Culture Club, Howard Jones & Berlin- PNC Arts Center

    

David Diamond

    It's entitled 'The Letting It Go Tour', it's another '80's night. Why? Because that music is timeless. Here it is 2023 and we are still listening to music and going to shows of bands from 40-years ago. Funny when it was the 80's, there were no performers from the 40's that were still touring and filling up arenas. That's why, another 80's night. Because we love them and we show up for them. That was a special time we can never go back to but at least we can relive a few great memories. 

    Speaking of '80's concerts, have any of you reading this heard of 'The Darker Waves' music fest in Huntington, Ca. in November? It is the inaugural, it is like the grand daddy of all 80's shows. Tears for Fears and New Order are co-headlining. It is already sold-out so that means only one thing... You have to go! That's in the future, tonight we are visiting 'The Garden State' of New Jersey.

BERLIN

    Berlin is the act I am here to see most. I have never seen them. The other two I have seen (and loved) before. The song I want to hear live, at least once in my life, is 'Sex (I'm a...)'. I first heard it in the clubs when I was 19-years old in Kaiserslautern, Germany. I rode the metro throughout Europe to other clubs in London, Paris, Barcelona, etc... where I danced to that jam. It was really interesting to see their career go from a band known only throughout the clubs in 1983 to a band being known by everyone after winning the Academy Award in 1987, taking home the Oscar for the tune 'Take My Breath Away' from Tom Cruise's movie 'Top Gun'. 

    They took the stage with great enthusiasm. Their latest drummer, Ric "ROCC" Roccapriore was sitting there behind the drum kit, ready to keep the beat, which he did very well all night long. His timing was impeccable. The keyboard player, Dave Schulz, a prodigy, comes from a family of super talented musicians, by 11-years old he mastered Mozart's C Sonata. Dave's on a whole other level, he was in place. The rhythm guitarist, Carlton Bost, had great rhythm and great stage presence. He's a rock star. He was up there ready to show his chops as the last three of them came out. The three that have been there pretty much since the start. 

Terri

    First came the lead-guitarist, David Diamond. This guy has got swagger. He looks like he could be on the cover of shaved-head daddies magazine. And he can play guitar. Next to make their appearance was the incredible bass player, John Crawford, he was a driving force all night. Then she came out. And that she is the magnificent Terri Nunn. She was blinging. Her earrings were dazzling as was her necklace. She was wearing a black cocktail dress with a black see through long, flowing, overcoat. It gave a nice 'layered' effect. 'Masquerade' was the opener. It was great, the crowd loved it. 

    'No More Words' followed that. I was so embarrassed that I thought this song was performed by Missing Persons all these years. I am still learning everyday. Apparently I was mixing this song up with 'What Are Words For'. Now I know, it was a great surprise. It would not be the only surprise of their set. When this song finished Terri spoke to the crowd and said "Welcome to The Letting It Go Tour, and what that means to me is, Terri let that shit go!' And they cheered, as they can relate. She went on to say that "she is finally starting to have some fun in her life, better late than never". You got that right girl!

    Hey I just came up with a riddle right now. I'm a writer, that's what I do. 
"If Terri Nunn, of Berlin, and Dale Bozzio, of Missing Persons, were to perform a duet, what would it be titled? 

A: 'What Are No More Words For?'  

Yes? No? Please let me know in the comments. Anyway... I will see myself out. 

Carlton & Terri 

    Terri took off her overcoat revealing the black dress. Turns out she wasn't wearing a necklace after all. The bling stretched across the top of her dress. Berlin went on to do a few more songs, all of which have had some radio airplay, shown on MTV, or spun in the clubs, including 'The Metro' before they got to the big hits. The first one they got to was the biggest, 'Take My Breath Away'. Everyone knew this one and they wanted to sing along. She kindly obliged their request and pointed the mic in their direction and they sang! PNC Arts Center is an outdoor venue, when they sang they sang to the sky! What a great memory for them.

