Perth Review
Spandau Ballet – Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley – Saturday, April 17
They bought a ticket to the world via hits three decades ago, to paraphrase 80s classic True, and now Spandau Ballet have come back again.
Since their heyday, both British pop outfits spent more time in court battling each other than on stage, yet the lure of the lucrative nostalgia circuit proved that time (and money) heals all wounds.
Any cynicism about the headline set from renewed romantics Spandau Ballet disappeared the minute the curtain dropped and the dashing quintet tore into the 1980 debut new wave single, To Cut a Long Story Short.
Frontman Tony Hadley, who completed a low-key tour of Australia under his own steam a few years back, was in superb voice, flanked by the evergreen Kemp brothers.
The equally ageless Steve Norman added trademark flourishes with his saxophone, an instrument that has somehow slipped from favour since the 80s. “I’m sure that we’re not the only ones to have our troubles over the years,” guitarist and songwriter Gary Kemp announced, “but it’s great that we made up and we’re back together.“The acoustic segment featuring just Hadley and Kemp proved that the sparring partners had settled their differences well enough to head out on tour together late last year, and even write some new material. Symbolism aside, this was also the flaccid midpoint of an otherwise thrilling set.
Predictably, the hits were the highlights – in particular, Highly Strung, I’ll Fly for You, Only When You Leave, Round and Round and the perennial smoothy swoon of True. The frenetically funky Chant No. 1 reminded fans that Spandau delivered more than just smooth new romantic balladry.
“Ladies, cast your mind back to how you screamed 25 years ago,” Hadley teased during a disappointing encore of Fight for Ourselves and Gold, the latter delivered without a smidgen of passion. Again, a few slumps couldn’t ruin what was a vibrant performance bursting with great pop songs and a welcome step back into the 80s.
Review: Simon Collins
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