Simple Minds - Live at the Liverpool Summer Pops

Two years on from the last triumphant outing at the Summer Pops, Simple Minds came back to the city that is now becoming something of a second home for the band.

Front man Jim Kerr hasn’t learnt his lesson of two years ago. His energy levels may not as great as they where back in the 80s, but his willingness to cover every inch of the stage is still apparent.

Thankfully the stages are a lot smaller these days; otherwise the attendant St Johns ambulance would have been required. “I’m getting too old for this,” Kerr mused as he took a well-earned breather between songs.

Kerr was back home in one of his favourite cities and he is usually afforded the welcome of one of its favourite sons. He ingratiated himself further with the locals by calling the city the home of music and football, though he added playfully that Celtic were better. No doubt a nod to Kerr’s own idol Kenny Dalglish, who was sitting in the front row.

The band had a recently released album to promote and a number of the new tunes were played at the opening tonight. They don’t stray to far from the tried and tested Simple Minds template. Home was the stand out track from Black and White 050505.

It was the classics that the fans had wanted to see and hear and the band didn’t let them down. A ten-minute version of Ghostdancing, mutated into Van Morrison’s Gloria. With Kerr goading the crowd into a call and response of the G-L-O-R-I-A.

The anthemic hits Waterfront, Don’t You Forget About Me, Sanctify Yourself, and Belfast Child written for a vaster arena than this, all sounded perfect in this reduced setting.

The highlight of the night was the encore with the brilliant New Gold Dream putting the talents of the band to good effect. Guitarist Charlie Burchill is often overlooked in the proceedings as goes about his business in the usual manner. Kerr did his best to drag Burchill into the Spotlight at any given opportunity.

The set went over the 11.00pm curfew time but they still managed to include one final classic. They ended with Alive and Kicking and on this evidence the band certainly are.

Lets hope it won't be another two years before we wait for return gig.

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.