A real throwback gig this one revisiting my youth as I would imagine I wasn’t the only teenage boy with a Debbie Harry poster on their bedroom wall. I saw Ms Harry solo many years ago as part of a wider bill at Wembley Stadium I think. Tonight though it’s Debbie and Clem and some young musicians filling the gaps of Blondie as sadly Chris Stein doesn’t tour anymore.
After a shaky start sound wise the show soon settles in for a thundering run through of nearly all of their greatest hits. Not many bands can start a show with the likes of ‘Hanging on the telephone’, ‘Sunday Girl’ and ‘Picture this’. It’s a breathless hour and forty five minutes taking in tracks from throughout their career.
The light show and video screens are excellent and the latter provides a nice nostalgic background to these originals showcasing pics from down the years.
Harry’s voice holds up throughout the show and frankly the stamina of the woman is incredible, still going strong at seventy six, not missing a beat. Clem Burke provides the driving rhythm of the songs laying the foundation for the young bucks to build upon and props to the two guitarists who trade licks throughout.
On a night like this where its hit after hit it’s impossible to pick a highlight but set closers ‘Call Me ‘and ‘One way or another’ provide the perfect ending to this nostalgiafest.
Keep on new wave rock and rollin y’all.