Complete Concert Review
The Fab Faux at The Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
Monday August 27th, 2001

We had been waiting for the Fab Faux Finale at The Royal Court Theatre a whole year now. We knew this would be something extraordinaire, with horn-players from The Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool and all. So we arrived early and got places just in front and in the middle of the stage . And here they come: "Ladies and gentlemen - THE FAB FAUX!"

01. Magical Mystery Tour. 'Roll Up, Roll up For The Mystery Tour!' Frank and Will looked so nice in the middle of the stage. Frank left-handed making them look like a 'V', just like Paul and John once did! Great lead vocals by both. And the horn-players! How good they played! A brilliant start!

02. Savoy Truffle. Frank and Jimmy took the lead vocals. Real soulful voices you've got! Fantastic support by the horns. These boys really enjoyed what they were doing. Throughout the concert they kept smiling, stomping their feet at the floor. Great guys!

03. Lady Madonna. Nice to hear Jack's voice. And another chance for the horn-players to shine.

04. When I Get Home. This was Rock'n'Roll! Rich's lead vocal, the harmonies from the band and the pounding beat made it happen!

05. Not A Second Time. Not so often heard. From 'With The Beatles'. But this song includes some really beautiful harmonies. The Faux's sang them perfectly. Will's and Frank's vocals in the front blended so beautifully with the other voices in the band.

06. Nowhere Man. Jimmy sang some great vocals here. Again, wonderful harmonies from the others.

07. Dear Prudence. The first highlight! Exquisite crisp guitars and Rich's emotional voice.

08. Getting Better. Frank's vocal - so soulful! He has never sung better! And the guitars rocked!

09. It Won't Be Long. Jack sang this rocker with great feeling. The rest of the band made it to a real rocker. And the harmonies! The pounding Will bass! The drumbeat! Thank you!

10. The Word. Jimmy looked so happy when he sang this little nice tune. And how it swinged!

11. I'm The Walrus. Rich's vocals again. I don't think anyone can sing it better! And his beat! How can he sing and play drums so good at the same time! 'I'm The Walrus" - "OOOOHH!!"

12. For No One. Will has never sung a song more beautifully. A we got a wonderful horn solo as well.

13. Frank's Trivia Corner. More impossible questions. Or are they easy, actually?

14. Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da. Frank continued with his great vocals in this Jamaican song. Another chance for the brilliant horn players. Wow! And they sounded good!

15. Penny Lane. This concert's highlight No.1!!! It started with more fine vocals by Frank and Jimmy. Then something magic happened! A strong, beautiful trumpet-solo. Perfectly played! Roaring applause!! (How nice of the audience to show him their appreciation!) And at the end - even more trumpet-solos. Fantastic improvisations, not even heard on The Beatles' original single. Will and the rest of the band fell down on their knees to thank the trumpet-player. This must have been the most magic moment of Beatles music ever performed on stage! And so beautifully mixed by Will Schillinger, who had flown in from California just for this concert.

16. Got To Get You Into My Life. The best Beatles soul song! That must have inspired both Jimmy and Jack on vocals. They gave it all. And all the horn players as well! Great power! "You cannot actually play such music live", I told Ulla afterwards.

17. Let It Be. Frank now went over to the piano. He sang and played this song so fine. And the harmonies by Will and the others were just as beautiful as on 'Because'. Yes, Will even looked beautiful when he sang them, his eyes closed.

18. I Call Your Name. Will and Rich made some great vocals here, while the band played with great enthusiasm.

19. Lovely Rita. More powerful vocals from Rich. And great authentic sounds from the keyboards.

20. Here There And Everywhere. First beautifully sung by Will and Frank together with the others' excellent harmonies. And at the end even more beautiful, when I stood among several girls in the audience, who sang along so fine. Another magic moment!

21. Hey Bulldog. Really heavy sound from the band here - Will's bass, Rich's drums and Frank's & Jimmy's guitars! Wow! And - genuine Rock'n'Roll vocals from Jack and Rich.

22. Come Together. A nice laid-back version sung by Jimmy with great guitar-solos.

23. Day Tripper. Frank's and Jack's time to rock here. And they did it well. (What did you think?) Heavy guitars again.

24. Tomorrow Never Knows. This time Will had hidden some gold tinsels in his tambourine. He thrown them at the audience, when he turned and started to sing in his megaphone. I was lucky to get some on my Paul McCartney T-shirt. It glittered so beautifully for a whole week thereafter.

25. Good Mornig Good Morning. Time now for the start of another highlight: The authentic end of the 'Sgt Pepper' album. Great vocals from Rich and rest of the band. More brilliant efforts from the horn players. The tune directly continued with...

26. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart Club's Band (Reprise). A really heavy version with lead vocals from the whole band, fantastic guitars and bass. And so Rich's drums off course. All accompanied by the excellent loud-playing horns. Went directly over to...

27. A Day In The Life. The climax of the concert! Fantastically beautiful vocals, first by Rich and then by Jack in the middle part. Continuing with Rich during the finale. All supported by the band and the horn players. Everyone playing louder and louder all the time. Ending with a perfect end blow by the horn players. 2-0! Now you blew us over again! Roaring and roaring applause! We got an encore again. Time to take the stage, Jack!

28. Helter Skelter. What more can you say? Jack's screeming voice, the band playing, and singing, as loud as they could. And the audience - in uproar! 3-0! This was love Love LOVE!!! Meet you again next year!

September 16th, 2001

Text and photos:
Bengt Wärmlind, Sweden