Simple Minds

Liverpool Summer Pops, Saturday 24th July 2004

Back at the Summer Pops after last years triumphant performance under the big top at the Kings Dock. The bands heyday may have seen them play football stadiums, but this venue seems to be made for Jim Kerr as he uses ever inch of the stage to get the crowd up and ready for the gig.

He need not have bothered, no doubt the capacity crowd had been tipped off from last years performance and were up on their feet from the off, as the band launched into a set that was predominately their greatest hits.

At times it felt like being at the Nuremberg rally especially with the crowds collection of hands waving in the air. Kerr worked the crowd and his stage moves defy a man into his mid forties. He promised at the start that they would destroy the place and it was very nearly mission accomplished.

There were numerous highlights tonight ‘New Gold Dream; sounded fantastic and as fresh as it did when it was first released. There was very much something for everyone in the set tonight. No doubt the band probably wished they had written some popular slower songs, that would have enabled Kerr to take a well earned mid set breather.

Simple Minds certainly didn’t let the audience down with its choices on the set list and they managed to keep some energy in reserve for the pulsating encore that saw ‘Waterfront’, ‘Somewhere in The Summertime’, ‘Alive & Kicking’ and ‘Sanctify Yourself’ leaving the audience in no doubt that they had received value for money.

The rousing reception from the audience and Kerr’s reciprocal appreciation of the crowd left the audience looking forward to next year and on this form they may actually bring down the big top.