Music / Reviews
Review: OMD, Bristol Beacon – ‘Definitely a band still in their prime’
OMD, otherwise known as Orchestra Manoeuvres in the Dark, kicked off their Bristol show last night with an incredible electronic set, with lights and a projector screen showing an array of infographics.
To say this was not what I was expecting would be an understatement. OMD rose to fame in the late 1970’s and are considered pioneers for electronic music, relying heavily on synths in their songs, in my naivety I expected a more subdued performance as they’ve gotten older.
How wrong I was.
is needed now More than ever
They were incredibly high energy; lead vocalist Andy McCluskey came on dancing, choosing to sustain from any vocal performance for the first few minutes as the crowd went up in cheers.
His energy was infectious, even for those of us sat down, as he grooved around the stage. It felt reminiscent of modern dance sets such as Aphex Twin at Forwards last year and you could see the influence OMD have had.
They played hit after hit, with Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphries only pausing in between to have a laugh with the audience. They looked like they were having the time of their lives and so we were too.
They played chart toppers such as Electricity, Tesla Girls, Enola Gay and Joan of Arc, as well as my personal favourite If You Leave.
They mixed in classics with newer songs which may not have been as well-known but were performed to such a high standard the entire audience was still enraptured.
McCluskey still has a great voice, especially for the songs, and the performance of the entire band was polished as they belted out the bangers.
It was also a performance that cemented the newly-refurbished Bristol Beacon as an incredible venue for live music; the sound ricocheted throughout the concert hall and the production of the show was incredible.
You could see how happy the band was to perform in Bristol once again, having performed their first Bristol show 45 years ago at the same venue, the previously-named Colston Hall.
As happy as they were to be back, the audience were even happier as the sold out gig was packed with fans clapping, swaying and dancing.
This is definitely a band still in their prime.
Main photo: Harriet Packer
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