Well perhaps the eyesight on stage was a little fuzzier than 1969, but the sounds were certainly sharp as a tack on Easter Sunday. Punters by the hundreds gathered in the Corinthian Centre, Invercargill Workingmens Club Inc to see Vision 50th anniversary show.
50 years. Wow. Let that sink in for a second.
For new Southlanders or those too young to remember, “The Vision”, or simply “Vision”, was Southland’s iconic entertainment act for decades. They played everywhere: weddings, 21sts, parties, school balls, and even an epic 17-year stint as the house band at The Whitehouse (that’s Lorneville, not Washington D.C.). The band’s sound system and lighting rig were legendary, as was their ability to nail Top 40 covers with unmatched polish and professional poise. Over the years around three dozen musicians would perform with Vision, the common denominator being legendary lead guitarist Bob Daley.
But hey, let’s leave history alone for a bit and talk about the gig.
The band’s massive set list included something for everyone from rhythm and blues to disco, new wave to rock. Much like a musical goods train emerging under the Lorneville overpass, floor-filling dance hits just kept appearing one after the other and the audience loved every minute of it.
Crowd favourites included:
Get Off Of My Cloud, Gimme Some Lovin, Sweet Caroline, With A Little Help From My Friends, Play That Funky Music, Born To Run, Jailbreak, I Ran, Rebel Yell, Boys Light Up, Sex On Fire.
The evening’s vibe felt like a great big fun family get together. On the dance floor acquaintances were renewed, smiles sparkled, families came together, and more than a few baby boomers dusted off dance moves that would put their grandchildren to shame.
Quality entertainment delivered impeccably.
That, Ladies and Gentlemen, was the strength of Vision.
Well done to all the musicians that performed through the various band incarnations. You all looked like you had a blast on stage.
Special mentions to the tech crew for keeping things running smoothly, kudos to guest singers Michelle and Maria, and guitarists Sam and Mark for their excellent contributions, and nice one Chris Chilton for your organizational abilities.
Looking forward to the promised 100 year anniversary gig ~wink~
Story and photos courtesy of Element Photography NZ