My wife and I went along to this show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre last night. It was the last show of the tour and almost a sell out. Something different for me to see seating on the floor of the arena tonight. Usually it's standing room only there. I also felt kind of young, which is saying something considering I'm 34 years old! Anyhow, we took our seats just in time for the first act, 1927 who for some reason only got to play four songs. Nevertheless it was great to see them after so long and their tunes sounded just as fresh and anthemic as ever but their set was so short ('That's When I Think of You', 'Compulsory Hero', 'If I Could' and one more than I can't remember) that it almost seemed like they were an afterthought. Mondo Rock was next, a band that was always about Ross Wilson's soulful vocals and Eric McCusker's bright pop sensibilities and both were solidly in place tonight. They played for considerably longer, serving up a nice set of melodic AOR that included 'Summer of 81', 'State of the Heart', 'Chemistry', 'Cool World' and 'Come Said the Boy' and received a resounding welcome from the crowd who, when asked by Wilson mid-set, were mostly watching the band for the first time. A strange thing considering how popular they were.
Go West was next, a group that I know next to nothing about and still don't, but they had a bunch of cool pop songs and the group of gay guys in the row behind us liked them a lot. They did 'We Close Our Eyes' and some other stuff and finished off with 'King of Wishful Thinking' of course that got everyone singing along. It was during their set that one of the coolest things I've ever seen at a concert happened. Richard Drummie announced to the crowd that it was Peter Cox' birthday, and the audience spontaneously sang 'Happy Birthday' to him! That was great! I've never seen that happen before in 25 years of concert-going. After them was Belinda Carlisle who proved to be a warm and engaging singer and performer ("That can't be Belinda," said one of the gay guys, "She's got too many clothes on"). For some reason however she looked a little uncomfortable on the heels she was wearing. It didn't detract from her set however and she ploughed on without missing a note when her backing vocalist sang the wrong chorus during 'Leave a Light On'. Just like the others, she sounded great; in fact the sound tonight was the best I think I've ever heard at this venue which normally seems to be a sound engineer's nightmare for some reason. I did start to wonder if Nick Wilde's guitar was plugged in while Belinda was singing, but during 'Our Lips Are Sealed' it appeared that it was, after all.
I don't know why Paul Young was part of the tour, but he was next. While he got a big response when he was announced, the mood quickly changed when it was obvious that he was really forcing some of the notes, and that's saying something as the first song was 'Wherever I Lay My Hat' which isn't much of a stretch. Paul Young looked and sounded like a burned out cabaret act tonight so I took the opportunity to take a quick visit to the bar. He was still on when I got back, doing 'Everytime You Go Away', but that was a little better because the guitarist from the backing band was playing some very cool flamenco stuff. If only Robert Palmer were still alive, maybe we could have coaxed him out of retirement instead.
Things got back on track when Kim Wilde came on though. She was really the highlight of the night with a great set of energetic pop and rock that included 'Chequered Love', 'View From a Bridge', 'Cambodia', 'If I Can't Have You' and more. Kim couldn't quite hit some of the notes she used to and there's a little more of her than what she used to be but she worked the stage and the audience very like she was still a bright young UK pop queen. She closed her show with her classic electro-punk hit 'Kids in America', and despite urging us to sing along with "Kids in Australia!" she actually forgot that herself a couple of times, much to her own amusement.
Until now the changeovers had only been a couple of minutes, during which we got ads on the big screens for the sponsors, Mazda and some pay TV channel showing clips from 'Family Ties', 'Married With Children' and an hilarious montage from 'Miami Vice' that had everyone in stitches at Don Johnson's hair and bad one liners. However after Kim there was a longer break while the stage was set up for Human League and we got to watch the clip for 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-go'. This left me wondering how so many people didn't realise George Michael was gay back then, especially the shot of him with his arms folded across his chest with those bright flouro green fingerless gloves on. So after that eye-aching extravaganza, it was time for Human League, whom I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. Their set was incredibly robotic and staged, with the most androgonous-looking musician I think I've seen since Vinnie Vincent was in Kiss. It was four songs into their set before I determined that he was a guy, after all. The strange thing about Human League is that despite Phil Oakley not being a very good singer and having virtually no stage presence at all and that all the music is what I would normally think to be the most annoyingly overdubbed and heavily synthed noise I've ever heard, they're really very good. Susie and Joanne still sound amazing and more than proved that you can be over 40 and look hot wearing almost nothing and overall they showed that above all the only thing you really need is a bunch of catchy songs. Phil's request that "We'd love to come back again, so write to your local MP" was a little bizarre, however.
So, all in all, Now and Then was a great night. Apparently they'll be doing another one like this next year too, so there's more memories to look forward to.

;D

Good review Goreripper.  Sounds as if you had a good night.  I would have liked to have gone but funds are a little tight. :(

I remember 1979 - Graham Parker & The Rumour played Brisbane's Cloudland Ballroom - the crowd sung happy birthday to Graham Parker.  IMO one of the best concerts I've ever been to and by far the most fun!!  Graham Parker also said he'd never forget that birthday.

Very good review.  I had tickets to the Brisbane concert but didn't end up going.  Wish I had now after your review!

I wondered why we hadnt had a review from you yet Gecko !  I didnt go either - funds are tight since the house sale and purchase :(

Did you guys read the review from my local paper that I posted the other day - reporter had similar opinions to Gore - specially about Paul Young !!!!

If Kim Wilde feels like coming back to play some clubs solo I would definately go see her.  

Excellent concert review Gore - you could take over some of the writers on most news papers.

Oh well that would explain it !!

Any photos from the gig ?

No I'm afraid not. I wasn't really close enough for good pics anyway.

Eric Wiederman looks really old.

oh I know - some of the pics in the paper - Paul Young and Phil Oakey looked awful !!!!!