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