Photo: Press
Tears For Fears teased the May 2018 tour announcement last night at Broadcasting House; the gig was put on to celebrate to Radio 2 turning 50. Now the cat is out of the bag: the timeless, inventive pop legends - who've deservedly sold 30 million albums since they formed in 1981 - will play eight dates across the UK in May 2018.
This news will come as joy to fans as chances to see the band on UK soil since 2005 have been few and far betwee. These have been limited to festival appearances in 2016, the aforementioned show at the BBC last night - and their first headline gig since 2005 at the Royal Albert Hall tonight.
Jubilation then at the fact 2018 marks the year Tears For Fears lay their anchor for a more sustained comeback to celebrate the relase of their Greatest Hits album.
As Jo Wiley said when congratulating the band on their flawless performance: "they sound as fresh and modern now as they've ever done." Indeed, genius never goes out of fashion nor does extraordinary taste. They've a nuanced palliate that leans on synth pop, prog, stadium rock, blues, disco, and Motown without ever really compromising their own voice.
Technically, they were on the highest level too last night at the 400 cap venue in the BBC building in Oxford Circus. The vocals sound like they've been meticulously preserved to sound as good as ever; remarkable given decades of touring.
The co-founders Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith are the enigmatic driving force, with Orzabal and his long, thick curly hair reminiscent of another one of the best frontmen in the business, Jakko Jakszyk, who's stepped in as the lead singer of King Crimson. He shares a theatrical, dramatic eccentricity with said prog legend. Smith, on the other hand, is slightly more understated but always on the ball locking in with harmonies and providing counter-melody. The flashy solos, the transcendent synth parts, and geezerish backing vocalists parts conjure up whole worlds of colour. The synth sounded at its best when the dizzying energetic riff to 'Change'; a song taken from their debut album.
Another corker from their debut album, 'Mad World' shortly followed, and its despondent student lyrics was an anthem across so many dorms in the 80s and the crowd - most of whom remember them first time around - were ecstatic to hear the track with its sad lyrics and upbeat production.
From here it was solid gold hits with a surprise cover of Radiohead's 'Creep' and the Donnie Dark soundtrack number 'Head Over Heels' that were highlights. But you have to give it to the stadium shaker 'Shout'; it was the wealthiest moment and proved how perfectly the 80s legends order their set to ensure maximum elation in time for their exit - and hinted at where some of this generations best guitar pop bands such as White Lies ripped some of their ideas from.
Such was the energy, the adoring crowd drowned out Jo Wiley's praise with only TV viewers able to hear what she was saying. Hats off to the BBC for putting a gig this good on tv and radio. It'll likely inspire future generations to pick up a synth. We're looking forward to more Tears For Fears tonight and next year.
Oh, and those tour dates. Tickets are on sale 9am November 3.
May 2018
Weds 02 Dublin, 3Arena
Fri 04 Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
Sat 05 Birmingham, Arena Birmingham
Mon 07 Glasgow, SEC Armadillo
Tues 08 Liverpool, Echo Arena
Thurs 10 London, The 02
Fri 11 Bournemouth, Bournemouth International Centre
Sat 12 Brighton, Brighton Centre
