The Fab Faux.

Though I was born a few years after the band broke up, I grew up listening to The Beatles and their classic recordings laid the foundation of my musical taste. For people in my position, the closest we can come to seeing the band is by shelling out a good chunk of change to catch Sir Paul or Ringo when they tour, or catching one of the myriad costumed tribute acts that try to recreate The Beatles experience. These cover bands have become a cottage industry, but one ensemble, The Fab Faux, stands out.

“We kind of take it as if we are the sidemen playing with the actual Beatles in 2011,” said Rich Pagano, drummer/vocalist for The Fab Faux. “Let’s say The Beatles were alive and they came to New York, and they needed a band, and they wanted to play Abbey Road. ‘How would we need to approach it for a 35,000-seat arena?’ That’s how we approach it.”

The Fab Faux will perform on Friday at G.W.’s Lisner Auditorium. The band stages three types of shows: one where an album is presented in its entirety, a show where songs are chosen based on a particular theme, or a selection of songs stretching across The Beatles’ catalog. The first set on Friday will be Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band played top-to-bottom, while the second set will be a mixed-bag of band and fan favorites.

“‘Why Sgt. Pepper?’ Well, we’ve never done it [in D.C.] before and it is one of our most compelling shows because it’s such an incredible roller coaster ride from start to finish,” explained Pagano.

The members of the band came together as top session players in New York. Pagano has worked with the likes of The Band’s Robbie Robertson and punk legend Patti Smith. Guitarist/keyboardist Jack Petruzzelli has played with Rufus Wainwright and Joan Osborne, among others; his colleague on guitar, Frank Agnello, also juggles numerous soundtrack and album sessions around the city. The most familiar faces in The Fab Faux are beamed into the homes of millions on a nightly basis. Will Lee has long filled the bass chair for Paul Shaffer’s CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman, while guitarist Jimmy Vivino is now the bandleader on Conan O’Brien’s talk show. A string and horn section, dubbed the Creme Tangerine Strings and Hogshead Horns, augment the core five pieces. That is certainly a lot of talent for what amounts to a cover band.

“I think that’s what people are drawn to,” said Pagano. “They are closing their eyes and hearing the records, but they’re hearing a lot of soul from the players on stage going into it.”

While the group stays faithful to the original recordings, they adapt the sound for a live setting. This might involve adding some heaviness to the performance, adding dynamics, or creating room for improvisation. Every member of the band also has a passion for collecting Beatles bootlegs and outtakes, so this provides additional source material for interpreting a given song. Eschewing the wigs, suits and Liverpudlian accents, the musicians focus on adding depth to the musical experience.

“We want people to really hear with their ears and not their eyes,” said Pagano.

The Fab Faux will perform on Friday, April 15, 2011 at the Lisner Auditorium at 8 p.m. $39 to $89 + fees.