November 2nd 1995 – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
It does say “plus guests” but as usual I don’t remember who. In fact, I think The Human laegue went on for at least 2 and a half hours, so they probably came on stage at 8:30ish.
I’d missed The Human League way back when in the ’80s and apart from a small gig at Loughborough Uni in 1986, I’m not sure they ever came to Leicester proper before this? They weren’t prolific tourers and were now down to only three of the original members. Phil Oakey on lead vocals, and other vocals were Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall. To call them backing vocals would be very unfair as Susanne and Joanne were integral to the sound of Human League so were really part of a lead trio of vocals.
This was still exciting as this was the sixth form music I’d grown up with. We all used to put tapes (not CDs….tapes) by the tape player and “Dare” was a mainstay of the Common Room. A greatest hits tour would really struggle to go wrong!!
Well, one thing had changed straight away, Phil Oakey, who was famous for straight black hair with a long fringe over his eye……..had cut the whole lot off! No.1 shave tonight!
The stage was a superb grey colour with a strange triangle for the musicians, banks of flashing computer lights and a couple of podiums either side which would go up and down with Joanne and Susanne singing on them……all part of the show.
Oakey, still looks cool and his voice ranges from high and robotic on Don’t You Want Me to smooth baritone on Human.
Being Boiled, starts proceedings in the pitch black, which gives great atmosphere to the dull, solemn sound of the song. A classic electro song from the 80s. This is followed by a fairly weak “These Are The Days” from the latest album “Octopussy”…….a slow start. Then a couple of extremely poor tracks….not really “Greatest Hits” tour, more a mix of the hits and an attempt to sell the new songs……..hmmm.
It carries on with some hits and some new stuff, which is just not that great. We all wanted the old stuff………oh god, I’ve turned into one of those fans waiting for the hits and not paying attention to the rest!!! 😉
A very strange cover version of Gary Clail’s “Human Nature” was just weird! The final encore was the brilliant Giorgio Moroder, “Together In Electric Dreams”.
I don’t come away from many concert feeling disappointed, but this was a mix of good and less so, not quite what I was hoping for, but the classics made up for the rest…….
Set List
- Being Boiled
- These Are the Days
- Love Action (I Believe in Love)
- Filling Up With Heaven
- A Doorway?
- The Sound of the Crowd
- Housefull of Nothing
- Mirror Man
- Blind Youth
- Seconds
- The Lebanon
- The Stars Are Going Out
- (Keep Feeling) Fascination
- Stay With Me Tonight
- One Man in My Heart
- Human
- Don’t You Want Me
- Tell Me When
- Human Nature (Gary Clail / On-U Sound System cover)
- Encore: Together in Electric Dreams (Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder cover)
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