'60s Gold ,Congress Theatre, Eastbourne Review

Sixties Gold

Congress Theatre

Eastbourne
2nd October 2010

starring (order of appearance)

Chip Hawkes

Gerry and The Pacemakers *

P J Proby

The Searchers *

* During the tour these acts are alternating their order of play so that neither is constantly 'topping the bill'. Bear this in mind if you are going to see one act in particular.

4 superb 60's acts, 1 superb show but let's deviate first and talk about a subject close to my heart - photography at events.

Having attended so many 60's shows in the past where photography has not been a problem, in fact welcomed by the artists, I didn't expect the policy to be any different tonight.

From conversations with many other bemused 60's fans both during the interval and after the show we weren't alone in our confusion in the policy for this performance.

With no notices displayed and no prior to show verbal announcement many, like me, thought it was business as usual for catching some unique shots of acts that, lets face it, won't be around for ever for us to appreciate.

A few shots of Chip Hawkes later and I was surprised to see an usher's finger wagging at me. Mind you I was easy to spot and wasn't exactly hiding the fact I had a camera as it is never normally an issue at these 60's events.

Anyway I then glanced around. I knew many in the audience had brought their cameras but they weren't quite as easy for the theatre staff to spot. If cameras are said to be distracting I am sure the huge Congress audience found the ushers' torches, resembling spotlights in the Blitz, far more of a distraction. As soon as their torch fell on the area of a flash another would fire elsewhere and they'd have to move the beam.

Now when you haven't published or announced a photography policy for a show (and there isn't one in the programme) like this you are asking for trouble.

But that isn't the end of the matter. Why? Because The Searchers, when they came on announced that, as always, photos were OK.

Now at this show The Searchers were performing last. But by this time people were now wary of taking pictures and were very slow to start taking the chance.

But to make matters worse The Searchers and Gerry and The Pacemakers are alternating ending the show as ' top of the bill' as this tour continues. How the hell are people going to know where that leaves them as regards to camera use? Consider this Chip Hawkes comes on - no photos - though nobody told you so. The Searchers then come on and say photos are OK. Interval arrives. Second half starts and cameras are at the ready for PJ Proby and Gerry and The Pacemakers but the moment you take a shot you then find it's no cameras again.

It irritates me as I always abide by any laid down policy. Except that last night nobody seemed to know what the policy was.

Other venues hosting the wonderful 60's Gold Tour may wish to note this rather silly experience. Would it be too much to ask for an announcement to be made or posters put up saying that there is either a photography policy for this show or that it is banned altogether? I don't think a policy where you can take photos of 1 act out of 4 is sensible.

I know I am biased because of the way I try to promote theatre but for 60's acts like this but I really don't see why there is a problem with photography. Yes I know the main issue may be video and full performances published on You Tube but even there I have reservations about how damaging this actually is. After all how many instances of The Searchers ' Needles and Pins' are there on You Tube? The answer is hundreds and hundreds and viewers will probably stick to viewing the oldest and most popular time and time again. The rest just stay without viewers and that is why I would rather create something like I do , a bit of fun and promotion for the show at the same time. It has also had great feedback from the artists as well as from viewers.

Anyway my cobbled together effort from the footage I could get is above '60s Gold in 60 seconds. I hope you enjoy my little show teaser.

Anyway is it show time now.?......... well no.....never let anybody tell you theatre is boring.

Gerry Marsden has to be one of the nicest guys in showbusiness when it comes to meeting the public. Everybody gets whatever they want signed, without question. He has a warm handshake for young and old alike and he has a permanent grin like a Cheshire cat...... until he meets some prat of a theatregoer who insists on pushing to the front of a very long queue and refusing to budge.

Gerry is so easy going yet you could see the anger growing as he had to deal with this inconsiderate imbecile. The danger of a 'John Prescott' type moment was only avoided by his assistant stepping in with Chip Hawkes looking on in bewilderment at the aggravation one total moron can cause. These snaps aren't brilliant, taken in a split second but how a picture can tell a story!

