The Drifters at the Royal & Derngate Northampton Review
The Drifters
Royal & Derngate, Northampton
5 June 2015
Reviewed by Joanne Francklow
I didn’t really know what to expect when I went to see ‘The Drifters’ perform at the Dernate Theatre in Northampton this weekend. I knew a few of their songs such as ‘Under the Boardwalk’ and ‘Up on the Roof’ and I was rather expecting to see four elderly men on stage singing as I knew they had been around for many years. I was also rather surprised to see the mix of ages in the people waiting for the theatre doors to open ready to take their seats. I bumped into old school friends (I’m 38 years old), as well as a lady I used to work with many years ago who was out with some of her girlfriends (she’s since retired as she’s now in her 70’s, and so were her friends). It seems ‘The Drifters’ attracted a vast mix of ages in their fans. Once the doors opened and we had taken our seats the band, consisting of drummer, bass guitarist, cellist, percussionist, saxophonist and keyboard player, started playing a tune I recognised and four men (remarkably young looking) appeared singing ‘On Broadway’. Rather delighted that I recognised the first song, I felt happy and ready to see what the rest of the night had in store.
Sadly, the following songs took me back to the days when as a teenager I worked at a place that held tea dance shows where there was a singer and someone playing a keyboard. In other words, while it was enjoyable to listen to, I wasn’t blown away by what I was watching. However, I could see that the 70 year old lady and her girlfriends sitting a few rows in front of me were clapping and singing along.
If I were to judge the whole show on the first half, I would say it was for an acquired taste. Probably a pleasant show for people who grew up with their music. I’m glad to say that I don’t have to review it all on the first half as the second half rather blew me away. Having returned to my seat after the interval with glass of wine in hand, the band livened up with a tune I was very familiar with as it was one of my favourite U2 songs called ‘Vertigo’. Who would’ve thought ‘The Drifters’ would be singing that song, the show just got better and better. The tribute they made to Ben E King by singing ‘Stand By Me’ was excellent and the songs in the second half were much better, more recognisable and more upbeat. When I saw the 2 ladies in the box up dancing at the start of the show (the only two people up dancing in the entire theatre as far as I could see), I did not anticipate that by the end of the show the entire audience would be on their feet dancing, clapping and singing along. Me included.
After a slow start the show ended to an entire theatre on their feet dancing and applauding and I can confirm that I left believing I may have just become a fan! I was rather disappointed that it wasn’t the original line up. However, I since discovered there have in fact been over 60 members of ‘The Drifters’ over the years and the current members of the group did the previous members proud. I was also very pleased that the group let their understudy ‘Jerome’, sing a few songs himself as he had a lovely voice and a great stage presence.
Would I recommend others to go and watch this? Absolutely!
How would I rate this? 3 out of 5 (I would’ve scored higher had the first half been as good as the last).
Rating: 3/5
The Drifters Rebranded Tour is currently touring the UK, for more information and venues visit www.theofficialdrifters.com/the-drifters-rebranded-tour-2015.
For other shows at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.
Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton, NN1 1DP | 01604 624811
