Simple Minds
Simple Minds are alive and kicking at UEA
I guess these days no one goes to see Simple Minds for groundbreaking invention and originality. You go to see Simple Minds for decent songs, played well with a bit of showmanship and flash. Tonight that is exactly what Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and co deliver.
From the off, there are crowd clapalongs and singalongs, some sparked by Kerr and some spontaneous. Kerr is in fine voice. The band is tight and professional but having a good time. The light show is cracking. On the downside, as usual at the UEA it is next to impossible to get a decent view and there are members of the audience who seem incapable of just shutting up and enjoying the music.
Tonight is supposed to be two sets but there is no real gap. The set-list runs from the earliest days right up to the title track of last year’s Big Music. Other than a misguided and frankly bloody terrible version of Riders On The Storm, there are no bad songs. Not unexpectedly, the highlights are the best hits: a powerful Waterfront. Don't You Forget About Me. All The Things She Said and Sanctify Yourself and Alive & Kicking.
A thoroughly entertaining hour and forty five minutes but I’m not sure it justified the 40 quid ticket price.
Pavlis (8/10)
