Gerry and the Pacemakers Tickets

The show was great, albeit a bit short, only 1 hr. 15 mins long. Gerry hasn't lost it though....still the same great voice

Gerry and the Pacemakers made a return a visit to Winnipeg’s McPhillips Street Station last night as part of the band’s 50th anniversary farewell tour. Fronted by the sole remaining founding member, lead singer/guitarist Gerry Marsden, the 70-year old veteran musician who helped spearhead the 60s British Invasion with fellow Liverpool artists The Beatles and others, announced his retirement from international touring after more than 50 years in the business - but not before saying a last goodbye to friends and fans. The night kicked off with the latest version of The Pacemakers performing a cover of the 60s Tommy James and The Shondell’s hit "Mony Mony" prior to Marsden taking the stage and launching the evening with his 1963 debut hit "How Do You Do It." The setlist was similar to his last visit to the venue in 2010, using a slightly varied song order, a few different cover songs and a few tweaks to arrangements. Overall, the show seemed a bit looser than previous visits with Marsden giving his backing band, consisting of Tony Young (guitar), Steve Thompson (piano), Mitch Oldham (drums) and Garth Watt-Roy (bass), more legroom. But given his age and the fact that this was a farewell 50th anniversary show, Marsden can be easily forgiven for relaxing a bit. Afterall, the crowd of mostly babyboomers came to see Marsden himself, and be entertained by his enduring Livepuddlian charm, his stories, and, of course, his back catalogue of self-penned Pacemaker hits, which were in abundance. Marsden played the part of elderly curmudgeon to good effect throughout the night. He promised to play all his hits, providing people would sing along, "so I don't forget the words." The British Invasion veteran next launched into his 1964 No. 2 hit "I'm the One," which, after taking a headcount to see how many audience members purchased the single, he joked, "Might've hit No. 1 - if more of you bought it." Changing up the pace, Marsden performed a cover Fred Astaire’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” the B-side from his 1966 single “Girl on Swing" followed by his 1964 Bobby Darrin penned hit “I’ll Be There” and by a rocked up of version of Hank William’s “Jambalya.” Marsden occasionally improvised on familiar melody lines, but his voice, though huskier, remains strong, and he has maintained his powerful vocal range into his twilight years, which he used to good effect on his next number, the hit ballad "Walk Hand in Hand." A cover of the Larry Williams penned Beatles’ hit "Slowdown," preceded his biggest North American hit, “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying,” which he revealed he wrote to win back his future bride after a break up, and joked "sometime I wish I'd never written it." The Liverpool native then exited while the band performed a cover of The Small Faces hit "Itchy Coo Park," and, after bandmember intros, moved into the home stretch with the familiar Am opening guitar riff to his self-penned 1965 hit "It's Gonna Be Alright," followed by the 1966 ballad “Girl on a Swing" and Marsden's beautiful ode to his hometown, written as the title track for The Pacemaker’s 1965 movie, “Ferry Cross the Mersey.” A lively cover of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" preceded the set closer, the song that became The Pacemakers 3rd straight No 1 in the UK in 1963, Marsden's rendition of Roger’s and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with Marsden hitting all the big notes and earning a standing ovation and encore, which consisted of his upbeat 1963 hit "I Like It," a cover of Little Richard's "Rip It Up" before reprising "You'll Never Walk Alone" to close the curtain on his final Winnipeg appearance.

First there was The Beatles, then The Rolling Stones, then Dave Clark Five, and then Gerry and the Pacemakers. Fifty years later, like us baby boomers, they're closing in on 70. One wonders if One Dimension, the Wanted, etc., will still be around 50 years from now. Gerry Marsden nearly sold out the Casino for the third or fourth time now. From "I Like it" to the ubiquitous "Walk On (You'll Never Walk Alone)" and Gerry's witty little stories, it was a great show.

Took me back to the days when he came to a night club I worked at in England in the early 70s he was one of my favorite British groups back then and still is

Had a great entertaining night. Gerry was great and still has that brilliant scouse wit, very funny bloke. Even got my Liverpool soccer flag signed :)

Always such a delight to see them, after three concerts.

Was a good show. Gerry's voice certainly held it's own through the years, as opposed to a lot of the vintage shows. He was very humourous, if you could understand through the accent. Glad we saw him. Acoustics could have been better; fought with his mike a bit at onset - kept looking to wings, but no-one came out to adjust it; should have. Seating was better; last two concerts we were in the 2nd row and this time more leg room to put your drink, etc..

Good entertainer but way to short for price. I've seen several concerts of these older bands and his was half the time of the others

The music was excellent but the show only lasted one hour and ten minutes with a little delay here and there and he had his band fill in for one Beatles song. Too short for the $57.00 ticket. Won't go again.

Gerry and the Pacemakers was great! Gerry was funny and seemed concerned that everyone had a good time.