Last time Culture Club was in Perth Boy George took to social media to advise us to (good naturedly I’m sure) stick to reviewing Iron Maiden concerts. Well they’re back tonight at the RAC Arena in Perth to kick off their Australian Tour after wowing America in the company of tonight’s opening act Berlin. And so Round Two begins… It may be a wet night in Perth but it’s warm inside the Arena as a predominantly female crowd of a certain age gather to welcome them back and relive The Hits … and more…
Berlin are a great addition to the bill and a great opening act for tonight hailing from that time in the 80’s where music was such a part of life and bands like Berlin defied genre labeling that is so common these days. Their mix of edgy Pop, Rock and Electronica has aged rather well and Terri Nunn has lost none of her power either as a performer or a vocalist. The band look happy to be here despite the rain and treat us to a set without any filler. Sure we’d have loved that headline tour that almost eventuated a while back but in a nine song set they pack so much in.
All the classics are included of course, and Terri gets the crowd on side from the off letting us know how friendly us Aussies are, even belting out a rocking cover of AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ to put the icing on the cake. It’s a set that sees Terri come out into the crowd resplendent in her red outfit, and it goes down a storm. Of course whilst ‘Take My Breath Away’ might be the song everyone wants to hear it’s great to see the crowd singing along to the likes of ‘No More Words’, ‘Animal’ and of course closer ‘Sex’ (I’m a…)’ and with a band as tight as this they are tonight the rest of Australia just better get there early!
And then it’s time for Culture Club…
Last time around back in pre-Covid 2017 we were treated to The Stones’ ‘Can’t Always Get What You Want’ mid set, and tonight opens with a rather cool take on an even more revered Stones song ‘Sympathy For the Devil’. As the band takes to the stage on a rather nicely lit set full of the musicians and backing singers and a wonderfully unobtrusive light show that make up Culture Club 2023, the crowd is more than ready to roll back the years. It’s a great way to open the set and appreciated by the impressive crowd. Boy George looks comfortable in his quirky oversized designer jacket and tall red hat (what does one call such a hat?) and is charming from the off.
We’re treated to a few oldies that sound comfortable in their new arrangements with plenty of funk and sax in the mix. ‘It’s A Miracle’ and ‘I’ll Tumble 4 Ya’ get the crowd to their feet and despite a few early bass issues which result in a short interlude where we are threatened with jokes, we get an impromptu acapella scat by the man in the hat of what might just turn out to be a new song.
There’s an introduction to two members of the band with a Voice connection, one from home and one from the UK who do a great job throughout taking harmonies and even duets with Boy on ‘Melodrama’, which sounds huge tonight and is a real highlight. We’re asked if we like Reggae, of course we like Reggae,! We all know it’s a huge part of the Culture Club sound but tonight reveals all of the facets of the band’s make-up from Pop and Soul to even a little soft rock at times.
There’s a good few slower numbers in the first part of the set that defies the Pop image of the 80’s and shows a real eclecticism. Boy George may be 62 but the cover of the immortal Bread classic ‘Everything I Own’ sees him in a new light, it’s a lovely arrangement and George films himself from the stage (I initially thought he had his camera out to take a call!) . So whilst ‘Do You Really Want to Hurt Me’ which comes early has a few more on their feet it’s the slower treatment starting with just voice and its slower and moodier approach that really elevates the song. It’s moments like that with the crowd finishing the song.
‘Angel of Mercy’ is another worth waiting for and a song only played around 20 times before tonight – it’s got a wonderful 60’s film soundtrack vibe and a wonderful sax break. ‘Kiss Across the Ocean’ leads to the first of the band introductions before George asks if there are any mums in tonight, before ‘That’s The Way (I’m Only Trying to Help You)’ really hit the spot. Of course next we’re asked if there are any Dads in the crowd tonight? And it’s time to really ramp things up as ‘Church of the Poison Mind’ gets everyone to their feet. Let the real dancing begin! It’s a stomper, with the whole arena seemingly clapping and singing along.
The main set closes with two fan favourites ‘Time’ which sees the crowd almost jump out of their seats with joy, and an impressive rendition of ‘Miss Me Blind’ which have gone down a storm in the U.S.
The encores of course take it to another level entirely. As a huge fan of all things 70’s Glam it’s great to see the band come out and play ‘Get It On’ by T-Rex (No not ‘Bang a Gong’ that was the censored U.S. title) though I was a little disappointed not to hear their version of Bowie’s ‘Starman’. And how could they close? Surely not with the all in dance party of ‘Karma Chameleon’? Well of course it is. And there’s a few thousand more than happy fans dancing everywhere, maybe even dancing all the way home?
For the opening night of the Australian Tour it really has been something to behold with both bands hitting the ground running. If you like good music you could do worse then hop on this tour when it hits town starting with Sydney on Friday. Well either that or wait for the next time Iron Maiden is in town? George?…
With thanks to Menard PR and TEG Live for the media access
Photos by Hunter Brothers Media
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