I first discovered the Timberfakes on Twitter (@Timberfakes) about two years ago. A Boston based, Justin Timberlake cover band? Hell to the yes.
Though I'd been following the band for nearly two years, I'd never gotten the chance to see them perform.
About six months ago the band tweeted that they were looking for a piano player. It just so happens I know one of the most talented piano players in Boston, so I sent him the listing and encouraged him to check it out.
Within a few days, said piano prodigy, emailed me to say he auditioned, it was a good fit and he was going to start playing with the band! I was thrilled. Now I really had no excuse not to go see a show.
Fast forward to this Thanksgiving when I was out listening to live jazz with my family. The piano player in the trio was amazing so I texted my friend the piano prodigy to let him know I was thinking of him. He wrote back to say if I wanted to see him play with the Timberfakes, they would be performing on New Years Eve at the Middle East in Central Square in Cambridge. Um . . . done and done.
On the 31st I could not wait to get glamorous and head to the Middle East to ring in the New Year with the Timberfakes! Everything about this night was perfect: music I love, supporting a friend, a low key neighborhood, a fun bar and only $25 to get in.
The tickets said the doors opened at 8:00pm, but I have learned over the years, concerts never ever start on time. We arrived at 8:45pm and as we were walking to the back of the bar to get our wrist bands, the piano prodigy spotted me! He was sitting, having a pre-show drink with the founder and lead singer of the Timberfakes. We saddled right up to their booth and spent a good forty five minutes talking about the band and the set list. We were pumped.
At 9:30pm the opening act took the stage, a Ska band called Porctopus, who for the night was taking on a Lady GaGa theme and calling themselves Lady Ska-Ga.
Porctopus was absolutely amazing! The had five people in the band, an incredible lead vocalist and two back up singers and they were all in the most creative, rad costumes I have ever seen!
The lead singer, Kaylee Tilton, had the most high energy, infectious stage presence and she has one hell of a voice!
Watch them sing "You and I":
Their rendition of "Born This Way" (my personal favorite GaGa tune):
Who doesn't love "Bad Romance"?:
At one point they did a fifteen song GaGa medley! I was just completely, totally stunned by how phenomenal they were.
To close their set they sang Outkast's "Hey Ya" which they said is the song that got them the gig! The whole crowd ate it up and they had everyone shaking like a Polaroid picture.
After the show we got to meet the two back up singers who said they were last minute adds on for this show, that the lead singer really put everything together. At the end of the night, when we walked out to go home, we met the lead vocalist and she was so humble. When we asked how long they'd been rehearsing these GaGa tunes, she said, "We've only been doing it two months. We had to arrange the songs, learn all the lyrics and of course, make our own costumes." All I can say is, "Wow."
At 11:15pm the Timberfakes took the stage! The entire band came out in traditional JT garb: three pieces suits, skinny ties and of course, fedoras. They were also joined by a female vocalist in a skin tight, black, lace dress.
The lead singer clearly loves impersonating JT and got very into it. Here he is singing "What Goes Around":
I was thrilled they also did 'N SYNC tunes! There was "Tearin' Up My Heart" (my personal favorite), "Bye Bye Bye" (the crowd pleaser) and "It's Gonna Be Me." Check out the video:
In addition to the 'N SYNC and JT songs, the band also did some covers including Nexxt "Too Close", Maroon 5 "Harder to Breathe", Will Smith "Getting Jiggy With It", Michael Jackson "Rock With You" and one of my all time favorite songs, MGMT's "Electric Feel." Watch:
To close the show, the Timberfakes did one final cover, and this one sent the entire crowd jumping into the air and screaming at the top of their lungs, it could only be Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."
The show was a blast, minus two asshole guys who kept pushing us and pinning us up against a wall as if we didn't exist. Porctopus slayed it with their Lady GaGa covers and my JT crush continued with every Timberfakes number.
If you want to get a taste of the Timberfakes for yourself, they are playing the Hard Rock Cafe in Faneuil Hall on Friday February 10th.