    Band intro- 

    The surprise of the night came next, it was filled with mixed emotions. Earlier in the day, the world lost the great Irish singer Sinead O'Connor. Terri said "We lost a great one today, this song is for Sinead O'Connor, if you know it, sing it." The band then launched into a cover of The Cult's classic 'She Sells Sanctuary'. What happened next was just... The placed erupted (with John's bass line pounding away) and then Terri (I want to say jumped into the audience, but she's a lady, she did not jump, she was escorted by security into the audience.) went about 20-rows deep and sang. 

    Some of the people near her were dancing but then they came to a stop and got their phones out to film her. Instead of living in the moment and dancing with the great Terri Nunn, the only opportunity they will ever have in their lives to dance with her, they filmed her instead. If it were me, I would have danced with her the entire song and danced with her all the way back to the stage and try to get myself up front because I knew what was coming. It will be the last tune of their set. 

Ric "Rocc" Roccapriore

    She gets back to the stage and the song starts. This is it and it was so great, better than I expected. I never knew 'man voice' was performed by bass player John. Very entertaining, the band members didn't just stand there and sing into the mic, they added some flair with the theatrics. John and Terri acted the song out, simply phenomenal. It really brought to mind the question "did those two date at one time?" Then shaved-head daddy comes in with his big solo. It was so perfect. 

    The band was perfect, how often do you go to a show and you know every song that the opening act plays? That just doesn't happen, 9-songs, 40-minutes, perfect. I want to see them again at an inside venue now, preferably a big club. I hope they keep 'She Sells Sanctuary' in their set list. And I know, if I ever get the chance to dance with Terri that would... take my breath away. 

Oh, Howard and George were there too. 

    

Tears for Fears- Madison Square Garden

     Tears for Fears performed at Madison Square Garden Monday night as their triumphant return to the NYC area and what a return it was. Last time they were here, in NYC, was over five years ago when they performed with Hall & Oates and Allen Stone at Forest Hills Stadium in June of 2017. They took to the stage, didn't say a word and just started playing and singing. The audience cheered their arrival.

The gang's all here.

    The band opened with 'No Small Thing' which was no small thing to open with a new one off the new album, 'The Tipping Point'. The new number was well received, I liked it. The band went on to play the title track 'The Tipping Point' another new one off the new album, which could get risky, could be a tipping point even, but the people enjoyed it. Then Tears for Fears went into their third song, a smash, 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World'. The crowd went wild! Still not one word has been spoken by any band members.

     When that tune came to an end it was time to get chatty. Roland Orzabal, the co-lead singer and lead guitarist and the only constant band member thanked everyone for coming out on a Monday night and said "Hopefully this is the beginning of a great week." He told a story how after 40-years in the business this is their very first time ever performing at Madison Square Garden, The Most Famous Arena in the World. 

A great, quick (1:34) recap video of the entire night

    They have performed a few times at The Beacon, they've been at Hammerstein, they played at Radio City Music Hall, 2-night sold-out stand, (back in the day) they've also appeared at all the summer hot spots in the New York area: Jones Beach, PNC Arts Center, etc... He went on to present everyone on stage, he introduced Curt Smith, bass player, (the other half of Tears for Fears.) Next, their drummer who has been with them since 2010, Jamie Wollam was spotlighted. 

    Roland went on to emphasize that the three of them, himself, Curt and Jamie are the members of Tears for Fears and they have never been on this stage before in their life! People were like, o.k. we got it. He then went on to introduce their backing musicians, all 3 of them, who have been on this stage before. And everybody laughed. It was hysterical, comedy gold, even, gold, Jerry, gold. Sometimes life is funnier than anything written.

