I never thought I’d wait 35 years for the chance!

Back in the late 1970’s, a female artist took the music scene by storm. Her name, Kate Bush, the single, Wuthering Heights. Number 1 in this country for 4 weeks, I have no idea whether it was a hit in the US or not, but should have been. For those who havent seen it, the original video is

Much to many fans delight, she announced a tour in 1979, which in all, lasted about 6 weeks. For some reason or another, I didnt go, probably sold out before I could get a ticket in all honesty. But, I thought, there will always be another tour, and then I’ll go. But there wasnt! I suspect the tour was so exhausting physically, and mentally that Kate bailed out from touring, as she put it at the time, for a while.

But then, as the years moved on, it didnt happen, and eventually she totally disappeared from the scene musically. Her private life had been pretty private all along, even when the music was still being released, but…

Then finally, around 2005, a new album was announced, and released. No tour, no follow up, not a word! 2011, another new album, remarkably one with just 7 tracks, but lasting over an hour was released, but again, that was it.

Until today! This morning, the news broke that Kate had announced a tour for later this year. Great, you might think? Well, yes and no. Yes, she’s doing 15 concerts, but all in one venue, nearly 200 miles from me, in London! So no, I doubt, even now, I will get to see her live, especially as the bulk of it is in September, a month when I will be going to the US.

At least there is one consolation now, that wouldnt have happened in 1979, that part of the concert (or more) will probably end up on You Tube…with luck! Kate, its great to have you back live, but a nationwide tour would have been so much better!

The Concert review

Well, seriously, were you expecting anything else tonight?

Lets cut to the chase, you arent interested in where I went for dinner, or the journey home afterwards, so no more about that.

No, I hadnt been to the Academy at Leeds before, for any reason, so had no idea what to expect. Given that I was there for 7.00 door opening, I managed to get pretty close to the stage, about 4th or 5th row back, as it was all standing. Yes, by the end of the evening, my legs, knees and feet were complaining loudly about standing in pretty much the same spot for 4 hours, allowing for dancing on the same spot, there wasnt room to do more. Lets just say the walk to the station was slightly painful lol.

Right, the concert. First up was the support act, John Foxx and The Maths. Thing is, I’m old enough to remember that John sang with Ultravox before Midge Ure, but not many others do. No, I only saw Ultravox when Ure was the frontman, so hadnt seen him before. He did a good show, but for all but 1 person, it was just the warm up for the big event. Yes, there was one guy, just in front of me who was only there for the support act, went after he finished. Ah well…He missed a treat.

After that we saw the crew rapidly, and efficiently clear the stage, and do the little bit of preparation needed for OMD. Then, just about 9.00, the first notes of ‘Please Remain Seated’ were heard, the crowd erupted, and the show began.

No, I cant do a songlist for you, lets just say it included stuff both from the last 2 albums (especially the new, very excellent one, English Electric) and a lot of the older stuff too. Sadly for me, the list didnt include Pandoras Box, but thats the only fault I could find in all honesty. Given that I was only introduced to Louise Brooks by Andy, it would have been nice, but there are time limits and things, so…

The interesting thing is, the changes in style in 31 years, since I last saw them. Yes, we are all older, but Andy is still so fit, its frightening! Oh, his dancing style is still as, err, interesting as it ever was. The best comment I can make is, back then it was a concert, they played the songs (well alright, the music was pretty much all taped back then), and that was it, just a few words. The 2013 version is much more of a show though, Andy and Paul definitely talk far more with the crowd, all helps in making you feel part of the show. Hey, Malcolm even waves at us from the back while sat at his drums. Martin still wins the coolness stakes though, pretty much just sitting at his keyboards, apart from his sax solo moments. He was seen to be tapping along to the music though lol!

Ah, the music comment. Thats the difference, far more is live now. To be honest, the only thing that seemed pre taped were necessary things (the female vocals on Tesla Girls, Kissing The Machine, and the trumpets on Forever Live And Die as examples), and what I would call the ‘bottom line’ of the synth stuff on songs. But thats because 2 guys cant do that many layers live! Its fair to say that all they could do live, they did!

So yes, I might do another concert sometime, though not a standing only one, the old body isnt up to that!

Finally, thanks to Andy, Paul, Martin and Malcolm for a marvellous night, that brought back a lot of memories. One thing is for sure, if I see you all again live, its unlikely to take 31 years!

And the video, yes, I’ve found one from last nights show! Therefore as its from a mobile device, its not the greatest quality, but I was there!

A Shocking Experience

To be honest, this came about because I was looking for a witty way to start a blog relating to the OMD tour next year, and the video I chose. And when I was trying to do so for Tesla Girl, I remembered one of those crazy things that David Copperfield did as a stunt recently. Yes, that metal suit, and a Tesla coil, and being surrounded by a whole lot of crackling electricity. And equally yes, if not for 3 days (or whatever it was), I’d love to experience that for myself! I know it doesnt make you a robot, but enclosed in metal, with electricity sparking all around me, how could I not love that? 😉 And yes, I’d get to live, even if I would still be human, but hey, you cant have everything!

Clearly a robotising pod, with the electricity flowing freely would be fun, but a bit more fatal generally I suspect, unless I had a scientist who really knew what he was doing lol!

But yes, as an aside, both from the robot side of me (Tesla Girl, Electricity), and the Louise Brooks side of me (Pandoras Box), the news yesterday that OMD would again be touring next year, coming to Leeds in May, and this time doing so when I’m in this country was great for me. Tickets go on sale Friday, fingers crossed I can get one. No, I wont get to meet the group, but seeing them again, 30 years after first doing so, will be good. There is a ‘package’ where you can meet them, but like a good Yorkshire lass, I value money, and wont be paying out a lot more just to do that, though it would be fun getting the chance to ask Andy about the whole Louise Brooks thing.

And alright, I’ve lived up here over 7 years, still had to find out where the venue was in Leeds though, thats a clue as to how often I do these things. Last concert you ask? 2001, Seekers, in Bournemouth. Yes, regular concert goer, not!

Yes, tonights video has been mentioned, and it isnt Electricity, though it could have been!