Simple Minds - Hordern Pavilion

Simple Minds

Hordern Pavilion

Sydney 9 February 2017

On the same night that Bruce Springsteen is playing across town, why would you choose to spend your evening with Simple Minds? 

Well, one reason is, before they became a byword for bloated stadium rock, Simple Minds were cool. How cool were they?  They were an art rock indie dance band before anyone knew what one of those thing was (OK, I’ll admit that I barely know what one of those things is now).  But they were ice cold cool.  Their name would fit seamlessly beside uber-cool bands like Kraftwerk and Can (look them up) and, yes, Bowie. 

But then they were tempted by stadiums had a small dalliance with the Breakfast Club (Don’t You Forget About Me was confidently played mid set) and they seemed to have left their cool roots behind them.  In came big choruses but what went out the door was that feeling of underground edge (for want of a better term).  For many that’s not a problem – they like the singalong songs - but for some they miss the interesting arty music of the early years. 

How did Simple Minds approach this problem while keeping everyone happy?  The set relied heavily on their greatest hits from the stadium rock years, but also the seminal New Gold Dream album with a few other early classics as well (Love Song was an early highlight).  They nicely balance the songs that are keeping them playing to large venues such as the Hordern Pavilion, but also reminding the faithful that they were a pretty interesting band to begin with.  A couple of tracks played from their latest album illustrate the point best.  They have a foundation in art-rock, but still manage to bring in the big choruses when necessary. 

This approach was best summed up in the three song encore.  One song from the new album, one singalong hit and then they finished with a storming version of the title track from New Gold Dream. 

As I said, something for everyone.    

At one point in a singalong chorus when the crowd wouldn't stop, Jim Kerr said "it's alright for us, we don't have to go to work tomorrow".  Maybe if Simple Minds had let us sing all night we might have had to explain to two bosses our choice in seeing the band.  But if you were there, no explanation was necessary.