Review: Showaddywaddy, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
Fans were transported back to the 1970s as Showaddywaddy rocked into packed Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn on the latest leg of their 40th anniversary tour.
As with many of the "golden oldie" bands still making a living touring up and down the country, the six-piece only features a couple of original founder members in drummer Romeo Challenger and guitarist Rod Deas.
They were joined on stage by Paul Dixon and Rob Hewins on guitar, Dean Loach on keyboards and lead singer Andy Pelos, who have all become part of the band in the last five years.
The faces may be new, but there was much of the familiar here for fans, none more so than the Teddy Boy outfits still sported by the band.
The group was formed in 1973 by the amalgamation of two groups, Choise and The Golden Hammers, and shot to fame after appearing on TV talent show New Faces.
Showaddywaddy went on to enjoy 10 UK top 10 hits throughout the 1970s, including a solitary chart-topper with Under The Moon Of Love, which sold nearly a million copies
Most of their hits were cover songs from the late 1950s and early 1960s lapped up by an appreciative Theatre Severn crowd, including Three Steps to Heaven, Heartbeat and When.
Pelos in particular is a more than worthy replacement for original frontman Dave Bartram, who stepped down from the mic in 2011 but still manages the band.
His fantastic voice and great stage presence got the room rocking, and when he invited people to get up and dance there was no shortage of takers.
Wayne Beese
