Tuesday 16 November 2021.

Tuesday 16 November 2021. SOFT CELL live at Hammersmith Apollo. I am back again to see them here at Hammersmith Apollo for the second time. Again, the circle is half empty. Again , the setlist is exactly the same two sets of 60 mins. "Tainted Love" has to be one of the best cover versions of all time. "Bedsitter " and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" were again both top notch. Actor and tv presenter TIM VINCENT was here tonight. On both nights Marc's loyal fan club held a pre-show party and afterparty at a pub 5 mins from the venue, but surprisingly Soft Cell did not have an afterparty on either night. I expected to see a few known musicians here, but oddly there was nobody. Their 2018 02 Arena show was billed as their last ever show, will this be their last ever UK tour? Another great show. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Monday 15 November 2021. SOFT CELL live at Hammersmith Apollo. Soft Cell play the first of their two shows at this venue, as part of their UK tour. I was at their big one-off comeback show at The 02 Arena a few years ago. I saw them several times in their 1980s heyday with the first being in 1982 for a recording of The Old Grey Whistle Test where Edgar Winter was the main act. Soft Cell will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret" album. The album was about Marc's love of Soho back then. “Soho was this mythical place where anything went on, that collected outsiders, full of people that didn’t really fit in anywhere else.” Marc recently said....a few years ago , Marc released a 10 album box set. He is a massive fan of Marc Bolan and David Bowie and has often sung with T.Rextasy , who are the number one UK tribute...he changed his name to Marc after Marc Bolan, I also named my eldest son Marc after Marc Bolan. Their second set will be this album in track order. That classic album had three great hit singles on it. "Tainted Love" Released: 17 July 1981 ( the best selling single in the UK in 1981 and a hit worldwide) "Bedsitter" Released: 29 October 1981 "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye": Released: January 1982 ------------------ The stalls seating was full tonight, but the circle was half empty. SOFT CELL arrived on stage at 8pm and played for two hours over two sets of 60 mins. Like their 80s synth-pop mates OMD a couple of days ago at this venue, they have loads of lights and big screens that take up all the stage space behind them, and it visually looks superb. Original members Marc Almond and Dave Ball are both here and are backed by four backing vocalists (2 Male and 2 Female) , and their well respected sax player Gary Barnacle. Marc Almond on vocals is great at the front, as Dave Ball quietly plays the keyboards. "Torch" was an excellent opening track, and the other catchy ditties in the first half ticked along nicely, but could not touch the classic hits in the second half celebration. Folks up and dancing in the second half, for a great show. ACT / SET 1 Torch Bruises on All My Illusions Happy Happy Happy Monoculture Heart Like Chernobyl Nostalgia Machine Kitchen Sink Drama Where the Heart Is Divided Soul L'esqualita Martin The Art of Falling Apart ACT / SET 2 Frustration Tainted Love (Gloria Jones cover) Seedy Films Youth Sex Dwarf Entertain Me Chips on My Shoulder Bedsitter (12" Version) Secret Life Say Hello, Wave Goodbye Encore: Purple Zone Memorabilia

Posted 16th November 2021