A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Andy Bell photography by Dod Morrison Photography: http://www.dodmorrison.com/
There are two Andy Bells in the music industry, one of whom I interviewed before. This one was around first and was very much part of my teenage years and the music of the 80s. Andy Bell of course is half of 80s famed duo Erasure.
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Although I am a huge fan of the music of the 80s, and grew up dancing to songs such as Sometimes, Chains of Love and A Little Respect, I have never actually had the pleasure of hearing any of them live before. So I was delighted when my friend asked me to accompany her. Erasure is Claire’s favourite band: they were her first CD, although she had vinyl before, and they were her first concert.
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I was honoured to join her and thrilled to find she had seats very near the front, not that we were in them much once Andy hit the stage and got us all dancing!
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First though there was the support of Hifi Sean and David McAlmont. Sean was first known as part of The Soup Dragons, whereas David has been in Thieves and worked with Bernard Butler. This duo of Sean and David played a very enjoyable set of some funky tunes, with Sean playing the keyboard and David singing. Apparently he has been told he could sing a shopping list and explains that one of his songs was about holiday to Venice.
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It turned out this was my favourite song of the set and I am now the proud owner of the CD which it comes from! The song is USB – USC, and it’s well worth a listen. David was dressed in black with red trainers, and red laser lights coming out of his fingerless gloves! These gave some very mesmerizing effects from the stage.
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Continuing the dazzling theme, Andy took to the stage in a shiny red glitter ball style suit with a glittery black vest underneath. He certainly grabs attention – and that’s before he starts the dance moves! When the jacket came off we saw the full glory of his tattooed arms and the pearl necklace. I’m intrigued why he has some cherries on his arm – considering my Mum is called Cherry. I fully meant to ask him when waiting at the stage door but when he did finally emerge he commented on my Labyrinth t-shirt and I totally lost the ability to converse sensibly!
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Andy Bell has a very talented band touring with him, including producer Dave Audé who plays keyboards on stage. A very smiley Sarah is on drums and has amazing energy. The singer Hailey Steele performed Heart’s A Liar with Andy, in lieu of Debbie Harry who recorded it with him.
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The set included some of the Erasure classics and some of Andy’s current solo album Ten Crowns, including the amazing Empathy on Ice. Andy explains this song is linked to Shiny Toy Guns which is his husband’s favorite band.
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As well as singing, pulling bits of his mirror ball suit out of his crotch and telling us some stories, Andy managed to captivate everyone in the room. Some people sneaked to the front to get a selfie as he sang, some moved to the aisles to get more space, Claire declared she felt 16 again. An amazing evening that left us all smiling, haste ye back Andy!
Further information: https://www.andybell.com/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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