CHARISMA, SHOWMANSHIP and TALENT, in surplus, seem to work best. As all who attended The Ingy Pub's Timebenders extravaganza in January can attest, no finer show has graced the ‘oldies' rock'n'roll groove of Victoria in a long time.
Founder and lead man Tom Watson combines business savvy, high energy performance and atmospheric authenticity to reflect yesteryear's social consciousness as portrayed through the Hit Parade bullets of the time. For a brief four hours, we were musically teleported back to the courting days of our parents and on through to the eve of our own budding ways of early woo.
For an opener, the Smiley sisters, Shannon and Shelley, bop out in WWII dress uniform to welcome the boys of "Company C" with sizzling style and stunning sound. Incredibly, it just got even better from there.
As we rocketed through the 50's party-hard hits, appearances from Jerry Lee Lewis, Del Shannon, Buddy Holly and a host of others almost too numerous to mention took place between a careful juggling of lead vocals by Tom and Shannon. In this, they skillfully accommodate dozens of costume changes and evolving chord progressions which evoke the essence of the whole time-bending experience. We heard from Roy Orbison, Charles Chubby Checker III (unrenowned cousin to the king of the Twist) and Elvis hisself, though eventually, it was announced that he'd left the building.
A ‘60's second set saw the band bedecked in British Invasion Fab Four style. I almost cried 96 Tears after finding out that I Can't Buy Me Love. Kudos for the fancy footwork of Smiley brothers, Todd and Jeff, during DC5's Do You Love Me. A cool Motown takeover ensued with Martha & the Vandellas and The Supremes throwing Heat Waves and orders to Stop in the Name of Love. With Todd on bass and crooning I'm A Believer, the Monkees inherited the musical world stage just a couple of numbers before the California Dreaming, Surfin' USA set seized the limelight.
Tom's ability for good-natured fun curled the audience around his baby finger as he gallivanted through the cavalcade of jive-dancing patrons on the floor during some numbers. He looks and acts every bit the original celebrities' version from the past. It's truly a blast. Shelley and Shannon held equal charm as they convinced everyone to do The Locomotion with them in the first set. With such comradery, it sometimes looked as though the evening had turned into a wedding reception!
Third set ‘70's saw lovely gold sequined vest attire as Shannon pleaded Blues Bros fashion for Everybody Needs Somebody. And who should appear but Tom Jones, hisself! What a build that boy has - was that a pistol in his pocket or just a pair of spare snow boarding socks?
More sequins later and we were all stifling a tearful sniffle as Shannon soulfully rendered Tell It Like It Is in better sounding form than the original! Shelley brought us all back with We Are Family and the Village People reminded us to get good workouts at the YMCA.
It took three encores to settle the audience that night. Finally after visiting B52's Love Shack while Todd "J. Geils" told us his Angel Is A Centerfold, we'd had enough Good Lovin' to send us all home happy.
Appreciating the opportunity to talk to Tom before the show, I asked him the secret of his success as leader of a long time touring band.
Grinning widely, he replied, "One of the magical secrets to the success of this band is that it doesn't rely on anyone person too heavily and every-one's role is vital. Dave's attention to detail when con-cocting keyboard patches is unparalleled; Brian's energetic and dramatic drumming style is always heralded by drum-mers out to watch our show."
I found out that he's tickled poodle-skirt-pink to have the addition of the ‘Smiley Troupe' to the time-honoured Timebenders entourage. His main glee centers on the fact that besides a vastly-extended repertoire, the presence of ‘girls' in the band improves the overall social feel within. He indicates this translates as an improved mood, a hearty welcome component when touring.
Speaking of touring and brand spanking new additions, this year's North and Midwest State Fairs circuit will include a lot more comfort for this hard working group. They've finally bought a 21-seat bus. It's big enough to accommodate luxury plus a few kids and spouses. Of course, they had fly to Hawaii for a gig in March. It was only a one nighter so Tom's says they really didn't have to stay any longer than a week. The things you have to put up with for those champagne wages... makes a bod just want to cry or turn a little green!
Timebenders' rep has taken them far and wide to perform at celebrity bashes. Bill Gates, Francis Ford Coppola, Dick Clark and some really rich Jet Set Dude in West Palm Beach, Fla. are just some of the ‘names' with Tom's business card stored in their Rolodex of Rockin' Rollers. Of course, the band also gets their fair share of ‘ho-hum' corporate function gigs as well.
"There‘ve been ups, downs, highs and lows but it's really been a pretty ride." Generally speaking, Tom refers to their whole experience as having been "lucky."
When asked for a road trip anecdote, he remembers a night in Bedwell Harbour. The place had exceeded crowd capacity and a surplus of dancers had been forced out onto the balcony. Seems the balcony couldn't take the bouncing, springing rhythm of bending with time and collapsed, tumbling legs and arms into free fall some feet down.
Luckily, everyone was too hyped on the night to be feeling any pain and too relaxed to resist gravity... nobody broke. Tom says the place just got more crowded. Sounds like a nice place to visit!
For all the glory that fame may bring, the boys tell me they've had more excitement going to Cosmic's website for groupie action (www. cvnet.net/cosmic/groupies).
Given the Timebenders usual patronage, out-of-town ‘grandparents' don't offer too much of a threat to left-at-home spouses who keep the hearth fires burning and the kids tucked in at night.
In 1998, Timebenders released their first CD. Thanks to the magical mix & quality recording from Dennis Ferbey of Canadian Concepts Sound, the album sold out.
With Tom front and center, female backup and lead lending latitude in all decades, an already strong musical contingent in veteran ‘benders' drummer Brian McKenna and keys man Dave Mills, plus two new ‘youngbloods' with good range and talent, The Timebenders 2nd album, due for release this year, can only follow suit. Tom is toying with the idea of recording some cuts live. Bring the party home for us, guys, please!
This troupe of splendid performers does ‘flavour' the private circuit, so in order to catch them live, one should visit their website: www.timebenders .com. There you'll find shows that are open to the public clearly marked.
For a glimmer of Las Vegas gloss, take in their show. Bring your mothers!
by Joyce Perreault
