CULTURE CLUB // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
The vast Hydro Arena was transformed into the Tardis for one night only and propelled back in time to the 80s, for an evening of musical nostalgia, and extravaganza.
PICTURE BY CULTURE CLUB
★★★★☆
First to the stage was Tom Bailey, once one third of The Thompson Twins. This year he had returned to the stage showcasing the hits of The TT’s live for the first time in 27 years, and he went down a storm tonight. Wowing the crowd with the old classics Love On Your Side, You Take Me Up, Doctor Doctor and finishing with a mass karaoke and the hit single Hold Me Now. A fine start to proceedings.
Belinda Carlisle followed, and gave the crowd all her major hits from the late 80s and more. Live Your Life Be Free, Circle In The Sand and Summer Rain were some of the chart hits played from her setlist, all catchy, singalong songs, before closing with the monster hit Heaven Is A Place On Earth, and well received with the large Glasgow audience.
Lastly to the main event. Boy George and Culture Club. The atmosphere in the arena was electric as the lights went down and the video screen backdrop gave us a quick rewind thru the tabloid headlines, the TV clips and the promos which made Culture Club one of the biggest bands in early 80s chart music. Opening with God & Love, the fans let Boy George and the band know they were in for a party this evening. It’s a Miracle, Time (Clock Of The Heart) followed on alongside the other classics Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?, Victims before a rousing Church of The Poison Mind segued in with a cover of Wham’s Im Your Man, and the first section was over.
Returning for an encore after a short break, new single Life was followed by a couple of covers. David Bowies Lets Dance then the T-Rex smash Get It On. Band introductions next and all that was left was for the song which they are famous for, the 1982 number one hit Karma Chameleon. Everyone in the arena was on their feet and in full voice to help close the show.
This was a great evening of 80s music. Like the Rewind festival, many in tonights crowd had dressed for the occasion with more than a few bright coloured leg warmers and Boy George hats on display. All good fun, complementing the music nicely. The ticket price may have been a tad on the high side, some of the vocals may not have been on point as they maybe were 30 odd years ago but it was still a great night out for fans of 80s music. And who doesn’t have a wee soft spot for George anyway?