Concert Central

Whatever possessed Andy Bell to sign up for the True Colors Tour this year, show up in a track suit and sweat to the oldies (in this case, Erasure songs) is beyond me. Andy’s voice is usually heavenly but pitch problems and oddball set up gave the entire performance a work-out video feel from 1981. He looked out of shape and a bit winded as he danced, shimmied and jivved (including, lord save me, the Robot) in front of a generic True Colors back drop that covered the stage. For 30 minutes, it was just Andy doing the worst Erasure karaoke imaginable. The set included two tracks from his solo album Electric Blue and reworked Erasure hits heavy on the bpm.

Andy is reportedly working on a second solo album while Vince Clarke is touring for the Yazoo reunion. These were his first “solo” concerts (he did some dj-ing while promoting Electric Blue) but it ended up reminding me of when I sing Erasure songs in front of the mirror in my bathroom.

Cyndi Lauper came out and sang the duet Early Bird with him at the end of his set. The song was recorded last year before the 2007 True Colors Tour and was only released on two obscure albums, Storm Chaser (Erasure) and the True Colors 2007 Compilation cd. Cyndi’s voice was out of this world and she gamely shimmied up to Andy and pretended there was nothing strange about the whole thing.

Andy Bell setlist
Blue Savannah
Caught in a Spin
I Could Fall in Love with You
Chains of Love
Electric Blue
A Little Respect
O L’amour
Early Bird (with Cyndi Lauper)

Quicktime Clip of ‘Early Bird’ Andy Bell with Cyndi Lauper