| Doors: 6.30 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 58.69 Euro + fees |

40 Years Of Hits Tour 2022

To head out to a :: SIMPLE MINDS :: show is per se a real pleasure. To do so after two years of nothing and the band's 40th anniversary tour postponed three times lifts up even more. An emotional evening.
I'm a typical child of 80s music. The mid-eighties have been my rebellious years and I still connect memories to special songs and bands from this era. However, grown up in the East (of Germany), I was not able to catch any of those bands live, even though the one or the other had a stint there like Depeche Mode or even the SIMPLE MINDS. When I was able, I had turned into a full metal head and rather moshed to Metallica, Judas Priest and AC/DC than to Billy Idol or Duran Duran ;) Well, you cannot have a finger in every pie, right? After having seen and photographed most of my metal faves, it now makes me happy to catch up on my 80s heroes. Even more, when I'm allowed to photograph them :) The SIMPLE MINDS is one of these bands.

Anyway, it's the middle of the week, a warm and sunny evening already spreading summer-like vibes, when approx. 3500 fans flocked to the :: Halle Münsterland ::. The crowd is motley and in high spirits. Felt like a fair or a summer open air. The last two years seem to be just blown away. What a great feeling! The fans of the SIMPLE MINDS are an aged community. No wonder, the band has celebrated its 40th anniversary four years ago - Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, the two remaining founding members, have passed the 60, and so did many fans too. They grew up and aged with them ;)

There have been no corona restrictions. The queues have been long at the entries but it went smoothly at the doors, and behind, no rush, no throng either. No crowding at the bars and the women in the cloakrooms had nothing to do. The location wasn't sold out but packed. Filling up quickly people though secured their spots or took up their seats upstairs very relaxed. And I have seen only a handful of people wearing masks. For the Scots it was the fourth show in a row (Berlin, Bielefeld, Hanover, Muenster) and the band was looking forward to the days off prior the Zurich show, so singer Jim Kerr told us. He was very talkative, and made jokes. For example, what they did with the money raised from the tickets of the last two years, or that the crowd should not mistake the break as the untimely final of old geezers and go home. Great to see that the band still does not take itself too serious after more than 40 years in business.

For the Scots it was the fourth show in a row (Berlin, Bielefeld, Hanover, Muenster) and the band was looking forward to the days off prior the Zurich show, so singer Jim Kerr told us. He was very talkative, and made many jokes. For example, what they did with the money raised from the tickets of the last two years, or that the crowd should not mistake the break as the untimely final of old geezers and go home. After more than 40 years in that business it is great to see that the band still does not take itself too serious.

:: pics :: SIMPLE MINDS ::

All the quips didn't mean the SIMPLE MINDS would now act weakened by age. Much the opposite! Right from the first second on, the band delivered a stunning and lively show. But first, the entire band came to the fore and said hello to the audience and thanked them at the same time for being so loyal and dedicated throughout all the years and especially the last two ones. A grand gesture from a band still grounded and down-to-earth, responded by a mighty roar from the audience. Sure, the show might have been professionally staged, well rehearsed and choreographed, though, each member was smiling and couldn't hide the excitement to finally play live again. Just look into their faces on the pics ;)

The SIMPLE MINDS started their set aptly with Act Of Love, a song with so many meanings. Written in 1978 but never released until now (January 2022), this track kind of summarizes the history of the band and builds a bridge from the past to the very present. Jim Kerr whirled around like a dervish, dancing, smiling, sparkling with verve and waving hands to animate the crowd. There was actually no need for as the audience responded likewise enthusiastic right from the beginning. It was really a great atmosphere there.
The lightshow was awesome, with sharp beams of light wandering the stage and showing the band's album covers on huge LED buttons on the backdrop. The sound was rather mediocre. Well, it's no secret that the old hall isn't easy to manage when it comes to the sound.

No tour support distracted attention. The evening was all about the SIMPLE MINDS, playing a two and a half hours show, split across two sets with a 20 minutes break in between (much welcomed by everybody. Jim Kerr had worked up a sweat too) and an encore.
Tonight's setlist was surely well chosen. I suppose, it must be like a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea to put them together when you can draw on so many records and hit singles. To consider all of them to perfectly reflect on the band's history, the SIMPLE MINDS probably would have to play for many hours, if not even days to make everybody happy. I really don't want to nag, every important song was played, culminating to a grand finale with the encore, consisting of Speed Your Love To Me, Alive And Kicking and Sanctify Yourself. Though, I would have loved to hear some of my personal faves being performed live too like Up On The Catwalk and Hypnotised.

Always again an eye catcher surely drummer Cherisse Osei is. She is just a breathtaking and talented musician and it is pure joy to see her drumming. When leaving the photopit and placing myself in the back of the hall, her drumming was immensely powerful.
New in the live line-up is keyboard player is Berenice Scott, who took over vocal duties at Speed Your Love To Me, next singer Sarah Brown, who both nailed it. .

What's left to say? It was a wonderful evening! This was pure joy, almost liberating. A look into other people faces proved, I wasn't the only one grinning like a Cheshire cat ;) Seems, it is about time to have a night out and to conquer some dance floors again.
Oh, and of course, I hope to get another chance to see the SIMPLE MINDS one more time in the near future. To come to an end: 40 years later, the SIMPLE MINDS are literally Alive, And Kicking!

Band: Jim Kerr (vox), Charlie Burchill (guitar), Gordon Goudie (guitar), Ged Grimes (bass), Sarah Brown (backing vox), Cherisse Osei (drums), Berenice Scott (keys, backing vox)

Set 1: Act Of Love, I Travel, Celebrate, Glittering Prize, Promised You A Miracle, Book Of Brilliant Things, Big Sleep, Mandela Day, Belfast Child

Set 2: Theme For Great Cities, Dolphins, Waterfront, She's A River, Once Upon A Time, Someone Somewhere In Summertime, See The Lights, All The Things She Said, Don't You (Forget About Me), Let It All Come Down, New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

Encore: Speed Your Love To Me, Alive And Kicking, Sanctify Yourself

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography