The Human League

The Human League started out as an experimental electronic band obsessed with science fiction and the prophetic dystopian novels of JG Ballard. Despite their extreme eccentricity and tendencies to defy conventions they ended up as a huge pop success. They deserved every bit of it. They were a group that created demand; not one which acted as a means to fill it. They anticipated the future of pop music and expressed it to its fullest potential.
The Human League entered into the mainstream, but approached it in a completely unorthodox manner. If they were to play the game of becoming pop sensations they were going to do it their way. If you go to one of their shows you will not see a stage with guitarists, bass players and drummers, but rather one filled with synths, dancers and a wildly idiosyncratic singer (that of course being Philip Oakley). Well maybe you will find a drummer at the performance (i.e. Rob Barton); however he will not be playing an acoustic set. The instrumentation of the Human League is all electronic and they do not intend to abandon that trait.
But times have changed and the band has gone in different directions. Founding member Ian Craig Marsh went on to form the equally reputable synth-pop group Heaven 17 and every other member left except Oakey and the two extraordinary vocalist (Joanne Catherall and Susan Sulleey). The Human League is still keeping at it and are releasing consistently good material.
New tracks such as the club thumping "Night People" are heavily rotated in their setlist and you better believe that they will play the timeless single "Don't You Want Me". The stage presence of the band is formal but characteristically off-kilter and the light designs are state of the art. Their sets often include abstract videos that really compliment the futuristic tone of the band. The Human League have not only proven themselves as artists whose material can stand the test of time, but have shown that they can adapt with and influence current trends in music.

Named after the 1960 Natalie Wood film All the Fine Young Cannibals, Birmingham pop rock outfit Fine Young Cannibals might not have been a going concern for all that long - an initial eight year run, and then a brief reunion in 1996 - but that isn’t to say that they didn’t leave a lasting impression in that time. After all, how many bands can you honestly say have made a mark on both sides of the Atlantic? Fine Young Cannibals’ second and final album, The Raw and The Cooked, went to number one in both the U.S. and UK, eventually going platinum in both countries, too. After splitting in low-profile fashion in 1992, the group ensured that their legacy would be preserved, with the only activity since being a greatest hits album in 1996. Frontman Roland Gift, however, briefly chose to apply the moniker to his solo tours, hitting the road as Roland Gift and the Fine Young Cannibals and playing mainly the band’s material with the odd solo cut, but has since gone back to his own name, joining Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra on the road in 2012 to perform Fine Young Cannibals’ biggest hitters as well as some jazz standards; for fans of the band, it was a treat to see him back in action, so well backed instrumentally in a host of intimate venues.

Thoroughly enjoyed seeing Toyah live, bought the tickets as a birthday present for my Mum. I've liked her from the 80s and am so happy I've finally seen her live. She was on top form with her vocals sounding better than I thought she would, she also had a seemingly endless supply of energy which boomed through the crowd.
The set list was cleverly picked and was truly amazing.

Toyah looked great and her vocals were fabulous. She still had an edge and the crowd were treated with all her classics as well as some new songs. Toyah interacted with the crowd in between intervals which pleased us all as we waited a while to see her.

Although an 80s star, her songs still seem as fresh and inspiring as when they were first released, blending implausible lyrics together with truly emotive and almost heart thumping melodies. Toyah is for sure a must see gig for anyone. Highly recommended.

If seeing a class 80s act is next on your bucket list then Toyah is the woman for you.