It’s always an interesting thing to look at how the shape and character of music changes as the world enters a new decade. There must have been something in the water in the United Kingdom in the early part of the 1980s. Unlike their American counterparts, the Brits were really getting into their synthesisers and creating the early roots and sounds of what would become known as electronica.
Two of the leading proponents of this field, Nik Kershaw and Kim Wilde, teamed up for a delightful and highly enjoyable stroll down amnesia lane for the assembled at The Palais. No doubt babysitters would have been working overtime tonight, as this crowd of ‘a certain age’ dusted off their padded shirts and winkle picker shoes for a night of Eighties goodness.
Nik Kershaw and his five-piece band opened proceedings in fine style. Looking a bit like Tintin’s uncle these days, Kershaw has lost none of his musical chops and that unique, quirky, left of centre quality and tone to his singing. Opening with the underrated “Wide Boy”, the set mixed up well known tracks from the man’s back catalogue such as “I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and “Wouldn’t It Be Good?” with some more obscure tracks that pleased the faithful that have followed his career since his heyday.
Come nine o’clock, there was a palpable vibe in the air as Ms Kim Wilde took to the stage. Sharing the same backing band as Kershaw, complete with the man himself adding some accomplished and tasty lead guitar to the set, the opening salvo of “Chequered Love”, “View From A Bridge” and the ethereal, otherworldly “Cambodia”, had this crowd up on their feet and dancing for all they were worth.
This was an interesting and highly risky gamble, as one wondered where Wilde would take the set. Thankfully, it proved in its entirety to be a thoroughly enjoyable and charming one.
Wilde is definitely a strong example of the ‘fine wine’ factor. At nearly fifty-three years of age, she has never looked and sounded better. Her voice, in particular, sounds infinitely stronger and has more body to it than when she first hit the world stage.
There were some judicious and, at times, touching choices of cover versions during the night. A one-hit wonder from her halcyon days, Black’s “Wonderful Life”, was a standout with artist and crowd united as one in perfect vocal harmony. In a touching tribute to the dearly departed Chrissie Amphlett, the band did a storming, sexy as all hell version of the Divinyls classic “I Touch Myself”, with Wilde noting that her and Amphlett are/were the same age.
There were some lovely moments between Kershaw and Wilde onstage during the set, with some lovely chatter and hugs that could warm up a small city in abundance.
With Seventies disco staple “If I Can’t Have You” and the classic Supremes track “You Just Keep Me Hanging On” whipping the crowd’s enthusiasm and passion to a higher level, the night really hit its peak when the band launched into the iconic “Kids In America”, released in 1981 and the song that broke Wilde around the world. It still sounds great as ever over twenty years since its release, the true sign of great song writing.
When artists of times passed tour in the current day and age, it can be something of a double edged sword. One needs only to think about Meat Loaf’s performance at the AFL Grand Final a few years ago and shudder. Fortunately, this was in complete absence this evening. It is always a great thing when the artists on the stage appear to be having as good a time as the crowd standing before them.
