Simple Minds - New Theatre, Oxford, 2/5/2013

  by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 25 / 5 / 2013

intro

Nick Dent-Robinson watches Scottish rockers Simple Minds, who are now in their fourth decade, play an elative set a show at the New Theatre in Oxford

This strong five-star performance by Simple Minds to a student-heavy audience at Oxford's New Theatre reaffirmed that music in the 1980s was not all bad! With surprising energy and enthusiasm the stadium rockers took their fans on a welcome journey through their back catalogue - and for over two hours singer Jim Kerr never flagged, constantly working an eager crowd who sang along and clapped every step of the way. Although the band opened with their latest single 'Broken Glass Park', they knew it was the old hits people were waiting for – and nobody left disappointed. 'Waterfront', 'All the Things She Said', 'Glittering Prize', 'Up on the Catwalk' and 'Promised You a Miracle' were all there, and the capacity crowd responded by singing their hearts out. “We love to hear you sing,” Kerr kept yelling at the packed venue – illuminated by some very 80's strobe lighting. Drummer Mel Gaynor was impressive as ever...and, perhaps to stress his importance to the band's sound, he had been seated on a pedestal – well above the stage. There were several encores including 'Sanctify Yourself', 'New Gold Dream' plus 'Alive and Kicking' – the latter number perhaps reaffirming that Simple Minds are still just that...performing so strongly in their fourth decade and sending home a capacity crowd (including many new generation fans) thoroughly elated.

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