Live Review: Rubber Soul Revolver: Marlon Williams, Jordie Lane, Fergus Linacre, Husky Gawenda

5 August 2015 | 2:35 pm | Bryget Chrisfield

"There's an animated banana among the swirling concoction of meds in Doctor Robert's visuals, but we're pretty sure the song's subject wasn't prescribing natural serotonin."

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As expected, it's an older crowd that mills about Hamer Hall's multi-storey foyers pre-show and there are many authentic, vintage Beatles tees on bods. Handing out one-sheeter programmes with track listings and cast list is a smashing idea. But there's an unfortunate typo whereby Michelle erroneously becomes the French boy's name, Michel.

Opening track Drive My Car features all four singers — Marlon Williams, Jordie Lane, Husky Gawenda and Fergus Linacre — and the harmonies are flawless. All musicians assembled onstage also prove their worth quick-sticks. Introducing each vocalist after they've led a song is unusual and probably a tad confusing at first for those who are unfamiliar with tonight's roll call. Suitably psychedelic imagery graces the large screen behind the band. Six rotating circular screens on tall stands, which are distributed evenly upstage in front of this screen, feature complementary images. Asking whether there's a Michelle (or Michel, perhaps?) in the audience proves a fairly safe bet and Williams comes so close to an absolutely magical rendition of this song (there's just the one harsh note). (But then he completely nails Eleanor Rigby in the Revolver half.) All mums (except Mrs Williams) are in the house according to separate claims from Lane, Gawenda and Linacre. In My Life is touchingly dedicated to the recently deceased Cilla Black. Rubber Soul closer Run For Your Life is a standout as fronted by Linacre.

For those who didn't realise the Prahran nightclub was named after a Beatles album, it's now time for the Revolver half. We're encouraged to sing along during Yellow Submarine and Williams hoons up and down one of the stalls aisles to rev us up. Lane's vocals eerily channel Sir Paul McCartney during Good Day Sunshine, particularly his upper register. Williams uses a favourite new term, "guitarmony", when introducing And Your Bird Can Sing and the playing here is most awesome. There's an animated banana among the swirling concoction of meds in Doctor Robert's visuals, but we're pretty sure the song's subject wasn't prescribing natural serotonin. The brass stabs during Got To Get You Into My Life make it difficult to remain seated and whatever instrument supplies those crazy seagull sounds during this album's closer Tomorrow Never Knows deserves a mention.

Our encore comprises the double A-side we're informed was released on the same day as Rubber Soul: We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper. The crowd is (finally) on their feet for Day Tripper then we score the added bonus of I Saw Her Standing There, during which Lane comes in a bar early with, "Well we danced...". Paul Gray is an outstanding MD and it's impossible not to compare this evening's vocal talents. Tonight's winner? Williams. Not only because of that voice, but also the enthusiastic dance moves. Plus one dad's verdict? "Marvellous."

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