Roland on guitar, Doug on keys and Curt on bass

    Doug Petty is a classically trained sessions keyboardist who is currently touring with them. He has played with the likes of Enrique Iglesias on this very stage. Doug stood up and waved so everyone could get a good look at him. They responded by showing their love. Next to be recognized was the back-up singer with the powerful voice, Laura Evans. She has appeared here with Natasha Bedingfield. The people showed her love too. 

    Charlton Pettus, the rhythm guitarist, was the final musician to be introduced. He played guitar for Sinead O'Connor during the Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary special, 1992. 

A VIP Backstage Pass. I need to get more of these. 

      So the fourth song was 'Secret World' and while they performed they also threw in a snippet of 'Let 'em in' by Wings. That was an unexpected treat. I remember buying that 45 in the bicentennial year. (true story, second one I ever bought) Yep, I'm old, funny how...time flies. (see what I did there?) 'Sowing the Seeds of Love' was after that, terrific rendition. The entire show was terrific, it did not lag anywhere throughout. 

    The set design was fantastic. In the center above the stage was a huge, round screen projecting different images all night. Surrounding the screen was a ring of lights, then there was another larger ring of lights in front of that and yet another third ring of lights in front of that one. When you sat in your chair and looked forward it appeared that you were looking into a circle of lights that got smaller and smaller until you got to the screen where the images ranged from nature with running horses to funky kaleidoscope action which give for a psychedelic, trippy effect. The entire set was phenomenal, kudos to set design person/people. 

Great lighting, the place is packed.

    It was now Curt's turn to chat a bit into the mic. He said "It was nice to be home." Then went on to tell the story how he lived in NYC for a few years and after you lived here once you kind of feel like it is always home. They went on to play a few more tracks from the new album. It appeared, by the reaction of the 20,000 plus in attendance, that it was well liked. The entire concert was. 

    A look of surprise was on a lot of faces when they played 'Mad World'. Curt sang lead on this one. Seemed like some in the crowd were wondering "Why are they doing this cover?" But, in reality, it is a Tears for Fears song from 1982. It was covered in 2010, by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules for the movie Donnie Darko. 

Photo from stage left: Roland, Laura and Curt

    The ditty that followed was 'Suffer The Children'. This was Laura Evans big solo number and it was beautiful, she really belted it out of the arena. Following her solo she sang a duet with Roland 'Woman in Chains'. They had great harmony. TFF went on to perform a handful of more songs including 'Head Over Heels' and 'Change' before getting to the encores. They closed out their show with, you know which one. The big one, from the summer of 1985, the one that put them on top of the world, 'Shout'. The Garden erupted, the fans were grateful.

    One song I wanted to see live was 'Please Be Happy' from the new album. It may have been too heavy for Roland to play on tour. This is the song he and Curt wrote about Roland's wife, Caroline, whom he lost in 2017 after almost 40-years of marriage, due to alcoholism and depression. Roland would get emotional and would have to leave the studio when they were mixing the masters. 

    It sounds so simplistic but they really are the perfect words to say to a loved one going through any depression or sadness "Please be happy".

The Cure- Madison Square Garden

           

He's looking directly at you, or through you. 

            "This is the end" was the very first words out of Robert Smith's mouth when he and his band, The Cure, took the stage Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. This is their first New York visit in 7-years, since 2016. They were here for three sold-out nights at The Most Famous Arena in The World! In fact, the entire U.S. tour is sold-out for all 30-cities! Rolling Stone magazine said that "The Cure is the Hottest Rock Tour of Summer 2023!"  

            Of course he was singing the first line of the opening number, 'Alone' from the upcoming new album, 'Songs From A Lost World' which, according to Robert himself, should be released any day now. The tune was quite somber, I do love the line "We toast to our emptiness." The band was letting us know, from the very first song, that tonight was going to be as melancholy as we wanted it, and expected it.

 

This fan's name is Francesca Kennedy. She loved the show and got the poster, check out that Robert Smith dress she wore to The Garden! That is a "You go girl!" moment right there. 

