Do you like The Proclaimers? Craig and Charlie Reid have been performing since they were in school but hit is big in the 1980s with their melodious Scottish voices singing in close harmony. You can hear the lilt in their lyrics and it is soothing and exciting.
On 22 October 2009 The Proclaimers came through London on the UK portion of their World Tour, having already performed throughout the US and Canada. They head back up north to their own patch for a few more gigs before heading to Australia and New Zealand.
I will say now that I am not much of a concert goer (if that is actually a word). Most of my concerts are classical (Baroque last week) or the Proms in the Park - a bit of pop culture.
In college I began buying the LP records of the Broadway hit musicals but even in those younger days I was not one to zoom off to concerts of all the famous rock bands. I started a family rather young and was content to stay home with them. They loved to sing and dance to my aging collection of Broadway soundtracks.
I was hesitant about going to this concert with The Proclaimers. I have a miserable cold and sore throat. I don't have much appetite and even less energy. But I had bought the ticket ages ago and really wanted to see the boys live at least once. So I trudged off to Hammersmith and queued up outside the doors.
To my joy and surprise when the first song rang out everyone in the theater burst into song. It was an incredible moment. It was a chorus, 3000-4000 strong belting out one of our favorites (it might have been Letter From America, but I can't even remember). I looked at the couple sitting on my left and the lady smiled at me as we sang full throttle.
By then I was on the edge of my seat. The next song began and we all joined in again. It went on like this all evening. There were a few new songs from their latest album but I marveled at how we all knew the lyrics, sometimes singing with tears in our eyes both from happiness or from the sentiments of the song.
And so it went. The boys gave a bang-up performance. Their back up musicians were exceptionally good. My only complaint would be that Charlie was often in shadow and I would have like to see more of him.
The last song of the performance was - of course - I'm Gonna Be - better know as 500 miles (I would walk 500 miles). The crowd were on their feet for that one you can be sure.
We called them back for three more songs but finally they left us to hum our way home in the glow of a lovely evening.
BTW - After a night of singing loudly I thought I would have no voice left today. Wrong. I feel much better. The music was good medicine!
Cheery-o
