The final date of Erasure's World tour, " The 'Wild' Party", takes place on
a windswept grassy slope so the atmosphere's not especially "partylike", but
everyone still enthusiastically cheers the first band, Electribe 101, as
Billie Ray Martin wonders onstage in her flapping polka-dot flares. They're
quite good, the 'Tribe, as they rave through their dance hits but it's broad
daylight, and not really the right setting for getting "down".
It's the same problem for Adamski, who appears next, resplendent in
saffron-yellow hair and that bowler hat. He starts and ends with "killer"
and inbetween plays a lot of samey-sounding tunes that get a few toes feebly
tapping. No sign of Dis, ( his dog ), unfortunately.
Was ( Not Was ) have masses of energy. They hop around waving flutes (?) and
guitars, and get everyone shuffling hysterically to their old hit "Walk the
Dinosaur".
It's dark by the time Erasure turn up, giving us the full benefit of the
(not very ) soothing purple and green stage lighting. To the strains of the
traditional wedding march, Andy Bell swanks on in a stunning yellow
horror-leotard. Why does his Mum let him go out like that?.
He's extremely camp and very funny, chatting between songs about "my
boyfriend, Ernie" ( actually a huge plastic snail ) and quoting dialogue
from " The Wizard Of Oz".
You tend to forget how many hits Erasure have had until you here them one
after another: "Give a Little Respect", "Sometimes" etc. etc. It's nice to
hear dance music you can sing along to, and everybody does, arms waving
wildly.
"Aunt Em, Miss Gulch has Toto again", Andy says as he waves us goodnight.
What can he mean?. Bravo anyway, Andy and Vince.