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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
9:49 AM 8th April 2015
arts

Simple Minds - Blackpool Opera House

 
It is easy to forget how big Simple Minds were in their heyday: they were in the same league as U2 in the mid 1980's culminating with two sold out shows at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 1986.

Rather than rest on their laurels the band released one of their best albums last autumn, Big Music sits confidently alongside their other big releases: it is the sound of a band rediscovering what made themselves successful in the first place but moulding it into a new dynamic.

It was always going to be a tough call touring the album, should the band play as many songs they could off the new album or keep the loyal fans happy and concentrate on their huge back catalogue? Fortunately it was a mix of the two.

Lead singer Jim Kerr arrives on stage looking dandy and dapper in a tartan over jacket complete with his customary scarf. There is no support act on the tour; instead the night is split into two halves.

Starting off with a track off the new album, Let the Day Begin, the warmth between band and fans is evident. Kerr's dad is in the audience tonight too and his son reminisces how his dad used to "bring the family to Blackpool for holidays, just like the rest of Glasgow".

It is not long before they visit their past with Glittering Prize and New Gold Dream sounding just as good as you remember with Charlie Burchill's guitar playing bringing the tracks back to life.

Female vocalist Catherine Ann Davies adds a how new dimension to the gig, her guitar playing and lead vocals are heavily featured during the first half and she is a brilliant addition to the touring version of the group.

Rather than saving their biggest hit as an encore, Don't You (Forget About Me) is performed as the closing song of the first half.

Another new female vocalist Sarah Brown joins the group for the second half, looking like a younger Chaka Khan her soulful vocals were a good addition to compliment the bands songs on tracks like Someone Somewhere in Summertime and Sanctify Yourself.

The title track of the new album, Big Music was, for me, one of the best parts of the second half - it is the sound of a band that still has something to say.

A version of The Doors' Riders on the Storm along with Alive and Kicking closes the night of what had been nostalgic yet looking to the future and all wrapped up in a very strong connection between the band and their audience. It might sound corny but you could actually feel the warmth and respect from the stage and back again from the audience.

The show visits Sheffield City Hall on Sunday 12th April