East Coast Boys cruise into Hastings

Do you – or anyone you know – have a passion for the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons? Yes? HOT’s been offered a couple of free tickets to see the East Coast Boys, this Thursday, singing their hearts out in honour of Franki and his Seasons in their show, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’.

I asked East Coast Boys‘, Bradley Clarkson, who plays the Nick Massi role, some questions – and then, there’s a question for you. The first person to post the right answer in ‘Comments’ [see below] will win a pair of tickets to the East Coast Boys Concert at The White Rock Theatre this Thursday, 13 November. If you’re the winner, HOT will be in touch with you and you’ll pick the tickets up at the box office.]

Deadline to post your answer is midday today [Thursday 13 November 2014].

Hey there Bradley, how do you guys know one another?

Well, we all joined the group at various different times. Because of the whole ‘band’ feel to the act, it is crucial that there is a connection between us all, because that sense of friendship has to emanate off the stage. Needless to say, we are all good mates! Some of us know each other from drama school days or have worked together on other jobs. What with all the traveling and touring, we have to get to know each other very quickly regardless, and the off stage banter is as prolific as the on stage banter!

What were your beginnings?

Each of us have similar beginnings. We have all followed the usual path of drama school training and then working in stage and musical theatre. Be it West End, UK regional tours, television, plays or concerts, the four of us have been lucky enough to have had wide and varied careers thus far – long may it continue! 

Where do you all hail from? 

All from the United Kingdom. Do not be fooled by our New Jersey accents – this is a 100% British act!

Why Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons?

Because they are just so popular! They were the first boy band in a way, and their unique sound with the groundbreaking lead vocals and richly layered harmonies was the soundtrack for a whole generation – and that generation loves to be taken on a trip down Memory Lane. As well as those who remember the band in their heyday, the success of the hit musical and musical film Jersey Boys has introduced this fantastic repertoire of music to a much wider demographic, and we see audience members of every age singing and dancing along in the aisles.

Do you improvise or is every song rehearsed and fine-tuned and then performed?

In terms of the actual songs, we are striving always for authenticity. Therefore, rehearsals and fine tuning is absolutely crucial. There is no room for improvisation – the vocals and harmonies need to be spot on. It takes a lot of practice, but Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are known above all for their sound, and we need to deliver that quality every time. However, during the show, in between the songs, there is dialogue between the guys and with the audience too. Here we can and do improvise, as every venue and audience is different – that is the fun part.

It sounds like you have a tremendous reputation for delivering a top notch international show. How does that feel for you?

Honoured and proud. We consider ourselves very lucky to be doing a job we love. At home here in the UK or abroad, when you see and feel the audience’s reaction to your performance, that is what gives us the sense of achievement and satisfaction. We are all hugely looking forward to being in Hastings, and to giving the best show we can, so people leave the theatre singing and saying, ‘Oh what a night!’

Competition question!

To win two tickets to see the show, please answer the following question:

Frankie Valli starred in an American TV show, playing the role of mobster, Rusty Millio. What was the name of the TV series?

The tickets have been offered to you by Maria Phillippou at MP Productions on behalf of The East Coast Boys.

The East Coast Boys                                                                                                           White Rock Theatre Hastings on seafront
THIS THURSDAY 13 November 2014
Tickets on 01424 462288

Also in: Music & Sound

« Mozart Requiem
A new, old kind of music »