Show Pics: Erasure @ ACL Live

So this is a little off-topic for us, consider it a retro IT Department post. Erasure tickets were a final birthday present to the wife and I was given the opportunity to take photos of the show. This may surprise people, but it was one of the best shows this year. The sold out crowd was ready to have a great time, so many overheard conversations about the last time seeing them live. The venue was ideal. Andy Bell let it loose and left most of the crowd in awe that he still has it vocally.

There are a few more comments and plenty of glorious Bell/Clarke goodness after the break.

If you haven’t, read their up on their pasts. It is a surprising history including meat packing plants (not a joke), classified ads, HIV survival, hip replacements and more. The fact that these two are still performing at this level is impressive given the odds against. But perform they do. Well, Andy does. Vince oversees – starting loops, playing keys, even guitar on occasion, usually stoic though a few wry smiles emerge.

The set list was twenty-two songs strong. Starting with “Sono Luminos”, the crowd waited until the following song to start the full-on sing along with “Always”. The fan favorites were portioned off by five tracks from the new album Tomorrow’s World due next week (oft copied formula of eighties acts experimeting with current styles). “Drama”, “Ship of Fools”, “Love to Hate You”, “A Little Respect” and the closer “Stop” stood out. The highlights were “Chorus”, a great vocal and the show’s dance party, and “Chains of Love” where Andy showed he still has all kinds of vocal left.

Quick note about the opener Frankmusik, the guy is a vocal mash-up. Didn’t set anyone on fire, but the crowd had fun, especially the wife…

More pics available over at the photo site…