Tribute bands get no respect from rock snobs, but arguably their chops have to be even tighter to impress fans of the originals. (You’re excused, Faygo Hosedown—The Ultimate ICP Experience.) And if the band in question is The Beatles, well—unless you plan to palm off 45 minutes of tuning as “Revolution #9,” you’d better be readier than Rocky Raccoon. On that score, this Fab Four tribute band comes so overprepared they brought a fifth dude. Gordon Kennedy co-wrote Eric Clapton’s Grammy-winning “Change the World,” and Long Players co-founder Steve Allen was among the architects of power pop with his ’70s group 20/20. Together with Saul Zonana (who toured with the Crash Test Dummies), Peter Frampton sideman Rob Arthur and Music City Blues Jam founder John Salaway, they trade lead vocals on the moptops’ mightiest songs, from their Liverpool days to their narrow escape from death at the hands of Phil Spector. Think they can’t handle the production-loaded psychedelia of the late stuff? Think again. Say, how come there’s not a Rutles tribute band?
Fri., June 12, 7 p.m., 2009
