Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Silver Strings Rocked Orchard Road Central

Images are not very clear.

The Silver Strings.
It was a large crowd indeed at the Platinum Music World Disco Venue at Orchard Central but more importantly they were very supportive, singing and clapping to the performance that evening.
Rickie Chng highlighted as he plays FBI.
The mostly silver tsunami Silver Strings supporters who came were re-living the 60s Orchard Road  phenomenon with sounds from the Shadows like, Apache and FBI played by lead guitarist Rickie Chng (image above - with silver mop) who won over the audience with his professional finger gallops.
Singapore's Chuck Berry Patrick Chan with Johnny B. Goode.
Rhythm guitar Patrick took over the microphone and enthralled the crowd with Johnny B. Goode, the Chuck Berry classic.  Great rocker Pat!  He came on again later in the night with a tribute to Keith Locke and the Quests singing, You Lied. The applause was deafening.

Audie Ng always has a smile for his audience as Nick concentrates.
Audie was in the spotlight when he went solo with bars from Elvis' Mean Woman Blues.  He looked resplendent carrying his white bass guitar and charismatic smile.
Silver Strings fans in the front row seats.
Guardian Angel Rickie makes sure I do it right.
The band accompanied me with My Hometown, Diana, Red River Rock, and Mean Woman Blues while pop singer Irene Yap saved me with her beauty and graciousness when I went on the aisle. The other pretty lady (sorry didn't ask her name) helped me with my awkward dance steps.


At the drums, Oliver Bala with My Lonely Heart.
Drummer Oliver Bala, who had a percussion hide-away all to his own at the back of the stage was finally in the limelight with his tribute to local band The Thunderbirds singing My Lonely Heart.  Later on and in contrast he screamed the night away with the Beatles' top hit, I Saw Her Standing There.

The youngest one, keyboardist Nick.
Keyboardist Nick was next with Cliff's Young Ones. The audience connected when he sang, "And some day, When the years have flown,  Darling, then we'll teach the young ones, Of our own." The crowd repeated every line.  We rehearsed Stoney but Nick who is Singapore's Lobo did not perform it.
Crowd enjoying the show.
By about 9pm the house was packed and nobody moved as the Strings played The Ventures' version of El Cumbanchero.  Lead Rickie completed the instrumentals with Midnight in Malaya from Boy and the Rollin' Kids.  The crowd was melted by nostalgia magic.

Veronica Young, Singapore's Millie Small took over the stage. And the crowd burst with energy again as she thrilled the audience with My Boy Lollipop, Stupid Cupid and Hippy Hippy Shake.

Powerhouse Veronica Young with Connie Francis', Where The Boys Are.
Her rendition of My Happiness, Frankie and That's All I Want From You subdued the crowd as they listened to her sing about 15 hits altogether that included Too Late For Tears, Silver Threads and Golden Needles and Happy Birthday Baby, tributes to Shirley Nair, The Crescendos and Naomi and the Boys. She ended the evening's gaiety with Gronloh's Burung Kakak Tua and sang an encore, You Mean Everything To Me.  


Fans from all over Singapore.

Andy and Veronica with house boss Marissa after the show.
Eddino Abdul Hadi  Recommends: Straits Times LIFE Happenings article - 15.11.2013.
Images from The Straits Times Press, Marissa (Sweetymariz), Audie Ng, Veronica Young.
Check their FB pages for more photographs.

Apologies to Merlin Lim (original rhythm guitarist and Philip's recording artiste) who went to the club but could not get in touch with me. I had invited him personally to come.

22 comments:

ERIC LIGA said...

Performances of champions! The crowd was overwhelming. When is your next jam session? BTW the song I used to sing, TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU, what key did you give me, E or C? Have a beautiful Sunday.

anonymous said...

I was at d show. left after performance... Couldn't stay to chat... Eric was there to. Met an old friend Jerry d MC. Good show...

anon said...

Good show bro... long for your next gig... cheers.

SWEETMARIZ said...

Thanks for a successful Concert by my ex-Boss Audie Ng !! I'm very proud and happy that my boss, after long years can still can play his bass guitar well! Congrats!

anon said...

THE SUCCESSFUL CROWD AT THE SILVER STRING CONCERT!! SUPER FULLHOUSE!!

Jeery Stephen Gerard said...

Old is Gold :-))

From FB

Limmy Lim said...

Bagus bagus. Bravo.

LKM said...

Watching clip of your performance Diana. You still got it man!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks KM. Appreciate that you wanted to come.

eugene said...

Thank you for the good write-up. If the truth be told it seems to be accounts of entertainment. However, how could we be in contact?

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you for comment. You can leave me your email address on this page but I won't publish it.

anonymous said...

Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. However think about if you added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, "pop"! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this site could definitely be one of the very best in its niche.
Terrific blog!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you for comment and visit. I appreciate what you have recommended but copyright problems have discouraged me from putting up too many videos and images. Not many people are willing to share their uploads with others. Besides the You Tube postings on this blog are only temporary unless they have been put up by friends and people I am familiar with. Mostly all the images are still intact because there are also many kind people out there who are willing to share them.

FRANCIS HO said...

Great job Audie, to bring back those old memories again... Cheers!!!!!!

Muhammad Ghazally Rosli · University of Malaya said...

You can listen to 'The Silver Strings' music backup in the film Mat 3/4 (Mat Tiga Suku) issued by Cathay Keris.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Both comments above from Facebook. On behalf of Audie Ng, Silver Strings and myself, thanks for comments.

(Taken from TODAY Online).

Anonymous said...

Dear Andy,

I understand that The Silver Strings
will celebrate their 50th anniversary on 16th Aug 2014.

Please give us details of the venue and where do we get out tickets.

Thank you and hope to hear and see you at the forthcoming show.

Cheers.

Fabian Foo

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Fabian,
It will be announced on this blog. Please wait for it. Will probably be out in Jully, ie two week's time.

Thanks for your constant support.

Anonymous said...

Hi Andy, I was an expat in Singapore from mid 70's to mid early 80's. I was a big fan of Veronica Young, Matthew and the Mandarins and became friendly with them and a number of other Singapore artists during this time. I see Veronica is still singing at special events and would love to get in contact with her. Maybe you can help? My name Lyall.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Write to me again with your email address and I shall send it to her without publishing your letter.

Thanks for the visit.

Shirin said...

Hi Mr Young,

Hope all is well on your end.

I would to connect with you and was wondering how I could go about contacting you?

Thank you.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi Shirin,

Thank you for writing. If you write to me again via this page and leave me your EMAIL ADDRESS I shall reply. But I will not publish your email so it will remain confidential.

Waiting for your reponse.

Sincerely.