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simpleminds liveatthessehydroglasgow
Artist: Simple Minds
Title: Celebrate Live at the SSE Hydro Glasgow
Genre: Rock / New Wave
Release Date: 23rd September 2014
Label: Demon / Edsel


Album Review

Our Scottish lads are certainly one of the most productive and touring bands of their generation. I cannot recall of a time they were not touring or recording since their early beginnings in the late 70’s and even when they were a bit out of mainstream, they kept on touring again and again. Since the release of their latest studio album, ‘Graffiti Soul’ in 2009, it’s no less than the 4th tour in a raw they just completed. Almost all of them were documented in audio releases, but there were still no image on the horizon. And it’s been a long waiting time to have a new Live DVD of SIMPLE MINDS. Since the ‘Live in Verona (1989)’ to be precise. When the BluRay was announced, the expectations were high. Originally planned for a BluRay Deluxe edition only available on the band’s website, retail versions are finally available: CD/DVD or BluRay.

When I first saw the tracklist, I must confess I was a bit disappointed. While the usual show last around 2h30, only 90 minutes or so were edited and it was not the most adventurous setlist of the tour. While songs like ‘Dolphins’, ‘War Babies’ or even new ones were performed, here the band concentrates more on big hits. Ok, the tour is to promote the Best Of, ‘Celebrate’, which makes sense, and of course, most of those tracks never appeared before on DVD. But as soon as the music starts, you know you’re going to experience an amazing live performance.

The band sounds more powerful than ever and there are some pure moments of magic: ‘I Travel’, ‘All The Things She Said’, the awesome ‘Theme For Great Cities’ (certainly one of the climax of the show), ‘Mandela Day’… Those versions are splendid and the communion with the audience is total. And yes, Mel Gaynor is STILL the best drummer in the worlds, Charlie Burchill makes magic with his guitar. And despite my previous comment on the tracklist, there’s the recent ‘Broken Glass Park’ (taken from the Best Of ‘Celebrate’) and most of all, a new song that gives its title to the album to be released in November: ‘Big Music’. Those two songs proves SIMPLE MINDS is a contemporary band, capable of releasing some powerful tracks that does fit perfectly well in a setlist full of hymns and major hits.

The only big missing part to be is that there’s no track from the period 1995 to 2009. Which is quite strange as ‘She’s A River’, ‘Hypnotized’, ‘War Babies’, ‘Stay Visible’ or ‘Moscow Underground’ are very often performed. Ok, one last moaning: no bonus at all on the DVD. Despite this, the first thing I did when the show came to the end? Replay it once more! The Lightshow and images are superb, sound is loud and clear, and Jim rarely sung so well (performance on ‘Mandela Day’ is mind blowing). Considering the price (17.99 for the CD/DVD), this is clearly a must have for any fan and a really interesting document for anyone who would like to check by itself how influential is this band, and the legacy he already leaves in this history of music.

But the band does not intend to remain looking at his past, as brilliant as it is. Just finishing the tour, they already announced the ‘Big Music Tour 2015’ to promote the new album, already released two more singles (‘Blindfolded’ and the new one ‘Honest Town’) and just published a 22 minutes overview of the new album. The band is far from retirement and it’s an excellent thing.


Tracklist

CD1
01. Intro / Waterfront
02. Broken Glass Park
03. I Travel
04. All The Things She Said
05. Promised You A Miracle
06. Glittering Prize
07. Theme For Great Cities
08. Mandela Day

CD2
01. Someone Somewhere In Summertime
02. The American
03. Love Song
04. See The Lights
05. Don't You (Forget About Me)
06. New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
07. Big Music
08. Sanctify Yourself
09. Alive And Kicking
DVD
01. Intro
02. Waterfront
03. Broken Glass Park
04. I Travel
05. All The Things She Said
06. Promised You A Miracle
07. Glittering Prize
08. Theme For Great Cities
09. Mandela Day
10. Someone Somewhere In Summertime
11. The American
12. Love Song
13. See The Lights
14. Don't You (Forget About Me)
15. New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)
16. Big Music
17. Sanctify Yourself
18. Alive And Kicking



Line-up

Jim Kerr – Vocals
Charlie Burchill – Guitars
Mel Gaynor – Drums
Andy Gillespie – Keyboards
Ged Grimes – Bass
Sarah Brown – Backing Vocals


Website

www.simpleminds.com


Cover Picture

simpleminds liveatthessehydroglasgow


Rating

Music: 10
Image: 10
Sound: 10
Total: 10 / 10





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