REVIEW: The Searchers, The Concorde,

AFTER a marathon TV stint of watching the Euro referendum drama unfold I was bleary eyed.

But I was a wide awake after an injection of The Searchers hits including Needles & Pins.

Next year marks the 60th anniversary of when John McNally formed a skiffle group which was to sow the seeds for The Searchers, second only to The Beatles as Liverpool’s finest 60 group.

Sixties stars McNally and Frank Allen, who became a Searcher more than 50 years ago, are now in their seventies but they show no sign of slowing up.

This year marks 54 years of non stop touring for the Liverpool legends. They are regarded as the hardest working band in the business.

Those nostalgia hungry baby boomers in The Concorde audience remembered every line in the tunes which became the soundtrack of their teenage years.

With total record sales of more than 50 million the secret of The Searchers’ sixties success was turning covers of American songs into instant hits.

The band’s glittering back catalogue of chart toppers includes remakes of The Drifters’ 1961 hit Sweets for My Sweet, Jackie DeShannon’s Needles and Pins and When You Walk In The Room.

They threw into this entertaining mix other classics like Sugar and Spice, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and Love Potion Number 9 - the band’s biggest hit in America - as their fans were treated to a feast of rock ‘n roll which soon had them hand clapping and foot tapping.

There were some impressive solos from lead singer and guitarist Spencer James, a former member of The First Class who had a top ten hit with Beach Baby. Scott Ottaway’s fine drumming was a driving force in this sizzling sixties package.

McNally diverted from the Searchers’ script with his own rendition of Buddy Holly’s Peggy Sue and also demonstrated his well honed skills on his trademark 12 string guitar.

After a standing ovation The Searchers responded with an encore, racing through a medley of their hits.

As well as playing bass guitar and vocals Allen was master of ceremonies. In between numbers he delivered some witty anecdotes on the history of the band and its timeless hits.

The Searchers set sail from Southampton in September aboard the Celebrity Eclipse on the Rock the Boat Cruise via Zeebrugge and Cherbourg.

On October 13 they will be dropping anchor again in Southampton on the Sixties Gold package tour.

Meanwhile I am wide awake after my fix of Searchers’ sixties gems.

Duncan Eaton