MUSIC MANTRA Monday: Togetherness and The FAB Fourever

This has been an emotional year for my kids and I. We've gone through some very rough patches, but have also had some amazing experiences to help ease us through those bumpier times. One thing that has been detrimental in getting us through it all have been our Beatley experiences. Our most recent, and special for all of us, was seeing the Canadian tribute band, THE FAB FOUREVER.

Our regular followers know that not only have I had the chance to see these incredible guys perform, they have also all been guests here on The Gift for our week-long tribute to them. It was so much fun getting to know them through interviews then having the opportunity to meet with and hang out with them before and after the show they did here at the Century Casino last year. But this recent visit with them was even more meaningful...to all of us.

First, we got to see their theatre performance which, in my opinion, was even more amazing than when I saw them at the casino. Next, my kids finally got to meet Jody, and the rest of the guys, which was thrilling for my kids as they've been anticipating it for over a year (especially Jaimie). They were given a backstage tour, including getting to test out some Beatley instruments (I don't even have to TELL you how exciting THAT was for Xander!). And Jaimie had one of her dreams come true in getting to interview 'John' for her blog post day (Kevin? You are such a sweetheart.) The most important thing to me was that the whole evening had a warm, fuzzy family feel. And with everything going on in our family right now, that meant so much to me...and to the kids.

So, may I re-introduce to you The FAB Fourever by sharing our family's togetherness with Canada's top Beatles Tribute band.

My kids have had a year filled with Beatley goodness. Not only have they gotten to see three top notch Beatles tribute bands, they also got to see a Beatle LIVE: Paul McCartney! (That's a whole other post for our next MUSIC MANTRA Monday segment.) You all know how very important the Beatles are to me, and how I've made it a strong part of my kids' lives too. Jaimie is particularly touched by the lads and their music so I've always made sure to have it around. She's actually becoming more knowledgeable in all that is Beatles than I am!

In June, we had the pleasure of seeing the Scottish tribute band THEM BEATLES perform. That was Jaimie and Jordy's very first Beatles experience and those guys went out of their way to make the show special for my girls. In October, I finally got to share the RAIN experience with all four of my kids. They absolutely loved it (review to come very soon)! At the end of November, I gave my older girls the ULTIMATE Beatles experience by bringing them to see Macca! That is a night none of us will ever forget (watch for my review next week!). But ending the year with FAB Fourever topped the year of beautifully.

The guys were playing at the Shell Theatre in Fort Saskatchewan--that's about a half-hour to forty-five minute drive from Edmonton (depending on who's doing the driving). It was a freaking cold night and snowing so I was worried what the driving conditions were going to be like. Fortunately, Steve was able to go with us so I knew we'd have a safe ride, otherwise we would have loaded up on the bus that goes directly there.

The kids had been looking forward to seeing them all week. As with all of their concert experiences, they planned out their outfits, made their poster and talked about nothing but Beatles for a week! On concert night we sang Beatles songs the entire roadtrip. We had no idea the exciting events that were in store for us.

Jaimie was over the moon excited because she had the opportunity to interview Kevin Davey, who plays John Lennon. She had her questions ready and rehearsed (and re-rehearsed) them all week and the whole carride. I mean, she has told anyone who'd listen to her that she had this huge interview. LOL! So sweet. When we got to the theatre, Jody (the band's Sir Paul) met us in the lobby to take Jaimie to meet with Kevin. Little did we know that he had a few things planned for us.

One thing about these guys, is that they are incredibly family oriented. Jody (who has three children close to my kids' ages) and Kevin (who has two about the same ages as my middle two) sacrifice a tremendous amount by going out on the road--they leave their precious families behind. So getting to meet and spend time with other families, especially kids, while out there is a beautiful thing. So when Jody took the kids on a tour of backstage...HOLY COW! They felt like VIP superstars!

Xander in 7th Heaven with a cool Paul psychedelic guitar!
(Jordy begging to hold the Paul guitar).

First, he showed them their dressing room (which, by the way, was a MASSIVE step up from the Century one, you guys. LOL! Just sayin'...). Each of the guys had a rack with their costumes hung on them. Of course, my kids' favorites were the Sgt. Pepper uniforms. SUCH smart kids. Jean Luc (the band's George) put his beautiful hat on Xander's head! OMG! He LOVED that! Jordy got to wear Paul's (Ringo) pink band hat (I wasn't jealous at all...). The only one playing shy was Sophie. She refused to even come into the dressing room. SO uncharacteristic of her but she warmed up later.

Then came the UBER exciting part! We got to go out on the stage and check out all the guitars!

Jordy in 7th Heaven with a Paul guitar.

HOLY cow I thought I'd never get Xander off the stage! Jody was amazing with them. He took the time to explain each instrument...the name, who played it, the sound, etc. He even let them try on a few. Each of them got to try on a guitar of their favorite Beatle. Sophie didn't get the chance to be a Ringo because the guys had to tune their guitars. Maybe next time.

Jaimie in 7th Heaven with a John guitar!

When we got back out into the hallway, Jody had THE most amazing surprise for my kids: He sang Blackbird. You all know the significance that song has with us, particularly with Jaimie. So that was very special indeed. They all sang it together, then Jaimie got to have her interview with Kevin.

She did SO well. She stills struggles with eye contact and those important interaction skills but Kevin was so amazing and patient with her (watch for her interview this coming Wednesday on The Sensational World According to Jaimie). That was one of her favorite parts of the entire night...she's still talking about it.

Jody's incredible gift to my kids: singing Blackbird.

After that, we gave hugs and high fives, then went out to wait to be let in for the show.

