Sometimes you just need some nostalgia, and memories of care free days, and for me that’s the sounds of the 80’s and the era of the New Romantics, and synthesisers. So, when this line up was announced, this concert at Perth Arena was a must see.
Tom Bailey was up first, an original member of the Thompson Twins, wearing an all-white suit, he announced “We are going to have some fun tonight!” and with that launched in to the first song “Love on Your Side”. The crowd were hooked and were all up singing and dancing. His backing band were three ladies, dressed in white, playing keyboards and drums, Tom himself playing the keyboards, guitar, and mouth organ. There followed a few more hits, notably “Doctor, Doctor”, and “King for a Day”, and then to finish Tom announced “stand up and sing with me” and there followed “Hold me Now” to which everyone did as they were told!! All in all a great set, great atmosphere and immediate transportation back to the eighties!
After a short intermission, the band I was most looking forward to seeing was up next, Human League. They launched the set with “Love Action (I Believe in Love)” Wow! Phil Oakey looked like a character out of a Sci Fi movie, with a long black tunic and as he later told us “It’s two pairs of trousers stitched together” having read a review earlier that said he was wearing a dress! His energy on stage was amazing running from one side of the stage to the next, and his voice as good as it was back in the day. More hits followed, “Sound of the Crowd”, “Mirror Man”, “The Lebanon” to name a few. He introduced the band during “Fascination” including the two original girls singing and dancing at the side of him. The final song and the one everyone was waiting to hear began with a big introduction, “Don’t You Want Me” finished off the set, with the crowd again up on their feet.
Finally, it was time for the band most people had come to see, Culture Club, and the colourful, Boy George! Sporting a long black coat, red hat and shoes he was surrounded by a fair number of musicians and backing singers. After a couple of songs including my favourite, “Church of the Poison Mind” he announced “I feel there’s an electrifying atmosphere here in Perth, you are the biggest and best crowd, Thank you, Perth”. A large catalogue of songs followed, “it’s a Miracle”, “I’d Tumble 4 Ya” and “The War Song” to name but a few. They also did a new song that has not been released yet, having just signed a new record deal, called “Different Man”, written about Sly Stone after reading an interview with him Boy George was inspired to write the song about change and recovery. As he then left the stage to change outfits, the band did a version of The Rolling Stones “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. The crowd was then treated to the song that was “ number 1 in 39 countries”, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”, with the old videos playing in the background, the crowd were once again on their feet singing and dancing, the Arena staff had no chance when asking people to sit down and stop dancing in the aisles! The mood changed slightly with the next song “Victims”, as Boy George announced “I’ll sing this right in to your heart if you’ll open it up and let me”. After “The War Song”, it was “Thank you Perth you’re beautiful, don’t ever change” and after shouts for more and another change of clothes, the encore included “Karma Chameleon” , a moving version of “Purple Rain” and a long version of “Get it On”, as all the band members were introduced! For me the three backing singers were a highlight of the show, amazing vocals all three singing individually through some of the songs.
A great show, lots of atmosphere and so wonderful to go down memory lane, at least for a few hours!!
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Ted Dana
