The resurrection of the Fab Four is absolutely brilliant with RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles, at West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center.

May 1st, 2024

The Legendary Fab Four was honored and rekindled in every remarkable way!

In September, 1969 Abbey Road was the last Beatles Studio Album they ever made together. The album ended with the symbolic song simply titled ‘The End’ and faded out with the lyrics; “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Well; thankfully RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES triumphantly brought back to life what was mostly lost and gone for decades past. 

What RAIN did was nothing short of miraculous. Think about it! They took on The Beatles, the most beloved, well-known and respected rock band of all-time. A band with members that were all as symbolic as even their songs were. John, Paul, George and Ringo; indelibly etched as the ‘Fab Four,’ seemed impossible to duplicate on a professional level, but somehow they surpassed all expectations. 

First, we had Paul Curatolo taking on the iconic role of Paul McCartney. From the opening notes of ‘Please Please Me’ dawning his epic mop-top, to singing the greatest closing song of all-time behind the ivories with “Hey Jude;” Curatalo became the larger-than-life McCartney like no one else has before. His melodically driven voice was perfectly in tune as they ran through decades of classics. 

Curatolo also went above and beyond in humanizing their performance. He was always hyping up the crowd, getting the vat of the Kravis Center singing to songs like the infamous “Yesterday,” “With a Little Help,” “Come Together” and “Revolution,” while always staying true to the character that he was projecting. 

The Kravis Center was the perfect location for encapsulating the uncontainable sounds of The Beatles. It was all smiles around as the vast majority of the audience was reliving their childhood memories. This was even heightened by video clips, interviews and hilarious timely commercial ads. All of it brought you back to the sixties and many of the patrons’ attires reflected the era as well. 

I saw, a few rows in front of me, a lady in her nineties with a tie-dye shirt and matching headband on. She was rocking out, especially when RAIN started playing “Twist and Shout,” and “I Feel Fine.” She was not alone; dancing, clapping and of course, singing, which echoed throughout the entirety of the night. 

All of The Beatle’s songs were accompanied by the members of RAIN wearing the very same outfits that they wore during different segments of their careers. From the Ed Sullivan Show to New York’s Shea Stadium, to the rooftop where they played “Get Back,” you were transported right there with them. They did this with amazing visual backdrops and lighting effects. 

Now, the dubious task of taking on John Lennon was done by Steve Landes. Wow; was he great! Not only did Landes sound like Lennon, but all of his body postures mimicked him too. You could see Landes perfectly displaying the morphing character of John Lennon from “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and “A Hard Day’s Night” to the much deeper “Strawberry Fields” and my personal favorite, “A Day In The Life.” Steve culminated with Lennon’s chanting song, which became a movement, “Give Peace A Chance.” 

The other two members of RAIN: A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES were Dylan Verge and Alastar McNeil. Dylan played the drums with the same head whips that Ringo Star made famous. I don’t think I ever saw Verge not smiling and enjoying the concert he was playing. Alastar McNeil wowed me the most. He was George Harrison and that really is saying a lot. His look of intensity and his guitar playing set him off. Songs like “Got to Get You Into My Life,” “I am the Walrus,” “Magical Mystery Tour” and the massively psychedelic “Tomorrow Never Knows,” really showcased his skills. 

Yes, RAIN comprised of four very talented performers, five if you include their amazing keyboardist Mark Reyer, but they really shined together, feeding off of one another. This was always the case, but really highlighted when they played “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” Eleanor Rigby” and “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” 

I was never able to attend The Beatles concert, but seeing RAIN perform live, I truly felt like I was at one. At one point I closed my eyes and it felt so real and genuine that I almost teared up. What they accomplished was simply mesmerizing. This was RAIN’s Sgt. Pepper’s Magical Mystery Tour and I can’t wait until they come back! If they come back to the Kravis Center, then it’s definitely a win-win situation.