The Fabulous Fakes Find Fun in the Fab Four

If you know anything about the Beatles, you know that their early years were the very definition of fun and ebullience. If you stuck around with them, even after their psychedelic period, you know that the group parted ways when making music together stopped being so enjoyable. And because of Yoko.

For the hand full of die-hard fans that came out this damp past Sunday, a little spark of that joy was glimpsed again.

Lead by mom/lead singer, Vicky Chalk, and her two sons (Jeff Little on bass and Paul Little on guitar piano and vocals) the band (Jon Wolfe on drums and vocals and Joe Ribaudo on guitar) played two jubilant sets of the Beatles' biggest hits as the band, The Fabulous Fakes.

The show opened with “Can’t Buy Me Love” with Chalk taking the lead. “Eight Days a Week," “Another Girl” and “I Feel Fine” followed with Wolfe sounding a little more adventurous on that last one than Ringo ever was. Paul (who is, in fact, named after McCartney) took lead vocals on “Tell Me Why” and perfectly demonstrated the effect of growing up on the Beatles. You could close your eyes and imagine John Lennon and the rest playing in front of you at Shea Stadium.

The first set continued with other hits such as “Ticket to Ride," “She Loves You” and “Paperback Writer” as well as lesser known gems including “Things We Said Today” and “There’s A Place”. The second set, which was supposed to focus on the later Beatles music, was still fairly heavy on pre-Sgt. Pepper’s songs. As a matter of fact, “With a Little Help from My Friends," was the only song from that album. Others included a stomping version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and a rumbling rendition of “Two of Us” that really brought the beat to the forefront. This nicely linked it to chugging rhythm of “Get Back” which was played later on.

Linda Ribaudo (co-owner of the Hillside Café in Nutley with husband, Joe) helped to organize the performance with Chalk as a fundraiser for the church which occasionally hosts the café’s shows. But the only way you’ll see this performance again is if you request it directly from the Hillside Café. This configuration simply sprang from a few friends playing Beatles songs together one Christmas as they tried to figure out how to raise money.

“I said, ‘I’ve got two kids who know Beatles music,’” said Chalk explaining how the annual fundraiser was born.

However, there’s plenty to look forward to at . Melissa Hathaway, who met the Ribaudos through the Nutley Little Theater, says, “I’m always looking to showcase New Jersey talent. It’s our mission.” They now stage caberet, comedy and karaoke every week in addition to their featured bands on the weekend.

“I’m looking to keep live entertainment local,” says Hathaway who likes to promote Pianos as an alternative to traveling to New York for a good time.

“It’s just such a kick for me,” said Chalk when discussing playing the music she loves with her two sons. “It’s so much fun…You can’t be sad when you’re listening to Beatles music.