Sgt Peppers Back2Back Abbey Road: Show review

It’s a fine piece of irony that the pivotal album which started the genre of studio-produced progam rock music should make such a first-class opening half to a live concert.

And when the second half comprises “arguably the greatest rock band ever’s” most ambitious work, aided by the greatest producer and arranger, then the odds against pulling it off lengthen considerably.

None of this stood in the way of Spiritworks and Tim Woods’ presentation of Sgt Peppers and Abbey Road Back 2 Back featuring a superband of six frontmen and an array of some of the best working musicians on Australia’s pop scene.

Add the perfect venue in the State Theatre with its mixture of the quirky with the kitsch, and such a lovely audience, most of whom lived through the years of Beatlemania, and you have a cracking night of nostalgic indulgence

The scene was set with sitar and tabla, accompanied by clouds of incense. These musicians would come back later for their one big number of the night, George Harrison’s Within You Without You, sung superbly by Mark Seymour of Hunters and Collectors fame.

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Exclusive! Kandi Burruss Speaks Out on Russell Armstrong's Suicide

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss has endured a tumultuous few years: Following the tragic death of her ex-fiance, A.J. Jewell, in 2009, Kandi has forged a triumphant return to form with a string of successful projects. After shocking reports of Russell Armstrong’s suicide surfaced, Kandi had some warm words of wisdom to offer Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong when Wetpaint Entertainment chatted with the R&B songbird exclusively at a recent event.

“It really hurt my heart,” Kandi said of Russell’s passing. “Obviously, I know what it feels like to go through something so traumatic in the public eye. It’s already hard to lose someone so close to you, but then to deal with it in front of the world — that just makes it so much worse. People say they wanna be there for you, and then when it’s not in the news anymore, nobody’s saying anything — but you’re still dealing with it. So my heart goes out to her, and I hope she really stays strong.”

How did Kandi walk through her grief while maintaining her public image? “You’re gonna go through days when you’re gonna cry, and you’re gonna go through days when you wanna laugh and talk with your friends,” she explains. “But then you’re gonna feel bad about it, because you know everyone’s expecting you to be grieving all the time. The only thing I can say is — grieve in your own way. Don’t worry about what other people have to say.” And, of course, family comes first. “Be strong for your daughter,” she said. “Even on the days when you don’t wanna pick yourself up, you’ve gotta pick yourself up.”

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