Howard Jones @ O2 Academy, Birmingham – 14th April 2012

Roll back time to when 80s 12″ was the music to play – throw off your mental chains – cos tonight in Birmingham, Howard Jones is performing his first two albums in their entirety.

Howard Jones was one of the pop synths idols of the mid-eighties, hitting and succeeding in the commercial side of pop, alongside the likes of Nik Kershaw. His first album ‘Human’s Lib’ went to number 1 in the UK charts – a platinum seller. Second album ‘Dream Into Action’ made No 2 and went gold. He continued to sell for a while, but the scene moved on, and Jones found himself on the outskirts of the industry. That hasn’t stopped him, he continues to record and perform, self publishing and promoting. As part of this tour you can tune into him in a special 80s show on Absolute Radio. And he’s here tonight, as part of an eight -date UK tour, for the first time in the Midlands in his career performing these first two albums in their entirety – live.

And for once it’s quite pleasant in the old O2 academy – the gig has been upgraded due to great ticket sales, from room 2 to the main room – so lots of space, chilled out and refined older audience.

No support tonight – the scene is set – the stage is sparse – a set of electric drums and mixing desk at the back (which will be populated by Jonathan and Ronnie accordingly), large screen at the rear of the set – and double keyboards at front. At 7.45 a man appears on stage in white jacket – “Hello Birmingham …very special night, the first time Howard will perform albums in their entirety in the Midlands….. Mandy and Tony selling box sets…. lovely people” and a sales pitch on merchandise “… 12″ album – remember the 12″ ” – the crowd cheer – “you were there…..” several albums limited edition….” and then with Jonathan and Paul on a ‘remix” of the album on comes Howard Jones akin in red leather hooded jacket.

First up is ‘Dream Into Action’ in its entirety – Jones playing the album out of order, and leaving the hits to last. A wise move this builds the set – rather than dipping the set in between the hits. Jones is naturally shy, but has found a way to come from behind his keyboards, walking around singing into his head mike. “Great to be back in Birmingham, how are you tonight?” He thanks his fans for encouraging him to do this tour, to learn tracks from the album that he never really played live before. He’s chatty, engaging and still talented, he still has that Howard Jones voice. An audience member is keen to hear this album – he shouts louder than the rest of the crowd as Jones goes into ‘Is There A Difference.’ ‘Look Mama’ is dedicated to all the “mamas” in the audience and to his mom – now 82. And an anecdote about a fan’s 80s scrap book making its way back to him, with fans letters responded to by letters from his mom. It’s his favourite track from the album.

And in between songs – an acknowledgement to the fact he’s on twitter @howardjones and has 9,991 followers – will he make it to 10k at this, his Birmingham gig? The crowd sing along to ‘No One Is To Blame’ (fortunately the album version – not the later one recorded with Phil Collins). Of the two albums he plays tonight, ‘Human’s Lib’ is the better one, he had time to write and polish it before success – he wrote it “from the heart” – and as he alludes to in another anecdote – ‘Dream Into Action’ was written on the road (at a time when record companies pressurized for an even more successful follow-up album) the record company didn’t like it when the heard it, he bent to their “wisdom” (though he knows far better now) and in panic he write another song for the album – which he was proud of – ‘Life In One Day.’

And the last two tracks of this set are the hits – and the crowd sing along – ‘Like to Get To Know You Well’ – a song that was dedicated to the original spirit of the Olympic games (apt in 2012) and ‘Things Can Only Get Better.’ And then the interval.

Half an hour later the salesman is back, and once again, on his sales pitch. He’s pleasant enough – reading a list of the back catalogue available for sale at the venue tonight. Jones is clued up on this one – merchandising includes all CDs, boxed sets, limited editions, signed copies….. and it’s being brought. The man on the stage encourages us all to come along to Newcastle next Tuesday – “there’ll be two coaches outside” – however I doubt very much this will be a free ride.

Jonathan and Ronnie are on set and it starts off with the instrumental ‘China Dance.’ ‘Humans Lib’ is a deeper album, far more refined – and live, and in comparison, you can see the difference and the record company influence on the later album at the time. Jones, now clad in black leather jacket, is quite chuffed “… you’re looking at a 10k follower man…” a reference to the fact that indeed, he gained his 9 Twitter followers. This album gets a good reaction from the audience – ‘Natural’ doesn’t start off as he wanted – Jonathan on his electric drums has a selection of 25 to choose from- so a restart it is. ‘Hunt The Self’ gets the crowd dancing and Ronnie appears to the front of the stage – two electric sticks banging on the stage – giving the track real depth. ‘Don’t Always Look at The Rain’ is melodic – the stage darkened, blue lighting and ‘rain’ trickling down the screen.

For ‘Equality’ Jed Hoile, Jones’s mime artist dancer, famous for his chains, makes a large presence on screen, close up on his face, half whitened, half painted in colours. ‘Humans Lib’ is probably the darkest of his tracks – strange gothic victorian inspired creatures as black and white photos appear on the screen. And then time for a sing along to ‘What Is Love?’ Off and on and we get the finale – sing along to ‘New Song.’ House lights up – a rousing response from the crowd and a bow from the onstage trio.

Howard Jones is yet another 80s icon who refuses to give up. He’s clearly talented, clearly comfortable in his own skin, far more so than he was in his hey-day. He’s chatty and affable – and clearly has found a path to continue his career without the pressurized backing of record companies. He’s not alone in doing this – but he is truly professional – there is a full package here. A set for the fans, for nostalgia, and a good time was had by all.

*********************************
Setlist

First Set – ‘Dream Into Action’

1.Why Look For The Key
2. Specialty
3. Is There A Difference
4. Assault and Battery
5. Look Mama
6. Elegy
7. Automaton
8. Dream Into Action
9. Hunger For The Flesh
10. No One is to Blame
11. Bounce Right Back
12. Life In One Day
13. Like To Get To KNow You Well
14. Things Can Only Get Better

Interval

Second Set – ‘Human’s Lib’

Intro: 1. China Dance
2. Conditioning
3. Pearl In The Shell
4. Natural
5. Hunt The Self
6. Don’t Always Look At The Rain
7. Equality
8. Hide and Seek
9. Humans Lib
10. What Is Love?
11. New Song

*********************************
Review – Zyllah Moranne-Brown
Photos – Ken Harrison

*********************************
Listening:
Humans Lib [1984]
Dream Into Action [1985]

 

About Author