The synth pop legends brought their Summer of Hits tour to Bradford Live – and what a belter of a night it was!
The band on stage at Bradford Live. Image: Caroline Leach
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark was the first band I ever saw live. It was at Dollars and Dimes, with Howard Jones as the support act.
This week, four decades on, I watched OMD romp through their back catalogue of hits and, needless to say, it was a nostalgic experience. It was joyful, beautiful and lots of fun, fuelled by the band’s infectious energy.
Opening the night was rising star Andrew Cushin, a charismatic young singer-songwriter with some cracking songs.
Then OMD began with the brilliant Isotype, from 2017 album The Punishment of Luxury, setting the scene for a show that celebrated the band’s evolving creativity over the years, not just the Eighties stuff.
But of course we wanted the Eighties stuff too – and when they launched into Messages we were right back in the day. It’s a synth classic; capturing the nuanced sound that OMD pulls off so beautifully; layering melancholy melodies with an irresistible electro-dance beat.
This was a joyous show of crowdpleasers; they came thick and fast – Tesla Girls, Talking Loud and Clear, So in Love, Sailing on the Seven Seas, Locomotion, History of Modern (Part I) and If You Leave from the Pretty in Pink film (the video images of Molly Ringwald were a nice touch).
There was, of course a segment from seminal album Architecture and Morality; Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans) which took me back to my teenage bedroom (I could even smell the joss sticks I used to burn while listening to the album) and the sublime Souvenir which, along with (Forever) Live and Die, showcased Paul Humphreys’ lovely vocals.
OMD performing the haunting Joan of Arc at Bradford Live
It was a treat too to hear the haunting Veruschka from the acclaimed Bauhaus Staircase album.
Performing 80s classic Enola Gay. Image: Tim Hughes
With each song accompanied by striking visuals, this was a fabulous set, ending in a rousing sing-along to Enola Gay, and an encore of Walking on the Milky Way, Pandora’s Box and the brilliant Electricity – the single that started it all off. “We wrote this in 1976,” said Andy. “Are you ready to dance like it’s the Seventies?”
A terrific frontman, with boundless energy, Andy chatted with the crowd throughout and was clearly having the time of his life.
Andy McCluskey has infectious energy on stage. Image: Caroline Leach
The OMD story began with Andy and Paul experimenting with old radio sets and tape recorders as schoolboy pals. Today, with drummer Stuart Kershaw – a Bradfordian back on home turf – and keyboardist and saxophonist Martin Cooper, they remain a class act. They looked genuinely moved at the rapturous response from the Bradford Live audience.
Don’t leave it another 35 years before you’re back in Bradford, guys.