ABC set to make Liverpool return
As ABC get set to return to Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, Getintothis’ Banjo can barely contain his delight.
ABC return to Liverpool this November for a date at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, almost two years to the day since their last visit.
Back in 2015 ABC played Lexicon of Love in its entirety, complete with full orchestra. This visit will see them play a best of set, or as Martin Fry would have it “an opportunity to open up the ABC songbook and journey through all the hits. Lexicon to Lexicon. ABC to XYZ.”
In 1982, ABC released an album that is as close to pop perfection as anyone has been able to muster. Lexicon of Love shone like a post punk, white boy funk glitter-ball and has never lost any of its charm down the years. Trevor Horn’s career-best production polished off their rougher edges creating a classic album in the process.
The band’s punk sensibilities shone through, as is often the case with bands from that era (see also Heaven 17, Blancmange, New Order) and their 2nd album, 1983’s Beauty Stab saw them unexpectedly ditch the outright funkiness for a more Rock direction. Thus, ABC made a career out of contrariness that meant that they never regained their early commercial heights again, but released a stream of interesting and essential albums.
1985’s How To Be A Zillionaire saw them become a cartoon band years before Gorillaz were so much as wet ink on Jamie Hewlett’s pen and comes very highly recommended as pure 80s fun. 1987’s Alphabet City, 89’s Up, 91’s Abracadabra, 97’s Skyscraping and 2008’s Traffic’ followed, all with their hits and their charms, to add to an idiosyncratic back catalogue that is deserving of your attention.
ABC’s Martin Fry
For a while, ABC tended to split their time between playing the lucrative 80s nostalgia circuit and recording and touring their new material. 2016 saw them release Lexicon Of Love 2, a sequel to their million selling debut. Whilst not being a patch on the original it is without doubt a mighty fine album, it’s only problem having such a towering predecessor to be compared to.
Completing the nostalgia is Kid Creole and the Coconuts as support band. What more could you want? We absolutely cannot wait for this, so zoot suits at the ready and we’ll see you there.
- ABC and Kid Creole and the Coconuts play the Liverpool Philharmonic on November 3
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