The Vapors, Big Country, and China Crisis

"We were the first band to make mullets cool" proclaims David Fenton, lead singer (and fully-trained lawyer) of unashamedly 80s band, The Vapors. Given the deluge of Surrey-based bands, you’d be forgiven (if you were born after 1980) for thinking that Guildford wasn’t the most Rock-n-Roll of provincial, quintessentially English towns. And you’d be right. But as is very much in vogue at the moment, another reunion tour arrives, and this time it’s the band known perhaps most for their politically incorrect and rather dated single - "Turning Japanese." This is the highlight from the set, which features all the hits across their two studio albums ‘New Clear Days’ and ‘Magnets’ mainly targeted at those nostalgic baby boomers who pogo’d and danced flamboyantly in a more innocent time – when mullets WERE cool and TV Presenters were not just sexual predators. I’d like to say I enjoyed myself, but it all seemed a bit like a desperate tribute band of The Jam who had forgotten their set list. Some minor politically motivated speeches aside, I’m not sure it should be carte blanche for any 80s act to reunite uncontested – unfortunately The Vapors seemed to have fallen through the cracks.

I saw the great Scottish rock band Big Country on their tour in 2011. They had many of the original members and I have been a big fans since my dad played me their album The Crossing. That was their big break out album in the United States and included the brilliantly produce smash hit “In a Big Country” which has been a radio standard since.

The band showed their age a little bit but they still had a ton of energy. The crowd was also pretty old butt they were all thrilled to see the band play. They did not play a very long set, but it was packed full of all their hits and actually some new songs. They did tell everyone they were working on a new album that might come out in several years. Those songs were really pretty good.

They closed with “In a Big Country” and the crowd sang along every time the chorus came on. They also were able to mimic the bagpipe sounds of the original recording on their guitars they had. It really did sound like the album and record. They did an encore of a cover song. Everyone left in a good mood, probably thinking about the 1980’s.

I had the most beautiful concert experience I can remember while watching China Crisis live for the first time. The beauty in what China Crisis does in their simple precision. They simply write beautiful lyrics and have a knack for coming up with catchy elegant pop music to back it up.

The stage setup was sparse, intentionally, so we as the crowd would focus on the individuals playing the music on stage. The focus at the concert was on the music, not on the theatrics of the actual performers. It was very entrancing, the effect in the darkened theater was akin to having a private performance for each member of the audience.

The music itself was so uplifting and poppy that I instantly fell in love with it. It was pure ear candy. "Wishful Thinking" was a particularly engrossing, you could tell that the band had a real affection for that particular song the way to put their hearts and soul into the performance.

After the initial performance these guys came out for not one but two encores - that's home much they appreciate their fans! Great show, highly recommended that you check them out if they come to an area near you!

Outstanding concert, must see band. Played for 3 hours, non stop hits mixed with scouce humour. Not phased by muppets trying unsuccessfully to get on the stage, or my wife who did (by invite of Ian Mcnabb). Hope to see them again.