The stage was covered in white flooring with three solitary white microphone stands and a black curtain hiding the rest of the stage, a clear sign that the Human League were in the building. The lights dimmed, the background music went quiet and then the first electronic chord started, the black curtain fell, the light show started and there they were, all dressed in black. Striding down a few steps in front of a video wall, Phil started pacing the stage while the girls went to their respective microphone stands and they belted out a new song, 'Electric Shock' from the new album due in March. And it works as a great opener, getting them moving but it was the second song that got the whole auditorium to our feet, singing, dancing and clapping along. And then we were granted wall-to-wall hits for the next hour and a half.
Phil never stood still, pacing back and forth across the stage; Susan was wreathed in smiles, flirting with the audience and having the time of her life; Joanne was all cool and aloof most of the time, breaking out into a big smile every time she forgot to be sullen, with both girls waving their hands above their heads, wiggling their hips and doing the little dances they've been doing for nearly 30 years, and they were perfect. The three-piece band created an enormous sound with their various synths and Mr Oakey even joined in at one point. The costume changes went from black to white to black again, all monochrome except for Joanne's flashes of red.The time went by so quickly and before I knew it we were into 'Don't You Want Me' which always signals the end of the show. I can't pick out a few highlights from a gig that was full of highlights but I always like 'Being Boiled' and 'Empire State Human' with Phil on his knees, 'Tell Me When', 'Love Action', 'Mirror Man', 'The Sound Of The Crowd' and the great 'The Lebanon'. And , of course, a glorious 'Together In Electric Dreams'. They also played the new single, 'Night People' with a weird collage of Hitler and nuns kissing on the video-wall.
The Human League were, of course, magnificent, and they all looked very well indeed. Phil was whip-thin as ever from his endless pacing across the stage, Susan was looking slender and gorgeous and not over-thin, and Joanne has lost weight since I last saw her and is now looking well voluptuous. I (obviously) had to indulge in taking some photos and a selection are below, I even got a couple of Phil smiling.If you get the chance to see the Human League in concert then don't miss 'em - they give great show and you'll know all the songs, oh yes you will.
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