Live Review: Bay City Rollers, Rob Walker

Despite the horrendous weather, the Astor Theatre was packed with tartan clad fans, eager for a night of fun and nostalgia with Les McKeown's Bay City Rollers. Although it has only been twelve months since the band's previous tour, the crowd were excited and knew what a brilliant night they were in for. And The Rollers did not disappoint.

As the crowd gathered round the front of the theatre, already waving their tartan scarves, singing, laughing and sharing their teenage memories, the opening act, Perth local Rob Walker, strode confidently onto the stage. It was never going to be an easy task, but Walker did a brilliant job of warming up an excited crowd with both covers and some original songs.

After a brief intermission the lights dimmed, the strains of bagpipes playing Scotland The Brave filled the theatre, the band appeared, and to the screams of hundreds of women, there he was. Les McKeown and the Bay City Rollers bounded on the stage and launched straight into Summerlove Sensation. From that moment, for the next hour or so, McKeown owned the Astor Theatre.

McKeown and his band, Phil Hendriks on lead guitar, Scott McGowan on keyboards and guitar, Si Roller on bass and Dan Guest on drums (and possibly the youngest person in the theatre) captivated the audience playing hit after hit including I Only Wanna Be With You, Rock N' Roll Love Letter and a touching tribute to founding Bay City Roller member Alan Longmuir who sadly passed away last month with Keep On Dancing.

A highlight of the night was a wonderful medley of '70s songs, starting with Bohemian Rhapsody and much crowd participation, followed by The Sweet's Blockbuster, My Coo Ca Choo by Alvin Stardust, then McKeown and the guitarists lined up for Mud's Tiger Feet, Bowie's Rebel Rebel then back into Queen to finish off a fabulous singalong. But there was more. Vanda & Young's Yesterday's Hero, the John Paul Young song the Rollers covered in the '70s and the brilliant battle cry song Shang-A-Lang.

Too soon it was all over and the band were called back for an encore.  McKeown strolled back out singing The Righteous Brothers' classic You've Lost That Loving Feeling, which quickly segued into crowd favourite Bye Bye Baby then as the band took a bow, shook hands with the adoring fans and left the stage, the theatre was again filled with the sounds of bagpipes, this time for The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond.

From beginning to end the atmosphere was joyous. There was laughter, hugs and tears as happy memories flooded back. Some of McKeown's band members may have been with him now for close to twenty years, but many of the fans at the show have been with him for over forty years and cannot wait until next time they can get the tartan out again.