We got the feeling he wanted to tell him he would always walk alone and should take a sinking ferry 'cross the Mersey!

Oh the show .... yes there was one amongst all this alternative entertainment and a bloody good one it is too.

You may recall we were due to see the Chip 'n Chesney tour earlier this year where Chip was due to perform with son, and 80's icon, Chesney. It was a tour which never happened.

However I am so pleased that we got to see the former Tremeloes singer as part of this tour. As with all the artists in this production he delivers a selection of his greatest hits including Silence is Golden. I just love that weird guitar he has with it's frame-only design!

You can't say much about the legendary Gerry and The Pacemakers that hasn't been said before. Gerry's band are always nothing less than brilliant and Gerry always a great comedian as well as one of our most well known talented Scousers. The hits performed are the iconic ones we all know and love - just what you would expect in a show like this after all.

The same can be said for The Searchers. With a loyal following of fans around the country and worldwide like the other artists they can draw on decades of experience to get the audience on their feet each and every time.

Star of the night? Well they are all stars but I am going to give my favourite performance of the night to P J Proby. Now unless you've led a very sheltered life most fans of 60's music will know that Mr Proby has a bit of a chequered history and has had his fair share of controversy over the years.

We have seen PJ several times over the years however I thought the Congress Theatre performance he gave tonight was quite simply the best we have ever seen him. I thought he got a very loud appreciate response from the standing Eastbourne audience too.

I know many of you read my review prior to seeing the Solid Silver tour and thanks again to you all for the kind comments on the promo video, on the review and for the comments you have sent direct saying you loved the show.

Well you will love this one just as much and I'd recommend booking tickets now before the only ones left are the restricted view seats at your venue.

Thanks for reading this, have fun and please comment when you have seen the show.

The Searchers Tour Review Congress Theatre Eastbourne 20th August 2009

The SearchersCongress Theatre, Eastbourne

20th August 2009 & 28 August 2008

Frank Allen

John McNally
Spencer James
Eddie Rothe

Back in 2008 when The Searchers returned to Eastbourne I found myself sitting next to Wendy Burton who happens to run The Searchers web site http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/

At that time I promised Wendy I'd be in touch to share my pictures and my verdict on the show.
I'm more than a little late because write-ups on shows got a little behind at one point!! But I will fully make up for it this year.

Incidentally I believe I was originally sat next to Wendy at this years show. However, to sit with friends, she changed seats and swapped with a guy who I think was known to her. Nothing against any sort of dedicated fan but boy it was like watching the show whilst sitting on a bouncy castle at times. And screams? He could give teenage fans of High School Musical a run for their money.

Anyway I digress....

Now I realised I had to make up big time for the non-existence of a review last year so I hope the fans and the band like the little promotional video I made above just using a selection of concert clips from last year.

Unlike so many bands they are not camera shy and are happy for fans to take photos at shows. Although I had full tracks recorded I wanted to produce a little something that was enjoyable, yet respecting the value of music and copyright. I quite like the simple 5 minute result and it has already received a positive You Tube comment within 24 hours.

This year I took no video. However I thought whilst reviewing I'd share with the world a number of stills I took this year. Sometimes I have taken photos at shows, when permitted, only to be disappointed at the result. There were a few blurries this year but overall I am pleased.

