Metrotones at Twinwood

The last band we saw at Twinwood were the Metrotones, a British doo-wop group I've loved since their 1992 release, Zoom Boom Zing. Me and the misses loved that album and were chuffed that when we saw them at a Bath all-dayer in the mid 90's they played most of the album. A decade and a half later and the boys are back together, and thankfully, still sing most of the same album. It's not often you go to a show and see a band play just about all the songs you hope for - today was one of those beautiful occasions.

Only three of the quartet remain, the new guy being none other than Dan Heggerty, the mad man of Darts. The boys are a clean cut bunch, totally at odds with his eccentric behaviour, spitting, swearing and generally causing them embarrassment. He was pretty funny as well, it just didn't seem the right type of show. At Hemsby or the Rockers Reunion it would have been fine but this was more of a family show. Musically though, he's a great bass singer and gives the group a big bottom end.

They kicked off with let's Fall In Love before launching into Nappy Brown's Don't Be Angry. Sh Boom, It's A Groove and Whispering Bells were followed by the El Dorados My Front Door, where they had the crowd doing the hand movements. When the lead singer said it was easy to do, Dan Heggerty said, "not for Stephen Hawkins".

The Way You Look Tonight, a great version of I Wonder Why and the boppin' Trickle Trickle maintained the standard before they wooed us with the best song of the weekend. Don't Take Your Love From Me has always been one of my favourite ballads and their rendition today was just beautiful. Little Bitty Pretty One had a hard act to follow before the set was closed with they tipped their caps to the Four Top Hatters' 45 Men In A Telephone Booth. The encore gave us two more Dion's, Love Came to Me and Runaround Sue. A great, great show and I can't wait to see them again.