The Analogues

Let's be clear, no one will ever replace the legendary Beatles in the hearts of fans. But if you had to choose a tribute band to relive their rock madness on stage, it would definitely be The Analogues. Like true watchmakers, the Dutch have captured the essence of their music and transcribed it without embellishment to the stage. It's pure, it's raw, and if you close your eyes, you can almost feel the ghosts of the Fab Four haunting the place.

Geoff Emerick, the legendary band's sound engineer, says it himself: "I witnessed something I never thought I'd see again once in my life. Incredible". And if the man who knows the Beatles' sound inside out says so, we can follow him blindly. For The Analogues, nothing is more precious than capturing the soul of lost legends. With them, there's no disguise, no physical resemblance to their idols. What counts is the music, and only the music.

With a strong concept to match the Beatles without totally copying them: play on stage the albums that were never presented there. Indeed, John Lennon and his accomplices deserted the stage in 1966, but produced six studio albums up to 1970 and their tragic end. And it's precisely this period that The Analogues covers, from Revolver to the poignant Let It Be.   

To do this, the band has done a masterful job, analyzing the quartet's albums in minute detail, relying on existing documents and trying to guess the unspoken by ear. And when they turn up with the same instruments as the original band, the stage can take on a museum-like quality. Key pieces include John Lennon's black and white Rickenbacker guitar, George Harrison's pale blue Fender Stratocaster and Paul McCartney's Höfner violin bass. When you're as steeped in the Beatles as they are, you can't help but produce concerts that take you straight back to the 60s. And that's exactly what The Analogues do, with precision, finesse and humility.