- Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander perform at a post-show jam. The guitar Nielsen is playing fetched $4,000 in an auction.
Every note, sound and lyric of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is so indelibly imprinted in people's heads that the thought of performing it live must be a little daunting. If that was the case last night at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Cheap Trick did not let on.
They nailed it.
The band had help. A keyboardist and second guitarist augmented the group. Behind them on a riser, 24 members of the Florida Orchestra filled out the sound, playing the string and horn parts with accuracy and feeling. Just for good measure, an Indian sitarist and tabla player came in from Miami specifically for the George Harrison-penned raga "Within You Without You."
The evening opened with some instrumental versions of Beatles songs by the orchestra, which was followed by a brief set by Donovan. The 62-year old Irishman brandished a kelly green acoustic guitar and performed "Catch the Wind," "Sunshine Superman" and "Lalena," followed by heartfelt turns at the Beatles "Dear Prudence" and "Blackbird."
I thought "Hurdy Gurdy Man" would've been a nice choice; it's Donovan's most psychedelic tune, and he could've employed the orchestra for interesting effect.
After an intermission, Cheap Trick and company took the stage and launched into "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" with exuberance and just the right measure of rock ferocity.
This article appears in Nov 19-25, 2008.