Spandau Ballet show they’re still Gold

May 16, 2015 5:23 am 16 comments Views: 27

Saxy stuff … Spandau Ballet delight the Sydney crowd. Picture: Adam Ward
Source: News Corp Australia

REVIEW

IT ONLY took two songs before the party faithful jumped to their feet, singing and dancing to Highly Strung at the Qantas Credit Union Arena.

And those openers, including Soul Boys of the Western World, the title of their recent documentary, announced the 80s saxophone has indeed been repatriated.

Sydney concert of 80s pop stars Spandau Ballet at The Sydney Entertainment Centre.
Source: News Corp Australia

Even on the obligatory new songs which featured on the updated hits compilation Story, including This Is the Love, Steve Norman proved to be the man most likely to bring saxy back.

By the time they hit the third song Only When You Leave, frontman Tony Hadley wasn’t the only one who had worked up a sweat.

Worked up sweat … Tony Hadley busting out the hits. Picture: Adam Ward
Source: News Corp Australia

Or singing with passion, albeit his voice was far more tuneful than the up-for-it Friday night fans.

Spandau Ballet astutely play to the nostalgia of an audience who want to indulge the soundtrack of the youth.

Round and Round is backed by doco footage capturing the hysteria, and awesome fashions, of their 80s heyday.

Giving it their all … Spandau Ballet did not just through the motions at their Sydney concert. Picture: Supplied.
Source: News Corp Australia

The time capsule became more of a Back To The Future trip during tracks like Chant No. 1, To Cut A Long Story Short, Mandolin and Reformation from their Blitz Club beginnings.

Listen to Triple J for an hour and you will hear their brand of dance electronica replicated by the postmillennial bedroom producers.

And that is partly why Spandau Ballet and their enduring contemporaries including faux poster boy adversaries Duran Duran are probably more relevant in 2015 than most critics would give them credit for.

Reformed … from left Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, John Keeble and Steve Norman. Picture: Supplied
Source: Supplied

Not only are they supremely matchfit musicians with more than three decades of experience, even with years off for acrimonious breakup had behaviour.

But their traditional pop structures, married with the electronic technological sensibilities of then, are so now.

Hadley is a strong vocalist, economical with his phrasing and enthusiastic audience conductor, using the stage and his moment within the crowd with professional aplomb.

Ultimately what won hearts and memories were the songs and the players.

Hey day … Spandau Ballet were the classic 80s outfit. Picture: Supplied
Source: News Corp Australia

Our mates Tony, Gary, Martin, Steve and John performing True, Gold, Lifeline, Communication, I’ll Fly For You and Through The Barricades — it really doesn’t get better for an 80s child.

And they looked like they were well into it rather than simply going through the motions to top up the super fund.

No guilty pleasures here, just good times.

And unashamed singing and dancing like nobody is watching.