The Drifters at the Alexandra Theatre

The Drifters

Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham

Concert review by Craig Birch

Classics remained classic as the Drifters rolled back the years at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre.

The legendary vocal group – now in their 58^th year as an entity – hit the West Midlands last night to perform in front of an enthused audience in the Second City.

Of course, it's not the original line up – in fact, none of the inaugural 1953 alumni were present – and some 21 members have been a part of the Drifters since day one.

Today's offering presents Michael Williams, Damion Charles, Ryan King and Carlton Powell, with a youthful exuberance that reminds you why they were so great to begin with.

You wonder whether there's a rulebook somewhere titled 'what it takes to be a Drifter' and, if that is the case, there's a hymn sheet in there that all of the 'club' have sang from.

From the very start, the premise was based on harmonies and the latest famous four, arguably, are as good together as Clyde McPhatter, Ben E King, Bill Pinkney and the others that preceded them.

Of course, it all comes down to the hits and the best of the lot arguably came before the interval in, ironically, the last original they ever released in 'Your More than a Number in My Little Red Book.'

'Up on the Roof' had already been and gone but the old favourites flowed in 'There Goes My First Love,' 'Under the Boardwalk,' 'Sweets for My Sweet' and 'Kissin in the Back Row of the Movies.'

By the end, the Alex was on its feet and the children of the Brookfields Primary School in Birmingham joined the group, as they did at the start of the second-half, for the last stand.

'Saturday Night at the Movies' wasn't the last track but the whole hall was standing. It may not be 1953 anymore, but there still appears to be plenty of mileage in the Drifters yet.