER
(Keyboards, Percussion)
Mark Beyer began piano lessons at age 8, and at 12 was given special acceptance into a local University music school where he was privately trained in piano and music theory. At 14, he began experimenting with electronic keyboards and synthesizers from the 1970s, and played professionally in a progressive rock band. As keyboard technology advanced, Mark became known for his uncanny reproductions of elaborate sound textures, exotic instruments, and simulations of full orchestras. Mark is the primary programmer and sound designer for the keyboards currently used in RAIN's production
CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO SEE THE WHOLE GALLERY
Ralph
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