Heaven 17 - Park West, Chicago, 22/9/2022

  by Philamonjaro

published: 26 / 11 / 2022

intro

Philamonjaro watches and photographs seminal 80's electronic act Heaven 17 embark on their fitst American tour with a thrilling show at The Park West in Chicago.

“Have you heard it on the news, about this fascist groove thang? Evil men with racist views, spreadin' all across the land.” Haunting lyrics that echo an eerie relevance forty one years later. And an energetic thrust to open the show. At first it seemed like ‘(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang’ would be the show’s crescendo. A crowning encore. But as the set unfolded, each tune continued to elevate this eighteen-song performance. It was one great track after another from their impressive catalogue. Founding members Martyn Ware and Glenn Gregory were joined by supporting musicians - Flo Sabeva on keyboards, vocalists Kelly Barnes and Rachel Mosleh. Together they really captured that dance floor sound. And the chemistry on stage affirmed they were having fun. Ware was the bit more reserved of the two. Gregory shared stories and was particularly open to the fans. Both really enjoyed the moment. While not quite having the savviness of a pop superstar, Gregory’s slightly quirky moves were honest and part of his charm. ‘Play to Win’, ‘Geisha Boys and Temple Girls’, ‘Temptation’ and (as claimed on stage, Gregery’s favourite) ‘Let Me Go’, were all familiar crowd pleasers that delivered our money’s worth. And the show continued to get better. ‘Penthouse and Pavement’ drew cheers as singers Barnes and Mosleh broke away from their mic stands and shared centre stage for a lush cascade of vocals. What longtime fans can forget the defining MTV music video that helped launch their U.S. popularity? Hearing ‘Penthouse and Pavement’ live recalled that thrill. Of course Chicago fans were thrilled as Gregory commented how Chicago House music influenced the band’s sound early on. I imagine Frankie Knuckles smiling from heaven. From an earlier request by a fan, they added in ‘Sunset Now’. A surprise and personal favourite. Completely unexpected was Ware and Gregory pairing off to sing The Righteous Brothers’ 1964 hit ‘You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. It was something out of context, yet endearing to hear them pay tribute to a personal influence. As their encore they sang a cover of David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’, then closed the show with ‘Being Boiled’, Human League’s first single penned by Ware who was a founding member. The sparse stage of two keyboard rigs and mics displayed a minimalism on stage. More minimal than a U.K. show that would have included live guitar, drummer and bass. I imagine this as the grueling reality of the rising production costs of touring post COVID. So kudos for making such a robust sound. Along with Human League, Soft Cell, ABC, Depeche Mode, New Order, Erasure, OMD, and others, Heaven 17 was at the forefront of new, futuristic post-punk music when they hit the scene in the early ‘80s. A welcomed departure from bloated arena rock. A sound that Gregory confessed on stage that he once pondered if it would endure ten years. A whimsical reflection forty years on. Wrapping up a seventeen date U.S. tour on October 6th in Seattle, Washington, Sheffield’s Heaven 17 finally played to American fans after four decades. Other than a couple f one-off performances over the years, somehow stateside fans were completely denied. But better late than never. And this was just fine for the loyal fans who ecstatically soaked up this long-missed experience. Set List: (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang Crushed by the Wheels of Industry Play to Win Geisha Boys and Temple Girls Come Live With Me This Is Mine We Live So Fast You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (The Righteous Brothers) I'm Gonna Make You Fall in Love With Me Sunset Now And That's No Lie I'm Your Money Let Me Go Penthouse and Pavement Temptation Encore: Let's All Make a Bomb Let's Dance (David Bowie) Being Boiled (The Human League)

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