March 23rd 1995 – Birmingham NEC Arena
I don’t recall for sure who the support act was, but in the back of my mind, I’ve a feeling it was An Emotional Fish from Dublin, who had a fantastic single called “Rain” in 1993 and “Aeroplanes” in 1994….so just in case I don’t get to talk about them on another gig…….
Simple Minds
Simple Minds were going through changes around this time. Mel Gaynor had left and it was pretty much Charlie Burchill, Jim Kerr and a lot of session musicians, so there were doubts in my mind ahead of this gig , if I was watching the end of Simple Minds.
NEC again….booo! Seats down the left side quite high up also didn’t bode too well! Have to say though, the sound quality was getting better at the warehouse 😉 Did look like a new sound system around the venue and when Jim started singing it was a relief to hear good quality sound and Simple Minds sounded like, well, Simple Minds. In truth, the sound is Charlie and Jim, but really sad Mel Gaynor wasn’t on drums. I think there were some small fall outs along the way, but they’d all be back together in years to come.
I hadn’t heard “The American” live before, a fave track of mine, and was superb.
They didn’t play “Night Music” which I loved and thought was a strong track from the touring album “Good News From The Next World”, in fact the only three tracks played were “She’s A River”, “Hypnotized” and “And the Band Played On”. It’s an under-rated Simple Minds album that is worth hunting out.
It was a really nice set of music, with anthems galore, still no “Glittering Prize”, but “Big Sleep” and “Up on the Catwalk” were great additions.
A fantastic cover of “White Light, White Heat” and finishing with my all time favourite of “Sanctify Yourself” rounded up another great evening.
The NEC generally though is a non atmospheric hole, I really can’t feel the love for it!
Set List
- She’s a River
- Up on the Catwalk
- See the Lights
- The American
- And the Band Played On
- Someone Somewhere (in Summertime)
- Love Song
- Mandela Day
- Big Sleep
- Hypnotised
- Let There Be Love
- Belfast Child
- Waterfront
- Stand by Love
- Alive and Kicking
- Encore: White Light/White Heat (The Velvet Underground cover), Don’t You (Forget About Me), Sanctify Yourself
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