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The Searchers

Venue: Kings Hall
Town: Ilkley
Date: 25/4/14
Website: http://www.the-searchers.co.uk/

I put on record, terrible pun I know, in a recent FATEA review of The Bootleg Beatles that The Searchers were and still are my favourite Liverpool band. What first attracted them to me was their harmonies and the jangly guitars. Having been trained as a chorister, harmony was really important to me and in those days of the early 60's it was pretty rare to find it in a band. It is great to report that some fifty years on, those basic components of the band still live on and in fact thrive. Thrive is probably an understated word as the band still does well in excess of two hundred shows each year at home and abroad. I have no idea how they keep going!

The original hit making band, who I never saw live although my wife did in Worthing in 1963 for five shillings, comprised John McNally, Tony Jackson, Chris Curtis and Mike Pender. Tony Jackson left in 1964 and was replaced by Frank Allen, more of him later. A couple of years later, the drummer Chris Curtis who was reputed to be a bit of an unstable character also left. Both Tony and Chris have sadly died in recent years but they will be remembered fondly in the annals of Searchers history. Finally, Mike Pender left in 1985 and started a legal action over the use of the band's name. You can tell who won!

I first saw the band live in about 1976 at Batley Variety Club. The hits had dried up and they were now doing the club circuit. Very good they were too! Still loads of harmony and jangly guitar work with the excellent vocals of Mike Pender. But this is the past. So what of the current band? It is fair to say that the band is now a real cabaret act with great music, humour and wonderful anecdotal humour. This is all led by Frank Allen who is without doubt the best frontman I have ever seen in a band and I have seen hundreds. He joined in 1964 from Cliff Bennett's band and has not looked back since. He may claim at the age of 70, looking back is quite hard. John McNally, the founder of the band and now 72 is a bundle of impish energy and a fabulous guitarist still. Spencer James the young singer at 61 arrived in 1985, replacing the then departed Mike Pender. Spencer had joined the band from studio band First Class and it is fair to say that he still is. A superb voice combined with skill on the guitar/synthesiser. He did make a mistake last night which gave Frank the opportunity to state that the band did not use any pre-recorded material. As he said" we may be crap but we are live crap." Scott Ottoway on drums joined the band four years ago and is, to my mind at least, the best drummer the band has had. As he is only 42 he has also helped to reduce the average age of the band to about 61. Enough of age but if John McNally can tell me what he is on, I would love to hear about it.

So to the music last night! All the hits were there as well as a number of "B" sides and covers. Their first hit, "Sweets for my sweet" went to number 1 in the charts, which is something that the Beatles failed to do with their debut single so that was of course included. "Sugar and spice," "Don't throw your love away," "Needles and Pins" and all the rest were played with amazing enthusiasm bearing in mind they are from an age gone by. "Love potion No.9" a massive hit in the Sates but never in the UK was greeted with wild enthusiasm. Well as wild as a bunch of pensioners can get! A version of Peggy Sue by John McNally also really got the audience going as Zimmer frames were rattled in appreciation. Two songs in particular stand out for me to show what The Searchers are all about other than their well-known top charters. Gary Puckett's "Young Girl" starts with an acapella section which clearly demonstrates the quality of the harmonies superbly. "Hearts in her eyes" from the 80's Sire recordings shows what The Searchers sound is. Great harmonies and jangly twelve string guitars! Every one that has seen the band will have their own favourite track, mine is "The Rose" from the film of the same name with Bette Midler. The song gives Spencer James the opportunity to show the full range of his fabulous voice and never fails to move me. "Somebody told me you were crying" has the same effect on me. Two songs that I would have liked to hear but did not were "Bumble Bee" and "Switchboard Susan." Oh well, next time perhaps.

The audience last night which as you would expect comprised mainly those of a pensionable age, lapped up the music and the chat from Frank. The verbal interplay between Frank and John is wonderful and is the sign of a great working relationship of almost fifty years. Back to the age thing again! Frank is a mixture of raconteur, musician and comedian. He is also a superb writer and if you get the chance to read either of his books about The Searchers, do so. They are both informative and very funny especially the bit about his Willy and Dusty Springfield. No, you will have to read it yourself.

So, a fabulous evening all round with wonderful memories, great music and entertainment of the highest order. I think this is about the tenth time my wife and I have seen the band and although we know all the songs and the jokes we never tire of seeing the band. Entertainment at its very best!!!

Rory Stanbridge