Friday 28 October 2022
The Gov
Review – Geoff Jenke
Thompson Twins formed in 1977, initially as a new wave band, but changed in the early eighties to a synth mainstream pop band, having a series of hits from 1982 to 1985, finally dissolving in 1993.
Tom Bailey has only toured spasmodically since the breakup of the band, despite releasing many albums under the guise of International Observer. It would be 2014 before Tom would perform Thompson Twins songs live and in 2018, he finally released his first solo album, Science Fiction.
This was Tom’s first headline tour of Australia since 1986 and people flocked to The Gov to see him perform the classic 1984 album Into the Gap in full along with a selection of other songs.
As Frankie Hoillywood and other 80’s standards pumped out of the stereo in the Gov, anticipation was high. When the intro music started there was a loud roar around the room and Tom’s 3-piece female backing band walked on stage, all in white, all wearing sunglasses (at night, of course). It was an arresting sight. The cheer level rose as Tom entered the room, also in white and wearing sunglasses.
In the Name of Love, the first Thompson Twins song to dent the charts, in 1982, commenced proceedings and the audience were already singing along. Then the title track from his 2018 solo album, Science Fiction, with Tom now playing guitar. The song was excellent and it was a shame there was no room for any more songs from the solo album.
But it was the Thompson Twins songs the crowd were here to see and Tom and band didn’t disappoint. Lies from 1983 was followed by 1985’s Lay Your Hands on Me and had the keyboard player bring out an electric cello and the bass player moving to keyboards. Tom even played some electric tom toms. Yes, it was the 1980’s with everything being the “electronic” version of instruments, including a full electronic drum kit. Such was the quality of the band; they swapped instruments all evening.
If You Were Here was dedicated to “everyone who makes these shows possible”, before a cover of Talking Heads 1977 hit, Psycho Killer sounded out around the room with Tom sticking close to the original with his version.
At one stage Tom did announce that this “is the first non-seating venue they had played on this Australian tour, which is good”
“We are playing the album Into the Gap in full” announced Tom, “but not in order”. And play it they indeed did, starting with The Gap and Day After Day, and naturally leaving the hits to the end. A moody, almost dark, Storm on the Sea was a highlight and Tom introduced You Take Me Up with a harmonica solo.
The band “hid” the intro to Doctor Doctor but as people began to realise that it was in fact the hit song being played, phones came out around the room. Hold Me Now followed and closed the evening with Tom leading the audience in singing the chorus before leaving the stage with the band. The hits were good, but maybe it is familiarity with the songs that I found they lacked the power and passion of the rest of the evening. Still, it was good to hear them in a live environment.
The audience were not letting Tom get away without an encore, and he obligingly came back for Love on Your Side, complete with some dodgy 80’s dance moves.
It was a last-minute change of “reviewer” that had me at the show, but I am extremely grateful that I got to see it. Into the Gap and the Thompson Twins have been playing on my choice of streaming service ever since.
Tom said they would be back. I hope it is soon.
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