If every great band has a million people clamoring to give tribute, artists attempting the Bee Gees are much fewer and far between.
It’s certainly not because the Australian pop band isn’t prolific; in fact, only one songwriter, Sir. Paul McCartney, has had more success than Barry Gibb, said Matt Baldoni, who portrays Barry Gibb in the touring act of the Australian Bee Gees. It’s because the Bee Gees, with their intense harmonies and even more intense falsettos, are just really tough for male singers to achieve.
“It was really difficult at first,” Baldoni said. “The Australian Bee Gees had been performing in Vegas and they were putting together a touring show. I’m a freelance guitarist by origin who happened to be playing in Frankie Valli’s backing band at the time, so it was kind of serendipitous how they found me. But there’s a lot of training you have to do to achieve that voice. It’s more natural for me now.” The trio will perform at 7 p.m. Feb. 15.
The only American in the Australian Bee Gees, Baldoni said he played in the group’s residency for two and a half years before heading out on tour with bandmates Paul Lines, who portrays Robin Gibb; and Jack Lestley, who portrays Maurice Gibb. The trio brings a partial complement of Bee Gees songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s along with the music from the band’s “One Night Only” tour, which is the last time the men ever did a stadium tour.
“If we played everything, it would be a five-hour show,” Baldoni said. “It’s just a huge amount.”
Naturally, the largest segment of the show is dedicated to the ’70s, when the Bee Gees reemerged as a disco juggernaut on the heels of their huge hit, “Saturday Night Fever.” The period in the ’60s, however, sees just as many fans of Robin Gibb as it does Barry, according to Baldoni.
As challenging as the disco part of the show is, with all its lights and bells and whistles that promise to knock people’s socks off, Baldoni’s favorite part of the show come in the second half. There, the group stands around the microphone and Baldoni plays the guitar.
“It’s more reflective and very intimate,” he said. “We play the older songs and really enjoy it.”
It’s especially gratifying since the men are able to show off their vocal talents without all the dramatic trappings.
“In an age where people are lip-synching, we’re extremely proud of singing live,” Baldoni said. “There’s nothing we hate more than when people come up to us and ask, ‘Are you guys really singing up there?’ because there is no doubt that this is real.”
As for the fans who’re looking forward to the music of the fourth and youngest Gibb brother, Andy, that may come down the road for the touring act. But you won’t see it right now.
“We toyed with including some Andy songs, but there’s so much now. Maybe we’ll include it eventually,” Baldoni said. “The Vegas group includes it.”
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Michelle L.Quinn is a freelance writer.
The Australian Bee Gees
When: Feb. 15
Where: Star Plaza Theater, 8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville, IN
Tickets: $25-$54.75
Information: 219-769-6311, ext. 5463 or starplazatheatre.com