Has anyone seen "Rain" the Beatles tribute band live? (merged)

[SoCalSteve]

I'd heard of these guys over the years but never thought I'd be interested in what they do.

A couple of weeks ago PBS played one of their live shows during their pledge drive and after a couple of songs I was into it. Just let my imagination take over and transport me back in time.

Evidently they'll be in So Cal next year and it could be a fun time seeing them live.

[EricPeterson]

The PBS special was great, they were very tight. I really dug it, they were able really cop the sound and feel of all the songs, they even acted like the members, the guy playing Paul I thought was particularly good.

[SoCalSteve]

I agree with you on the Paul guy. How 'bout the George guy's guitar work on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - really captured the vibe.

I also enjoyed the costume changes for the different eras.

[enocaster]

While we're asking, how about "1964"? They are coming through here soon and I was thinking of taking the old lady.

[james russell]

I played solo guitar for a wedding ceremony last summer at which the groom had hired "Rain" to play the reception. It was a surprise for the bride who is huge Beatles fan. So I got to see them up close in a back yard setting. They were very good. Very believable. I was a grinning idiot all night. The costume changes were great, and for the most part they used period amps and guitars as well. Highly recommended.

James

[sfletch]

funny side note...my cover band played a city festival a few months ago...right after a very good Beatles tribute band. I was on the side of the stage checking them out, and noticed that the bassist had a vox super beatle-looking amp onstage (whatever the bass equivalent is...head and cab, chrome amp stand/brackets, you know?) anyway...I looked closer and noticed that he was actually playing through a bass POD direct, and the amp was just for looks.

Kinda funny. They were great though. Not in Rain's league, those guys are legendary.

[james russell]

funny side note...my cover band played a city festival a few months ago...right after a very good Beatles tribute band. I was on the side of the stage checking them out, and noticed that the bassist had a vox super beatle-looking amp onstage (whatever the bass equivalent is...head and cab, chrome amp stand/brackets, you know?) anyway...I looked closer and noticed that he was actually playing through a bass POD direct, and the amp was just for looks.

Kinda funny. They were great though. Not in Rain's league, those guys are legendary.

This is interesting because as I was watching Rain, I was wondering how they were getting all those diverse sounds out of the amps I saw on stage, and I was wondering if there was a POD or two in the mix. I was skeptical, but the sound out front had a real warm punch to it that sounded very much like tube amps to me. I was standing about five feet in front of the stage. Every time I try modeling amps they sound pretty good, and then I plug in to my Tone King, and think "oh yeah, I remember how I like my guitar to sound and feel."

James

[Jon Silberman]

I've seen both Rain and Tribute 1964, both bands are mucho fun.

Funny story about 1964. I was talking to their "George" after their show (the only one of the 4 with his real hair, FWIW :D ). I asked him whether he'd experienced any reliability issues with his Vox amps. He told me no because - LOL - they're just Vox cabs with totally rebuilt guts!

[angus99]

While we're asking, how about "1964"? They are coming through here soon and I was thinking of taking the old lady.

Saw 1964 several years ago and thought they were great--strangely, one memory is how accurately "John" was portrayed, right down the the way he chews gum :dunno

Big fun.

angus

[whitehall]

Saw them 15+ years ago . They were very good. No idea they were still around. Must be pretty old guys by now.

[Allthumbs56]

I have seen several Beatles tribute bands, including Rain. None come close to these guys:

http://www.caverners.com/default.htm

They play mostly in Canada but also do shows in New York and Michigan. 50 feet from the stage and you cannot tell that it is not the Beatles - they are that good.

[franksguitar]

I've seen the Beatlemania group and there is a band here in Atlanta called The Return and do early to later with AV show and costume changes including the same instruments of each era. Anther local band Mr. Moonlight did all the Beatles catalog including members of The Producers in the group, but were a larger band and not a clone or costume band, just played the stuff authentically.

[mik777]

I saw them in Lake Tahoe got comped some tickets, I was blown away!!! apparently Rain has the stamp of approval from Sir Paul himself as the only real Beatle Tribute band.

[HurricaneJesus]

I saw that PBS thing and just couldn't believe it. I wanted to crawl into my TV, run up to the stage and watch them like a hawk. Just unbelievably close.

[BMF Effects]

I'll take the Fab Faux over Rain, just my opinion.

[SGNick]

Weren't you guys paying attention? TGP doesn't LIKE Tribute bands... :)

[SoCalSteve]

Weren't you guys paying attention? TGP doesn't LIKE Tribute bands... :)

LOL That thread came to mind as I was starting this one. Dare I say I like The Atomic Punks as well!

[Patch]

Saw them once.
During the show, it was sounding just like the records.
I asked myself if it was lipsynch. It was not.
They were that good.

[Wiz-ski]

Saw them last night in Tampa - I was totally in awe. The dude playing Paul was so spot on vocally it wasn't even funny. The evening was a birthday present for my 8 year old son - pretty awesome first concert!

Wiz

[Jon Silberman]

I have. They were superb.

The TGP phobia with tribute bands is ridiculous. No one takes them for anything more or less than what they are: bands attempting to fairly accurately reproduce, live, the songs of the band they're covering.

