Fab Faux Serves Up Sgt. Pepper's at Berklee, November 11

Beatles tribute band presents a full rendition of a rock masterpiece at a Sovereign series concert.

October 9, 2007

The 2007-2008 Sovereign Bank Music Series at Berklee presents the Fab Faux—known as five of the hardest working musicians in New York City—in a track-by-track live performance of the Beatles' classic, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band—ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The musical virtuosity of the Fab Faux completely upends the concept of a Beatles tribute band. Going far beyond note-to-note cover versions, the Fab Faux presents shows filled with inspired rediscovery of the Beatles' musical magic. The group's members are also part of the Conan O'Brien and David Letterman house bands and sidemen for Patti Smith, Rufus Wainwright, and Joan Osborne.

The Fab Faux's Boston debut will be held at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, at 7:30 PM. Reserved seating tickets are $100, $55, and $40, on sale at the BPC box office, through Ticketmaster at 617 931-2000, and online at ticketmaster.com. Call 617 747-2261 or visit berkleebpc.com for more information. The BPC is wheelchair accessible.

Calling them "the greatest Beatles cover band—without the wigs," senior Rolling Stone editor David Fricke recently wrote, "the Faux invigorate the artistry of even the Beatles' most intricate studio masterpieces with top chops and Beatlemaniac glee." Approaching the songs with the intent of playing them live as accurately in musical reading and in spirit as possible, the Faux's breathtaking performances tend to dispel all concertgoers' previous notions of a Beatles tribute act.

Press: to inquire about photo availability and usage, please e-mail us. The Fab Faux Photo provided by the artist

The Fab Faux was born in 1998 when neighbors Jimmy Vivino and Will Lee kicked around the idea during an elevator ride in their New York City building. Vivino is a guitarist and arranger for the Late Night with Conan O'Brien house band the Max Weinberg 7 and Lee—who has played with all four Beatles—is a bassist for Paul Shaffer's CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman. Rounding out the line-up are vocalist/drummer/producer Rich Pagano (Rosanne Cash, Patti Smith, Ray Davies), guitarist Frank Agnello (Marshall Crenshaw, Phoebe Snow) and ace keyboardist/guitarist Jack Petruzzelli (Joan Osborne Band, Rufus Wainwright). All five principals contribute vocals, making the Faux's soaring harmonies as resonant as their multi-instrumental chops, which are further enhanced by the four-piece Hogshead Horns (with Blues Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and SNL band alumni) and Creme Tangerine Strings.

The Faux's high-energy shows have generated serious buzz not only at top New York City venues including Hammerstein Ballroom, the Nokia Theatre and Webster Hall, but also at major dates in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Park City, Utah (Sundance), among other locales. They've headlined several Beatle Week events in Liverpool, playing before 35,000 Beatle fanatics. While in England, they had the rare honor of recording an original song at Abbey Road Studios. They have delighted the masses, performing live on the Howard Stern Show and were featured in a full-length profile on CNN that was broadcast all over the world.

"It's not just a cover band," says the Faux's Pagano. "This is the greatest music ever written, and we're such freaks for it."

The 2007-2008 Sovereign Bank Music Series at Berklee features a wide variety of music ranging from rock, jazz, and Latin, to r&b, hip-hop, and Broadway and film tunes. Christopher Guest, k-os, Rosa Passos, George Duke, the SFJAZZ Collective, and Berklee's outstanding students, faculty, and alumni will perform in this unique and astonishing season.

For editorial information or digital photos, the media may contact:

Mitzi Dorbu
Office of Public Information
(617) 747-2750
mdorbu@berklee.edu