The Fortunes and The Ivy League, Regent Theatre, Christchurch (From Daily Echo)

The Fortunes and The Ivy League, Regent Theatre, Christchurch

12:01pm Tuesday 15th March 2011 in Music Reviews

Pop music of the ’60s frequently featured memorable melodies, hooky lyrics, and gut-thumping rhythm.

Often overlooked were the great vocal harmonies. Among many bands, The Fortunes and The Ivy League always used strong close harmony and the current versions of both bands deliver a rich live sound.

The three-piece Ivy League have a nice line in manic humour – often hilariously and controversially “politically incorrect” – in a tight act, reinforced by their three big hits Tossing And Turning, That’s Why I’m Crying and the gorgeous Funny How Love Can Be.

The four-piece Fortunes opened with their huge 1965 hit Here It Comes Again, followed by their US successes Freedom Come, Freedom Go and Rainy Day Feeling.

Ironically, possibly the Fortunes’ happiest, catchiest number, Caroline, was banned by the BBC in 1964 as the illegal pirate ship Radio Caroline was using it as their signature jingle.

Fortunes’ keyboard player Bob Jackson highlights hits from his Badfinger band days: No Matter What and the classic ballad Without You.

The finale featured – “From that golden summer of ’65” – the subtle and orchestral You’ve Got Your Troubles, and the encore spoke directly to the still-rocking audience – Hold On Tight To Your Dreams.

Not a single member of the original Fortunes and Ivy League is still with the bands.

Does it matter? Possibly not, as long as the audience is not conned, and the music lives on.

And it does...gloriously!

Brendan McCusker