Rain takes Beatles' tribute to new level

Rain has been honoring the history of the Beatles for decades. Now, with its new stage show, the group will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by playing the album in its entirety.

When Rain plays Durham Performing Arts Center next week, expect a packed two-and-a-half hour show featuring about 40 of the band's songs.

"The show itself is a interactive show that essentially takes the audience through the whole era of the Beatles while they were still a band. We have costume changes. It's very visual," drummer Aaron Chiazza said during a phone interview last week. Chiazza has played Ringo in Rain for five seasons.

Rain's history began in the mid-1970s when keyboardist Mark Lewis and four Los Angeles area musicians formed the band Reign. The name was later changed to Rain after the 1966 Beatles' single. Rain's goal was to cover Beatles music that hadn't been performed live.

"We're doing stuff like 'Within You Without You," Chiazza said. "Stuff that you never had a chance to see them play."

Performing some of the B-sides the Beatles never played live has been rewarding not only for the fans.

"It's there and genuine and it's pushed us all a lot as musicians to have to take that task on and play that stuff every single night. It's been really fun and challenging and pleasing for fans," Chiazza said.

Rain has a repertoire of more than 200 Beatles songs, and its multimedia concerts span the band's history. Rain's current tour starts with the early stuff before going into Sgt. Pepper after intermission. The show ends with selections from Abbey Road.

Rain plays DPAC Feb. 23 and 24. Tickets are still available.