SEEING a singer or band live should be different to listening to their recordings. China Crisis, who enjoyed sustained mid-tier success in the 1980s, are a fine example.
At The Crescent, they managed to fashion a twist on essentially a greatest hits setlist. They did so primarily by performing as a trio, comprising original Kirkby brothers in arms Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon and their musical impresario, Jack Hymer, whose keyboards subtly reinvented their layered sound.
This was pure China Crisis, keeping the worst pale white funk at bay. No saxophone, bass or drums, but they weren’t missed, thanks to Hymer’s cinematic keys.
No review of a China Crisis concert fails to mention Daly’s comic stand-up pizazz. He was hilarious from start to finish: anecdotes about their time at the top, jokes or “oh no missus” Frankie Howerd facial expressions, all nailed.
Even Lundon on guitar, who must have heard it all, was laughing too. With a comic’s command of the audience, Daly could have talked all night, and probably would, but he needed to get home. It added so much to the performance, making it a full grin of music, comedy and memories.
Opener Callum Spencer also put in the effort. Playing solo without his band, he really sold his from-the-heart songs. If this particularly audience were too mature to dance with him in the dark, you sense his moment may well come.
China Crisis are playfully spinning out their autumn as a band in style. Their melodies stand up beyond a certain nostalgia for lop-sided fringes and Cheggers Plays Pop. Their halcyon days were of a different time, but with Daly commentating, you can appreciate just how much they were influenced by what was going on around them.
Daly’s chameleon voice sometimes reflects those influences (George Michael and David Byrne receiving a namecheck) but reveals enough of himself for us to care. This was the band that Steely Dan’s Walter Becker famously loved so much that he signed on to produce them – and you get the fresh artistry of the arrangements (Daly at one point finger-conducting a lovely bit on It’s Never Too Late, but never ramming it home).
Over two leisurely sets, 18 songs were played out, to the visible pleasure of all present. There were many standouts (mostly in the second set, “the ones you know” according to Daly) with a deliciously purple patch running through Arizona Sky to Wishful Thinking, their finest hour.
Another wonderful Crescent night thanks to promoters Please Please You.
Review by Paul Rhodes. Pictures by Paul Rhodes and Carl Letman.
