The biggest band to be exported from Scotland brought us back to the eighties again. The show at ACL Live in Austin was in support of their Walk Between Worlds (2018)-their 18th studio album, on the heels of the surprising success of Big Music (2016). It’s their first full tour in over 25 years.
Jim Kerr has still got it. Sexy. He was full of energy, profuse sweating, from major dance moves and killer poses. He was so limber and fit, he jumped around and twirled the mic stand, he got down on the floor in several poses-awesomeness. These fans were die hards from the beginning, you could feel it. Some travelled far. Texas was lucky to be added to the short North American tour.
See all our photos from the show on Austin 101
The band took a short break after the first set and changed into dry clothes then played a second full set with most of the hits being played near the end or encore.
Kerr shared fun stories throughout the night including the one where he was on a flight and the lady next to him most certainly remembered him as they guy from Simply Red! He was super engaged with the audience and really connected with everyone.
They brought us back to a simpler time of fun music and coming-of-age movies like “Breakfast Club” with a #1 hit on the soundtrack (that they originally didn’t even want to do). So many fun sing alongs and we were surprised we remembered all the words from iconic songs like “Don’t You”, “Alive and Kicking”, and “Love Song”. Our favorite “Promised You a Miracle” was especially awesome. They only played a few songs from the latest album, which people loved, but really made them happy to play all the hits we used to dance to.
We loved the simple set with cool light bright backdrop and the band dispersement with several guitars that really got picking! Really cool white light beams and at times, a completely black set. We especially loved the kick ass female drummer, Cherisse. Kerr gave shoutouts to lead Charlie as the ‘guitar hero’. The backup singer, Sarah Brown came front for a song and blew us all away. Strong and soulful, she stole the show for a moment.
Like U2, this band has been going for 40 plus years and seem to continue to reinvent their sound and their vision.
Set 1
The Signal and the Noise
Waterfront
Love Song
Let There Be Love
Up on the Catwalk
Sense of Discovery
Promised You a Miracle
The American
Hunter and the Hunted
Stand by Love
Dirty Old Town (Ewan MacColl cover)
Set 2
Theme for Great Cities
She’s a River
Walk Between Worlds
Honest Town
Someone Somewhere in Summertime
See the Lights
All the Things She Said
Dolphins
Don’t You (Forget About Me)
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
Encore:
Book of Brilliant Things (Lead vocals by Sarah Brown)
Once Upon a Time
Alive and Kicking
Sanctify Yourself
