Listen To The Sirens: July 2026

Alison Moyet Warfield Theatre San Francisco 5th June 2026

I didn't get to see Yazoo way back when, all told there wasn't so much opportunity to in their short existence. A schoolmate did go when they played the Brighton Dome in 1982 and he bought me a tour badge, which I still have. Neither did I see them on their 2008 'Reconnected' dates. But I do occasionally listen to 'Upstairs At Erics' and even more occasionally, 'You And Me Both'. Alison Moyet went on to enjoy greater success as a solo artist. Huge hits such 'All Cried Out' and 'That Ole Devil Called Love' were perhaps better suited to her Bluesy vocal than was Basildon synth-pop.

In the context of this electronic '80s package, the focus was inevitably on the Yavoo material and the singles come across really well.... and 'Situation' is still a classic!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-d11BqJazMRWvjiut

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-pcNLafW1Dmy1yJUt

Soft Cell Warfield Theatre San Francisco 5th June 2026

Next up on the Generations Warfield bill are Soft Cell. This one is a bit more tricky for me. Soft Cell have been big in my life since I bought 'Tainted Love' back in 1981. Whilst I didn't get to see them until they came back together and played at the Ocean in Hackney in 2001, I saw them play some fantastic gigs. Dave Ball was such a huge part of that, so I think that I would really struggle seeing Soft Cell without his commanding figure behind the keyboards. Set-wise it's a good mix of new and old, hit and miss - not an easy feat in a limited 11 song set. And I guess that the like's of 'Baby Doll' and 'Martin' could scare sections of the audience away!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-SjYownyMT9JO1NAM

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-uFAUqRcfGCasuw8R

Human League Warfield Theatre San Francisco 5th June 2026

We are very much in the era of retro package tours. Promotors, particularly in the US love them. And the business case supporting these arrangements must be positive despite the organisational costs. A while ago I posted on my other site (Aural Sculptors) just such a festival set that occurred at a Californian vineyard last August. It went by the name of 'Lost 80's Live' and featured a collection of bands who had had some chart successes in the 1980s. The Vapors were one such band on the bill, and no disrespect to the band, they had some great material and are still recording new material today, but they played a set of five songs at the event. With such an arrangement I struggle to see how ends meet. That said I am neither a music promotor or an accountant so what do I know.

This is a little different I guess, a package tour of bigger hitters and fewer of them, three in fact. Good for the ticket money I have no doubt. Inevitably, though with so many big hits to fit in the sets are shorter and hit heavy and that's fine, but it doesn't necessarily make for the best gig.

But don't listen to this grumpy old sod... who would be happiest with a complete run through of 'Reproduction' and 'Travelogue'! It's a good gig honestly.

(with thanks to the original Dime uploader (loughney).