The Drifters
The Embassy Theatre Skegness
Saturday 30 July 2022
I really don't know what I was expecting in coming to review this show by The Drifters as part of their UK arena and theatre tour for 2022. I have been to see a lot of nostalgia shows and they are well attended generally, but tonight took me by surprised as The Drifters filled the Embassy Theatre for their sell-out performance. The appetite for this soulful combo's ever-so-familiar songbook remains huge. There wasn't a spare seat in sight and this audience was ready to celebrate the history of this band whose place has been cemented in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
From the inception of the group, membership has been fluid. At one point, manager George Treadwell had replaced the entire group with another group and he changed their name to The Drifters as he owned the rights to the group name. The replacement group featured none other than the legendary Ben E King as lead tenor. The rest is rock 'n'roll history. After the death of Treadwell in 1967, his wife Faye took over management of the group and she ensured that their career and their legacy continued to blossom on both sides of the Atlantic. The group had their last UK Top Ten chart hit in 1976 with You're More Than a Number in My Little Red Book but as a group, The Drifters continue to tour.
Inevitably, with aging members moving on and some, sadly,no longer with us the membership does change. It could be argued that its a little like the Ship of Theseus Paradox by asking if the membership has changed utterly, can it still be regarded as the same group? But the soul, the sound and the songbook remain the same and The Drifters for 2022 hark back to those glory days with silky smooth vocals and an energy that is hard to beat.
The audience for tonight's show had booked seats but a sizeable chunk of the audience left their seats almost immediately to make their way to the front where they proceeded to dance the night away joyfully and they really didn't care that the personnel may change. They understand that it is necessary to keep the group's memory alive and to deliver a show that is pitch perfect in its repertoire and its performance.
Sadly, the current combo shall have to remain anonymous for this review as they choose not to identify each other by name on stage, in the tour brochure or online. This is a pity as I had praise for each of the individual members but clearly they see the group as more important than its individual components.
A rear screen allowed for projection throughout the night, with stills and video clips from the group's illustrious career. It highlighted the story of how the band was formed by Treadwell and Clyde McPhatter who sold his rights to Treadwell. Each little segment of video provided greater understanding and backstory. Musically, the show began with one of my personal favourites In The Neighborhood as the four current members entered and stood dramatically in silhouette, with the band's name emblazoned behind them leaving the audience in no doubt that today THIS line-up IS The Drifters.
Each member is blessed with a phenomenal vocal and has the chance to shine as lead vocalist in turn. Their rich and rounded harmonies are precisely what you would want to hear when such numbers as Spanish Harlem, Fools Fall In Love and more are belted out accompanied by a tiny band consisting of a keyboard player, drummer and bassist who nevertheless succeed in reproducing the necessary accompaniment to every song without sounding thin or empty.
The lighting design really helped to elevate the quality of the show too and it was great seeing a follow spot being used to great effect picking out each soloist in turn. This seems to be something that many shows neglect today but is infinitely useful in directing the audience's attention to the desired point on stage. As a photographer, I wish other venues were as precise with the use of the follow-spot as it always assists in producing crisp and clear images of the show.
Hit after hit was presented to the audience and throughout the show we heard Under the Boardwalk, On The Beach, Up On The Roof, Kissing In The Back Row and Save the Last Dance. It was non-stop joy listening to the group and each member in turn addressed the audience indulging in some witty banter but an audience favourite was certainly the baritone singer whose self-mockery addressed the issue of the "fluid" membership as he endeavored to show the face of the audience members who refuse to accept that these guys can be the real group - a look captured perfectly below.
The group also paid tribute to friends and colleagues from other great '60s groups such as the Four Tops and The Temptations and of course, the solo career of Ben E King. The audience treated to a series of tribute songs such as I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Reach Out I'll Be There, Stand By Me and My Girl. There were also incredibly popular tributes to Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5 as well.
The whole night was a revelation from start to finish, reminding me of just how much I have enjoyed the music of The Drifters over the years and making me think that I really ought to get a ticket to see The Drifters' Girl in the West End, despite its star Beverly Knight having handed over the role of Faye Treadwell to her successor now.
Strangely though, the most endearing moment of the night was when the group paid tribute to one of their own comrades, David Lee Andrews. Andrews was a wrier, producer and musician in his own right and has sung with The Drifters in later years. He set up a family home in Cleethorpes, although he was an American, and was a much-loved supporter of many local charities. He passed away unexpectedly in October 2021. Tonight, his family was in attendance at the show and the love and affection for him within the group was evident, as was the gratitude for his service as a Drifter taking younger members under his wing. Doubtless, it will be even more poignant when The Drifters take the stage in Grimsby in October.
So, was it worth seeing the group despite some comparisons to Trigger's Broom in Only Fools and Horses? Absolutely. The energy and enthusiasm of the group and the shared love of the musical legacy was remarkable. This didn't feel like a tribute band and the audience really felt that they had enjoyed the authentic Drifters' experience. Would we recommend it to lovers of '60s soul? 100%. If can see The Drifters, do.
Andy Evans - 31 July 2022
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