John Edwards has already done a review of this show, so basically I am just adding my thoughts and observations.
Essentially the Searchers Forum concerns itself with mainly the career of The Searchers, so the interest on this tour was clearly MIKE PENDER. The numbers performed by Mike Pender on the night I caught up with the tour, March 25, 2002, were Johnny Be Good, True Love Ways, My Girl, (Yes The Temptations number) Sweets For My Sweet, When You Walk In the Room, Needles and Pins, Don't Throw Your Love Away.
As John stated, at times all five of the singers on this tour were on stage together, each taking a verse of a certain song. Those songs being Reelin' and a Rockin', Oh Boy, Games People Play, Rock and Roll Music, Do Wah Diddy Diddy (strange choice I thought, as Mike D'Abo was the replacement lead singer for Paul Jones in Manfred Mann, this song is associated with Manfred Mann, but D'Abo had not joined Manfred Mann when this track was originally released) I'm a Believer, Glad All Over (The Dave Clark Five Hit) Whole Lotta Shakin' and of course, a reprise of the ubiquitous sixties anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone".
The personnel of the band members, was as outlined by Peter earlier, they were in an elevated position at back of stage, lead guitarist looked about seventeen. The two Nolan sisters were at the side of the stage towards the back and were on stage all the time, no problem there as Maureen Nolan is some "looker".
It did seem somewhat odd to see Mike Pender performing as a solo artist and just holding a microphone, although for all The Searchers numbers he did revert to playing lead guitar and also Johnny Be Goode. He seemed to have a problem with his microphone when performing songs with the other acts, constantly looking at the feedback speaker and monitoring to the soundman. Didn't appear to have this problem when appearing solo, led some audience members to comment after, that he was trying to "Hog" the show, but perhaps they were being unfair.
It did seem odd to me that we had listened to thirteen numbers before any of them performed a song that you would associate them with. My wife however who had condescended on this occasion to attend the concert with me, actually thought the format was good, as to be fair the show was very fast moving, with each singer coming on straight after one another.
I did enjoy the songs MP performed in particular the two ballads he did, always feel his voice suits ballads rather than more upbeat numbers, my wife, rather unkindly I think, maintains I would enjoy him singing "BA BA Black Sheep" Bit HARSH!!!
I would recommend the show mainly because there has been an attempt to come up with a different idea in presentation, rather than one act after another coming on and going through their set.
The added bonus also was that if you are not keen on one act, the most numbers they do as individuals at onetime is three.
There is also a link insofar as Brian Poole and Mike Pender were part of The Corporation who along with Tony Crane (Merseybeats) Clem Curtis (Foundations) and Reg Presley (Troggs) released a one off single back in the early nineties called "Ain't Nothing But A Houseparty" the ex Showstoppers song I think I am Correct in saying. The theme of that release was built upon each artist taking a part of the vocal, inspiration for the theme of this production perhaps?
Must comment on the tight fitting "snake" jacket that Pender wore for a lot of numbers, didn't suit him at all in my view and based on comments heard in the interval and after the show, not the only one to think that.
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