80s Invasion Tour

St George's Hall

NOTHING takes you back to another time quite like a song from the past.

And when 80s legend Midge Ure opened his set last night with rousing anthem The Power and the Glory, I was sitting in my teenage bedroom again, playing Ultravox singles and flicking through Smash Hits.

It's fair to say that most of the audience at last night's 80s Invasion gig were of middling years, enjoying the soundtrack of their youth.

Reunion shows tend to feel like a guilty pleasure - short bursts of crowd-pleasers and retro wigs dotted among the audience. But the vibe last night was relaxed and appreciative, with not a ra-ra skirt or rolled-up jacket sleeve in sight.

And the line-up - Midge Ure, Nick Heyward and Big Country - gave slick, impressive performances of songs that still sound fresh 30 years on.

With record sales of more than 20 million, 200 gold, platinum and silver discs and countless awards between them, this slice of 80s nostalgia was in safe hands.

With Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot announced as sick, there was no Curiosity Killed the Cat, but the others made up for it with longer sets.

The show opened with Nick Heyward, still cute as a button, delivering a cracking set of Haircut 100 and solo hits, as well as a catchy new track. From the upbeat funk of Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) and Take That Situation to the melodic joy of Love Plus One, Blue Hat For a Blue Day and the sublime Whistle Down the Wind, he had us basking in a nostalgic glow. As an Eighties pop pin-up, Nick Heyward was the boy with cropped blond hair and a cricket sweater draped around his shoulders, but he was always a gifted songwriter whose records epitomise the long, hot summers of our youth. Flashing his cheeky grin, he even read out a witty poem he'd penned about Bradford.

Next came Midge Ure, taking command of the stage like a statesman of synth pop. With bands such as Visage and Ultravox, he was a pioneer of techno pop, but it was his powerful guitar riffs, honed even earlier in Thin Lizzy, that came to the fore in songs like Dancing With Tears In My Eyes and Vienna. I wouldn't blame him for being tired of the latter, especially since it's a song you can't approach any differently, without offending a faithful audience, but it was beautifully and passionately performed. I've still got my Vienna single (picture sleeve), and I've still got Fade to Grey, the first single I ever bought - so Midge's performance of the 1980 Visage hit was a particular treat for me. He also paid tribute to David Bowie with a performance of Starman. A class act.

The show closed with an energetic set from Big Country, delivering the rock anthems - Look Away, Fields of Fire, In a Big Country and King of Emotion among them - that have held a place in fans' hearts for three decades. Guitarist Bruce Watson revealed that when they played St George's Hall 30 years ago, they rocked out so much they received a bill for damaged cornice work.

The Scottish rockers had the crowd on their feet, jigging away like they were 18 again, with a checked shirt on their back and fire in their hearts. One man stood faithfully at the foot of the stage throughout the entire set, mouthing the words to every single song.

Who said 80s nostalgia shows are just for girls?