If your browser allows hovering your mouse cursor over a picture may give more details.
Well as time goes on we are left with fewer and fewer great groups from the 1960's who have had band member changes over the years and yet who can still command a huge amount of respect from concert goers.
The Searchers have, however, continued to thrive over the years. There is also something relatively unique in the type of audience this band attracts. Go and see many a band from the 60's or even a collection of artists doing a tour and you will find the age of the average audience member is substantially greater than that commanded by The Searchers. Perhaps that's because the later recruits are a tad younger than the band's elders? Maybe it's down to the band's energy and enthusiasm, their friendly approach to fans or just good music? But whatever the reason is it's great to see many in their 30's, 40's and even 20's enjoying Rock 'N' Roll delivered at it's best.
Band "Front Man" Frank Allen is still Rockin' and Rollin' after more than 45 years with The Searchers but he is certainly showing no signs of giving up yet. With his continued energy, enthusiasm and strong sense of humour you get the feeling Frank will keep performing as long as he can still sing and hold a guitar! You get the feeling that if he had to eventually be wheeled on stage he'd do it!
It seems that The Searchers have never really classed themselves as celebrities. They just love what they do and it shows. None of this "don't you know who I am" attitude. No 20 questions before they sign an autograph in case some urchin is selling it on eBay and no inflated ego thing about the taking of photos at gigs. It is all so refreshing. Copyright is all very well but I think it can be taken to some very stupid extremes. File sharing is what is damaging music. A You Tube video is no substitute for the real thing, yet can be a great free advert for the artist(s) if done well. I would like to see more artist(s) not be so hard on photo/video footage. A photo taken with agreement does far more to advertise an artist than a sneakily taken grainy video.
John McNally is the true founder member of The Searchers and he always looks as if he's enjoying performing as much as ever. More than 46 years on he's still strumming away on his impressive line up of guitars and jigging across the stage with the energy of a man 30 years younger (I know you may not feel it John - but that's at least the way it looks). The banter between Allen and McNally throughout the gigs is one of the things that adds to a Searchers show. After 45+ years together they probably know each other better than a married couple and it's a relationship that works so well.
Spencer James, whose vocals are nothing short of incredible, may be a relatively youthful member of the group but incredibly this former member of the group "The First Class" has now been an essential part of the band for 23+ years.
The "Baby" Searcher is the hugely vital and talented Eddie Rothe who has already clocked up over 10 years service with the group and drummed up loads of support from fans (pun absolutely intended).
Eddie's other half is "loose woman" and former "The Cruise" star Jayne McDonald. By sheer coincidence Jayne was appearing at the Congress only 2 days after The Searchers.
Having seen (and met) the friendly Jayne several times at The Congress Theatre she always puts on a superb show. But in these credit crunching times given the choice of seeing 4 Searchers for £10 less than a solo Jayne McDonald The Searchers won hands down on the value for money front this year. I did wonder if many others had taken the same financial decision as when Frank Allen asked if any of the substantial audience were going to see Jayne McDonald the response was a deafening silence.
Another thing I have found with The Searchers is that time passes incredibly quickly. Due to the fact the music is always so utterly brilliant the interval seems to arrive in no time and the second half, encores and the like seem to be over swiftly too.

I have yet to see The Searchers on an occasion when they have failed to get a standing ovation. I can't see it happening anytime soon either.
All the greatest hits are, of course, always covered including the inevitable favourites: Sweets for my sweet, Love potion no 9, Sugar and Spice, Needles and Pins, When You Walk In The Room and many many more.
However although you would always expect these hits to be played everytime you go to see one of their concerts you never seem to tire of them. This is because Frank Allen and his fellow Searchers have a knack of keeping each tour fresh. New humour is introduced, tracks are shuffled around, less popular hits are introduced and songs from other artists get cover versions.
This is probably another reason why with at least 5 major band member changes over 45+ years The Searchers remain as popular worldwide today as they have always been. The show has been kept fresh, they've always looked after their loyal fans and the talent they have sourced when they have lost a band member has always been a popular choice.
Given the choice of seeing The Searchers perform a whole show themselves or as part of a "Solid Silver 60's Show" type multi-artist compilation I would go for the full show any day. Musically impressive and thoroughly entertaining I hope they continue doing concerts in full until they can no longer stand.
They certainly have a very loyal following who hope the same.
Any critisisms? Only one................. where are the programmes? CDs are available at the venues for purchase and signing if required but for at least the last couple of years no programmes.
Come on guys it's a great opportunity to bring your followers up to date with The Searchers history with up to date pictures and at the same time give them some new memorabilia for signing! I guess there's also the added bonus that they might raise a few quid too towards your next Las Vegas performance as we know how much you love Vegas.
Just remember to come back to Eastbourne soon and to bring some nice new programmes with you!