Review: Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet onstage at the O2 where the band's music failed to stand the test of time. Photo: PA
BEFORE Spandau Ballet make their entrance, a short video reminds us what the band looked like in their heyday: skinny, cheek-boned and feathery of fringe.
The pretty-boy looks have long faded, but 25 years since their shamelessly slinky wine-bar pop was a fixture in the charts, Spandau Ballet still know how to cut a dash.
Granted, frontman Tony Hadley is nowadays decidedly beefy around the edges. However, brothers Gary and Martin Kemp, the group's musical lynchpins, seem as spry as ever -- the latter, as well known for starring in 'Eastenders' as for his virtuosity on bass, even pulls off the potentially indictable offence of romping around stage in a leather waistcoat.
Alas, their music hasn't weathered the decades quite as well. On the opening night of their reunion tour, the Londoners start with a couple of propulsive tracks from the mostly forgotten early incarnation as Joy Division wannabes. After that, it's a long slog through saxophone slathered obscurities, fan favourites and dreaded 'new songs' (inevitably they've got an album on the way) until we reached the promised land and they get into greatest hits mode.
Of course, the biggest surprise is that Spandau Ballet are even sharing a stage. In the Nineties, the ex-bandmates had an ugly falling out after Hadley, drummer John Keeble and sax player Steve Norman, unsuccessfully sued songwriter Gary for a greater share of royalties.
Fences mended, they are at pains tonight to show how well they are all getting on -- an acoustic interlude featuring just Hadley and Kemp ends in the two clasped in a brotherly embrace.
"I'd like to dedicate our last song to a mate, Stephen Gately," says the singer towards the end. "He was a good drinking mate of mine."
That is by way of introducing 'True', their wispy mega-hit from 1983. Suddenly, all of the O2 is swaying ecstatically from side to side. It's a magical moment -- if only this concert had more like it.
Ed power
- Spandau Ballet The O2, Dublin
Irish Independent
