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Where to start I guess last November when Spandau Ballet made a quick visit
to promote the new DVD Soul Boys of the Western World with a screening of
the movie and then a short set live in the theatre it was hard to travel
from interstate as the date was in the middle of Melbourne Cup week with
only a few weeks notice so I wasn't able to make it BUT soon after they
announced a four date Australian tour. For reasons unknown Adelaide
missed out but I wasn't missing out this time and was lucky enough to obtain
a meet and greet VIP ticket for Melbourne (front row seat - yes it seemed a
long wait for those tickets to come in the mail!!).
Like many others I missed out in 1985 when they didnt come to Canberra and
no one took their kids to Sydney for concerts unlike nowadays but made sure
I got to the Adelaide show in 2010. With tickets on the side and no
camera it was still a brilliant show but I vowed if they returned I would
get a far better seat and make sure I had a camera by then! Tony
Hadley visited Adelaide with his solo show twice in the interim in 2011 and
2013 and those who asked then were told that Spandau Ballet would be back at
the latter event. And indeed they have come back again with fans able
to watch the livestream show from the US during the afternoon on Australia
Day this year (our time) which was the preview for what would come in May.
Then over the last few months the reviews from the US and the UK have been
amazing as fans in Australia and New Zealand waited patiently for their
turn. The Australia/New Zealand leg of the tour started in Auckland on
Mothers Day and then moved to Brisbane and Sydney before finally arriving in
Melbourne (with only Perth left before they head back to the UK and Europe).
Flying into Melbourne we were warned about an expected bumpy landing but
luckily as we started to come into sight of the city the massive black
curtain of cloud was already over the eastern suburbs though clearly it had
poured down at the airport but the landing was far better than expected (Im
not a good flyer my nightmare is those sideways landings you see make the
news on windy stormy days). An afternoon catching up with a friend and
fellow concert attendee and it was suddenly well past time to head off for
the venue but with only a short drive ahead we made it with perfect timing
to the VIP meeting area. Dainty staff did a great job of explaining
how the soundcheck and meet and greet would go ahead and we soon had our
merchandise and were soon on our way inside for the sound check with Spandau
Ballet already on stage playing Once More as we came in and filled the area
right in front of the stage (several rows of seats were taken out for the
meet and greet photo op). New song This is the Love was played next
then we were asked for requests for another
song and it was Round and Round that was selected (so 2 of my 3 favourite
songs played already and the new one was very good too). Soundcheck was soon over and it was time for the question and
answer session where amongst other things we found out John was a very
dedicated soccer fan with plans to head off seemingly the second he gets off
the plane home to a game plus plenty of light hearted banter between all
members when asked various questions.
The Meet and Greet was also fantastic the band came out off the stage and
lined up as fans all moved to the adjacent bank of seats to line up row by
row for photos and shown where to leave bags etc. So much more relaxed
than a previous M&G I attended run by a different promoter - everyone had
the chance to go up to the band and shake everyones hand and have a quick
chat (if you could control that 'inner fangirl' when they all talk at once)
before getting into position for the photo. Then it was off to the VIP
room to have a break and pick up some more merchandise before coming back
for the main act shortly before 9pm.
Right on time Spandau Ballet hit the stage starting the show with the new
song Soul Boy - well chosen to lead off with the long intro building into a
snappy upbeat song as the curtain dropped and the overzealous fog machine
smoke finally cleared. It took a few moments but soon the whole crowd
were on their feet (as they should be its not the opera its a CONCERT).
Highly Strung and Only When You Leave followed both from the Parade album
(this was the album where I became a fan - my 13-14 year old self clearly
chose well still love all the songs on that record). How Many Lies was
next followed by the favourite Round and Round which was again as in 2010
accompanied by footage on the screen behind the stage this time from the
Soul Boys of the Western World DVD release. It may have been show
number 42 of the tour but some band members joined the rest of us in looking
up at the screen at times during the song.
Back to the current CD The Story: The Very Best of Spandau Ballet and the
new song from soundcheck This is the Love followed by a third new song Steal
(the film clip is out for this and its also been performed on a number of TV
guest appearances) - all are brilliant and fit perfectly amongst the older
songs. Then it was back way back to the beginning with the Blitz
section a medley of songs following on from Chant No 1 (from second album
Diamond with Tony and Steve taking part in a few moments on pseudo sparring
back there on the stage) with Reformation, Mandolin, Confused and The Freeze
before ending the section with To Cut a Long Story Short all from their
debut album Journeys to Glory. And just to show how good the band are
to fans Steve threw his guitar pick to the fan next to me in the front row
but it was dropped on the ground somewhere - as the song ended he came out
on the cases in front of the feedback speakers and handed the fan a
replacement then after Glow a couple of security guards with torches came
out searched and found the original for the fan too!
Next was Raw from their final album before the band broke up at the end of
the 80s followed by Glow where Tony and Gary departed the stage while John
and Steve had their duel between John's full drum kit and Steve's assembly
of percussion instruments. At songs end attention turned to the
B stage at the mixing desk where Tony and Gary performed Empty Spaces from
Heart Like A Sky followed by a rousing acoustic version of Gold while back
at the main stage Martin was encouraging the crowd to sing along with Steve
once he was set to go for the next song from the side of stage (yes Im
short easier to see the guys back on stage then see very little past the
crowd). Tony and Gary returned to the stage still playing and singing
walking along the aisle through the crowd yet again delighting the fans as
they went.
Back on the
main stage and it was Once More from the 2009 comeback album Reformation
another fantastic song that brought us all back to the Spandau fandom after
the 20 year break leading into the 2010 tour. Parade's I'll Fly For
You was next then Instinction (Diamond) then Communication from True as the
tempo really picked up into their best known songs from the 80s.
Lifeline another of my favourites followed (and this is fantastic to see
live) everyone was having fun at this point - if you werent there try
and find it on youtube! Then it was onto one of their biggest hits in
True before heading off stage for a few moments.
Back for the encore it was straight into the emotional Through the
Barricades and then the full on version of Gold leaving everyone in raptures
as Gary took his selfie photos of the crowd for Twitter later before they
took their final bow and departed. Hopefully they wont leave it so
long to return next time!!
The VIP Experience was run by the promoters Dainty Corporation and was well
organised from start to finish and throughout it was great no one was
pressure time wise through the photo op and the photo downloads were
available within about 36 hours of being taken. And on a personal note
thank you to the band and tour manager Alec Mills who went out of their way
to be so nice to us and when they said they would do something they did.
Their official website can be found at
Spandau Ballet
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