Simple Minds weren't on my musical bucket list - artists to see before *they* die - but no reason not to go see them.
The London Palladium, like many of London's West End theatres is an architectural gem - apparently a Grade II* listed building.
It was billed as 'Acoustic Live '17". Turned out it wasn't that acoustic. The guitars were acoustic rather than electric but miked up and amplified, and all the other instruments were as normal. It was apparently as much an opportunity to showcase new rearrangements of the songs.
An excellent review and lots of pictures from Naomi Dryden-Smith on Louder than War:
"Any nagging worries about the implications of “acoustic set” (for those who haven’t heard the album) are dispelled within the first minute with the arrival of Cherisse Osei who, bathed in gorgeous golden lighting, fills the place with astonishing tribal drumming, marking the beginning of New Gold Dream. The whole place is on its feet from the very start, and Simple Minds spend the next couple of hours demonstrating that acoustic doesn’t mean unplugged, but merely “rearranged”
[...]
A fantastic gig from start to finish, comfortable familiar nostalgia revamped and energized to appeal to a new audience. Definitely one to go and see if you can catch the tour."
Seems like a number of the audience recorded songs and have loaded them up on YouTube; here's one:
Enjoy!
