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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
5:23 PM 25th November 2015
arts

Review of Go West and Nik Kershaw with T'Pau - Grand Theatre, Blackpool

 
Carol Decker from T'Pau
Carol Decker from T'Pau
These package tours of artists from the 1980's are very popular, usually they play in arenas but this particular tour is playing in theatres. The theatre was practically full and the atmosphere was lively to say the least.

The audience as you might expect are a mixture of 40 and 50 something's. This was the era of shoulder pads and Dynasty amongst other fashions, the music though has not dated as much as these fashions.

Carol Decker, lead singer of T'Pau still looks good for her age and still has a powerful voice. Dressed in a red military jacket and black trousers she cuts a fine figure. She is still recording and has a new album out, 2 tracks were performed as part of her set. Her conversation between songs was witty and friendly. "We supported Nik Kershaw 28 years ago, we are still supporting him now, it's been a very long tour" she jokes.

Of course the audience wanted to hear the big hits such as Heart and Soul and China in your Hand, which she informs the fans was #1 this very week 27 years ago. A great way to opening up the evening.

Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw and Go West might not look exactly how you remember them from the 80's, Kershaw now grey with his trademark locks receding still has a good voice whilst Peter Cox from Go West is now head shaven but like the rest of the audience, we are all older.

They perform together on stage for the opening number of a cover of the Tears for Fears hit Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Peter Cox's vocals worked better on the song than those of Nik Kershaw.

Alternating between the 2 acts, Go West and Nik Kershaw performed their big hits each act had back in the day. With Call Me and Faithful standing out from Go West. You forget how intricate some of Nik Kershaw's songs are. He also wrote the Chesney Hawkes hit, The One and Only which he performed tonight.

Go West
Go West
After a 20 minute interval both acts reappeared on stage, in a twist to proceedings they perform one of each other's tracks before Kershaw performs some of his lesser hits.

The last 20 minutes though was what the majority of the audience had come to hear with Go West singing We Close our Eyes and Kershaw turning back the clock with I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me and Wouldn't It Be Good. It was like being at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in 1985.

Encoring with the Kings of Leon hits Your Sex is on Fire, all tonight's acts are still on fire, with the memories and reputations of all acts retained let's hope a similar tour is planned for this time next year.