Culture Club - Are bigger and better than ever!

September 5th 2015
London, Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, UK

****1/2

Let’s hear it for the boy – and the rest of the club!!!

An hour before the show the fabric of Hammersmith changed. People emerged from the station wearing big brightly coloured, fabulous hats, over the top braided hair, Retro 80's jeans, colorful jackets and bags with interesting montages on them. The area became a little bit carnival, and more than a little bit camp. The buzz of anticipation had a distinctive flavour, there was no mistaking who was playing at the Apollo. 

Boy has a devoted following who show their love and admiration by emulating his style. Culture Club are the comeback kings, in it is not just because they have reunited several times since the 80's (1989, 1998-1999, 2002, 2006-2007, 2011 and latterly 2014). My number one reason why they earn that accolade: they love and appreciate the odd, the eccentric and those whom society has traditionally shoved aside into the fringes.

It is intoxicating for fans to have boy reflect back this love, it amplifies and electrifies them and the music. They are not to be contained or restrained, which is why this all seating gig ended up being a stand up party, and sing along.  Why the organizers ever thought this show would work as all seating is a mystery. They definitely got this a little bit wrong. I can understand the frustration of some fans who paid a premium for front row gigs, only to be gazumped by fans coming forward from the back.

The numbers meant the venue had to accept that they could do nothing to prevent some fans crowding the stage to form an impromptu standing area. However, this helped create a party atmosphere at the gig and it was hardly surprising that fans wanted to get close up to Boy and dance to the music. Whether Boy is aware of it or not, he basks in this kind of adulation like he is soaking up sunshine.

The second reason why Culture Club are the come back kings, the chemistry between the original band members is magical.  The music is amazing. I never got to see Culture Club live in my youth, as I was but a wee babe, but I can definitively say their live sound, by far surpass the original recordings. The live versions of old hits like ‘Karma Chameleon, It’s a Miracle’ and ‘Black Money’ have been updated, or maybe it is better to say the sound has evolved in a good way.

Boy George’s voice has changed, it has gained the inevitable gravelly edge and depth of age... not saying he is old but it does mean the songs have to grow with him. His voice is richer and fuller, but he doesn’t hit the same highs as he did in the 80's. The third reason, if there has to be one: Boy George is so simply brilliant in the mix, so feminine (even with the beard), and still has something of the drama queen about him that so fascinates.

There is still a lot of interest around the Boy / Jon Moss, (Drums) relationship and what this means about Jon’s sexuality, as he is now married with children. Their romantic relationship was somewhat hidden at the time, but most of Boys lyrics centered on their relationship. Now Mikey Craig feels more to the fore on bass. I felt Moss was a little bit hidden, which is not unusual for the drummer. But, of course Boy always takes the limelight, with his natural flamboyance.

His presence on stage is also helped by numerous costume changes.  My least favourite was the costume that made him look a bit like a Rabbi with that beard he has now.  My favourite was a black feather piece complete with headdress, which transformed him into an elegant crow.  It had a Alexander McQueen feel to it, and was one of the highlights of the set for me.

We were treated to several songs off of their new album ‘Tribes’, which is set for release in 2016.  It will be the groups first album together since 1999, when they released ‘Don’t mind if I Do’. ‘Human Zoo’ from the new album seems set to become a classic. I preferred this track to ‘More than Silence’ which is the first song they released off of the new album.  It seems strange to me that he saved this track for the encore rather than ‘Human Zoo’.  I feel that ‘Human Zoo’ recaptures the original vibe of the band, and has a bit of Funk to it. ‘More than Silence’ is a little bit too slow for my taste.

Otherwise it was the classic hits that got crowd going tonight. He choose the right songs to kick off with, starting with the classics ‘Church of the poison Mind’ and ‘It’s a Miracle’ produces more than a few chills with their 80’s vibe.  The most brilliant moment of the night came towards the end of the set when Boy sang a special live cover version of ‘The Crying Game’ by Dave Berry, from the movie of the same name. For me this song is what Culture Club and Boy George in particular represent, behind the Funk, flamboyance and fun, there is sadness, and serious side. It is a bit like glimpsing the tears of a clown.

Culture Club helped challenge boundaries in the 80’s and that same energy is hard to recapture, but somehow they managed to achieve it. The androgyny of new wave doesn’t have the same impact that it had at the time. We like to think that we live in a much more tolerant society, but I am actually beginning to question if we really do or not. The same prejudices around sexually and race are still with us, and we all seem to be and dress a little bit plainer. Men seem to be less daring with make-up then they were in the 80’s, and even the 90’s. 

Aesthetically, people are more inclined to conform. For years people have dismissed 80’s music and fashion and for me part of this latest come back is a rekindling of nostalgia for the 80’s, and the promise of liberation it held. For many it harks back to happier days, when people felt less bound by responsibilities. Social mobility and a sort of fluidity of identity was increasing, where as today I feel like people are much more penned in. 

There seemed to be more possibility for people to transform themselves and experiment with their identity... the music was integral to this. I feel this is what we most all would like to recapture about the 80’s, that sense of possibility. The set was fairly long at twenty tracks, with an encore of four songs, and several costume changes, yet although he was spoiling us, it still didn’t feel long enough.

Culture Club finished with covers in the encore, which feels like an indulgence, especially for artists who have a wealth of their own unique material, but I was too overcome by Boy’s eyelashes, and his sheer glamorous brilliance for that bugbear to matter this evening.   If you think you have any idea of Culture Club’s iconic brilliance from the CD’s then think again. You need to go and see them live as soon as you get the chance.  

Culture Club - Setlist
---------------------------------------
Church of the poison Mind
It’s a Miracle
I’ll tumble 4 Ya
Like I used To
Everything I own (Bread Cover)
Let somebody love You
Black Money
Victims
Move Away
Human Zoo
Time
The Crying Game
Different Man
Miss me Blind
Runaway Train
Do you really want to hurt me
---------------------------------- 
More than Silence
Karma Chameleon
Bang a Gong (Get it On)
Starman

Review by Dezadie and Photo's by Dezadie and Dan Devour

Check Out! a performance Video for 'Do you want to hurt Me' live on the Today show 2015 Below...

Share

You can purchase: Music Trespass Magazine Issue 1 - Jan/Feb 2024

Digital: https://online.fliphtml5.com/qdazl/tbtj/

Also available from Amazon  - And will be hitting the shops soon.

Recommended Albums

Coming Soon

Album Chart

Coming Soon

 

Advertising

Please Email: Dan-MusicTrespass @live.co.uk