[MUSIC ~ AUS]

The Bridgeway Hotel, Sat 17 Apr, 2021.

Back in what some might call ‘the day’ The Bridgeway was the place for bands to play. In the ‘70s and ‘80s everybody from Motorhead to Real Life played there. Tonight’s show is completely sold out and the line to get in stretches hundreds of metres down the road.

As one might expect a show by the Legends of Ol’55, a band from four and a half decades ago, attracts an audience of a ‘certain age’ (myself included) but everybody is ready to get on the prowl and have a good time.

Presented by The Grape Production, even before the band hits the stage Frankie J Holden’s hilarious ‘public service announcement’ from off stage has everybody roaring with laughter. Funny, cheeky, a bit un-PC, but not offensive; the entire audience is eating out of his hands before they can even see them. Frankie J and Wilbur Wilde with Skyhooks’ legendary drummer Freddie Strauks, guitarist Pip Joyce and bass man Paul Gadsby hit the stage and kick into Electric Light Orchestra’s 1983 hit Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King.

Legends-Of-Ol'55

The set is a mixture of rockin’ classics by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Dion And The Belmonts and songs from the members’ best known bands. They do the first ever Ol’55 single Diana (by Paul Anka) which was thrilling for me as it was my first glimpse of them. All My Friends Are Getting Married and Balwyn Calling from Skyhooks, Shape I’m In by Wilde’s other band Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons.

The band is solid as a rock, great harmonies, excellent musicians and the set list in nothing but 100% good time rock‘n’roll. But it’s the comedic interaction between Holden and Wilde that elevates proceedings to its highest level. They’ve been friends and playing in bands together for over four decades and, while one suspects some of the jokes are as old as their friendship, they are hilarious natural comedians – bantering and interacting with each other and the audience (Frankie getting into the crowd to dance at one point). It was like getting a rock gig and comedy show all at once. [Let’s call this Comedy Rock! Ed.].

There was dancing… LOTS of dancing! From very early in the first set people were up swing dancing, rockin’ and rollin’, hand-jiving and having an absolute ball. It was fan-bloody-tastic!
Holden is still charismatic, fighting fit and belting out the songs. Each band member takes their turn in the spotlight throughout the course of the evening, and when these spirited musicians begin throwing down Twisting The Night Away, Viva Las Vegas, Brown Eyed Girl or Saturday Night At The Movies, there is no place I’d rather be.

The night finished with Looking For An Echo, On The Prowl and a scorching Roll Over Beethoven. Let’s hope we see them back here real soon. Top job lads!

5 stars

Ian Bell

Images courtesy of Ian Bell

Frankie J Holden

Set #1

Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King (ELO)
Don’t Be Cruel (Elvis)
Diana (Paul Anka/OL’55)
Come Back Again (Daddy Cool)
The Wanderer (Dion)
This Little Girl (Dion/Ol’55)
Sea Cruise (Huey ‘Piano’ Smith)
Almost Grown (Chuck Berry)

Set #2

Coming Home (Mark Knopfler)
Viva Las Vegas (Elvis)
Twistin’ The Night Away (Sam Cooke)
You Never Can Tell (Chuck Berry)
Get A Job (The Silhouettes)
All My Friends Are Getting Married (Skyhooks)
Balwyn Calling (Skyhooks)
Shape I’m In (Jo Jo Zep)
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Saturday At The Movies (The Drifters)
Looking For An Echo (Ol’55)
On The Prowl (Ol’55)

Encore

Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry)

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[MUSIC ~ AUS] The Bridgeway Hotel, Sat 17 Apr, 2021. Back in what some might call ‘the day’ The Bridgeway was the place for bands to play. In the ‘70s and ‘80s everybody from Motorhead to Real Life played there. Tonight’s show is completely sold out and the line to get in stretches hundreds of metres down the road. As one might expect a show by the Legends of Ol’55, a band from four and a half decades ago, attracts an audience of a ‘certain age’ (myself included) but everybody is ready to get on the prowl and have a good time. Presented by The Grape Production, even before the band hits the stage Frankie J Holden’s hilarious ‘public service announcement’ from off stage has everybody roaring with laughter. Funny, cheeky, a bit un-PC, but not offensive; the entire audience is eating out of his hands before they can even see them. Frankie J and Wilbur Wilde with Skyhooks’ legendary drummer Freddie Strauks, guitarist Pip Joyce and bass man Paul Gadsby hit the stage and kick into Electric Light Orchestra’s 1983 hit Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King. The set is a mixture of rockin’ classics by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Dion And The Belmonts and songs from the members’ best known bands. They do the first ever Ol’55 single Diana (by Paul Anka) which was thrilling for me as it was my first glimpse of them. All My Friends Are Getting Married and Balwyn Calling from Skyhooks, Shape I’m In by Wilde’s other band Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons. The band is solid as a rock, great harmonies, excellent musicians and the set list in nothing but 100% good time rock‘n’roll. But it’s the comedic interaction between Holden and Wilde that elevates proceedings to its highest level. They’ve been friends and playing in bands together for over four decades and, while one suspects some of the jokes are as old as their friendship, they are hilarious natural comedians – bantering and interacting with each other and the audience (Frankie getting into the crowd to dance at one point). It was like getting a rock gig and comedy show all at once. [Let’s call this Comedy Rock! Ed.]. There was dancing… LOTS of dancing! From very early in the first set people were up swing dancing, rockin’ and rollin’, hand-jiving and having an absolute ball. It was fan-bloody-tastic! Holden is still charismatic, fighting fit and belting out the songs. Each band member takes their turn in the spotlight throughout the course of the evening, and when these spirited musicians begin throwing down Twisting The Night Away, Viva Las Vegas, Brown Eyed Girl or Saturday Night At The Movies, there is no place I’d rather be. The night finished with Looking For An Echo, On The Prowl and a scorching Roll Over Beethoven. Let’s hope we see them back here real soon. Top job lads! 5 stars Ian Bell Images courtesy of Ian Bell Set #1 Rock ‘N’ Roll Is King…

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