TK. MAXX PRESENTS... THE PIECE HALL 2025 - THE HUMAN LEAGUE // THE PIECE HALL, HALIFAX
THE HUMAN LEAGUE PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS…
THE PIECE HALL AT HALIFAX 2025
★★★★★ (5/5)
THE HUMAN LEAGUE PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS…. THE PIECE HALL AT HALIFAX 2025
PHOTOCREDIT: THE PIECE HALL HALIFAX (SOCIALS)
The 11th of July at the Piece Hall was very much about one of the biggest bands of the 1980’s, the Human League, they were supported by Blancmange and Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins. Unfortunately, due to travel issues on the M1 and M62 I didn’t make it in time to see Blancmange’s set, which I was disappointed about as I had wanted to see them.
I did make it for the Thompson Twins, who these days are frontman Tom Bailey supported by a 3-piece band. I’m so glad I did get to see them, Tom’s voice is as good, if not better, than it was in the 1980’s, the band and Tom really engaged with the audience, and I’d forgotten just how many good songs they had. The appreciation and sing along for Hold Me Now was tremendous, it, and many of the other songs, were rapturously received by a crowd who had been clearly well warmed up by Blancmange, but the loudest cheer was for when Tom told the crowd he was born in Halifax.
The main act were on stage slightly later than expected, arriving at 9.15 on what was a glorious summers night as one of the country’s best venues. We found out later that the delay was due to a wardrobe malfunction for Joanne. For the first time in their long history the Human League played the Piece Hall in Halifax. Philip Oakley did make a point of saying he’d been in the crowd many times to see other acts and tried to work out where he usually took his photos from, but you could tell they were really pleased to play this venue.
The staging was excellent, the musicians coming on one at time and showing how good they were before the front trio joined them, the multiple wardrobe changes reflected what a stylish band the Human League always were and still are.
What struck me most though was just how many good songs the Human League have, I think I’d forgotten just how prolific they had been for a while, the hits kept coming, the audience singing along to every one, clapping, dancing and generally having a brilliant time. When they used the instantly recognisable Don’t You Want Me as your pre-encore song you know this is a band who have total confidence in their back catalogue but it was a fantastic decision to let the crowd have a sing along to it before the band started.
When you can throw songs such as The Sound of the Crowd, Mirror Man, Seconds, Love Action and (Keep Feeling) Fascination amongst others at a crowd you know they are going to have a great night. This was my first time seeing the Human League, if I’d know just how brilliant a live act, they are I wouldn’t have left it so long, the encore was Being Boiled and Together in Electric Dreams. A tremendous night at a brilliant venue, it doesn’t get much better than this!
THE HUMAN LEAGUE PERFORMING AT TK. MAXX PRESENTS…. THE PIECE HALL AT HALIFAX 2025
PHOTOCREDIT: THE PIECE HALL HALIFAX (SOCIALS)