Hypnotica's Gig Reviews 2008

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Simple Minds  @ LG Arena / NEC, Birmingham, UK    28/11/08

30 Years Live

Support group: Deacon Blue

Summary

Simply stunning. Emotional, uplifting, powerful - shall I go on? Ok then... 

Intro

Yet another 80's super group I never saw in their heyday. I always loved their music from the early days on but somehow managed to miss out seeing them live 

Since then, I was lucky enough to see them back in 2006 in Nottingham (still need to write the review!) so this wasn't the first time, but certainly the first time at a big venue

Somehow, in a rare moment of fortune I managed to bag some amazing tickets for this gig. I dutifully bought them as soon as humanly possible when I found out about the gig and seconds after the ticket sales line opened but that doesn't usually guarantee such great results - second row from the front!

Knowing we had good seats only served to up the excitement levels for me. There are pros and cons for wherever you sit at a gig but being this close really means you can 'connect' with the band and feel part of the live experience

I anticipated a nightmare on the motoring front but finding and parking at the LG Arena wasn't bad at all so we got there in plenty of time

I'm sure 'when I was a lad', the NEC was one large complex and I remember going to see the Motor show there. What we have now when talking about the NEC, is a vast complex incorporating several large venues

The LG Arena being the one we were headed towards, certainly seemed like a big venue on first impressions. It differed to other stadiums I have been to by being very spread out but not many seats high. I guess space is a premium for many venues close to city centres so you end up sitting about a million feet up. As the NEC is on a huge plot I guess it's not an issue

It's only when the place was full that I really got an impression of size. Especially from our privileged view at the front looking back. Allegedly the venue now holds around 14,000 so pretty big then

I must say, despite the groovy website and promise of scrummy food catering on site, I was a bit disappointed with the overall 'burger van' in an large warehouse vibe I got from walking around looking for food. There  were a  couple of places to get something better but you had to book in advance and they looked heaving, so basically it's junk food or junk food

Always amazes me how naff catering is at venues, even the grub at Cardiff's Millennium stadium was  heated pasties and crisps and that's pretty much your lot. Oh yes and beer...

I guess a proportion of the punters are only bothered about the beer anyway. It is one of my bugbear at gigs to be honest. From the point of someone just at the venue to watch the gig, the equation goes something like this:-

<1> Beerhead goes to get beer = Make the entire row stand up whilst they shuffle past and you start to focus on them more than the damn gig. Start to settle down and get back into the vibe of the gig

<2> Beerhead returns to seat = Make the entire row stand up whilst they shuffle past and you start to focus on them more than the damn gig. Start to settle down and get back into the vibe of the gig

<3> Beerhead goes to toilet = Make the entire row stand up whilst they shuffle past and you start to focus on them more than the damn gig. Start to settle down and get back into the vibe of the gig 

<4> Beerhead returns from toilet = Make the entire row stand up whilst they shuffle past and you start to focus on them more than the damn gig. Start to settle down and get back into the vibe of the gig  

If you are unlucky enough to be sat next to a beerhead with a rabid thirst and a weak bladder it starts to get like some kind of insane 'riverdance' as the cycle keeps on repeating throughout the gig

I'm not a stick in the mud I promise! but I've had many gigs spoilt by this kind of malarkey. Sometimes the gigs are one offs, rare appearances or the first time I've ever seen a group so I want to make the most of it and lets face it tickets are not exactly 'cheap', especially when you factor in travel and sometimes accommodation costs

So, if you want to go out and get 'battered' go to the local pub and you can drink yourself into oblivion whilst crooning on the Karaoke stage instead!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with having the odd drink at a gig but I swear some people couldn't care who's on stage as they are  talking too loud to their mates to even notice.

There was a bit of this at this gig, we had cracking seats second row from the front but we had several occurrences when people were getting us up and down every five minutes and I had to focus hard to try and ignore it

Anywaaaaaaaaay, the gig!

Support: Deacon Blue

Stalwart 80's fan that I am, Deacon Blue were not a group I ever followed so I was slightly underwhelmed when I heard they were supporting the mighty Simple Minds. Ok they're a Scottish band too but that's where the similarities end.

I'd have much rather have seen 'Four Good Men' ; better music and as several of the group are Ex-Simple Minds , very fitting too, though it may be a bit strange for them supporting the band they used to be in!

I suppose there is no point in being anything other than honest with ones reviewing so laying my cards on the table; "Real Gone Kid" was one of those 'hits' of the 80's which gave me a Herbert Lom like twitch  whenever it was played on the radio; which was seemingly all day long in the late 80's

With that in mind, my hopes weren't high for the first part of the evening but it was live entertainment so we thought we'd better give them a try

Again, I'll have to be honest here; I was pleasantly surprised, at least to start with. The first three tracks were pretty good, haven't a clue what they were but they were powerful, the band put on a good show and the musicianship was good

As the lead singer got to the front of the stage, the paparazzi clambered round sticking 8 foot long zoom lenses almost right up the poor blokes nose. Not sure if that annoyed him or what, but he on several occasions drank water and spat it out all over the place then kicked water off the stage which seemed to drench one of the paparazzi and his camera. Not a fan of cameras I guess

Up to that point his dialogue with the audience was brief and to the point but as the set drew to a close 'I felt' the language was bordering on aggressive as he barked at the audience to get up out of their seats. I'm all for rousing an audience and 'bigging' up the atmosphere ready for the main act, but this sounded more like orders from a drill sergeant!

