September 8, 2024

Come Together – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band: Aotea Centre September 7, 2024

Come Together came together again last night In Auckland to deliver not only the much beloved Sgt Pepper album, but a rip-roaring ride through a host of other Beatles classics. Carin Newbould was there to review and Leonie Moreland photographed the supergroup in action.

Following on from tackling U2 and Led Zeppelin earlier in the year, this supergroup of NZ talent did themselves proud – representing the Fab Four with a 13 strong band including stalwarts Brett Adams, Matthias Jordan, Nick Atkinson and Alistair Deverick accompanying a dazzling line-up of singers including James Milne (aka Lawrence Arabia), the incomparable Dianne Swann, and The Phoenix Foundation’s Sam Scott and Luke Buda.

Come Together Released in 1967, Sgt. Pepper was eclectic and entertaining. Is there any more appropriate start to an album – or a gig – than the declaration “We hope you will enjoy the show… Sit back and let the evening go”? Certainly the “lovely audience” were in high spirits as they sang along from the get-go. There may have been a few rueful looks around the room during When I’m Sixty-Four as I’d assess a large percentage of the audience as having bypassed that milestone and, like the surviving Beatles, achieved Gold Card status a few moons ago. But if any back catalogue transcends age, it’s surely the Beatles’ – as evidenced by the enthusiastic three year old seated in front of me. The tracks on this album are fun and the orchestration, under MD Jol Mulholland, was excellent – they made a good job of covering the evocative Indian vibes of Within You Without Me, particularly as the ensemble were decked out in Nehru jackets for this part of the evening. One of the three guitarists switched to sitar and much fun was had with maracas, tambourines and dancing on stage.

Come Together isn’t a tribute and is certainly more than a covers concert. These guys know, love and deliver the music they’re playing to the highest standard. The authentic interpretations are nuanced and individualised, but never detract from the oh-so-familiar originals – but it’s certainly interesting to see what this talented bunch do with them. The tight harmonies on She’s Leaving Home created a poignant moment, evident again later in Eleanor Rigby. But for now, after ripping through this short album in 45 minutes, an epic rendition of A Day In The Life closes off Sgt. Pepper in a breathtakingly beautiful fashion.

Come Together

From this point, we’re taken on a brief Magical Mystery Tour (albeit without the title track) with four songs from the US version of the album, starting with The Fool On The Hill, featuring multi-instrumental local legend Finn Scholes on penny whistle. I can’t help but think that if the versatile Scholes had been in London in the 60s, he’d surely have been snapped up to play on the original recordings. Penny Lane evoked a cheer from the crowd, before a dreamy Strawberry Fields Forever preceded a joyous rendition of I Am The Walrus to finish off an outstanding first half – Goo Goo G’Joob!

After a refreshment break and a change of outfits for the performers, Come Together came back with an anthology of Beatles tunes. Obviously there’s a lot to choose from, and having covered The White Album and part of Abbey Road in their 2022 concert, there was no repetition, other than A Day In The Life and the closing anthem. Help! provided a well-paced start, followed by the familiar riff intro of Day Tripper. The lesser known For No One was performed solo but featured strings and a trumpet solo from Finn Scholes, with Yesterday also performed solo with strings – albeit with around 2000 backing singers. Dianne Swann was showcased in Norwegian Wood, before everyone came back onto stage for Here Comes The Sun. At this point, we could have gone on all night. For me, a standout was Across The Universe, which as with much of the programme, was very true to the original – but why mess with perfection? I’m sure everyone has favourite Beatles tracks as there’s so much to choose from – and there was plenty of variety in tonight’s set list, from the party vibes of Lady Madonna (featuring sterling service from the brass section) to the funky psychedelia of Tomorrow Never Comes. Don’t Let Me Down demonstrated an amazing breadth of sound and I swear that there were gentle tears from a few audience members in While My Guitar Gently Weeps, with awesome lead guitar and drums.

Dianne Swann led the full ensemble for the “last” song of the night, the strange choice perhaps of I Want You (She’s So Heavy), featuring an extended instrumental break. Everyone looked as though they were having fun – more of a jam session with talented muso mates, rather than a slick gig that had already wowed Christchurch and Wellington. But don’t get me wrong – despite the fun and camaraderie of those on stage, it was flawless – top class musicians covering classics with sensitivity and a shedload of panache. I can’t wait to see which albums they choose to tackle next year.

The encore was, maybe predictably, All You Need Is Love – as relevant today as it was in 1967. What better message and anthem to get people to Come Together and leave on a high?

Carin Newbould

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Leonie Moreland: