Erasure (8/1/07)



I kind of figured my previous Erasure concert would be my last... mostly because they don't seem to tour that often and don't seem to come to Cleveland. When I saw they were touring again, AND coming here, it was quite a treat. And while they chose to come to the HOB, I was kind of excited to see them in a standing venue versus the seated Chicago Theater. Oh, and their new album Light at the End of the World is QUITE enjoyable... very traditional Erasure.

Young Love opened for them, which I thought would be appropriate and enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was neither. I guess maybe appropriate, but not good. Recorded, okay... live, no. They were also crammed to the front of the stage, playing against a huge black curtain... which only led to the anticipation of how Erasure was going to transform the HOB stage.

As the lights went down, the music started, the lights came, on and the curtain dropped, there was an instant energy about the show. People went CRAZY. I am glad to say that Andy didn't start the show wearing a thong this time... as being much closer and more intimate it would have been a terrible distraction. :) Besides, we were already so busy with the HUGE glitter stage, the 5 or 6 big screen televisions, and the huge disco-esque diamonds hanging from the ceiling.

I think one of the best parts about the show was Andy's flamboyance on stage... the man just doesn't care. He's what I would consider the preeminent gay rock star.

Also for this show, my friend Tim finally made it. So I'll let him share his experience with you:
The Erasure show was great on many levels, but two things stuck with me from the HOB show. One was that the audience was very much multi generational. This makes me feel good and it says Erasure’s music is far from passé, indeed it shows that people a generation younger than I appreciate good, fun, danceable music (if only gay bars would play this kind of music instead of crappy techno). The other thing made me feel good last night is that while the entire crowd loved the old stuff, so many knew the new, too. That’s so much better than going to a show that’s all about nostalgia. Who needs that.?  Erasure is moving forward and we’re there with them.

Posted: Sat - August 4, 2007 at 11:00 AM           |

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