BY MELISSA RENZER

SPECIAL TO PLANET VALENTI ARTS

(PITTSFIELD) — A splendid time was guaranteed — and had — by all Friday night [July 21, 2017] at a packed Boland Theater on the BCC campus. BEATLESQUE, city-based musician Mick Valenti‘s brainchild band recreating a note-for-note chronological retrospective of the Fab Four‘s astounding career on record gave the SRO crowd a “splendid” show, a generous three hours not counting intermission. Judging by audience reaction, BEATLESQUE could have played three more hours and the encores would still have come.

There are plenty of Beatle tribute bands. They try to recreate a live Beatles’show, with costumes, wigs, etc. None do what BEATLESQUE does, which is to present a note-for-note replication of what you hear on the albums. It is an incredibly difficult musical task to perform live. Incredibly, BEATLESQUE pulled it off in a way that made jaws drop, hands clap, and feet dance. The audience had F-U-N. Concertgoers: When was the last time you saw and heard that happen?

The Beatles lasted barely 10 years as a group but gave the world an immortal repertoire of work. Before 500 loudly appreciative fans, BEATLESQUE’s six members presented a show (in every sense) that had the audience on their feet at the end. Fittingly enough, the haunting “A Day in the Life” from the seminal Sgt. Pepper concluded the show. Justifiably billed as a John Lennon look- and sound-alike, Valenti channeled Lennon as the band hit every note, including the two famous orchestral builds and the final, definitive End Chord. As that last note rode its lasting fade, the audience jumped up and gave the band a Standing O. It’s hard to imagine a more satisfying concert taking place this or any year.

The scene for live music in Pittsfield is dead. The best young people (and old) get are Live on the Lake dirges. What this critic found refreshing was the number of young people in attendance for BEATLESQUE. Clearly they agree. The most common question I heard among the outgoing crowd was “When are these guys going to be playing in the area next?”

Adding a star touch to the evening was special guest Steve Holley, who drummed for Paul McCartney‘s band WINGS from 1971 to 1978. Holley clearly enjoyed himself, adding terrific drum fills and even doing vocals: backup and the lead in the crow-pleaser “A Little Help from My Friends.” His English accent provided a nice “accent” echoing the famous British Invasion led by The Beatles in the mid-1960s. Snagging a talent like Holley was a feather in the cap for the show’s producers. Holley, clearly enjoying his stint, drummed with creativity and energy. He mixed with BEATLESQE seamlessly.

Jay Fruet played a flawless lead guitar, recreating George Harrison‘s leads as close the the records as can be done. He had great chemistry with the material and musicians, especially with guitarist Cliff Ducharme. A highlight was a spot-on live double lead guitar by Fruet and Ducharme in the middle of “And Your Bird Can Sing.” Hearing was believing. Ducharme also picked up a Hofner bass on some songs.

Andre LeBlanc and Jim Stankiewicz played keyboards. The latter handled orchestral arrangements with precise flair (think the beautiful string quartet of “Eleanor Rigby”). Both shared backing vocals, with LeBlanc handling many of the Paul McCartney lead vocals, along with drummer Bob Balawender. It should be noted that LeBlanc played lead and bass guitars, switching from his white piano effortlessly. Stankiewicz contributed other-worldly keyboard sounds as well as various percussion fills. Behind his Ludwig drum kit Balawender reproduced Ringo Starr‘s unique drumming style to perfection. He also well handled MC duties The members of BEATLESQUE have more than 300 combined years playing for music lovers. Their professionalism showed in how band member changed instruments based on the particular song, all summed up by the word versatility.

Valenti was the band’s driving force. He channeled John Lennon with such pitch-perfect authenticty that you had to remind yourself it wasn’t Lennon himself. It was at times alternately rousing, joyful, and chilling, sometimes all three. Situated in the spotlight at center stage, he carried a heavy musical responsibility with the lion’s share of lead vocals, making it seem feathery light. Valenti also played a flawless rhythm guitar, fittingly enough a black Rickenbacher and a Gibson sunburst acoustic. You could see Holley and the rest of the band drawing energy from him. The band, in turn, pumped him up. It is such fun for an audience when you witness a live band meshing together with so much exuberance. It was literally a group effort in the best sense. Valenti has an amazing voice, a silvery, operatic instrument in its own right. He has toured the world with his previous groups (QUARRY, QUICK FOX, and others). BEATLESQUE adds another triumph in his long and successful musical career. In Fruet, LeBlanc, Stankiewicz, Ducharme, and Balawender, he has found the proper setting for this latest musical gem. Each is a veteran musician of a number of local and regional bands.

At a modest $25, tickets for BEATLESQUE proved a bargain. Part of the proceeds from the night went to Rock-On, the musical camp conducted by Fruet at BCC. In fact, five of the Rock-On students joined the band on stage for “Hey Jude” and “Sgt. Pepper.” It had to be a tremendous thrill for these talented young people. Fruet is to be commended for giving his time and talents to such a great community effort.

(Melissa Renzer is a communications and theater double major at Syracuse University)

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“In my life, I loved you more.” — John Lennon

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The Usual Disclaimer.