Elvis has left the building . . . and moved to Congleton??!!!!

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing isn’t it? It takes your mind off things and can give you warm and fuzzy moments when you need them. Never more so has nostalgia taken on extra importance than in music here in Great Britain.

Here in England the entertainment news has been festooned (what a good word!) with the announcements of bands reforming. I personally am pleased to hear that The Stones Roses are to reform. The ageing teeny bopper band Steps are to reform as well. I personally couldn’t care less!!!!

The rock and roll generation is getting on in years now. The first “teenagers” are now in their ‘70’s. They find that the chances of hearing their musical heroes on the wireless, slowly decreasing. So, how do you manage to quench your desire to hear the classics of yesteryear? Simple – tribute bands or cover bands!

Linda and I had the pleasure of seeing a cover band last Saturday night in Congleton. We had been invited by my Uncle Ellis to come down to his “club”, (The Band Club) and watch a band who specialized in performing the hits of days gone by. The name of the group – “Nostalgia”! What made the night even more pleasing was that there was no cover charge! Uncle Ellis also seemed to think that cheap booze was a good selling point – can’t think why!

I had never been to this place before. When we entered the place, well, it seemed like I was in a parallel universe! It really was paying homage to the club scene of days gone by so famously satirized by Peter Kay in the now legendary Channel Four situation comedy “Phoenix Nights”.  Apart from going to Blackpool, this occasion was the best example I could offer my lovely American wife of how to pay homage to all things British!

I mentioned Elvis in the title of this piece for one reason– he was everywhere in the club! Elvis pictures and other memorabilia covered the club – pictures of Elvis from every period. You name it – from 50’s Elvis to fat, jump- suited burger loving Elvis . . . they were everywhere!

The band started playing at 9pm. Now, here’s the deal – they were really good! A three piece group, consisting of a drummer, bass player and lead guitarist (who happened to be the lead singer) entertained the audience very well indeed. Their repertoire spanned the decades. Everyone was catered for from the young to the not so young.

I mentioned the not so young because I don’t think Linda and I have ever had a night out where there have been so many crutches, walking sticks and even the odd oxygen tank in view!  It was wonderful to see people of all ages together having a good time.  The band took a well-deserved break at 10pm. Now it was time for the serious stuff – the bingo!

The bingo saw audience participation reaching new heights (“two little ducks . . . twenty two!” “quack quack” “thank you quackers” . . . truly comedy gold!)  There were other competitions held for the people in the club to take part in. One such competition proved to be very profitable for Linda and myself.

The competition was straight forward enough . . . a card was passed around with the names of English football teams on it. You had to pay £1 and pick a team. If the team you had picked matched the team that was under the square that would be scratched off, you won the princely sum of £20! Now, Manchester United had already been picked so we wondered which team to pick. Suddenly, it appeared to us, like a vision . . . Northampton Town! Well, it had to be picked didn’t it? Guess who won – us! It felt appropriate to have picked Northampton (never NoHo remember!) and we were really pleased to have won the £20! It was about time Northampton did us proud! Only kidding!

The band reappeared at 11pm. Now they really kicked-in! The volume level went up a notch, not quite to 11 I might add, but it was mighty close! Special mention has to be given to the medleys performed by the band. Songs by the Rolling Stones and Elvis, amongst others, were performed and were excellent.

I was once told that “cover bands” were not the real deal by someone I used to work with. I happened to have mentioned I once saw a Bon Jovi tribute band many years ago in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent called “By Jovi” and were very entertaining. This person played in a band. It happens to be quite a good band and Linda and I enjoyed seeing them play once. Here’s where I have a side-beef with that theory. These tunes covered by bands such as Nostalgia are truly classics. They are songs that defy time. They are songs that truly, when performed well, give a sense of joy to many people from the younger folk to the ones who shake their crutch in time to the music!

There were smiles all over the club. People started to dance. Elvis impersonators appeared out of the woodwork! “Nostalgia” was engaging, friendly and played some really good music. Songs from the current era such as Paolo Nutini’s “New Shoes” sat perfectly alongside such classics as “Proud Mary” and The Beatles’ “Love Me like You Did Before” and “Roll over Beethoven”. For the record, Ike and Tina Turner’s version of “Proud Mary” wins for us . . .

It made Linda and me really happy to see people like my Uncle Ellis have such a good time. Seeing Elvis classics performed not only live but well, give a big Elvis fan like my Uncle Ellis such a thrill. We were cheated out of Elvis in 1977 at the age of 42. Way too young. It is truly magical that “Nostalgia’ is around to satisfy the desires of fans young and old in my home town by playing the classics.

Listening to music is a wonderful way to pass the time. Listening to the music of your youth or music that you just happen to like being played live and played well is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday evening. I’m sure we’ll go again to the Band Club in Worrall Street Congleton. There’s a great Chinese nearby . . .

Enjoy your music and go out and gamble and see a live band at a local club some time, you may have a very pleasant surprise!

Enjoy yourself and please check out www.motdusaway.blogspot.com and www.lindaandeddiesexcellentadventure.blogspot.com whenever you can!

Eddie