            Quite noticeable were a couple of things when you arrived; first was that there were paper signs crudely printed up, taped to the columns, that read "The use of strobe lights will be in effect tonight" and second, that there was no music playing. Usually music is playing at every concert from the time the doors open right up until the opening act, but not tonight. The stage was darkened. Every few minutes you would hear, over the loud speakers, roaring, crackling thunder which, accompanied with the strobe lights gave a lightning effect. The set design was giving off a gloomy rainstorm vibe as the anticipation was growing. It was absolutely perfect! 

The Twilight Sad in front of the Poseidon statue or is that Neptune? 

            8:00 PM promptly the support act, The Twilight Sad, began. With no music playing, wherever you were in the arena; the bathroom, the merch table or getting a beer you knew the concert had started. The five lads were from Scotland and they sounded really good. They did a great job, had excellent stage presence, interacted well with the few dancing fans that did know their music. The Twilight Sad has been in the game since 2003, all they need is one big hit and they'll be the ones headlining next. They were quite entertaining. One thing that the lead singer, James Graham, said "Opening for my favorite band is a dream come true" showed a human side to him. It endeared him to the audience. Yeah,... New York liked them. Definitely give them a listen here: The Twilight Sad's website

5 out of 6 of them

            The Cure took the stage at 9:00 PM and played 29 songs for just shy of 3-hours, WOW! The music started and there were five members of the band on stage performing. On the far points of both stage left and stage right were keyboards. Stage left keyboard duties were being handled by Roger O'Donnell and stage right keyboard was being played by Perry Bamonte. Perry is a multi-instrumentalist who also plays guitar and bass. He went back and forth between the guitar and keyboard throughout the concert. Reeves Gabrels phenomenally riffed lead guitar all night. On drums was Jason Cooper keeping the beat going and on bass was Simon Gallup. (The second longest member. They have had their dust-ups, but Simon was best man at Robert's wedding.) 
            Two minutes of music before he takes the stage, eye liner with red lipstick tonight. Immediately he noticed a fan, upfront, who was trying to give him a single rose. Robert walked over to the corner of the stage (stage right) bent down and accepted the flower. He took a moment and waved to everyone on that side. They went crazy. He lingered for a minute, gave them time to get their pictures while he was up close. (It has been 7-years.) After a good minute he meandered to the other corner of the stage and waved to the people on that side. They loved it too. He gave them a solid minute as well and at the 4-minute mark he began singing.

Section 116

            He sounded superb and the band sounded terrific. Halfway through the song, he picked up a guitar and started playing, just outstanding. From an electric guitar to an acoustic electric, he strummed on about half the tunes that evening. It was all really good. And since the first number was a new one, delightfully the second one was a hit, 'Pictures Of You'. That's a nice balance. The older we get, the harder that song hits. Track three 'A Fragile Thing' was also a new one, which was well received by the crowd. 

            After that a deep cut from 1985's 'The Head on the Door', 'Kyoto Song' was next. Two hits followed then another new one: 'A Night Like This' and 'Lovesong' then 'And Nothing is Forever'. The strobe light came on at certain times, during 'Plan for Today' and 'Shake Dog Shake' to mention a few. The last official ditty of the set list, before the encores, is another new one, a perfect song to end the set on, Endsong. I love this one too. It's an instrumental that just draws you in. 
            They encored for an hour! Encore number one was five-songs long, they continued doing what they were doing during the main set, hit, new one, hit, everyone loved it. Encore number two is where they brought down the house. It was like nine smashes in a row! The big ones that got the most radio airplay and the most rotations in the clubs: 'Lullaby', 'The Walk', 'Friday I'm In Love', 'Why Can't I Be You?', 'Boys Don't Cry', etc...
               If you are a true fan, do whatever you can to get a ticket to this tour. If you are able to pull that off and see this show, I can guarantee you, this concert will be...

(wait for it)...
Just. Like. Heaven.