Nostalgic nights

“The evening are drawing on,” as great-grandma would have said, one of my dead grandma society. Yes, sunset evenings can lead to holistic happy memories of nostalgic nights. While I was listening to my little radio, I heard a vintage song we can all chorus with tuneless humming, “Bye, bye, Miss American Pie….Do you believe in Rock’n’Roll, can music save your mortal soul?”

Good question, asked in song. Ah, we can all relax, winding back to quite some time ago now, as I reminisce of a couple of nights spent enjoying Rock’n’Roll evenings. For a minimal door fee, some companions and I bought a ticket, had some fancy pants threads on, then kicked back and enjoyed the vibes. The music was played by a cover band, then a singer with a Karaoke machine.

This was regarded as part of our genuine Australian culture, heavy on the influences of bands with a great lead singer. Yes, cheerfully we felt real good, joining in a rousing rendition of “American Pie”, then a version of “Khe San”. Some of the younger ones were not even there then, but they went home early to sort their babysitters.

The boomers stayed where they were, still singing. We knew all those lyrics, still do, we are the grey brigade, music saved our souls. A couple of Abba songs followed, yes, “Mama Mia” and “Dancing Queen”

That got everyone reminiscing, as the vocal approach was quite off-key. Stubbies and glasses of white wine were drunk, dare we say, good old jugs of Oz beer, some sort of drinking contest ensued. It was good old Australiana at its best, with party pies and fried dim sims with a plate of chips for supper. We can all paraphrase, I guess.

It reminds us of days when we were introduced to driving to the golden arches for Macca’s French fries….. no wonder we had those thunderthighs….. it was a wonder we weren’t all size twenty-five…..” After that epic grazing on such cuisine, we tried to do the Nutbush. Yes, this is Australia. Our nation proudly holds the world record for the most folk dancing the Nutbush at the same time.

This was a nostalgic night we had, the music was pounding, in some local gathering. Being a sober person, I was nominated as designated driver for the gang of four we were. I did end up with an equally pounding headache, but that is part of our ageing. It was good old- fashioned Rock’n’Roll after that, Bill Haley, some Chuck Berry, bit of Elvis at his best, you name it, they played it, we sang it.

Soon boomer babes and boys were jiving, one good ole boy dated a younger lass there.They were trying to dance authentic American jive, the girl was a twirling in her retro frock. Not very successfully, but overall good effort for good clean wholesome fun.

Ah, nostalgic nights, the music was the best, top of our grey hit parade. A good time was enjoyed, as the whole evening did not cost too much. Many a laugh and smile, singing with gusto, toes a’tapping. We seniors can really say we enjoyed each wave of music. Years later, many of us still find reasons to smile at nostalgic tunes.

We celebrated all the musical elements of The Beatles, as went home humming, “All we need is Love”. That does sound like a good recipe for Planet Earth, and all the champions who woke up this morning. Okay, grey brigade, our hearts that love are forever young. Music can still keep us humming. I am having fun reminiscing about some nostalgic nights, all our music, the hits we sang, tunes that were around, when we were all closer to the ground.