REVIEW: The Geordie Rat Pack, The Customs House, South Shields

The boys are three for three in sold-out gigs and they just keep raising the bar every time.

An eager audience at the Customs House were greeted by a video of the group – made up of Jason Cook, Steffen Peddie, Neil Grainger and Glen Roughead – getting ready for the show, before they came out on stage with a swinging version of Welcome to the Jungle.

They immediately had everyone gripped, and with their Geordiefied swing version of I’m Sexy and I Know It, which became I’m Sexy and I Knaa It, the lads set the tone for what was to be a hilarious evening.

A Geordie Rat Pack show is about more than the music, the delightful blend of swing, comedy and delightful chaos is the best thing around.

Between heading out into the audience to hand out shots and throwing Space Raiders and Peperamis from the stage, the audience is a bigger part of the show than they perhaps may have bargained for.

Backed up by the Paul James Band, the boys have an incredible knack for taking famous tracks and putting their own spin on them.

Glen’s rendition of Mr Bojangles provided a heart-warming dance sequence starring Jason’s niece Mia Thompson.

I’ve seen the routine before, and my heart melts every time Jason joins Mia on stage in a dog costume and they dance together.

But of course, the GRP boys went bigger and better as a troupe of dancing dalmatians – portrayed by people including Jason’s sister Alix Thompson and aunt Helen Bell – joined them on stage. It was fantastic.

The second half kicked off with Neil taking his moment to shine. Walking out on stage in a technicolor dreamcoat and a dodgy wig, he burst out into Any Dream Will Do from the musical Joseph as the crowd provided backing vocals.

Neil, handily-prepared with pull-away stripper clothes, ended up on stage wearing nothing but his boxers as the audience erupted in cheers.

He came back later in a leopard print onesie to sing a snippet of Memory from Cats.

The show also gave young talent a turn in the spotlight. Jarrow teenager Olivia Davies gave a jaw-dropping and goosebump-inducing performance of At Last. She sounded incredible with the big band.

Glen also slowed things down with his heart-rending self-penned ballad Falling Apart. The singer soothed the wild audience into silence with the gorgeous performance that really brings a tear to the eye.

Members of Poppleton School of Dance, in Jarrow, provided back-up for a few performances, adding that extra panache, and a 50-piece choir blew everyone away as they joined the boys on stage for God Only Knows, New York, New York and Wor Way – a Geordied-up version of Frank Sinatra’s famous song.

Everyone was on their feet for a sing-along and a confetti explosion ensured things ended with a bang.

The Geordie Rat Pack really have something special here. It’s like nothing else you’ve ever seen, or ever will.

They’ve got tonnes of talent, bags of personality, wicked wit and incredible charisma. If you haven’t seen them yet, you’re missing out!

I can’t wait to see what they’ve got up their sleeves for the next show.

For more Geordie Rat Pack gigs, go to www.geordieratpack.co.uk

Twitter: @vickinewmanjp