Retro Futura Tour Featuring Howard Jones, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins) & More – Humphreys, San Diego, CA 9/5/14 (SHOW REVIEW)

Humphreys, one of the most spectacularly beautiful and most relaxing outdoor concert venues in the country, was invaded by a small army of English retro rockers, Thursday night, Sept. 5th. The Retro Futura tour, featured five acts that saw their biggest hits in the 1980’s New Wave movement.

The show began early, just before a sunset that lingered over the harbor bordering the west side of the venue. One tradition at Humphreys is to grab a cooler of beer and pull up on your kayak or row boat to the edge of the stage and listen to the music. Early concert goers were treated to a thirty minute set by Katrina of Katrina And The Waves fame. Backed by a capable four piece house band, original lead singer Katrina Leskanich played an upbeat and pleasing set featuring a few new songs as well as her old classics. Katrina played guitar and sang with a strong throaty blues style, but can still hit her high notes on songs like the iconic “Walking On Sunshine”, which will no doubt continue to be a nostalgic, classic anthem of the 80’s.

The two founding members of the English New Wave synthpop band, China Crisis, vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon joined the house band next for an even shorter five song set. The short set offered up some of the weakest moments of the evening, with the two players appearing a bit groggy, like they just woke from an early evening nap. Their sleepy manner proved uninspiring to the house band, which had been much more lively during Katrina’s set. Nevertheless, the duo had the audience on their feet by their last two songs, the most well known of their tunes in the US, including “Black Man Ray” and “King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up)”.

 As dusk approached, the final performer to front the house band took the stage. Scottish guitarist and vocalist Midge Ure instantly transformed the evening into a night of relevant music, transfixing the audience with his almost punk rock like, experimental performance. The musician launched into an aggressive forty five minute set that inspired the backing band, as well as the audience, and offered up music from a long and successful recording career. Ure’s  music which has been labeled as everything from soft rock to post punk, really defies categorization in any one genre. His Retro Futura concert featured an onslaught of guitar drenched songs that left the audience wanting more before the official concert intermission. For some in the audience the aggressive guitarists were the highlight of the evening.

After an intermission that saw much of the crowd imbibing at the bar, the stage was transformed into a visually glowing and video infused backdrop befitting a 1980’s arena style concert. The music was transformed, as well with the final two performers bringing their own musicians to the stage. Howard Jones began the second half of the evening with a powerful set of some of his biggest hit songs. The well lubricated crowd at Humphreys came alive and jumped to their feet as soon as Jones appeared onstage in a glowing orange suit. Backed by a second keyboardist and Abelton Live computer composer and a synth percussionist, Jones pranced about the stage singing and playing his trademark hand piano like a true pop star. Periodically he would race back to his array of other keyboards to create fascinating sounds before resuming his prancing.

Jones is a true musical genius exhibiting exhibiting a wide array of musical skills at every concert. During a recent solo tour through southern California, the performer made at stop at the Canyon Club in Agoura, California. Jones played two full sets at that show,  stretching over three hours and didn’t come close to playing all of his most popular material. The audience was enthralled by his nostalgic set, singing the chorus to most every well known song. By the end of the set nearly every member of the audience was singing or dancing about the venue. Everyone wished and cheered for endless encores, but there was still one performer left to play as the lights came up for another intermission.

By the time the stage darkened for headliner Tom Bailey, many in the ebullient audience had taken full advantage of the well stocked bar and anticipation had whipped the crowd into a frenetic mood. Bailey, the creative force behind one of the 80’s most successful New Wave dance bands, the Thompson Twins, was billed as playing that bands hit songs for the first time live in twenty seven years. In reality, Bailey has been quite active producing and performing music over the decades since the demise of the Thompson Twins. However,  it has been that long since the most iconic incantation of the band, a trio composed of Bailey, Joe Leeway and Alannah Currie has performed the classic hits that made them famous.

Bailey came onto a darkened stage with a trio of back up  musicians already playing, wielding a large hand held search light.  As the crowd began to recognize the first song they sprang to their feet and stayed their throughout the entire ten song set. Bailey sang and danced frenetically throughout the evening as he belted out all the instantly recognizable tunes, including classics like “In The Name of Love”, “Lies Lies Lies”, and “Hold Me Know”. A captivated crowd sang nearly every chorus and danced in the aisles. Bailey also played an impressive set of instruments, including, keyboards, synth percussion, guitar, and harmonica. He even manipulated the synth drum sticks like chop sticks, while singing a classic line from “Lies Lies Lies”, referencing Japan. The ten song set stretched the marathon concert to nearly four and a half hours in total.

 While the energy and song recognition were the most high for Baileys long awaited set, the nod for pure musical performance might have to go to Howard Jones this night. There just seemed to be something missing without the backing vocal harmonies of the classic Thompson Twins trio, or maybe I just missed their 80’s characteristic coiffures. But I am sure many in the crowd would argue that Bailey stole the show, while more than a few would consider Midge Ure’s performance the surprise of the night. Whichever band was favorited by a particular segment of the crowd, it was obvious by the jubilant expressions that nearly everyone found something to love about the Retro Futura tour.