THE Searchers are a pop band who enjoyed success in the 1960s, with several top 10 hit records.
Half a century on, with only two sixties’ members left, the Searchers continue to tour the world, still filling (albeit smaller) theatres with devoted fans.
The original catchy Searchers’ “sound” relied on the distinctive lead vocals and harmonies of Mike Pender (still touring) and Tony Jackson, backed by the crisp slick drumming of Chris Curtis.
The “sound” is now very different. Their best number, the haunting post-nuclear holocaust protest song What Have They Done To The Rain is missing from the setlist.
Their big hooky hits Sweets For My Sweet, Sugar And Spice, Needles And Pins, and Don’t Throw Your Love Away are still there, but now sounding (unsurprisingly after 50 years) tired, laboured and monotonous.
On-stage patter is often indistinct and uncomfortable, there’s an over-reliance on audience singalongs, and covers of pop classics Hey Mr Tambourine Man and Young Girl lack soul and feel.
The bass drum sound is ploddy and thumpy, over-emphasising the down-beat rather than the rocky off-beat.
The wonderful finale Every Time That You Walk In The Room is overlong, Twist And Shout is feeble, and the taped Land Of Hope And Glory is just odd!
It might be better if the Searchers added keyboards to enrich the sound, and reverted to being part of a Sixties Revival show, rather than attempting a full solo concert.
Brendan McCusker
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