I wasn’t sure what to expect from an evening with the pre-Fab four but any excuse to be in the same room as Neil Innes should be grabbed with both hands. Anyone familiar with the Beatles story obviously loves the Rutles movie (All you need is cash) and the songs that parrallel the originals in a loving, respectful way that gives them a life of their own. I took my soon to be 16-year-old Matty along to this and without him, I think I’d have been the youngest in the room – he really enjoyed it though…..
I was a bit worried this would feel like a cabaret act but that was swept away as they started with my favourite ‘I must be in Love’ and did 2 sets of beautiful Beatle-esque tunes that stand up as well as the originals. Bizzare to think that drummer ‘Barry Wom’ (John Halsey) was the drummer on Lou Reeds ‘Transformer’ LP – rock royalty! and to hear him sing ‘Living in Hope’…….a joy!
They did 2 covers – The Travelling Willbury’s ‘Handle with care’ and George Harrison’s ‘All things must pass’ which fitted in well, but it’s the originals that had you laughing and singing along ‘Ouch’ ‘With a girl like you’ ‘Piggy in the Middle’ (beware the effects of tea) and ‘Love Life’…….every one a winner
Bob the Chiropodist