*
A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
*
The support for the evening was provided by local band Friendly Skies. Their lead singer Rico claimed they had only been invited the night before, and they also said that their drummer Kit Purnell couldn’t make it. I did wonder if that was more because the headline act didn’t need a drumkit so it was easier to just have the two guitarists playing for the support? They did a fabulous job engaging the crowd with their lovely songs, which they told us we could get In The Dark on Spotify and Hazy Afternoon on YouTube. During Take What You Want Cameron’s microphone stand kept shrinking, which I had not noticed until Rico was laughing at him for it! Some talented chaps well worth checking out their unique tunes!
*
*
The place was packed, and sweaty, by the time Heaven 17 took to the stage so it did not take long before both gents removed their hats and jackets. Glenn actually gave away the baseball cap that he started with. It was one of only three he told us before signing it and throwing it into the crowd, much to the delight of the ladies in front of me! It said “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang”. Unfortunately the words of that song still work today, so many years after they wrote the song. Glenn changed into a t-shirt emblazoned with it later on, in time for the encore.
*
*
They played an absolutely cracking set, across their various albums through the years accompanied with stories of when they were written or places they played them. At one point Martyn even asked for a stool as Glenn wittered on but it was all fascinating to learn – and the concert only overran a wee while. Some of that time was due to an addition to the encore following a hollered request from the crowd. We were treated to the tribute Glenn had done to Billy MacKenzie, of the Associates, a slowed down version of their song Party Fears Two, it was incredibly moving.
*
*
Glenn told us about Play to Win on Top of the Pops never being shown again as they were introduced by Jimmy Saville, and that Kim Wilde’s brother had Come Live With Me played at his wedding. He explained about back in 1981 when MTV was starting up and they thought that playing live was a thing of the past so their song We Live So Fast was written in a way that could be recorded, but is difficult to sing live – and still breathe! Glenn managed it admirably though, and apparently this concert was the first time he got every word of This Is Mine correct – he was very pleased with himself!
*
*
As well as the stories we did get introduced to the girls on stage – Florence was playing the piano and did a wonderful solo during the epicly long And That’s No Lie. Rachel and Kelly have been singing with the boys for 13 years now and both have amazing voices. It was a wonderfully inclusive and engaging evening, with the hat throwing and the stories – and they even signed a vinyl sleeve during I’m Your Money, well the words do include “sign here” so you cannot blame the audience member down the front who waved his album and a Sharpie!
*
Obviously Temptation was kept right until the end of the main set, we were elated to hear it live but disappointed that meant it was all ending. The encore included David Bowie’s Let’s Dance. This was especially poignant to my friend and I, as the first time we went out together we saw a Bowie tribute (plus I was wearing red shoes!)
*
*
There were various references made to the fact that Martyn had been thrown out of Human League and that is how Heaven 17 came to be, so that is something to be grateful for. Martyn wrote Being Boiled back in 1977 and it was one of the first synth-pop songs, so it was amazing that this concert included it, being played on the same machine (pictured) that it was written on over 40 years ago! It was such a fabulous night with this wonderful band that many of us have listened to since childhood. At the end I was reminiscing with another lady about roller discos listening to their songs, so it was a proper nostalgia trip with banging tunes!
*
Further information: Friendly Skies – https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreFriendlySkies Heaven 17 – https://www.heaven17.com/
*
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.
*
Subscribing to the 5D Pop Culture Website
If you would like to subscribe (for free) to the 5D Pop Culture Website and keep up to date with our content then just go to the bottom of the home page, submit your email & click subscribe!
5D Reviews
If you are a content creator and interested in having your work reviewed here on the 5D Pop Culture Website then contact us at 5DPopCulture@gmail.com
Ko-fee
If you would like to donate to help this website, you can support us here: https://ko-fi.com/5dpopculturewebsite
*