Berlin highlights the Regeneration Tour finale
Regeneration Tour 2009 ended Wednesday night with an outdoor show in Atlanta. SIT80s correspondent John Sharpe was on hand to provide the review:
Excitement was in the humid, outdoor air for the final stop of the 2009 Regeneration Tour in Atlanta. Wang Chung was doing a final sound check as fans began arriving. They must have been running late, as we didn't get in until 6:40 pm and the ticket had a 7:00 pm start time.
The '80s gods smiled upon me as I was the second person in at my gate, and the ticket taker upgraded my seat to the orchestra pit tables. So instead of 175 feet from the stage, I was at a table a mere 80 feet from the stage.
Cutting Crew hit the stage at about 7:40 pm. They performed six tunes to start the night. Most everyone recognized One for the Mockingbird, I've Been in Love Before and I Just Died in Your Arms
Tonight, but the sleeper song that stood out was The Scattering. The
lead guitarists string broke during the solo of Mockingbird and while
he changed it out Nick Van Eede sang the guitar solo.
Wang Chung was up next and played Don't Let Go
to start their six song set. Wait, Let's Go and To Live and Die in LA followed quickly, but
maybe they were going too fast as Jack Hues sang the wrong verse to
start To Live and Die in LA but he laughed about it and redid the verse as they kept playing. Dance Hall Days and Everybody Have Fun Tonight had the crowd singing and dancing. And the best is yet to follow.
The stage was reset with a new drum kit for Berlin, so the break
was a bit longer. Blue lights on the stage, a familiar synth arpeggio,
and Masquarade started. Terri Nunn
entered the stage and the crowd roared. Her familiar trademark hair,
blonde with a brunette undertone, a sheer black dress and a voice that
had not aged a day since the early '80s.
No More Words followed with the crowd singing the chorus at Terri's requests. Matter of Time and a Berlin version of Jefferson Airplane's Someone to Love kept the fans going. Everyone helped her sing The Metro and all the lighters came out with Take My Breath Away. The roadies rounded up about 25 fans to dance on stage for Dancing In Berlin. They closed their set with Sex..I am a.. and the 48-year-old singer danced and writhed with the guitarist on stage as she sang.
No More Words followed with the crowd singing the chorus at Terri's requests. Matter of Time and a Berlin version of Jefferson Airplane's Someone to Love kept the fans going. Everyone helped her sing The Metro and all the lighters came out with Take My Breath Away. The roadies rounded up about 25 fans to dance on stage for Dancing In Berlin. They closed their set with Sex..I am a.. and the 48-year-old singer danced and writhed with the guitarist on stage as she sang.
Three down, one to go.
ABC led by the excellent Martin Fry started with Show Me and Poison Arrow to rejuvenate the crowd from the break. With How to Be a Millionaire a road threw out coins to the crowd. With the last show, it seems lots of fun and hijinks were abound. All the bands came out of stage and helped ABC with Ride. They finished with the biggies - When Smokey SIngs, Be Near Me and The Look of Love. The only disappointment in the whole event was at the end, when due to rules, they cut off the mics to the band at 11 pm with about 30 seconds left of The Look of Love. Martin couldn't even say goodnight to the crowd.
ABC led by the excellent Martin Fry started with Show Me and Poison Arrow to rejuvenate the crowd from the break. With How to Be a Millionaire a road threw out coins to the crowd. With the last show, it seems lots of fun and hijinks were abound. All the bands came out of stage and helped ABC with Ride. They finished with the biggies - When Smokey SIngs, Be Near Me and The Look of Love. The only disappointment in the whole event was at the end, when due to rules, they cut off the mics to the band at 11 pm with about 30 seconds left of The Look of Love. Martin couldn't even say goodnight to the crowd.
Still it was a fantastic show. I have seen the last two versions of
the "Regeneration Tour" and look forward to seeing what comes about for
2010.
[Getty Images photo of Terri Nunn at the Los Angeles Pride Fest]
[Getty Images photo of Terri Nunn at the Los Angeles Pride Fest]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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11 p.m. cut off time? What the heck that is messed up, especially on their best song. Glad you got to see them though; I'd love to see ABC in concert.
Posted by: Paul Kammen | July 18, 2009 at 01:47 AM
You really captured the beauty of the evening John! And yes, Almighty God smiled on us, giving us those fabulous seats!!
Posted by: Carolyn Davis | July 17, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Well, I assumed it was her 50th birthday because she said that she and Michael Jackson were the same age.
Posted by: Bassnote | July 17, 2009 at 09:22 AM
After reading this review last night I had to listen to a mess of Berlin. I went to sleep with MASQUERADE in my head. I slept rather peacefully.
Posted by: Marissa | July 17, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Only one question... didn't Bassnote mention in his review that Terri Nunn celebrated her 50th Birthday at the Chicago gig? Just curious, two times Berlin stole the show, maybe because a Stuck in the 80's fan was watching or they were just more fun to watch.
That sucks about turning off the mics though.
Posted by: DerekT | July 17, 2009 at 03:15 AM
Next year we'll try to do the Vegas thing together again and reverse the mojo around once and for all.
Posted by: Spears | July 16, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Great review John! I'm looking forward to next year too.
Posted by: Bassnote | July 16, 2009 at 11:08 PM