In a theatre setting like the Shell, there are no bad seats. Anywhere you sit you had a clear view of the stage. We were in the very last row of the floor seats and it was perfect. We could all see the entire stage and had room to dance. Xander was a little edgy but I knew as long as he had room to move, he'd be okay. During the introduction to the show we were told that we could go right up to the stage to dance if we wanted to (which we did after the Intermission).

 

The kids' FAB FOUREVER poster.



For those who have seen these guys before, their song set is pretty close to what you've seen. They have a few new surprises, though, in that they have a screen behind them showing cool Beatley pictures and concert memorabilia as well as some funky new lighting and stuff. It was an absolutely phenomenal show.

We were up dancing, holding up our sign (which their camera guy got a great shot of) trying to get everyone else around us up. What I loved the most, as always, was the on-stage interaction among the guys and of the guys with the audience. Kevin, who knew Sophie was so shy earlier, yelled, "HI SOPHIE!" after their first song. She was in hysterics.



These guys truly feed off the energy of the audience. So, if the people out there are responding positively to them--dancing, shouting things out, participating in their antics--the whole room vibrates. The more the audience gets into it, the more the guys do. That night the energy level was through the stratosphere...it was fantastic!



Close to Intermission, the noise level (both from the music as well as the audience) started becoming too much for Xander and he tried squishing himself under his seat. But once the guys took their break, we went out into the lobby (standing as far as we could from the awesome band playing out there so Xander could calm down). We walked around loooking at all the Christmas tree displays, had some juice then went back to our seats.



On stage singing 'Yellow Submarine'.
(Xander is behind Jaimie.)

The girls all wanted to go down front by the stage and to have more room to dance. And that's where we were for the rest of the show. There were a few other kids who followed our lead, which was great because the guys really seem to enjoy seeing little ones gleefully grooving to Beatles music. (My kids know lyrics better than I do most times!)

When they came back out, they had their beautiful Sgt. Pepper outfits on. I think that was the kids' favorite set. After a few songs, Jody announced they were going to sing 'Yellow Submarine', plus a surprise: He asked all the kids in the audience to join them on stage! HOLY COW...next to getting to hold cool guitars, that was the most amazing thing for my kids! They all got up there, including Xander, and sang their hearts out. It was so sweet to see.

A cool close up of their poster.

When I saw FAB Fourever last year, I was over on Jody's side of the stage. This time, we were on Kevin's so I actually got to see him singing songs like 'Strawberry Fields' and 'A Day In The Life' up close (I couldn't see him at the piano from where I was sitting last time). Spectacular. And I know Jaimie was in awe too.

During the final set (the Roof Top/Abbey Road segment), they came out dressed like the original Beatles had on the Abbey Road cover. Jody even sported bare feet. Very brave considering how frigid it was while they were here. For some reason, my kids thought that was the coolest thing. LOL!

Unfortunately I missed alot of this part because my sensory kiddos (Jaimie and Xander) were getting a little overwhelmed. Jaimie gets tired really fast (eg: her muscles) so if she's really active for a good length of time, she gets kind of weak and ragdoll-like. The very kind people we were standing next to let her sit down beside them. Xander, on the other hand, tends to go a little bizerko and needs to be separated from the action for a spell. I tried giving him some joint compressions but it wasn't working. So his dad took him out in the lobby for a few minutes.

Holding up our lighter for Hey Jude.

They came back just in time for the Encore, which was Hey Jude. Jaimie was so excited because she got to use the lighter app on my cell phone. So me and my kids bunched together, swaying and singing, while holding up our sign and my phone. It was the perfect ending to a magical evening.

Just as they were walking off the stage, Jaimie got Jody's attention and gave him their poster. She wanted him to take it home to his family...awww! What an amazing moment. They put so much time and effort into creating their signs. For Jaimie, it's her way of thanking them for giving all they give to her through the gift of music--something I've always made sure she's surrounded with. I think it's a beautiful thing.

After every show, the guys do a Meet and Greet where they, as Kevin says, "Ruin a few t-shirts by writing on them." VERY cool. It gives the audience a chance to give feedback (which is so important in this line of work), and it gives the guys a chance to hang out with and chat with fellow Beatles fans. After all, that's why they do what they do. They are ultimate Beatles fans showing their love of them by keeping their music alive through performing.

We stood in line and the guys signed programs and the mini footballs Jody had given the kids earlier. Then before leaving, I took their picture with the FABs. Jaimie chose to stand in front of a Christmas tree that was shooting out snow. It was a special ending to a perfect night.

It took awhile to say goodbye...none of the kids wanted to leave. Honestly, I didn't either. That feeling that Fab Fourever left us with is why I love them so much. Because of what I do, I have met, interviewed and hung out with some pretty amazing people. And there are alot of Beatles tribute bands out there. But Jody, Kevin, Jean-Luc and Paul have something that very few others have: that genuine family energy that brings people together for music, laughter and fun no matter what else is going on around them. THAT is peace and love.

The FABtastic Fab Fourever with my kiddos.

Thank you for giving my kids that wonderful and special night. They really needed it and loved every microsecond. Please don't wait so long to come back again (and PLEASE come when it's warmer. LOL!). Words can't express how grateful I am to you for all you did with and for my kids. I am proud not only to be able to help spread the word about you guys, but to have you as a huge part of our Beatley family.

Be sure to check these guys out on their website as well as on Facebook and Twitter. (Tell them Chynna and her family sent you.)

Abbey Road

 


A blurry Jody.

Paul (Ringo) and Kevin (John).

Abbey Road...Jody in bare feet. ;)



Kevin during Yellow Submarine



Impressive guitar display.

 

Na...na...na...nananana...nananana...Hey Jude!