Boy George at the Shaw Theatre

This evening was the long-awaited Boy George show at the Shaw Theatre, he's been there all week and tonight was the last show. I was hoping I'd chosen the right night and, with much gratitude to the Boy, I had! He was in top form, excellent voice and humour and he looked like he was having great fun on the stage, smiling and joking (and, shockingly, I don't think he swore at all). I certainly had great fun in the third row of the audience.

On the stroke of 8pm, on walked the band followed by the Boy in his B-Rude finery of black suit encrusted with gold scarabs and silver safety pins with matching shirt and hat and he launched into a couple of reggae songs I didn't recognise followed by 'Everything I Own'. I like his brand of lovers rock reggae, gentle beats, and good to start off with. And then came 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me', his first hit, and having it so early in the show made me wonder what was to come. And what came next was an excellent show, great songs and great performances, songs from 'Taboo', songs from his own catalogue and some new ones. He also let his women have a song each, with the first half of the show closing with Liz (the backing singer) giving a powerful version of 'Talk Amongst Yourselves' from 'Taboo' and, in the second half, Zee Asha did a great interpretation of 'Time (Clock Of The Heart)'.

The second half of the show opened with a stonking version of 'Church Of The Poisoned Mind' (one of my favourite Culture Club choons) followed by 'Suffragette City' and some accoustic versions of songs to slow the pace down before encores with a countrified version of 'Karma Chameleon', a moody 'Summertime' and an ecstatic and extended 'Bow Down Mister' with the backing singers throwing flowers into the audience and the audience joining in with the 'Hare Krishna, Hare Ramas'. A great way to end a great show, definitely sending us home on a high.

I was pleased that he did songs from the 'Cheapness And Beauty' album and from 'Taboo' as well as Culture Club hits. Favourites were 'Cheapness And Beauty' (the song), 'Stranger In This World', 'Unfinished Business', 'Losing Control', 'Ode To Attention Seekers' (which George said he'd never performed before despite writing it for 'Taboo'), a new song called, I think, 'Everybody Vote For Love' and, of course, 'Bow Down Mister'.

The last time I saw George was at Koko last year when he was (ahem) feeling no pain and hidden behind bad lighting. Tonight was a total change, a seasoned performer enjoying himself on stage, and thrilling his audience with the expected and the unexpected. It was such a relief and such great fun. Time for a new record from the Boy, I think. Thanks for a great night, George, and nice to see you smiling!