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.