It is a common misconception that the first thought of 80s icons Erasure touring is ‘Oh, have they got back together?’
The truth is that they have never been away, in actuality releasing albums throughout the last 3 decades - most recently, their 14th album Tomorrow's World.
Andy Bell and Vince Clark have certainly achieved cult status with their fans and a degree of commercial success by emphasising the ‘pop’ in ‘synthpop’, and in touring their new album, they are out to show Manchester they still have what it takes to please their fans.
Furthermore, as LGBT icons (Andy Bell has been openly gay for many years, and was diagnosed HIV-positive in 2004), Erasure have managed to keep their fanbase close, without resorting to trashy kitsch, or (even worse) relying on the novelty of nostalgia.
The night began with the support, Frankmusik (who produced Erasure’s new album), who unusually decided to play a continuous ‘mixtape’ style set for 28 minutes (‘like an iPod on shuffle you can’t turn off’), incorporating various covers and originals, all reworked into a muscular synth style - some of these worked (‘Disco Inferno’ and ‘Music Sounds Better With You’ in particular), while some were a little flat (‘Sex On Fire’).
Although the band were incredibly enthusiastic, and quite obviously enjoying themselves, it was apparent from early on that they were playing to the wrong crowd.
Even more unfortunately, it was the originals that seemed to stop the mixtape-style flow - songs like ‘No ID’ and ‘Do It In The AM’ would have worked as standalone pieces, but didn’t seem to work in the conditions.
A valiant effort, but Frankmusik did not seem to win over many. The reason for this is simple - the crowd were here to see only one group, and they were on next.
Fog machines swirled as the band entered the stage - Andy Bell replete with a sequinned jacket and matching Roman centurion helmet, Vince Clarke taking his place behind a grotesque on the stage - statues, columns and a large stained-glass window behind giving the illusion that Erasure were performing in a cathedral.
The contrast between the motionless, emotionless Clarke - only occasionally wandering out to the front with an acoustic guitar - and the flamboyant, theatrical Bell - interacting with the audience, pirouetting and jumping throughout every song on the set, with the energy of a performer half his age - was immeasurable.
The duo were supported by two backing singers/dancers - nothing else. To compare Erasure, at least in stage presence, to the Pet Shop Boys wouldn’t be considered slanderous.
The setlist followed a fairly tried-and-tested routine - a greatest hits package, peppered with new material from the forthcoming album.
The new material is still largely unheard, but still went down well with the fans. However, tried-and-tested crowdpleasers such as ‘Ship Of Fools’ and ‘Always’ managed to get nearly everyone stood up and dancing.
Like true showmen, Erasure saved their most popular material until last - the last two songs during the main show were almost expected when Vince Clarke stepped out from behind the statue with his guitar.
‘Sometimes’ got every member of the audience singing along and dancing, which didn’t stop as they seamlessly segued into arguably the duo’s best known song, ‘A Little Respect’.
The encore of one of their first singles, ‘Oh L’amour’, followed by ‘Stop!’, played to a massively enthusiastic crowd who almost seemed to be happier singing and dancing than to pay any attention to the band at this point.
In short, they had achieved exactly what they went out to prove - that they could still get a venue eating out of their hands.
Erasure’s new album, Tomorrow’s World, is out now. Keep checking back for our interview with Andy Bell.
Frankmusik’s new album, Do It In The AM, is out now.
Female First - Liam Moody (@PopCultMaverick)
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