[MUSIC/Rock – South Australia]

Come Together – The Beatles Rock Show
The Virago at Gluttony – Rymill Park, Tue 20 Feb

Come Together needs to be commended for many reasons but especially because they have dared to do something different with cultural icons, and they’re not afraid to put their own spin on legendary famous tunes and reinterpret them.

This show is such a great idea. Kudos to whoever thought of getting three young women to be the headliners in a show about a male pop group from the 60s. Rachel Vidoni does a great job of leading the vocals, and her two dance partners look very sexy and super stunning in their dance routines that were something of a cross between go-go girls and jazz ballet.

Occasional props lend an air of fantasy as they construct their own narrative around songs like Help, Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds, and Strawberry Fields.

The female trio out front are well supported by a competent six piece band who for the most part stay in the background.

It’s a rare treat to hear Beatles songs played by a live band and one is reminded once again just how good these songs are. I Saw Her Standing There is a great live rocker, and at the other end of the spectrum Hey Jude predictably has the audience singing along and almost stealing the show.

Many Beatles favourites are crammed into the hour long show – several cleverly worked into medleys. I loved the choral intro from We Can Work It Out.

The last third of the show was more like a straight concert and concluded with possibly The Beatles’ least accessible song – Helter Skelter. But it is another great rocker.

I’m not a great fan of the modern trend of encouraging audiences to get hysterical when someone sings long dramatic vocal notes but hey, anyone raised on The Voice, the Idol shows, etc knows no better.

This is a great show. A brilliant idea beautifully executed with good music and bewitching dancers.