Forum Theatre, Malvern – 19th October 2023
Reviewed by Courie Amado Juneau
4.5****
Back in 1959 the world tragically lost one of the finest musicians that has ever lived, Buddy Holly. Since then his ouevre has lived on in the hearts of music lovers everywhere. His influence changed everything – he is the man who showed Lennon that rock ‘n’ rollers could be cool wearing glasses, who showed the next generation that you could write your own songs and who gave us the template for the modern group – singer, two guitars, bass and drums. Buddy Holly and the Cricketers (a very witty name) tonight gave us the chance to experience what a Holly concert would have been like, and to bask in his wondrous music.
“That’ll Be The Day”, “Rock Around With Ollie V” and “It’s So Easy” opened proceedings in style, providing all the uninitiated could need to know about Holly’s music – the greatest of hits, lesser known classics and melodious pop jewels. All killer, no filler, all night long.
Jamie Alexander as Buddy was a very personable front man, looking and sounding like the man himself, his guitar playing was joyous and effortless. In truth this is a band of frontmen rather than a frontman with a band. Apart from instrumental solos and being integral to the comedy they took lead vocals on many of the era’s non-Holly jukebox faves like “La Bamba” (Nik Barrell, guitar), Ray Charles’s “Hallelujah I Love Her So” (Alan Grice, piano), “Twist and Shout” (Malcolm Nilsson, bass – sorry if I got your name wrong, I couldn’t find it anywhere on the website) and Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” (John McClaine, from the drum kit which included the rather witty lyric change to “..don’t ever play the drums”, tickling me greatly!).
There’s a lot of bonhomie in this show. From humorous one liners during the audience participation to jokes at the band’s own expense, this show is a mountain of fun! The band were masters at getting the crowd involved and keeping the party atmosphere going.
All the hits were present and very correct; from “Not Fade Away” and “Peggy Sue” to tracks the super-fan would appreciate like “Blue Days, Black Nights” and “Peggy Sue Got Married” alongside some genuine surprises like the pre-Crickets era Buddy n Bob’s
“Down The Line”. A lot of care and attention has obviously gone into the show to present an overview of the band’s catalogue and a very pleasing set in its own right.
The second half of the show really took off with the musicians turning it up to 11. The encore, especially, had that on the edge, dangerous abandon that any truly thrilling rock ‘n’ roll gig has and was everything that is good and fine about live music.
Rushing headlong into the finale, we had a trio of songs that would be enough on its own to relieve any box office of its tickets; “Oh Boy”, “Think It Over” and one of my personal Holly favourites “Rave On”. One last 50’s era medley at blistering pace to climax and we were all breathless, sporting massive grins and with a renewed enthusiasm for the original rock era. A Buddy great show – oh, I went there (and you should too, asap).