Culture Club, Berlin @ Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 11/9/2023
Who says you can’t go out and have fun on a Monday night? Full marks to those who got kitted up pushing the 80s theme to the max. In the foyer on the way in there was plenty of colour and splendour and plenty of good times vibes for what was going to be a great night out. Culture Club are no strangers to our shores and almost adopted as one of our own and combined with Berlin made for a formidable combination and all the more incentive to get down early to be part of all the action.
Berlin! Wow! In short Berlin were incredible raising the bar and well truly warming the stage. It would no doubt be tough coming out after Berlin they were that good making every minute count. As the lights dimmed the video montage of archival footage was great viewing highlighting an illustrious career to date which shows no signs of slowing down. Opening with Masquerade and No More Words singer Terri Nunn admitted to tearing a hamstring doing lunges which resulted in the splitz. Whilst Terri might not have been able to do the full dance moves her voice was sublime sounding as good now as she ever has been before.
After The Metro Terri reflected on forty six years as Berlin, lunch at Luigi Delicatessen and being served by Luigi himself admitted that he was “easy on the eye” and whilst married “not dead”. The songs were really well connected with Animal and Dancing In Berlin which saw Terri dance/sing her way through the crowd being set highlights. Transcendance was emotive and powerful about her mother Joy when her time was near. The big moment in the set was global smash hit single Take My Breath Away which got the crowd singing. Berlin’s favourite “religious song” Highway To Hell (AC/DC) was a pleasant surprise finishing on Sex (I’m A…).
Culture Club need no introduction! There was plenty of excitement as Boy George, Mikey and Roy took the stage with opener and Rolling Stones cover Sympathy For The Devil. Boy George has not lost his flamboyance one bit when it comes to outfits complete with his trademark hat. It definitely seems as if the Culture Club sound has evolved as there was a distinct reggae and soul groove running through these songs. The set was loaded with all the greatest hits including It’s A Miracle, I’ll Tumble 4 Ya and Move Away which featured early. Boy George spoke of taking a walk down Rundle Mall proclaiming “they moved the bridge” which has “outrageous”. Definitely an iconic Adelaide music history moment that footage from the 80s. Boy George added at that time he was the only weirdo in town.
The flavour of the night was heartbreak songs to put in you a good mood which held true with Boy George encourage fans to dance like no is watching as they are watching him. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me was a big moment and the song that started it all. Victims was another great inclusion and one not played often and another memorable moment was Melodrama which featured backing vocalist Vangelis Polydorou (who was on The Voice UK). Things ramped on Church of the Poison Mind which morphed in to Wham’s I’m Your Man getting people out of their seats finishing the main set on Time (Clock of the Heart) and Miss Me Blind.
Time flies when you’re having fun with the band returning to play T.Rex’s Get It On complete with band introductions and an opportunity to show appreciation of the elite musicianship of the band. They looked great and sounded tight. There was no way the fans would let Culture Club leave Adelaide without playing mega hit Karma Chameleon which brought the house down and sent people home in a good mood.
Live Review By Rob Lyon