The Searchers Go the Extra Mile

The Searchers
McPillips Street Station Casino
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
June 15/09



Being a fan of British Invasion music, I try to catch any UK band from the period that rolls through. Given that most of the original band members from that period are now collecting social insurance, the opportunities are getting progressively fewer. So it was that I eagerly sat front row centre for The Searchers show at McPhillips Street Station casino.

As a regular concert attendee, seeing “oldies” acts can be a hit or miss affair. Often, few - if any – of the original group members still tour. Worst yet, key members such as lead singers or lead instrumentalist have often long since departed

Happily, The Searcher’s line up is still relatively intact. Although vocalist Mike Pinder departed the group back in 1981, founding lead guitarist/vocalist John McNally still mans the lead guitar duties and provides that wonderful jangly Searchers’ sound along with bassist Frank Allen who shares vocal duties and very capably fronts the group. Former First Class (their big hit was Beach Baby) vocalist/guitarist Spencer James is a formidable replacement for Pinder and the line up is rounded out by Eddie Rothe on drums.


The band kicked off with its first 1963 UK hit Sweets for My Sweet. One of the things that surprised me was the sheer number of hits The Searchers had in such a short period. Although I was well of aware of a few of their hits such as Needles and Pins, Love Potion No 9, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and When You Walk in the Room, I was taken aback when I also instantly recognized many of their UK hits such as Sweets for My Sweet, Sugar and Spice and What Have They Done to the Rain which did not chart as successfully in Canada. Of course, maybe that’s just my grey hair showing.

The hits were performed pretty much verbatim. Allen was the consummate entertainer cracking jokes, encouraging audience response and telling interesting stories about how some The Searchers big hits came about.

Some album and cover songs worked better than others. Three pleasant surprises were their cover of Spencer’s hit Beach Baby, and killer covers of Bette Midler’s The Rose and of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap’s Young Girl (with special kudos going to the harmony work and Spencer’s lead vocal performance) They also included a nod to the resident Canucks by including a cover of Ian and Sylvia’s Four Strong Winds which was well performed and well received. But covers such as Da Do Ron Ron and Twist and Shout, though decent party songs, should probably have been left off the set list.

After attending high priced shows ($200.00 plus) for merely “OK” seats at the MTS Centre for classic rock acts such as Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles, it was great to be able to sit close enough to count nose hairs and watch one of the founding father groups of the British Invasion strut their stuff for under forty dollars.


The sound was great and the band played all the hits, evoking plenty of audience participation and making it a fun night for all. They wrapped up the initial with their smash hits Needles and Pins followed bv When You Walk in the Room. For their first encore they performed a cover of John Fogerty’s Rockin’ All Over the World followed by a fine medley reprise of all their hits. For their final encore, they had the crowd swaying and waving cell phones to Gerry Marsden’s Liverpool soccer anthem Never Walk Alone.

The Searchers topped off the night by doing a “meet and greet” immediately after the show to sign autographs and merchandise which was included in the price of the ticket. No extra charge. Usually bands charge hundreds of extra dollars for this privilege at arena shows and festival. It’s gestures like this, that make it easy to understand why The Searchers have lasted so long. They value their fans and deliver bang for the buck. Well done lads!

3 1/2 out of 5

Rob Rheubottom
Winnipeg, MB Canada
tarryrob@yahoo.ca