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It’s not a big secret knowing that both
Mike Portnoy and Neal Morse are big fans of the fab four from Liverpool.
Whenever they see a chance they surely pay respect to the worldfamous
Beatles. Instead of the occasional track they went one step further and
together with Paul Gilbert and Matt Bissonette, Mike and Paul formed an
American version of the Beatles, the perfect tribute band in which every
single musician at one given time played the role of leadsinger. Bert
Baldwin, who also toured with Neal Morse on his “Testimony” tour, plays
the role of a white Billy Preston here adding additional keyboards,
percussion and samples.
So on may 18th 2003, the very
same day Rick Wakeman celebrated his 54th birthday, the
appropriately called Yellow Matter Custard played BB King’s in New York
City delivering no less than thirty Beatles songs. What’s interesting is
the fact that they not only went for the classic cuts but also included
some lesser known tracks in their set. You often have to pinch yourself
as the vocals get so damned close to the unique voices of Lennon or
McCartney. Now and then you can hear a small mistake such as during the
guitarsolo for ‘Dig a pony’ but this can only contribute to the unique
nature of the event. What I especially like is the way they perform the
older songs such as ‘I call your name’. It’s as if you’re in Hamburg
yourself ! What’s funny is the fact that people like Mike Portnoy and
Neal Morse are used to perform long epics whilst here you get the full
flavour of the typical sixties approach resulting in powerful, direct,
short songs.
As with the original Beatles our US
friends also include a bit of wacky remarks throughout the album. For
instance they introduce ‘Free as a bird’ as a new song they have only
recently written. To be honest this is the very first time I hear it
performed live ever and even if some of the harmonies don’t sound too
correct I really enjoy this one ! Paul Gilbert really has a field day
during Harrison’s ‘While my guitar gently weeps’ delivering an
incredible guitarsolo towards the end. Gilbert, known from his stints
with Racer X and Mr. Big has also teamed up with Portnoy in another
coverband this time covering Led Zeppelin material under the name of
Hammer of the Gods. No doubt audio and/or DVD material from this band
will soon be made available !
The second CD of the set continues with
another selection of highlights. Both ‘I’ll be back’ and ‘No reply’ go
back to the band’s humble beginnings. I’m convinced that Beatles
material is constantly on the cards during studies at Berklee with Mike
pointing out that the band has just played the best ‘bridge’ ever
written ! Laughs all around when Neal starts singing the first chords to
‘I will survive’ instead of ‘Oh darling’. The more the concert evolves
the wackier it all gets with Portnoy sounding like a Japanese lunatic in
‘You know my name (look up the number)’. And it really becomes mad when
animal noises make their entry during ‘Good morning Good morning’. With
‘Sgt Pepper (reprise)’ Yellow Matter Custard finds the perfect song to
close to set singing : ‘we hope you have enjoyed the show’ ! The final
convulsion comes with ‘A day in the life’ being reproduced in detail as
if you’re listening to the real thing.
If the
Beatles were around today they probably would sound exactly like Yellow
Matter Custard, energetic and enthousiastic and above all enjoying
themselves. As far as I recall only one official live album of the
Beatles exist by means of “Live at Hollywood bowl”, an album which to
this very day still hasn’t been released on CD (officialy that is). This
says enough of the quality of the recording which constantly displays
screaming teenagers with the sound of the Beatles tucked away in the
background. In the case of Yellow Matter Custard you hear the band first
and the audience’s applause at the end of every song, the way it should
be. So although knowing YMC is a coverband, “One night in New York city”
probably is the best Beatles live album you will ever be able to lay
your hands on ! I really had YMCA (Yellow Matter Custard Adrenaline)
throughout my listening experience clutching Mike Starr, Matt McCartney,
Neal Lennon and Paul Harrison close to my heart. With Matt Bissonette
having played with Julian Lennon and having toured with Ringo Starr to
promote the latter’s “Ringo rama” album, for sure this album should be
heard by the surviving Beatles. Curious what they might think of it all
! The best live album the Beatles never made ! |