For those people who say, why bother, you can stay home and listen to the records, what are you, off-the-charts Myers-Briggs introverts?! Not to mention, it simply doesn't sound at all the same live versus on record even if the Beatles were to come back to life and play it for you.

Can you possibly imagine someone saying, ever, I'm not going to the symphony tonight. Tonight's concert is intended to be an accurate reproduction, using period instruments, of composer X. That's awful, I'd rather stay home and spin the CD?!

P.S. Caught Dark Star Orchestra, the best Dead cover band in the world as far as I'm concerned, live Saturday night. What a blast! When the songs are wonderful to begin with, it makes all the difference in the world.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

Saw 1964 several years ago and thought they were great--strangely, one memory is how accurately "John" was portrayed, right down the the way he chews gum :dunno

Big fun.

angus



yeah, I saw 1964 twice, but it's been 10 years gone .... they were excellent. I suppose the only nit would be the 'Paul' character's voice thinned out in the higher registers, but they really looked good and did an awesome job overall.

[FeloniousBishop]

Check these guys out, The Cavern Beat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7QNfkKOtI8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvzThDqWBPg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDii8juuuwA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft9c4dji2VY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Q1lskJxvE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIiscbJsazI

[roadfilm]

I just saw Rain on Nov. 2nd. Had second row seats. They were excellent. There's an additional keyboard player who adds lots of stuff especially on the post Rubber Soul songs. The "George" guy is a really good guitarist. He had a replica "Fool" strat that had a roland synth pickup on it. He was adding lots of additional sounds with that. Very fun show, go see em if they come around.

[smallbutmighty]

I've seen them twice. Really fun to watch. Love the costume changes!

ac

[5E3]

Here is a nice montage of Rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn2vYOel-G0

CBS Sunday Morning story on Rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VSiQ9TawX4

[mtndog]

Rain seems particularly good. There's a band in Texas called Me and My Monkey, who are also quite good. They even have a left-handed Paul. What a rich catalog all these guys get to draw on!

[davetcan]

I've seen them twice. Great shows.

[ugacrow]

I'm a huge Beatles fan, and this tribute band is playing here this weekend.

Tickets are fairly costly ($25-52.50), so I don't wanna go if they're just so-so.

Any thoughts or experiences out there?

Thanks!

:BEER

[mtndog]

another thread already here -

[http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=444654

Have a great time at the show. It will be very good.

[bhap2]

My friend Joe Bithorn Plays in that band they're great.

[bhap2]

I agree with you on the Paul guy. How 'bout the George guy's guitar work on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - really captured the vibe.

I also enjoyed the costume changes for the different eras.

The George Guy is Joe Bithorn a buddy of mine. The first time I met him back in the 70s his band was playing Chick Corea and John McLaughlin. A really amazing guitarist. Im lucky enough to play with the bassist from that band.

[Gas-man]

I just watched the Rain thing on PBS and A LOT of it was clearly lip-synched.

[tvegas99]

I met Rain and got to hang with them when I was playing on a cruise ship years ago, they'd come on the ship every once in a while. It's been some time but they were so talented I could not believe it! I would absolutely recommend them to any Beatles fan.

[markom89]

I randomly met their guitarist (and the entire band, actually) at the airport in Vienna. Talked for a good half hour about gear and what not... great guy! They had some dates in Austria and he invited me to come check them out, but I couldn't as I had to be somewhere else, unfortunately. Would of loved to check them out. He even let me check out his '56 strat at the airport! While he butchered it (IMO) w/ the divided pup and the EMG's, it still felt amazing. Here's a photo of him w/ his main lady (you can see some member(s) in the background):

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w313/markom89/IMG_0047.jpg

[teleman1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVF66GVj8zU&feature=related

Here's the Zeatles!

[DanR]

I saw the show Friday nite. They played very well.

But.... here I go nitpicking...

The piano/keyboard didn't sound like a natural piano, particularly during "Golden Slumbers"..

I just thought it was a bit hokey when 'George' came out with the fake beard.

I was a little disappointed in the guitar break on "The End". The playing was fine, but if they're gonna try and be 'realistic' down to the costumes, wigs and beards, then "John', 'Paul' and 'George' shoulda traded off solos like the real Beatles did.

After "The End", I proceeded to run downstairs and pop in Abbey Road to enjoy the real thing.

I apologize for being critical, but I'm a die hard Beatles fan.

[loudboy]

I agree with you on the Paul guy. How 'bout the George guy's guitar work on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - really captured the vibe.

They should have had a fake Eric Clapton come out for that! <g>

[mtcoolg]

I have seen the Fab Four and would recommend them highly. The Paul guy plays left handed and is dead on in the impression department. The only thing that left me a bit let down was the George guys slide work. But no one sounds like George.

[tedzepplin]

I saw Rain this summer. They are really good.

I also saw The Silver Beats - Japan. The are excellent too. The John Lennon guy even looks like lennon. They speak Japanese between songs and sing in English and sound like the beatles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NucCOZ_SQ_8&feature=related