The Searchers

As a version of the theme to ‘Close Encounters Of The Third Kind’ plays out of the speakers and the odd dim light flashes on stage, four suited figures can be seen to pick up their instruments. Then suddenly after a very short introduction it’s into ‘Sweets For My Sweet’ followed by ‘Don't Throw Your Love Away’. This sets the pace for the evening.

Instead of just churning out the hits, The Searchers are playing the cover songs that they made famous, along with many other tracks around in their hey day. The only original member is guitarist John McNally, though singer and bassist Frank Allen has been with the group since 1964.After many a line up change, the band seem to have settled (since 1998) with guitarist and very talented singer Spencer James and drummer Eddie Rothe.



Over a third of the set is filled with conversation by Allen, about Heather Mills (“People feel sorry for her and say she’s only going to get ten million! I would have married McCartney for less than that, except I can’t have babies...”), and other funny comments about the band getting on a bit.

The couple of tracks from the last album ‘Hungry Hearts’ are a little slower and not as poppy as the well known songs of the sixties, but the ageing audience here are enjoying it. They play the rare ‘What Have They Done To The Rain’, and James’ extraordinary vocals are successfully put to the test with a tribute to “The Big ‘O’”, Roy Orbison, with a cover of ‘Running Scared’.



Also covered are The Topnote’s ‘Twist And Shout’, provoking a huge sing-a-long. As Allen prompts everyone to put their right hands in the air and sing the days of the week to ‘Seven Nights’, he comments “We tried this in Germany and they were a bit reluctant to raise their right hands!”.

For a band with plenty of their own songs (although Jackie DeShannon first recorded ‘Needles and Pins’ and ‘When You Walk In The Room’ two years prior to the foursome) they are focusing a lot on covers, like ‘Young Girl’ by Gary Puckett And The Union Gap and their other well know hit ‘Love Potion No. 9’ by The Clovers. This gives the feeling of an overall step back in time, with the band performing tracks to keep the audience entertained. They probably do a lot better than original singer Mike Pender, who now tours as Mike Pender’s Searchers, confusingly.


‘Take Me For What I'm Worth’ is the rockiest song from the set, with plenty of guitar riffs over the layered harmonies from all four performers. The second set (as there is not support tonight) brings with a costume change from black suits to matching silk shirts. All the extra sounds like samples and keyboard sounds are played though James’ synthesizer pedal, as we are shown to prove they are not cheating, not that anyone here appears to mind.

The night ends with of course ‘Needles And Pins’ and ‘When You Walk In The Room’, with many folk standing up and dancing in the aisles. I found it a really enjoyable show, quite funny and with some well playing tracks which, had I been born at the time, would probably have taken me back a bit to the swinging decade.

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