The Human League, Tycho Brahe @ Entertainment Centre Theatre, Adelaide 11/3/2024
All class! As Adelaide continued to swelter a big public holiday crowd assembled at the Entertainment Centre Theatre to see one of the very best electronic bands going around in The Human League. Celebrating a belated fortieth anniversary of their career shaping album Dare this will go down as one of 2024s best. I saw them back in 2017 at Thebarton Theatre and they were great then but this show has taken a few quantum leaps forward. Wow! As far as performance and productions goes this was absolutely top shelf and if you didn’t leave thinking “wow, that was fucking fantastic” whoever you went with should be asking the question “what is wrong with you?”
Brisbane band Tycho Brahe opened and are an interesting proposition. They made for a subtle contrast and complemented The Human League well. No doubt, they wear their influences on their sleeve and there is nothing wrong with that. Great opportunity to be playing on the big stage they made the most of their thirty minute set opening with Welcome which morphed in to 1985. New single Supernova was solid. Love the keytar! There is plenty to draw upon in their back catalogue playing Delos, Free and Sex Rocket. The crowd were brought in to it on set closer Tainted Love (Soft Cell).
The Human League in short were fantastic! This was quite the spectacular and a feast for the senses. There was plenty to be captivated and engaged by with this well crafted production. They sounded and looked great with the focus very much on the album Dare. Whilst that part of the set did not offer any surprises playing that album start to album, it is hearing it played this way where you can truly appreciate how great an album it is which is loaded with great singles that still stand the test of time today.
The Human League is very much focused on founding member Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley joined by live band Robert Barton (drums) and keyboardists Nick Banks and Benjamin Lee Smith. Opening with Mirror Man and Tell Me When Oakey did wonder whether or not they would get back to Adelaide. Judging by the phenomenal demand on this tour there is probably just cause for a return no doubt sometime in the future. Fascination, Heart Like A Wheel and The Lebanon were fantastic. Susan acknowledged how hot it was compared the snow and cold weather back home saying some thank you’s to this adoring crowd. One Man In My Heart and Human preceded the Dare album being played in full, start to end in all its beauty. I am glad they avoided the temptation to change up these songs remaining true to how they are on the album.
With some outfit changes they returned to play this classic album starting with The Things Dreams Are Made Of. These songs mean a lot to a lot of people and it was interesting watching the reactions to certain songs and which ones were their personal favs. If there was a prize or prizes for best dressed The Human League would be contenders for sure. So many highlights but the singles The Sound Of The Crowd, Love Action (I Believe In Love) and Open Your Heart shone brightly. That is not diminishing the sparkle of Darkness, Do Or Die, Seconds and I Am The Law. Finally, the crowd were on their feet for set closer Do You Want Me. It was absolutely joyous, crowd in full voice, and if there was a moment where you would forget about all your troubles this was it.
Returning for an encore it was surprising how much time had whizzed by but what a finished going way back to Being Boiled. Shows don’t finish any grander than this playing the massive global hit Together In Electric Dreams (originally recorded with disco godfather Giorgio Moroder). If there is a moment where you want to remember this band, well this was it. The Human League were fantastic, continuing to ride high proving that they are just relevant now as they were in the beginning.
Live Review By Rob Lyon