My youngest son and I went to see route 66 at the Embassy Theater in Skegness. Route 66 started with the roar of a Harley Davidson which adorned the stage the band exploded into born to be wild and the show began. We had a great time watching an astounding show.
We’ve been to see shows like Route 66 with a similar line up of songs from the same era, one that jumps to mind was That’ll Be The Day that claims to have songs from the 80’s my decade or there about’s, but the songs from the 80’s where far and few between. It was all older songs from the 50’s and 60’s we’d never even heard of which made me feel left out and thoroughly disappointed.
Route 66 I am very, very happy to say didn’t make this mistake, all the older songs where well known popular songs. I don’t think there were any me and my son didn’t know and he’s only 12, I was surprised at how many he knew and could sing the full lyrics to, to all time favorites like: Sweet Home Alabama, Son of a Preacher Man and Great Balls of Fire we knew them,
we loved them and it was great, we were jumping around and singing all night.
I’m a late 80’s / 90’s girl myself and I’m glad to say I was well catered for.
Normally my generation is forgotten when shows that have a mixed bag of classics are put together, accommodating the older folks in the audience more than the rest of us, flooding there shows with mainly 60/70’s songs.
Route 66 was well balanced with the 80’s and 90’s being well covered and not forgotten :-) .
Some high light songs where: Sheryl Crows, All I Want to do is Have Some Fun, Elvis Presley medley, Meatloaf medley, Bruce Springsteen’s Knocking on Heavens Door, 60’s medley, Cher Walking in Memphis, Aerosmith medley to name but a few. There was Neil Diamond and Johny cash not a personal favorites, but it gave me and my son a well earned rest for a while when these songs where performed :-)
The lighting was top notch and added a great concert feel to the Route 66 show with strobe lighting and special effects there was a projection screen that accompanied the songs, dance routines and a bit of acting too.
I have to give it to Route 66’s back stage crew for there efforts you know when a show is cheap and nasty when a production is in it for the money there’s no lighting, no sound technicians and the stage is bare. It all comes down to the detail and a dedicated back stage crew which Route 66 had the stage was filled with an American style bar, a Harley Davidson motor bike and a live band, thanks to the efforts of everyone involved Route 66 was a fantastic night out.
The male singers in Route 66 where exceptional especially Nathan James, he had an amazing voice and sang Bon Jovi very well, in fact he hit some notes not even the Jovi could have done.
The reason I went to see Route 66 was because Bon Jovi was on the billing, so as a dedicated Jovi fan it’s a real complement for me to admit that.
Wayne Denton was the other great male voice, he sang the songs the audience got to clap their hands to and was encouraged to sing along with like: Country Road, (Take Me Home) by John Denver. I always love audience participation It means you can get deeper into the atmosphere of the show.
Route 66 was headed up by 1980s psychedelic rock star Rev Dr Clive Jackson of Doctor and the Medics (Spirit in the Sky) he’s not so good a singer, but what he lacks in talent he makes up for in personality. Rev Dr Clive Jackson got to sing his hit song Spirit in the Sky and me and my son got to wave our hands in the air and yell out the chorus, loads of fun.
The female singers where OK, but had no where near the singing talent of Wayne Denton and Nathan James. The female vocalists can sing and there good don’t get me wrong it’s just they reminded me of women who can sing good karaoke down the pub or cabaret on a boat or at Butlins. There good just not exceptional, their singing talents where better than Rev Dr Clive Jackson though and if I can forgive him for his singing abilities then the girls have nothing to worry about, they were enjoying themselves so it didn’t take anything away from Route 66, singing isn’t the only thing that makes a good show it’s also heart and hard work and the ladies of Route 66 had arm full’s of showmanship and enthusiasm.
If Route 66 comes back to the little seaside town of Skegness I will be going to see it again it’s lots of fun, professionally performed and a great night out and for me a mum I don’t get too many of those, so I will be cruising down the worlds most famous highway through the best of American country, rock and pop in a spectacular musical extravaganza once again and me and my family will be having a rocking night out getting our kicks on Route 66!
ROUTE 66 Rating
Would We Go Again : Yes
Would We Recommend To Others: Yes
Was It Value For Money: Yes
Recommended For: All Ages
Skegness Attractions Star Rating 8.5/10
We went to see Route 66 in 2009 0r 2010, a year after writing the above review and it wasn’t as good.
They had changed the feel to the show.
To many Cooks I think.
Everyone and his cat wanted to be the star of the show, it was like watching a competition for mums approval, ‘Look mum I can sing too’
A really Disappointing show.
It just didn’t have the same feel to the show :(
I hadn’t noticed last year, but route 66 was (at least this year) the same cast as Essence of Ireland, there was no Dr Clive Jackson from Dr and the Medics and both lead singers was missing from the show.
It might be Route 66 has been taken over by the cast of Essence of Ireland
I don’t know if Nathan James was ill that day and we got his understood, but the guy who replaced David Archer was really bad, he had no where near the talent of Nathan
Wayne Denton was replaced by Ged Graham and again the quality was noticeable, Wayne was amazing and got the crowd involved, which was lacking by Ged
The females in the show had increased and their singing was really amateur.
The young lad Declan Galbraith was OK, his voice wasn’t very strong, but maybe as he matures he will get better, my advise to him would be go it alone.
I found the new outline of route 66 rather irritating and unfortunately I will not be going to see it again.
I’m taking a left turn and getting the hell off Route 66
I would give Route 66, 6/10
Marie
i Can’t believe you go on youtube type in Declan Galbraith in my opinion he is the greatest singer ever started when he was like 7 omg i don’t how he got on some stupid Route 66 show or what ever because he’s so amazing i’d pay every penny i own for anything he touched your so lucky you got to see him and your like he was ok!
he is far from ok he is the best flippin singer in the whole history of the world I’ve never heard anyone with such a pitch perfect voice! and just because his voice got a little lower people forgot about him.
but i’m not even joking look him up he was huge he was in the genius book of world records! you don’t know anything! so just shut the heck up!
Declan Galbraith has FOUR ALBUMS!!!AND his voice was never made to scream into a mic if thats what you think is a strong voice his voice was meant for singing songs that would blow angles away!!