Fab Faux brings Beatles back to life in Washington

The “Beatles” are returning to Washington D.C. OK, well, not exactly the Beatles, but perhaps the closest thing – The Fab Faux.

The band, considered to be the greatest Beatle tribute band minus the dress code, plays note-for-note of John, George, Paul and Ringo’s classic catalogue. The Washington Post’s  John Kelly said the band had tackled “the task of reverse engineering the Beatles’ late catalogue, obsessively learning every guitar figure, every drum fill, every lush harmony, every tap of the cowbell and shake of the tambourine, until the songs could be played in concert.”

The band  consists of five of New York’s most respected musicians.

Here’s the line up as they promote it:  “Will Lee of Late Show with David Letterman, who released a solo album last year which Rolling Stone Magazine praised as “hitting an intersection of the Average White Band and solo Paul McCartney,” Jimmy Vivino, band leader of the ‘Conan’ Show, Rich Pagano, who has performed with Rosanne Cash, Ray Davies and released a solo effort Blurt Magazine described as “one of the best albums of 2009,” Jack Petruzzelli, who has toured and recorded with Joan Osborne, Patti Smith and Rufus Wainwright (and co-wrote and co-produced Osborne’s latest album, “Love and Hate,” which came out in April,) and Frank Agnello, whose musical credits include Phoebe Snow, Marshall Crenshaw and Joey Molland of Badfinger.”

They will play two shows at Hamilton Live in Washington on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22.

Baltimore Post-Examiner exchanged emails with Will Lee as the Fab Faux prepares to bring Beatlemania to Washington DC.

BPE: How did you all meet?

Will: I met Rich Pagano on a Hiram Bullock tour in 1997 and had known Jimmy Vivino for years. Rich introduced us to Jack & Frank & we were off and running!

BPE: What music do you personally listen to at home?

Will: Literally everything. I do a lot of projects so lost of my time is spent listening to whatever projects I’m in the middle of

BPE: Why the Beatles?

Will: They’re simply the most prolific and highest quality songwriters of any one band, in my opinion

BPE: Did you meet any of them and what did they ask you? Paul McCartney was curious if you played “Tomorrow Never Knows”

Will: I heard Paul asked if we could play Tomorrow Never Knows. I was able to proudly say “Yes, of course”!

BPE: Many Beatle bands dress like them – you don’t? Why is that?

Will: It doesn’t seem necessary-the music is so strong on its own. We don’t need to pretend we’re not us!

BPE: What is your favorite song to play?

Will: That changes from day to day, sometimes from song to song! You’ll be thinking “Wow, this is a great song” while you’re singing it! Michelle, She’s Leaving Home, Run For Life, I mean…….?

BPE: What is the most difficult song to play?

Will: Believe it or not some of the simpler early ones can be tricky. We’re detail-oriented, so a song like “Don’t Let Me Down” can keep you really focused or in the case of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” or songs we don’t perform regularly, you might catch us concentrating a little harder to make sure all parts are right on the money (lol)!

BPE: What is the single message that the Beatles were trying to say in their music – a universal theme?

Will: Not always in a single direction, but as Paul McCartney said “I’m proud of it (The Beatles) because it was generally a good message.”

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An Evening With The Fab Faux (Two Nights!)
WASHINGTON, DC – THE HAMILTON

FRIDAY, OCT. 21, 2016 – 8:30 p.m.
“The Book Of Lennon” – The Beatles according to John
Encores: George Harrison
Tickets

SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 2016 – 8:30 p.m.
“The Book Of McCartney” – The Beatles according to Paul
Encores: George Harrison
Tickets