A Souvenir From OMD @ Terminal 5

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark played a (near-)perfect comeback set last night at Terminal 5, sending the capacity crowd of 3,000 '80s New Wave rejects devotees into a dizzy with an electrifying two-hour, 21-song set. Frontman Andrew McCluskey -- whose Belinda Carlisle having an epileptic seizure dancing style and overall awkwardness only add to the band's quirky charms -- seems to have the same amount of energy as he did when he started the band over three decades ago with his considerably more subdued partner-in-crime, Andrew Humphreys, and seemed hellbent on making sure everyone had the funnest night ever. He succeeded. Michael and I went into the concert knowing that someone could get hurt: This is a band that has put out 10 studio albums and dozens of non-album tracks in the last 30 years, plus they are touring to promote the dreaded "reunion" album, so it was unlikely we were going to hear everything we wanted to. By the time it was over, though, the omission of "Secret" -- the band's second single from the group's breakthrough U.S. LP, "Crush" -- stood out as the only glaring omission, albeit a big one given that it's Michael's favorite song. (I was so thrilled to hear "So in Love" -- complete with sax solo -- live that I was willing to forgive and forget.) That they kept the new songs down to a reasonable five also put me in a charitable mood, which was made all the more easy by the fact that they're all really good.

   But with all other bases covered (see complete set list below), the real story from the night was a nonstop dancing/screaming and smiling festival, spurred on by "Messages," "Tesla Girls," "Souvenir," "Locomotion," "Sailing on the Seven Seas," "Enola Gay" and a heartstopping "Joan of Arc"/"Joan of Arc (Made of Orleans)" twofer, just like on "Architecture & Morality." Humphreys' turn at the mike on their hit "Forever (Live and Die)" sent the crowd into a bit of a tizzy, as did their late-'80s smash "Dreaming" and, of course, "If You Leave," which McCluskey claims "ruined our career" (I'm sure their label begs to differ.) The bittersweet "Walking on the Milky Way" and Kraftwerk-inspired "Electricity," the first song the guys wrote as 16-year-olds in England, ended the show nicely, along with a promise that this comeback wasn't a one-off deal. McCluskey said they loved playing their pop songs, but more "weird stuff" would be played "next time." (Anyone up for a "Dazzle Ships" 30-year anniversary tour in 2013?!!)

   The show was originally slated to be at Webster Hall, but was moved to the bigger venue after it quickly sold out 

 If I were going to split hairs -- and when don't I? -- I'd say besides "Secret" -- or how about "Hold On" or "Women III"? -- I'd have substituted "Telegraph" for "Radio Waves" and also included "Pandora's Box (It's a Long, Long Way)," their huge club hit that I used to love dancing to at Probe in L.A. in the early '90s, which I understand they performed at their stops in Canada. Other than that, I wouldn't have changed a thing, which is a huge compliment coming from me. I loved that they did something off every album with the exception of 1993's "Liberator" (and come to think of it, wouldn't "Dream of Me" with its "Native New Yorker" vibe have been fun?), and even though some may argue three songs might be too many from "Junk Culture," that happens to be the second album I ever bought by them (after "Architecture & Morality"), so it's one that has especially fond memories for me. Didn't get the impression that "Tesla Girls," "Locomotion" and "Talking Loud and Clear" were highlights for most of the crowd, but they definitely were for me -- and you can be sure I'm saying just what I feel.

   Footnote: I got home from the show and had this Facebook message waiting for me, from the girl who lived behind me growing up in Mesa, Arizona. (I love social networking!)

   

OMD at Terminal 5, March 8, 2011: 

 New Babies: New Toys 

Messages 

Tesla Girls 

Radio Waves 

History of Modern (Part 1) 

Forever Live and Die 

If You Leave 

Souvenir 

Joan of Arc 

Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) 

New Holy Ground 

Green 

So in Love 

Locomotion 

Talking Loud and Clear 

Sister Marie Says 

Dreaming 

Sailing on the Seven Seas 

Enola Gay 

 Encores ... 

Walking on the Milky Way 

Electricity

 

 

 More of these photos and videos HERE.