There was no escaping "Real gone Kid" towards the end, but the audience seemed to like it. As a doormen mused earlier, some people have come to see Deacon Blue 'not' Simple Minds - Really???? I asked 

Time to kick Ass 

During the short interval the venue really swelled in capacity and started to look like 'a lot of people'; wasn't that obvious with gaps in the seating before, but now it looked like a full house

Within seconds of Simple Minds appearing on stage and the music starting we knew things had gone up a level - this was going to be fantastic!

The set was impressive with great lighting and for some reason the ceiling now looked much higher giving more presence and atmosphere to the spotlights 

God these seats were good! Jim Kerr was less than four metres away which meant that unlike the last time I saw them I had the chance to get some really good photos.

I'd have to say that the venue staff were all cheerful, friendly and helpful, even the 'Norman the Doormens' were pretty chilled out and let us take photos without batting an eyelid. Looked like they had enough on their plate keeping their eyes on some potentially rowdy blokes nearby anyway

The Set 

What could be better to kickstart the gig and get everyone up on their feet but 'Waterfront'? Not a lot! It just oozed energy. Despite not being a particularly fast track the pace is relentless and dare I say it hypnotic. The crashing drum hits tailed off in swathes of reverb and Jim Kerr's vocals put the icing on the cake - god I love this group

On the subject of vocals, they were fantastic throughout, just as they were they were the last time I saw them live

I don't know what it is about Simple Minds music but I almost always have to PLAY IT LOUD! Just hearing the first notes of a track gets me reaching for the volume control

Countering the uplifting rhythms and anthemic leads and riffs is a world of melancholy which really tugs on your heart strings. Although I generally enjoy all the gigs I go to, there are only a handful of groups which 'really' move me emotionally

Simple Minds are one of those groups and to see it performed live from only feet away was something really special

Groups like Sigur Ros are of course massively talented and able to reduce me to floods within a ridiculously short space of time with their achingly emotional music but Simple Minds manage to cover the whole emotional spectrum within the confines of a single album or gig.

One minute the whole stadium was punching the air in joy and swinging their pants to 'Waterfront' and the next they were standing quiet in awe of the profound 'Mandela Day'

'Someone, Somewhere in Summertime' signalled the start of the New Gold Dream album tracks and this section was a real highpoint for me. Not only is the material pure quality in it's own right, it is clearly nostalgic for me

This music was part of the soundtrack of the 80's featuring heavily in the charts, the media and just about every school disco I went to!

Here is the set list from the night courtesy of Simpleminds.org

Waterfront
Speed Your Love To Me
Love Song
Mandela Day
Factory
Chelsea Girl
See The Lights
Hypnotised
Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime)
Colours Fly & Catherine Wheel
Promised You A Miracle
Big Sleep
Somebody Up There Likes You
New Gold Dream (81,82,83,84)
Glittering Prize
King Is White & In The Crowd
Hunter & The Hunted
Don't You (Forget About Me)
All The Things She Said
Belfast Child

Encore

Sanctify Yourself
Alive And Kicking

As any Simple Minds fan could see from that list, it was a blinder of a set. Essentially their classic album 'New Gold Dream' in its entirety plus most of their best known hits.

It's only as the hits keep coming you realise just how much stonking material they have done - lots

Generally, guitars take a back seat with me being an 'electronic' music nut but with Simple Minds it's different and Charlie Burchill has a 'lot' of guitars! Seemed to have a different one for each track.

His amazing style and skill on guitar is every bit as key to the overall Simple Minds sound as the superb Synth parts  which probably attracted me when I first heard them in the early 80's

I'd go as far as to say that the way he plays guitar, the sounds, the emotion and the power he derives from it, is as good as it gets 'guitar wise' for me; it ranks up there with the genius of David Gilmour

I'm a sucker for a good melody and I think that's what Charlie plays; it's not used much as a background sound it's often the main hook and that's how I like my guitars to sound; not just relying on huge distortion effects to make an impact

Although this is a cut above the norm, I feel It's also an 80's thing - guitar was often integral to the sound of 80's Synthpop and New Wave groups like Ultravox, Flock of Seagulls and New Musik to name just three and I just love that sound

Homeward Bound

The pace at last slowed down as the burning embers of the gig started to soften and emanating from a dimply lit stage before us  came the quiet signature notes of 'Belfast Child'

I'm rapidly running out of ways to describe just how good this gig was! but of all the tracks, 'Belfast Child' is the one which probably 'got me' the most. It's a masterpiece I think, the guitar solo is piercing, the words emotive and the delicate way the song peaks, troughs then explodes again with power and melody are just captivating. It really was one of the best moments in my gigging career to date

And that was that; the final track of the night. Simple Minds took a bow and left the stage leaving us emotionally drained, standing in the dark and shouting for more

Luckily for us there 'was' more in store, but how could the last track be followed? It had to be something rousing for the encore and it was

First off, 'Sanctify Yourself'; yet another feel good crowd pleaser giving a real party atmosphere to leave the crowd exhilarated at the end of the show

For the final one of the night, it just had to be 'Alive And Kicking' - another emotional, hands in the air crowd participation classic

Conclusion

Despite being a totally seated gig the crowd insisted on standing up throughout adding to the electric atmosphere.

It really was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. It moved me, made me feel good, made me feel happy, made me want to dance and made me want to cry. Even though the gig was loud I could easily have coped with it being revved up even more - especially for some of the more lively tracks

I can't wait to see them live again - with a bit of luck it will be at Edinburgh Castle next year

Review copyright by Mat Mckenzie www.hypnoticbeats.co.uk 

 

 

Simple Minds - 30yrs

Simple Minds - ticket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simple Minds - Photo by Mat McKenzie 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deacon Blue - Photo by Mat McKenzie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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