B52s @ O2 Academy, Birmingham – Thursday 15th August 2013
The B52s have now been in the music business for 30-odd years and have a fine reputation as a dynamic and thoroughly entertaining live band. Tonight they treat the packed O2 to a fun musical romp through their long career, focusing on their hit singles.
But first, it turns out we have a bit of a surprise treat in the form of the support act. It’s The Members, one of the great thinking-person’s punk bands from the late 70s. Guitarist Chris Payne tells us they haven’t played in Birmingham for years and they are clearly glad to be back. We’re treated to some of their great tunes and lyrics tonight, including ‘Working Girl’, ‘Soho-A-Go-Go’ and, most notably, the deservedly big hit that turns up on all the best punk era compilations, ‘The Sound of the Suburbs’. They turn in a great performance. I hadn’t realised until tonight that they now feature the infamous Rat Scabies, formerly of The Damned, on drums. And he shows what a great drummer he is too and even gives us a playful V-sign, as the band leave the stage. Very punk.
The B52s take the stage to a rapturous reception and launch straight into ‘Planet Claire’, with vocalist Kate Pierson’s spacey wail sounding rather like the ‘Star Trek’ theme as she provides the backing to Fred Schneider’s half-spoken drawling vocal narrative. Cindy Wilson, the third core band member provides additional vocals and bongos. By contrast we then get ‘Mesopotamia’, a funky offering, reflecting the involvement of David Byrne (of Talking Heads) in its original production.
The B52s’ sound is certainly diverse and very much their own, a sort of good-time, tongue-in-cheek, new wave, futuristic-retro, surf-punk-rockabilly, with clever vocal interplay. Fashion-wise they are pretty out there too, notably in the form of Fred’s striped trousers tonight. And they also have an unbeatable catalogue of very fine tunes, with weird lyrics, of course.
The band members imaginatively share vocal duties in varying ways on different songs. Often Fred takes the role of a camp ringmaster lead singer, as on ‘Planet Claire’, with Cindy and Kate as his vocal lieutenants. The diverse vocal presentation, and the amazing stagecraft, ensure that you never get bored of listening to and watching The B52s. Cindy does a solo singing spot for the unlikely titled ‘Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland’, really projecting her voice, She is joined by Kate for duets on ‘Roam’ and ‘Legal Tender’.
Fred returns to the stage for ‘Love in the Year 3000’, which demonstrates a brilliant interplay of their three individual voices. ‘6060-842’ is great punky stuff and ‘Whammy Kiss’ features some wonderful buzz-guitar from Paul Gordon. The current touring band instrumentalists (also including bassist Tracy Wormworth and drummer Sterling Campbell) have been with The B52s for some years now. While for most of the gig they are inconspicuous at the rear of the stage, they do a great job throughout in bringing the set to life.
After an hour of music, including most of the hits that the audience could possibly want, the main set draws to a close with the ever-classic catchy ‘Love Shack’, which really has the audience rocking, singing along and clapping. The punters firmly demand an encore, which they duly get, climaxing with the song The B52s could never get away without playing, the surfy ‘Rock Lobster’. Hearing the opening notes of Lobster the audience go nuts. Finally the band members come together to take a well-deserved bow at the front of the stage and it’s all over. Overall a great evening of classic songs and entertainment from a larger than life band.
B52s Setlist: Planet Claire; Mesopotamia; Private Idaho; Lava; Dance This Mess Around; Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland; Roam; Legal Tender; Love in the Year 3000; Is That You, Mo-Dean?; 6060-842; Whammy Kiss; Love Shack. Encore: Party Out Of Bounds; Rock Lobster.
Photos & review by John Bentley