The music of The Beatles is coming to St. Louis.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre is hosting the band Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles on Feb. 4 and 5. Made up of five musicians, each standing in for a member of The Beatles over the course of its decades long career, Rain divides the career of The Beatles into five distinct acts: a recreation of the foursomes 1964 appearance on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” the music at the time of their record breaking concert at Shea Stadium, the music found on their album Sgt. Pepper and the Lonely Hearts Club Band, their more hippie-influenced music of released from the years 1967 to 1968 and the music found on their album Abbey Road in the years 1969 to 1970.
In order to give the audience a sense of the decade being portrayed, the show utilizes a combination of costumes, sets and videos that play behind the band.
“The Beatles music is the sound of a generation,” said Joe Bithorn, the Rain member who stands in for the late George Harrison. “We sort of bring you back through your memories of what you remember [from the past]. A lot of that is done through video.”
Bithorn grew up in New York City in the ’60s and has distinct memories of seeing The Beatles perform.
“I saw The Beatles when I was very, very young in front of the television with my brothers and sisters,” he said. “I was in awe.”
The show requires a lot of costume and set changes over the course of a performance, many of which must be done quickly to keep the momentum of the show going.
“The only break we get is about a 15 minute intermission,” Bithorn said.
Much of the credit for the success of the show, according to Bithorn, is the collaboration with the show’s creative team.
“Our crew is just the best crew in the world,” he said.
One of the biggest assets to the technical side of the show has a previous Beatles connection.
“The fellow that we buy [the first act] suits from was the tailor for The Beatles,” Bithorn said.
The band, of which Bithorn has been a member since its inception, has been consistently touring and performing since the ’80s.
“It can be like three or four months while you’re on the road,” he said.
Though life on the road can be overwhelming at times, Bithorn isn’t one to complain.
“We’re lucky to be doing something that we love to do,” he said. “We’re excited to be out there. The touring gets a little rough once in a while, but it’s nothing that I would call real tiring.”
For Bithorn, the experience of performing on stage is one he could never leave behind.
“When you get on stage, that’s when you forget everything and remember why you do what you do,” he said.
For more information about the band, visit www.raintribute.com.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Fox Theatre’s website www.fabulousfox.com or by visiting the box office located at the entrance to the theater.
