Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be. The Human League were in town on Tuesday night, playing to a boisterous and boozy over 35’s crowd at The New Theatre, serving up a surprisingly theatrical show comprising of frequent costume changes, an impressive light show and a backdrop of action packed videos. The stage resembled the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, with plentiful assorted gadgetry and banks of synthesisers; the 1980’s version of modernity looks sort of quaint now. It is 25 years since the 25th best selling single in UK chart history “Don’t You Want Me”, and the follow up seminal album “Dare” topped the charts both sides of the Atlantic. Those long years have manifested themselves in different ways on the band members. Long gone is the oddball, angular asymmetric haircut of Phil Oakey, 51, now we have a shaven pate perched above a spivvy suit and a luminescent tie akin to a used car salesman. He has a clunky but unique way of striding around the stage, more Worzel Gummidge than Mick Jagger. But the hallmark baritone voice remains as powerful as in its heyday. Eye candy for the boys, the formerly svelte gyrating singers still dress the same as in the old days, but Joanne Catherall in particular appeared ill at ease. Her co-singer Susan Sulley, 43 in contrast still acts and looks the part, particularly in that tight fitting low slung yellow glitter dress, with white stilettos the size of a Norweigan ski jump.
 | | The Human League at the New Theatre |
But does it sound dated? Sure it does, but that misses the point as this was an exercise in reminiscence. The hits had a distinct cheesiness about them, from the opening track “Love Action” to the corny “Mirror Man”, the audience were transported back to those angst ridden school discos of the 1980’s. A curious track is the lyrically challenged “Lebanon” - not sure what Hezbollah would make of a night out like this. No one can deny these are fundamentally tuneful pop melodies which have embedded themselves in the psyche of a generation. Interspersed were the more robust Kraftwerk inspired electropop numbers “Seconds” and “Being Boiled” which have clearly passed the test of time. Given the salubrious venue this evening’s performance was more of a show than a gig. It was a full house bar at the top balcony, and the whole place was rocking by the end as the well honed showmanship of the band and swirling synthy sound ratcheted up the excitement. The finale was “Forever in Electric Dreams” which went down a storm, and it was all smiles as the crowd poured into George Street and back to the present century. |
